Steam Deck Left Touchpad Replacement

Gerät: Steam Deck
Schwierigkeit: Mittel
Geschätzte Dauer: ⏱ 1 h

Use this guide to replace the left touchpad on your Steam Deck LCD. The touchpad itself is part of a larger module—including haptics—and needs to be replaced as one unit. Although similar, the procedure for the right touchpad can be found here.

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

Note: The touchpad's springs are very delicate and are precisely positioned. If bent, the touchpad may rattle or not work as intended.

These steps only describe how to physically remove and replace your console’s touchpad. You may need additional software tools and calibration procedures to get the replacement touchpad to function as intended.

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Werkzeuge

iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) Verfügbarkeit: Externe Bezugsquelle Bei iFixit kaufen →
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Tweezers 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.
Unclip the left trigger
Hinweis: Note The <strong>left</strong> trigger will be on your <strong>right-hand side</strong> when working on the Steam Deck, as it's laying upside down.

Hinweis: Note The Steam Deck's triggers clip into place on two pegs on the trigger bracket, which doubles as the hinge.

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

Pivot the trigger clip out, away, and up from the peg to unlatch it.

Erinnerung: Reminder During reassembly, latch the outermost peg first. Once in place, push down on the trigger to latch the innermost peg, producing an audible "<strong>click</strong>" sound.

Hinweis: Note Check to make sure that the trigger spring is properly aligned. Test the trigger action before continuing reassembly.
Remove the left trigger
Remove the left trigger.

Hinweis: Note Take care to not lose the trigger spring. It press-fits onto a peg on the trigger's underside.
Remove the trigger bracket screws
Use a Phillips driver to remove the three 5.2 mm screws securing the left trigger bracket.
Remove the trigger bracket
Remove the left trigger bracket.

Erinnerung: Reminder Replacement triggers require calibration to work as expected. To calibrate new triggers, follow <a href="https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/How+to+Calibrate+Steam+Deck+Triggers/150411">this calibration guide</a>.
Disconnect the left thumbstick
Use the pointed end of a spudger to lift up the small locking flap on the thumbstick cable's ZIF connector.

Use a pair of tweezers to slide the cable out of its connector.

Hinweis: Note Grip the cable by the blue pull tab, not by the cable itself.
Remove the thumbstick screws
Use a Phillips driver to remove the three 5.2 mm screws securing the thumbstick.

Hinweis: Note During reassembly, you may need to hold the Steam Deck off of the work surface so it isn't resting on the new thumbstick while you tighten down the screws.
Remove the left thumbstick
Remove the left thumbstick.
Disconnect the interconnect cable
Use the pointed end of a spudger to lift up the small locking flap on the button board interconnect cable's ZIF connector.

Use a pair of tweezers to slide the cable out of its connector.

Hinweis: Note Grip the cable by the blue pull tab, not by the cable itself.
Disconnect the remaining button board cables
If any connectors are covered with tape, use a pair of tweezers to remove it.

Use the pointed end of a spudger to lift up the small locking flaps on the rest of the button board ZIF connectors. Use a pair of tweezers to slide the cables out of their connectors:

Disconnect the D-pad cable.

Disconnect the touchpad board cable.

Disconnect the touchpad cable.
Disconnect the left haptics
Vorsicht: Caution Exercise caution when lifting this connector—pry up on the connector itself, not its housing.

Use the pointed end of a spudger to lift up on the haptics cable to disconnect it.

Hinweis: Note Alternatively, you can leave the haptics connected to the button board and flip the board up and over the edge of the shell and out of the way.
Remove the button board screws
Use a Phillips driver to disconnect the four screws securing the left button board:

Three 5.2 mm screws

One 3.9 mm screw
Remove the button board
Remove the left button board.

Hinweis: Note Keep track of the <a href="https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Steam+Deck+Steam+Button+Replacement/148933#s306620">Steam button</a> and its membrane, as once the left button board is removed, they're no longer secured in place.
Remove the touchpad board screws
Use a Phillips driver to remove the four 4.7 mm screws securing the touchpad board.
Remove the touchpad board
Remove the touchpad board.
Remove the touchpad screws
Use a Phillips driver to remove the four 4.7 mm screws securing the touchpad.

Hinweis: Note You may need to temporarily remove the <a href="https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Steam+Deck+Steam+Button+Replacement/148933#s306620">Steam button membrane</a> for easier access to the bottom left screw.

Erinnerung: Reminder Each of the touchpad's four mounting corners have a locating peg. During reassembly, ensure each is properly seated.
Remove the left touchpad
Vorsicht: Caution The touchpad's springs are very delicate and are precisely positioned. If bent, the touchpad may rattle or not work as intended.

From the front of the Steam Deck, use your finger to push the left touchpad partway through the front shell to unseat it.

Lift the touchpad out from underneath the overhanging section of the midframe.

Remove the touchpad.

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.