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DualSense Joystick Replacement

What you need

  1. DualSense Joystick Replacement, Unclip the right end of the middle trim: step 1, image 1 of 2 DualSense Joystick Replacement, Unclip the right end of the middle trim: step 1, image 2 of 2
    • Disconnect and power down your controller before you begin.

    • Insert an opening pick underneath the middle trim at the bottom-right corner of the controller to release the clips securing it to the case.

  2. DualSense Joystick Replacement, Unclip the lower-right edge of the middle trim: step 2, image 1 of 3 DualSense Joystick Replacement, Unclip the lower-right edge of the middle trim: step 2, image 2 of 3 DualSense Joystick Replacement, Unclip the lower-right edge of the middle trim: step 2, image 3 of 3
    • Slide the opening pick along the lower-right edge of the middle trim to release the clips securing it to the case.

  3. DualSense Joystick Replacement, Unclip the left end of the middle trim: step 3, image 1 of 2 DualSense Joystick Replacement, Unclip the left end of the middle trim: step 3, image 2 of 2
    • Insert an opening pick underneath the middle trim at the bottom-left corner of the controller to release the clips securing it to the case.

  4. DualSense Joystick Replacement, Unclip the lower-left edge of the middle trim: step 4, image 1 of 3 DualSense Joystick Replacement, Unclip the lower-left edge of the middle trim: step 4, image 2 of 3 DualSense Joystick Replacement, Unclip the lower-left edge of the middle trim: step 4, image 3 of 3
    • Slide the opening pick along the lower-left edge of the middle trim to release the clips securing it to the case.

  5. DualSense Joystick Replacement, Remove the middle trim: step 5, image 1 of 3 DualSense Joystick Replacement, Remove the middle trim: step 5, image 2 of 3 DualSense Joystick Replacement, Remove the middle trim: step 5, image 3 of 3
    • Use your fingers to lift up the bottom edge of the middle trim to release the remaining clips.

    • Lift the middle trim over the joysticks to remove it.

  6. DualSense Joystick Replacement, Remove the L1 button: step 6, image 1 of 3 DualSense Joystick Replacement, Remove the L1 button: step 6, image 2 of 3 DualSense Joystick Replacement, Remove the L1 button: step 6, image 3 of 3
    • Insert the flat end of a spudger into the gap above the L1 button.

    • Cover the button with your thumb to prevent it from ejecting across the room.

    • Pry upward to remove the L1 button.

  7. DualSense Joystick Replacement, Remove the R1 button: step 7, image 1 of 3 DualSense Joystick Replacement, Remove the R1 button: step 7, image 2 of 3 DualSense Joystick Replacement, Remove the R1 button: step 7, image 3 of 3
    • Insert the flat end of a spudger into the gap above the R1 button.

    • Cover the button with your thumb to prevent it from ejecting across the room.

    • Pry upward to remove the R1 button.

  8. DualSense Joystick Replacement, Remove the rear case: step 8, image 1 of 2 DualSense Joystick Replacement, Remove the rear case: step 8, image 2 of 2
    • Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two 6.4 mm screws securing the bottom corners of the lower case.

  9. DualSense Joystick Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 2 DualSense Joystick Replacement: step 9, image 2 of 2
    • Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two 6.4 mm screws behind the L1 and R1 buttons.

  10. DualSense Joystick Replacement: step 10, image 1 of 3 DualSense Joystick Replacement: step 10, image 2 of 3 DualSense Joystick Replacement: step 10, image 3 of 3
    • Use the pointed edge of a spudger to unclip the two clips on either side of the headset jack.

  11. DualSense Joystick Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 2 DualSense Joystick Replacement: step 11, image 2 of 2
    • Remove the rear case.

    • On some revisions, the rear case is held with two more clips next to the previously removed bumpers. If the rear case doesn't open without force, check for those clips.

  12. DualSense Joystick Replacement, Disconnect the battery: step 12, image 1 of 2 DualSense Joystick Replacement, Disconnect the battery: step 12, image 2 of 2
    • Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to disconnect the battery from the motherboard.

    • Grip the connector, not the wires, when disconnecting.

  13. DualSense Joystick Replacement, Remove the battery: step 13, image 1 of 2 DualSense Joystick Replacement, Remove the battery: step 13, image 2 of 2
    • Lift the battery straight out of the battery bracket.

  14. DualSense Joystick Replacement, Remove the lower microphone: step 14, image 1 of 2 DualSense Joystick Replacement, Remove the lower microphone: step 14, image 2 of 2
    • Grab the lower microphone ribbon cable pull tab with your fingers or a pair of tweezers and disconnect it from the motherboard.

  15. DualSense Joystick Replacement, Remove the battery bracket: step 15, image 1 of 2 DualSense Joystick Replacement, Remove the battery bracket: step 15, image 2 of 2
    • Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the 6.4 mm screw securing the battery bracket.

  16. DualSense Joystick Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 2 DualSense Joystick Replacement: step 16, image 2 of 2
    • Lift the battery bracket out of the motherboard.

  17. DualSense Joystick Replacement, Disconnect the right trigger assembly: step 17, image 1 of 2 DualSense Joystick Replacement, Disconnect the right trigger assembly: step 17, image 2 of 2
    • Grip the right trigger assembly ribbon cable pull tab with a pair of tweezers or your fingers and pull up to disconnect it from the motherboard.

    • Do not completely remove the ribbon cable yet.

  18. DualSense Joystick Replacement: step 18, image 1 of 2 DualSense Joystick Replacement: step 18, image 2 of 2
    • Grip the right trigger assembly ribbon cable pull tab with a pair of tweezers or your fingers, and pull up to disconnect it from the trigger assembly.

    • Remove the ribbon cable.

  19. DualSense Joystick Replacement, Disconnect the left trigger assembly: step 19, image 1 of 2 DualSense Joystick Replacement, Disconnect the left trigger assembly: step 19, image 2 of 2
    • Grip the left trigger assembly ribbon cable pull tab with a pair of tweezers or your fingers and pull up to disconnect it from the motherboard.

    • Do not completely remove the ribbon cable yet.

  20. DualSense Joystick Replacement: step 20, image 1 of 2 DualSense Joystick Replacement: step 20, image 2 of 2
    • Grip the left trigger assembly ribbon cable pull tab with a pair of tweezers or your fingers, and pull up to disconnect it from the trigger assembly.

    • Remove the ribbon cable.

  21. DualSense Joystick Replacement, Disconnect the upper microphone: step 21, image 1 of 2 DualSense Joystick Replacement, Disconnect the upper microphone: step 21, image 2 of 2
    • Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to grip the upper microphone ribbon cable pull tab, and pull up to disconnect it from the motherboard.

  22. DualSense Joystick Replacement, Disconnect the touchpad: step 22, image 1 of 2 DualSense Joystick Replacement, Disconnect the touchpad: step 22, image 2 of 2
    • Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to grip the touchpad ribbon cable pull tab, and pull it straight out of the motherboard connector.

  23. DualSense Joystick Replacement, Lift out the motherboard: step 23, image 1 of 3 DualSense Joystick Replacement, Lift out the motherboard: step 23, image 2 of 3 DualSense Joystick Replacement, Lift out the motherboard: step 23, image 3 of 3
    • Carefully guide the joysticks through the front case and lift the motherboard out.

    • Do not completely remove the motherboard. There are four soldered wires tethering the motherboard to the vibrator motors.

  24. DualSense Joystick Replacement, Desolder the vibration motors: step 24, image 1 of 3 DualSense Joystick Replacement, Desolder the vibration motors: step 24, image 2 of 3 DualSense Joystick Replacement, Desolder the vibration motors: step 24, image 3 of 3
    • Flip over the controller and motherboard.

    • Use a soldering iron to desolder the vibration motor wires from the motherboard:

    • Two red wires

    • Two black wires

    • During reassembly, remember to solder the wires back into the same position. The red wires belong closest to the edge and next to the Rs on the motherboard.

  25. DualSense Joystick Replacement: step 25, image 1 of 1
    • Separate the controller from the motherboard.

  26. DualSense Joystick Replacement, Remove the joystick covers: step 26, image 1 of 3 DualSense Joystick Replacement, Remove the joystick covers: step 26, image 2 of 3 DualSense Joystick Replacement, Remove the joystick covers: step 26, image 3 of 3
    • Pull the joystick covers straight off the joystick assemblies.

    • Only the motherboard remains.

  27. DualSense Joystick Replacement, Desolder the joysticks: step 27, image 1 of 2 DualSense Joystick Replacement, Desolder the joysticks: step 27, image 2 of 2
    Tool used on this step:
    Desoldering Pump
    $3.99
    Buy
  28. DualSense Joystick Replacement: step 28, image 1 of 1
    • Remove the joysticks from the motherboard.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow the above steps 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 Answers community for help.

17 other people completed this guide.

Sam Omiotek

Member since: 02/25/19

72,896 Reputation

288 Guides authored

14 Comments

can I use Dualshock 4 joystick in the Dualsense ?

Kia - Reply

Yes, the joysticks are the same in both controllers.

Wes -

Thanks - we see this Code a lot on the machines in our apartment building

Docits - Reply

How do you differentiate a real joystick part from fake ones? Since in my situation i can't order straight from sony.

TryJak - Reply

I would suggest getting a PS4 Dualshock controller from the classifieds since there's a pile of them available for cheap and take the analogue stick from there.

Philip Sedlmair -

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