Introduction

Use this guide to replace the right RGB thumbstick ring in your Asus ROG Ally.

If your right thumbstick ring doesn't light up, or lights up intermittently, it may be time to replace the thumbstick ring.

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    • Let your device's battery drain below 25% before starting this repair—a charged lithium‑ion battery may catch fire if damaged.

    • Completely power off your device and unplug all cables.

    • If you have a microSD card installed, remove it. The card can easily be damaged when removing the motherboard.

    • Consider laying your device on a soft cloth to prevent scratching or damaging the screen during your repair.

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    • Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from.

    • Use a Phillips #0 screwdriver to remove the five 17.2 mm‑long screws securing the top edge and bottom corners of the back cover.

    • Use a Phillips #0 screwdriver to fully loosen the remaining captive screw at the center of the bottom edge. This should create a small gap between the back cover and chassis.

    • Don't try to remove this screw.

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    • Insert the flat edge of an opening pick between the bottom edge of the back cover and chassis, near the captive screw.

    • Angle the pick upward and push it under the back cover.

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    • Plastic clips secure the perimeter of the back cover. You should feel and hear them release during this step.

    • Slide the opening pick along the bottom edge and around the corners of the back cover to release the clips securing it.

    • Keep the pick at an upward angle under the back cover to help release the clips.

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    • Lift the bottom edge of the back cover off the chassis to release the remaining clips.

    • Remove the back cover.

    • During reassembly, lay the back cover onto your device and firmly push down around the perimeter to engage the clips.

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    • Use your fingers to peel up and remove the black plastic cover between the fans.

    • Put the cover aside—you'll use it during reassembly.

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    • A metal locking bar secures the top edge of the battery connector

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to gently push the locking bar away from the connector to unlatch it.

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    • Make sure the locking bar is not covering the battery connector at all, or you may damage the socket and the locking bar.

    • Insert the flat end of a spudger under the center of the battery connector.

    • Lift the connector straight up and out of its socket to disconnect the battery.

    • During reassembly, use your fingers or the flat end of a spudger to firmly push the connector onto its socket until it clicks into place.

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    • Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove the four screws securing the battery:

    • Two 9.6 mm‑long screws near the center of the top edge

    • The screw near the left speaker has a warning sticker on it. Pierce through it with your screwdriver or use tweezers to remove it.

    • Two 3.4 mm‑long screws at the left and right edges

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    • With one hand, hold the ribbon cable that runs along the top of the battery out of the way.

    • With your free hand, lift the battery straight up and remove it.

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    • The left fan will be on your right-hand side since your device is laying upside down.

    • Insert the point of a spudger between the tape on the upper edge of the fan and the heatsink foam.

    • Slide the spudger under the length of the tape to separate it from the foam.

    • During reassembly, press the tape back into place to secure it to the heatsink foam.

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    • Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove the 9.6 mm‑long screw securing the left fan.

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    • Gently lift the fan and set it on top of the heatsink foam so you can access the fan cables.

    • Be very careful not to strain the cables, as they can easily be damaged.

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    • Be very careful not to scrape off or damage any of the components on the motherboard during the next two steps.

    • Use tweezers to peel up and remove the piece of tape securing the fan cables to the motherboard.

    • Put the tape aside. You'll use it during reassembly.

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    • Use angled tweezers to pull the fan cable connector straight out of its socket.

    • If you're having trouble, gently rock the connector side-to-side to help loosen it.

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    • Remove the left fan.

    • If your replacement fan doesn't come with tape installed, transfer it from the old fan.

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    • The right fan will be on your left-hand side since your device is laying upside down.

    • Insert the point of a spudger between the tape on the upper edge of the fan and the heatsink foam.

    • Slide the spudger under the length of the tape to separate it from the foam.

    • During reassembly, press the tape back into place to secure it to the heatsink foam.

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    • Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove the 9.6 mm‑long screw securing the right fan.

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    • Gently lift the fan and set it on top of the heatsink foam so you can access the fan cables.

    • Be very careful not to strain the cables, as they can easily be damaged.

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    • Be very careful not to scrape off or damage any of the components on the motherboard during the next two steps.

    • Use tweezers to peel up and remove the piece of tape securing the fan cables to the motherboard.

    • Put the tape aside. You'll use it during reassembly.

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    • Use angled tweezers to pull the fan cable connector straight out of its socket.

    • If you're having trouble, gently rock the connector side-to-side to help loosen it.

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    • Remove the right fan.

    • If your replacement fan doesn't come with tape installed, transfer it from the old fan.

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    • The right thumbstick will be on your left-hand side since your device is laying upside down.

    • Use a spudger or a clean fingernail to lift the locking flap on the thumbstick interconnect cable ZIF connector, located on the right thumbstick board.

    • Use tweezers to grip the cable's blue pull tab and pull the connector straight out of its socket.

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    • Use the point of a spudger to lift the locking flap on the right thumbstick ring ZIF connector.

    • Use tweezers to grip the cable's blue pull tab and pull the connector straight out of its socket.

    • The black line on the ZIF connector cables mark the connection area. During reassembly, insert the cables into their sockets up to this line.

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    • Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove the four 3.4 mm‑long screws securing the right thumbstick assembly.

    • During reassembly, keep the left edge of your device lifted while you tighten the screws so the thumbstick doesn't press against your workspace and pop out of place.

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    • Insert the flat end of a spudger between the bottom left edge of the thumbstick assembly and the chassis.

    • Pry up the thumbstick assembly and remove it, making sure to thread the thumbstick ring cable through its cutout.

    • During reassembly:

    • Orient the board over your device thumbstick side down.

    • Thread the thumbstick ring cable through its cutout on the board.

    • Lift the left edge of your device and push the thumbstick assembly firmly into place so the small circular cutouts on the left edge go over their alignment posts. The board should stay firmly in place.

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    • Use a spudger or a clean fingernail to lift the locking flap on the thumbstick interconnect cable ZIF connector, located on the left thumbstick board.

    • Use tweezers to grip the cable's blue pull tab and pull the connector straight out of its socket.

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    • Remove the thumbstick interconnect cable and set it aside for reassembly.

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    • Use the point of a spudger to lift the locking flap on the left thumbstick ring ZIF connector.

    • Use tweezers to grip the cable's blue pull tab and pull the connector straight out of its socket.

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    • Use tweezers to peel up the tape covering the main board interconnect cable ZIF connector.

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    • Use a spudger or a clean fingernail to lift the locking flap on the main board interconnect cable ZIF connector.

    • Use tweezers to grip the cable's blue pull tab and pull the connector straight out of its socket.

    • The black line on the ZIF connector cables mark the connection area. During reassembly, insert the cables into their sockets up to this line.

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    • Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove the four 3.4 mm‑long screws securing the left thumbstick assembly.

    • During reassembly, keep the right edge of your device lifted while you tighten the screws so the thumbstick doesn't press against your workspace and pop out of place.

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    • Insert the flat end of a spudger between the bottom right edge of the thumbstick assembly and the chassis.

    • Pry up the thumbstick assembly and remove it.

    • During reassembly:

    • Orient the board over your device thumbstick side down.

    • Thread the thumbstick ring cable through its cutout on the board.

    • Lift the right edge of your device and push the thumbstick assembly firmly into place so the small circular cutouts on the right edge go over their alignment posts. The board should stay firmly in place.

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    • Use the flat end of a spudger or a clean fingernail to lift the locking flap on the screen cable ZIF connector, located on the bottom left corner of the motherboard.

    • Use tweezers to grip the cable's orange pull tab and pull the connector straight out of its socket.

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    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up and disconnect the power button press connector from the middle of the motherboard's top edge.

    • To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Don't try to force the connector into place. A misaligned connector can bend the pins and cause permanent damage.

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    • Slide one arm of your angled tweezers under the metal neck of one of the antenna cables coaxial connectors, near the top left corner of the motherboard.

    • Lift only on the metal sections of the connectors. Don't lift the cables themselves.

    • Gently lift straight up to disconnect the cable.

    • Repeat the disconnection process for the other antenna cable.

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    • Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove the nine 3.4 mm‑long screws securing the motherboard.

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    • If you have a microSD card installed, make sure to remove it before continuing.

    • With one hand, firmly secure your device.

    • With your free hand, lift the bottom edge of the motherboard and pull it towards the bottom of the chassis to remove it.

    • During reassembly:

    • With one hand, lift the top edge of your device so the actions buttons and D-Pad aren't touching your work surface.

    • Visually check that all the buttons are fully and properly in their recesses. If they aren't, they won't press correctly.

    • With your device lifted, use your free hand to slide the motherboard into place at a slight downward angle.

    • Make sure the bumper buttons near the upper corners go under the plastic bumpers and the ports along the top edge go into their cutouts.

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    • The right thumbstick ring will be on your left-hand side since your device is laying upside down.

    • Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove the three 3.4 mm‑long screws securing the right RGB thumbstick ring.

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    • Lift the thumbstick ring straight up and remove it.

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    • If your replacement thumbstick ring doesn't come with a cable, follow the next two steps to remove and transfer the old one.

    • With one hand, firmly secure the thumbstick ring.

    • With your free hand, use the point of a spudger to flip up the locking flap on the thumbstick ring ZIF connector.

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    • Use tweezers or your fingers to gently pull the cable straight out of its socket and remove it.

    • The black line on the ZIF connector cable marks the connection area. During reassembly, insert the cable into their sockets up to this line.

Conclusion

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 Answers community for help.

Spencer Day

Member since: 14/09/22

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