Steam Deck OLED Left Trigger Replacement

Written By: Clay Eickemeyer
  • Comments: 1
Steam Deck OLED Left Trigger Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

11

Time Required

30 - 45 minutes

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the left trigger (L2) in your Steam Deck OLED.

Although the procedure is nearly identical, follow this guide to replace the right trigger (R2).

Remember to follow general electrostatic discharge (ESD) safety procedures while repairing your device.

  1. wg1CPbiBgYbiTVlf
    wg1CPbiBgYbiTVlf
    nJjXUM3KksnJHIgN
    mLdVpQ6WWvINGWuE

    • Turn on your Steam Deck and allow the battery to discharge below 25% before starting your repairs, as a charged lithium-ion polymer battery can be dangerous if accidentally punctured.

    • 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.

    • Power down your Steam Deck and unplug any cables.

    • If you have a microSD card installed, make sure to remove it before opening the Steam Deck. If you attempt to remove the back cover with it still installed, it could snap right in half.

    • During your repair, it can be helpful at times to lay the Steam Deck face-down in its case to protect the thumbsticks and prevent wobble.

  2. CU2nvWsgJGWI2Rut
    CU2nvWsgJGWI2Rut
    HUaIpoLKT3gGOD53

    • Use a T6 Torx driver to remove the eight 5.8 mm‑long screws securing the back cover.

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

  3. rEBEVxNkrDU5dsek
    rEBEVxNkrDU5dsek
    rIRRhvkBKVWODhWI
    A4aS52mtPxxkwit5

    • Insert an opening pick at an upward angle between the back cover and the front shell near one of the triggers.

    • If you can't insert your pick here, try along the top or bottom edges of the Steam Deck OLED before sliding it toward the handle.

    • Slide your pick along the edge of the handle to release the clips securing it to the front shell.

  4. yYcl1PRUGUuYu2AV
    yYcl1PRUGUuYu2AV
    Z61KAZVNuuuFxgBL
    5ji5HRJa5qu1niLI

    • Reinsert your pick and slide it along the top and bottom edges until the back cover feels loose.

  5. 3hO2o6jhWtTFtqUB
    3hO2o6jhWtTFtqUB
    HZa1Pau2KaJcrM1I
    2pXBrjoLgvKGSFGx

    • Grip the unclipped handle and pull it away from the front shell to release the remaining clips.

    • Remove the back cover.

  6. OKJYYpHQNvn4X1nk
    OKJYYpHQNvn4X1nk
    GaA5rrvDLfGCHRBc
    d6WmlRapenltwItT

    • Grip the battery cable pull tab, located to the left of the battery.

    • Firmly pull the battery cable straight away from the motherboard shield (toward the battery) to disconnect it.

    • This bundled cable is fairly stiff. If you're having trouble, re-grip the pull tab close to the head of the connector and gently walk it side-to-side as you pull.

    • If the cable pull-tab feels fragile or rips during this process, remove the motherboard shield and disconnect the cable using a spudger.

    • When the battery cable comes free, it might push up on the motherboard shield. Don't worry, as this won't damage anything.

    The pull tab can come off revealing the wires. The instructions should be updated to reflect that catch.

    Khurram Tariq -

  7. Y2dKx1uklHVSgHct
    Y2dKx1uklHVSgHct
    YfYdFfjbm6ftyKGo

    • During disassembly, skip the next four steps.

    • During reassembly:

    • Reinstall the two 3.8 mm‑long screws to secure the motherboard shield.

    • Reconnect the interconnect cable ZIF connector.

  8. NPOSGMuDh4R1TBPD
    NPOSGMuDh4R1TBPD
    5AjsBfuQL1MnMiOy
    cCwJITNQcAn1kQw6

    • During reassembly:

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to slide the battery connector into its socket on the motherboard.

  9. VFpxUmTfIGIlRmnr
    VFpxUmTfIGIlRmnr
    BHXO1C63DbO2xvVe
    DnV2d2OCHTvhyFfn

    • During reassembly:

    • Use your T6 Torx driver to remove the two 3.8 mm‑long screws securing the motherboard shield.

    • Lift the top edge of the motherboard shield up and flip it over the bottom edge of the frame, away from the motherboard.

    • Be careful not to crease or strain the cable.

  10. G2UWpHGLOJiUGUUx
    G2UWpHGLOJiUGUUx
    lk1oG4JgsPKTc6Kk
    mrBySIgdx6mHWHXQ

    • During reassembly, follow this step and the above four steps to reconnect the battery.

    • In this reassembly step, you'll disconnect the interconnect cable to free the motherboard shield.

    • Use a spudger to flip up the small white locking flap on the right button board interconnect cable ZIF connector.

    • Use tweezers or your fingers to grip the cable's pull tab and slide it straight out of its socket to disconnect it.

    • The pull tab may be labelled C‑R.

  11. 4XPmxov3ON1EcGdu
    4XPmxov3ON1EcGdu
    yKiTNfSw5D3OWEj1
    lDSiqqA6pcNHIVRr

    • The left trigger is on your right-hand side when working on the Steam Deck OLED, as it's laying upside down.

    • The trigger clips into place on two pegs on the frame, which double as the hinge.

    • Place the flat end of a spudger onto the inside edge of the trigger's left clip.

    • Use your fingers to push the trigger toward the left as you wedge the spudger between the clip and the peg.

    • Use your spudger to pivot the trigger clip out, away, and up from the peg to unlatch it.

    • During reassembly, latch the right peg first. Once in place, push down on the trigger to latch the left peg, producing an audible "click" sound.

    • Check to make sure that the trigger spring is properly aligned. Test the trigger action before continuing reassembly.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Steam Deck OLED answers community for help.

Author

Clay Eickemeyer

Member since: 19/09/22

65196 Reputation

0 comments