Steam Deck Fan Replacement

Gerät: Steam Deck
Schwierigkeit: Mittel
Geschätzte Dauer: ⏱ 30 min

Use this guide to replace the cooling fan in your Steam Deck LCD, or remove it for cleaning.

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

Note: Valve started shipping Steam Decks with refreshed internal designs in early 2023. Your Steam Deck may look different than the one depicted in the photos, but the procedure is the same. The Steam Deck's fan design differs between versions. Before ordering a replacement fan, remove the back cover of your Steam Deck to check what version you have. An original Steam Deck will have a metallic motherboard shield and a fan with square sides, as seen here. A refreshed Steam Deck will have a black motherboard shield and a fan with curved sides, as seen here.

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Werkzeuge

iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) Verfügbarkeit: Externe Bezugsquelle Bei iFixit kaufen →
Phillips #0 Screwdriver Verfügbarkeit: Externe Bezugsquelle Bei iFixit kaufen →
Phillips #1 Screwdriver Verfügbarkeit: Externe Bezugsquelle Bei iFixit kaufen →
Tweezers Verfügbarkeit: Externe Bezugsquelle Bei iFixit kaufen →

Ersatzteile

Steam Deck LCD (Original Model) Fan Verfügbarkeit: Externe Bezugsquelle Bei iFixit kaufen →
Steam Deck LCD (Refreshed Model) Fan Verfügbarkeit: Externe Bezugsquelle Bei iFixit kaufen →

Anleitung

Prepare your Steam Deck for disassembly
Vorsicht: Caution 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.

Hinweis: Note As an extra precaution, Valve recommends putting your Steam Deck into <strong>battery storage mode</strong> within the BIOS before starting any internal repairs. <a href="https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/How+to+Enable+Steam+Deck+Battery+Storage+Mode/149962">Read how to do that here</a>.

Power down your Steam Deck and unplug any cables.

Vorsicht: Caution If you have a microSD card installed, <strong>make sure to remove it</strong> before opening the Steam Deck. If you attempt to remove the back cover with it still installed, <a href="https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/744361/Broken+and+stuck+SD+card+inside+steam+deck" target="_blank">it could snap right in half</a>.

Hinweis: Note During your repair, it can be helpful at times to lay the Steam Deck face-down into its case to protect the thumbsticks and prevent wobble.
Remove the back cover screws
Use a Phillips driver to remove the eight screws securing the back cover:

Four coarse thread 9.5 mm-long screws

Four fine thread 5.8 mm-long screws

Hinweis: Note Despite the standards, Phillips screwdrivers can vary in size and shape—two drivers labeled as the same size may fit differently in the same screw. Use the size that fits the snuggest into the screw head.

Hinweis: Note Throughout this repair, <a href="https://www.ifixit.com/en-eu/products/fixmat" target="_blank" class="product-link">keep track of each screw</a> and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from to avoid damaging your Steam Deck.
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.

Hinweis: Note If you're having trouble inserting your pick at the grip seam, try starting at either the top or bottom long edges first, then slide the pick towards the grip.

Pry up on the back cover to release it from the locking clips.
Remove the back cover
Hinweis: Note 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.
Uncover the hidden shield screw
Hinweis: Note If you have a <a href="https://guide-images.cdn.ifixit.com/igi/l2ABGc6CMQFIytZB.full" target="_blank">refreshed Steam Deck version</a> with the black motherboard cover, skip this step.

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the piece of foil tape covering the hidden screw on the board shield.

Hinweis: Note 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.
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

Hinweis: Note Only the two 3.7 mm screws along the left edge are present in refreshed Steam Decks.
Remove the shield
Remove the board shield.

Hinweis: Note Depending on the age of your Steam Deck, this shield may stick to the thermal pads underneath.

Erinnerung: Reminder During reassembly, ensure that the fan cable <a href="https://guide-images.cdn.ifixit.com/igi/GghDN4jfZlhN4fZD.full">lays on the side of the board shield</a> and isn't pinched underneath.
Disconnect the battery
Grip the battery cable by its pull tab and pull it directly away from the motherboard to disconnect it.

Hinweis: Note Alternatively, use the flat end of a spudger or a clean fingernail to gently push the connector out of its socket, then disconnect it completely by hand.
Remove the heatsink sticker
Use a pair of tweezers to remove the sticker from the top edge of the fan.

Hinweis: Note If possible, try not to rip or tear this sticker so it can be reused. Use a little bit of heat if necessary to soften the adhesive.

Hinweis: Note If the sticker feels like it might tear, use tweezers to peel up one edge just until you can grip it with your fingers, then remove the rest by hand.
Disconnect the fan
Use a pair of tweezers to grip the edges of the fan connector and pull up to disconnect it from the motherboard.

Vorsicht: Caution Pull the fan cable by its connector, not the wires themselves.

Erinnerung: Reminder During reassembly, be gentle while plugging in the fan connector.

Vorsicht: Caution If the connector is misaligned, the use of too much force can damage the fragile internal pins.
Remove the fan screws
Use a Phillips driver to remove the two 3.7 mm screws securing the fan.

Hinweis: Note No, your eyes don't deceive you! The other two fan screws were removed earlier in the disassembly: they double as <a href="https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Steam+Deck+Fan+Replacement/148903#s306453">two back cover screws</a>.
Remove the fan
Remove the fan.

Erinnerung: Reminder When installing a replacement fan, peel off the plastic liner on the cable adhesive and adhere it to the fan body in the same location as the cable on the old fan, so it'll <a href="https://guide-images.cdn.ifixit.com/igi/GghDN4jfZlhN4fZD.full">lay on the side of the board shield</a> and not get pinched underneath.

Abschluss

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.

Werkzeuge

Ersatzteile

Anleitung

Prepare your Steam Deck for disassembly

Remove the back cover screws

Unclip the back cover

Remove the back cover

Uncover the hidden shield screw

Remove the shield screws

Remove the shield

Disconnect the battery

Remove the heatsink sticker

Disconnect the fan

Remove the fan screws

Remove the fan

Abschluss