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Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement

What you need

  1. Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Prepare your Steam Deck for disassembly: step 1, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Prepare your Steam Deck for disassembly: step 1, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Prepare your Steam Deck for disassembly: step 1, image 3 of 3
    • 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. Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Remove the back cover screws: step 2, image 1 of 2 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Remove the back cover screws: step 2, image 2 of 2
    Tool used on this step:
    FixMat
    $36.95
    Buy
    • 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. Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Unclip a handle: step 3, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Unclip a handle: step 3, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Unclip a handle: step 3, image 3 of 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.

  4. Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Unclip the top and bottom edges: step 4, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Unclip the top and bottom edges: step 4, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Unclip the top and bottom edges: step 4, image 3 of 3
    • Reinsert your pick and slide it along the top and bottom edges until the back cover feels loose.

  5. Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Remove the back cover: step 5, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Remove the back cover: step 5, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Remove the back cover: step 5, image 3 of 3
    • Grip the unclipped handle and pull it away from the front shell to release the remaining clips.

    • Remove the back cover.

  6. Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Disconnect the battery: step 6, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Disconnect the battery: step 6, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Disconnect the battery: step 6, image 3 of 3
    • 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.

  7. Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Reassembly instructions: step 7, image 1 of 2 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Reassembly instructions: step 7, image 2 of 2
    • 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.

  8. Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Reassembly instructions: step 8, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Reassembly instructions: step 8, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Reassembly instructions: step 8, image 3 of 3
    • During reassembly:

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

  9. Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Reassembly instructions: step 9, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Reassembly instructions: step 9, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Reassembly instructions: step 9, image 3 of 3
    • 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.

  10. Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Disconnect the right thumbstick: step 10, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Disconnect the right thumbstick: step 10, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Disconnect the right thumbstick: step 10, image 3 of 3
    Tool used on this step:
    Tweezers
    $4.99
    Buy
    • 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.

  11. Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Disconnect the interconnect cable: step 11, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Disconnect the interconnect cable: step 11, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Disconnect the interconnect cable: step 11, image 3 of 3
    Tool used on this step:
    Tweezers
    $4.99
    Buy
    • Use a spudger to flip up the small white locking flap on the right button board interconnect cable ZIF connector.

    • The pull tab on this connector may be labeled C‑R.

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

    • During reassembly, don't reconnect this cable yet. You'll reconnect it later.

  12. Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Disconnect the right thumbstick: step 12, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Disconnect the right thumbstick: step 12, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Disconnect the right thumbstick: step 12, image 3 of 3
    • Flip up the small black locking flap on the right thumbstick cable ZIF connector.

    • The pull tabs on the remaining ZIF connectors in this procedure may be labeled DB.

    • Slide the connector straight out of its socket to disconnect it.

  13. Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Disconnect the right button board: step 13, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Disconnect the right button board: step 13, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Disconnect the right button board: step 13, image 3 of 3
    • Flip up the small locking flap on the button board cable ZIF connector, located in the bottom left corner.

    • Slide the connector straight out of its socket to disconnect it.

  14. Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Disconnect the remaining ZIF connectors: step 14, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Disconnect the remaining ZIF connectors: step 14, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Disconnect the remaining ZIF connectors: step 14, image 3 of 3
    • Repeat the ZIF cable disconnection procedure for the remaining three ZIF connectors:

    • The touchpad cable

    • The touchpad board cable

    • You may need to lift this cable as you pull to free its arms.

    • The action buttons and menu button cable

  15. Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Disconnect the right haptics: step 15, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Disconnect the right haptics: step 15, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Disconnect the right haptics: step 15, image 3 of 3
    • If you aren't replacing your button board, you can leave this cable connected and lay the board over the left side of the frame after you've removed the screws.

    • Be careful when disconnecting the haptics, as the cables and connector are very delicate. Pry only on the base of the white connector, and not on the cables or socket.

    • Insert the point of your spudger under the neck of the haptics cable connector.

    • Gently pry up to disconnect it.

  16. Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Remove the right button board screws: step 16, image 1 of 1
    • Use your T6 Torx driver to remove the four screws securing the right button board:

    • Two 5.9 mm‑long screws

    • One 3.8 mm‑long screw

    • One 4.9 mm‑long screw

  17. Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Remove the right button board: step 17, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Remove the right button board: step 17, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Remove the right button board: step 17, image 3 of 3
    • Insert the point of your spudger between the bottom left corner of the button board and the frame.

    • Pry up until you can grab the button board with your fingers.

    • Remove the button board.

    • During reassembly, make sure none of the six cables become trapped underneath the button board as you lay it into place.

  18. Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Remove the right thumbstick screws: step 18, image 1 of 2 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Remove the right thumbstick screws: step 18, image 2 of 2
    • 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.

  19. Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Remove the right thumbstick: step 19, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Remove the right thumbstick: step 19, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Remove the right thumbstick: step 19, image 3 of 3
    • Grip the edges of the thumbstick board and rotate it clockwise to clear the trigger.

    • Remove the thumbstick.

  20. Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Unclip the right trigger: step 20, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Unclip the right trigger: step 20, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Unclip the right trigger: step 20, image 3 of 3
    • The right trigger is on your left-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 right clip.

    • Use your fingers to push the trigger toward the right 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 left peg first. Once in place, push down on the trigger to latch the right peg, producing an audible "click" sound.

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

  21. Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Remove the right bumper assembly screws: step 21, image 1 of 1
    • Use your T6 Torx driver to remove the three 5.9 mm‑long screws securing the right bumper assembly.

  22. Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Remove the right bumper assembly: step 22, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Remove the right bumper assembly: step 22, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Remove the right bumper assembly: step 22, image 3 of 3
    • Grip the right arm of the bumper assembly and lift it off the alignment pegs.

    • Slide the assembly to the right to clear the tab on the left edge of the frame.

    • Remove the assembly.

    • The action and menu buttons membrane might stay stuck to the underside of the bumper bracket. If so, remove it.

    • During reassembly, line up the bumper bracket with the alignment posts in the frame as you set it into place.

  23. Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Remove the buttons membrane: step 23, image 1 of 2 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Remove the buttons membrane: step 23, image 2 of 2
    • If the action and menu buttons membrane stayed on the bumper bracket, skip this step.

    • Remove the action and menu buttons membrane from the frame.

  24. Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Remove the menu button: step 24, image 1 of 2 Steam Deck OLED Menu Button Replacement, Remove the menu button: step 24, image 2 of 2
    Tool used on this step:
    Tweezers
    $4.99
    Buy
    • Use tweezers to remove the menu button.

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.

Clay Eickemeyer

Member since: 09/19/22

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