Introduction
This guide demonstrates how to remove the left thumbstick in your Steam Deck OLED.
Tools
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Insert an opening pick at an upward angle between the back cover and the front shell near one of the triggers.
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Slide your pick along the edge of the handle to release the clips securing it to the front shell.
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Reinsert your pick and slide it along the top and bottom edges until the back cover feels loose.
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Grip the unclipped handle and pull it away from the front shell to release the remaining clips.
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Remove the back cover.
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Grip the battery cable pull tab, located to the left of the battery.
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Firmly pull the battery cable straight away from the motherboard shield (toward the battery) to disconnect it.
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Use the point of a spudger to flip up the small locking flap on the left thumbstick ZIF connector.
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Use tweezers or your fingers to grip the cable's pull tab and slide the connector straight out of its socket to disconnect it.
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Use a spudger to flip up the small white locking flap on the left button board interconnect cable ZIF connector.
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Use tweezers or your fingers to grip the cable's pull tab and slide it straight out of its socket to disconnect it.
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Flip up the small black locking flap on the left thumbstick cable ZIF connector.
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Slide the connector straight out of its socket to disconnect it.
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Flip up the small locking flap on the D‑pad ZIF connector, located in the top right corner.
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The pull tab on this connector may be labeled DPAD.
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Slide the connector straight out of its socket to disconnect it.
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Insert the point of your spudger under the neck of the haptics cable connector.
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Gently pry up to disconnect it.
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Flip up the small locking flap on the touchpad board cable ZIF connector, located just below the haptics connector.
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Slide the connector straight out of its socket to disconnect it.
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Use your T6 Torx driver to remove the four screws securing the left button board:
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Two 5.9 mm‑long screws
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One 3.8 mm‑long screw
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One 4.9 mm‑long screw
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Insert the point of your spudger between the bottom right corner of the button board and the frame.
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Pry up until you can grab the button board with your fingers.
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Remove the button board.
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Use your T6 Torx driver to remove the three 5.9 mm‑long screws securing the right thumbstick.
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Grip the edges of the thumbstick board and rotate it counterclockwise to clear the trigger.
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Remove the thumbstick.
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To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.