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Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the quick access button in your Steam Deck OLED.

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

What you need

  1. Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Prepare your Steam Deck for disassembly: step 1, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Prepare your Steam Deck for disassembly: step 1, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access 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.

    Edit

  2. Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Remove the back cover screws: step 2, image 1 of 2 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access 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.

    Edit

  3. Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Unclip a handle: step 3, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Unclip a handle: step 3, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access 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.

    Edit

  4. Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Unclip the top and bottom edges: step 4, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Unclip the top and bottom edges: step 4, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access 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.

    Edit

  5. Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Remove the back cover: step 5, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Remove the back cover: step 5, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access 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.

    Edit

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

    Edit

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

    Edit

  9. Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Reassembly instructions: step 8, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Reassembly instructions: step 8, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access 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.

    Edit

  10. Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Reassembly instructions: step 9, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Reassembly instructions: step 9, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access 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.

    Edit

  11. Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Disconnect the right thumbstick: step 10, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Disconnect the right thumbstick: step 10, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access 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.

    Edit

  12. Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Disconnect the interconnect cable: step 11, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Disconnect the interconnect cable: step 11, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access 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.

    Edit

  13. Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Disconnect the right thumbstick: step 12, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Disconnect the right thumbstick: step 12, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access 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.

    Edit

  14. Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Disconnect the right button board: step 13, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Disconnect the right button board: step 13, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access 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.

    Edit

  15. Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Disconnect the remaining ZIF connectors: step 14, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Disconnect the remaining ZIF connectors: step 14, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access 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

    Edit

  16. Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Disconnect the right haptics: step 15, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Disconnect the right haptics: step 15, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access 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.

    Edit

  17. Steam Deck OLED Quick Access 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

    Edit

  18. Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Remove the right button board: step 17, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Remove the right button board: step 17, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access 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.

    Edit

  19. Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Remove the quick access button membrane: step 18, image 1 of 2 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Remove the quick access button membrane: step 18, image 2 of 2
    Tool used on this step:
    Tweezers
    $4.99
    Buy

    • Use tweezers to remove the quick access button membrane.

    Edit

  20. Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Remove the quick access button: step 19, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Remove the quick access button: step 19, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck OLED Quick Access Button Replacement, Remove the quick access button: step 19, image 3 of 3

    • Use tweezers to remove the quick access button.

    • This button is keyed so it only fits in its recess in the correct orientation.

    Edit
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

with 2 other contributors

Clay Eickemeyer

Member since: 09/19/22

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