Steam Deck OLED Right Thumbstick Replacement

Written By: Clay Eickemeyer

Comments: 3

Steam Deck OLED Right Thumbstick Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

30 - 45 minutes

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the right thumbstick in your Steam Deck OLED. The stick is part of a complete module and needs to be replaced as one unit.

Although the procedure is nearly identical, follow this guide to replace the left thumbstick.

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

Tools

Step 1

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.

Step 2

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.

Step 3

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.

Step 4

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

Step 5

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

Step 6

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 -

Step 7

During disassembly, skip the next three steps.
During reassembly:
Reinstall the two 3.8 mm‑long screws to secure the motherboard shield.
Reconnect the interconnect cable ZIF connector.

Step 8

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

Step 9

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

Step 10

Use the point of a spudger to flip up the small locking flap on the right thumbstick ZIF connector.
The pull tab on this connector may be labeled TS.
Use tweezers or your fingers to grip the cable's pull tab and slide the connector straight out of its socket to disconnect it.

Step 11

Use your T6 Torx driver to remove the three 5.9 mm‑long screws securing the right thumbstick.
During reassembly, hold the Steam Deck OLED off your work surface so it doesn't rest on your thumbstick as you tighten the screws.

Step 12

Grip the edges of the thumbstick board and rotate it clockwise to clear the trigger.
Remove the thumbstick.

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 Steam Deck OLED answers community for help.

2 comments

Hi there, can the thumbstick modules from the LCD model be used in the OLED? I'm not seeing a listing on ifixit's website for OLED specific thumbstick modules.

Molsen -

I have the Gulikit joystick modules from the 1st gen SD and although the mounting locations are the same the flexible tape wiring harness is wider on the 2nd gen OLED SD. Another issue will/would be, is if you have a 2nd gen limited SD with the red accents it appears you most likely will have to desolder/solder a single wire for each unit in order to reuse those red shields with the newer sticks. Not a horrible task but one to beware of.

1. I'd wait till someone pops a drop in replacement like they did for the 1st gen.

2. Keep an eye out to see if they make it in the color you're replacing.

Hope this helps.

david smith - 08/03/24