Difficulty
Moderate
Steps
11
Time Required
30 minutes - 1 hour
Sections
3
- Back Cover
- 3 steps
- Steam Deck Battery Disconnection
- 4 steps
- Right Trigger
- 4 steps
Flags
1
Provided Hardware
A manufacturer provided iFixit with this device or component.
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Introduction
Before you begin, completely power down and unplug all cables from your Steam Deck. Remember to follow general electrostatic discharge (ESD) safety procedures while repairing the device.
Replacement triggers require calibration to work as expected. Read about how to do that here.
What you need
Step 1
Remove the back cover screws
- To minimize risk of damage, turn on your Steam Deck and allow the battery to discharge below 25% before starting your repairs. A charged lithium-ion battery can be very dangerous if accidentally punctured.
- Before starting this guide, power down your Steam Deck and unplug any cables.
- As an extra precaution, Valve recommends putting your Steam Deck into battery storage mode within the BIOS before starting any internal repairs. Read how to do that here.
- If you have a microSD card installed, make sure to remove it before opening the Steam Deck.
- Use a Phillips driver to remove the eight screws securing the back cover:
- Four 9.5 mm screws
- Four 5.8 mm screws
- Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from to avoid damaging your Steam Deck.
To minimize risk of damage, turn on your Steam Deck and allow the battery to discharge below 25% before starting your repairs. A charged lithium-ion battery can be very dangerous if accidentally punctured.
Before starting this guide, power down your Steam Deck and unplug any cables.
As an extra precaution, Valve recommends putting your Steam Deck into battery storage mode within the BIOS before starting any internal repairs. Read how to do that here.
If you have a microSD card installed, make sure to remove it before opening the Steam Deck.
Use a Phillips driver to remove the eight screws securing the back cover:
Four 9.5 mm screws
Four 5.8 mm screws
Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from to avoid damaging your Steam Deck.
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Step 2
Unclip the back cover
- Insert an opening pick into the thin gap between the back cover and the front shell, along the edge of the right grip.
- Pry up on the back cover to release it from the locking clips.
Insert an opening pick into the thin gap between the back cover and the front shell, along the edge of the right grip.
Pry up on the back cover to release it from the locking clips.
Step 3
Remove the back cover
- Once the clips are disconnected from one edge, the rest disconnect easily.
- Grip the back cover at the opening you just created and pull it up and away from the device to unclip the long edges.
- Remove the back cover.
Once the clips are disconnected from one edge, the rest disconnect easily.
Grip the back cover at the opening you just created and pull it up and away from the device to unclip the long edges.
Remove the back cover.
Step 4
Uncover the hidden shield screw
- Use a pair of tweezers to remove the piece of foil tape covering the hidden screw on the board shield.
- If possible, try not to rip or tear this tape so it can be reused. If necessary, you can fashion a replacement by cutting a piece of aluminum foil tape to fit.
Use a pair of tweezers to remove the piece of foil tape covering the hidden screw on the board shield.
If possible, try not to rip or tear this tape so it can be reused. If necessary, you can fashion a replacement by cutting a piece of aluminum foil tape to fit.
Step 5
Remove the shield screws
- Use a Phillips driver to remove the three screws securing the board shield:
- One 3.4 mm screw
- Two 3.7 mm screws
Use a Phillips driver to remove the three screws securing the board shield:
One 3.4 mm screw
Two 3.7 mm screws
Step 6
Remove the shield
- Remove the board shield.
- During reassembly, ensure that the fan cable lays on the side of the board shield and isn’t pinched underneath.
Remove the board shield.
During reassembly, ensure that the fan cable lays on the side of the board shield and isn’t pinched underneath.
Step 7
Disconnect the battery
- Grip the battery cable by its pull tab and pull it directly away from the motherboard to disconnect it.
- Alternatively, use the flat end of a spudger to gently push the connector out of its socket, then disconnect it completely by hand.
Grip the battery cable by its pull tab and pull it directly away from the motherboard to disconnect it.
Alternatively, use the flat end of a spudger to gently push the connector out of its socket, then disconnect it completely by hand.
Step 8
Unclip the right trigger
- The right trigger will be on your lefthand side when working on the Steam Deck, as it’s laying upside down.
- The Steam Deck’s triggers clip into place on two pegs on the trigger bracket, which doubles as the hinge.
- Place the flat end of a spudger onto the inside edge of the trigger’s right clip.
- Pivot the trigger clip out, away, and up from the peg to unlatch it.
- During reassembly, latch the outermost peg first. Once in place, push down on the trigger to latch the innermost peg, producing an audible “click” sound.
- Check to make sure that the trigger spring is properly aligned. Test the trigger action before continuing reassembly.
The right trigger will be on your lefthand side when working on the Steam Deck, as it’s laying upside down.
The Steam Deck’s triggers clip into place on two pegs on the trigger bracket, which doubles as the hinge.
Place the flat end of a spudger onto the inside edge of the trigger’s right clip.
Pivot the trigger clip out, away, and up from the peg to unlatch it.
During reassembly, latch the outermost peg first. Once in place, push down on the trigger to latch the innermost peg, producing an audible “click” sound.
Check to make sure that the trigger spring is properly aligned. Test the trigger action before continuing reassembly.
Step 9
Remove the right trigger
- Remove the right trigger.
- Take care to not lose the trigger spring. It press-fits onto a peg on the trigger’s underside.
Remove the right trigger.
Take care to not lose the trigger spring. It press-fits onto a peg on the trigger’s underside.
Step 10
Remove the trigger bracket screws
- Use a Phillips driver to remove the three 5.2 mm screws securing the right trigger bracket.
Use a Phillips driver to remove the three 5.2 mm screws securing the right trigger bracket.
Step 11
Remove the trigger bracket
- Remove the right trigger bracket.
- Replacement triggers require calibration to work as expected. To calibrate new triggers, follow this calibration guide.
Remove the right trigger bracket.
Replacement triggers require calibration to work as expected. To calibrate new triggers, follow this calibration guide.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.
Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Steam Deck answers community for help.
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Carsten Frauenheim
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