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Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the right touchpad on your Steam Deck. 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 left 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.

What you need

  1. Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Prepare your device: step 1, image 1 of 2 Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Prepare your device: step 1, image 2 of 2

    • Turn on your Steam Deck and allow the battery to discharge below 25% before starting your repairs, as a charged lithium-ion 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 break in half.

    Edit

  2. Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Remove the back cover screws: step 2, image 1 of 1
    Tool used on this step:
    FixMat
    $29.99

    • Use a Phillips driver to remove the eight screws securing the back cover:

    • Four 9.5 mm screws

    • Four 5.8 mm screws

    • Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from to avoid damaging your Steam Deck.

    Edit

  3. Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Unclip the back cover: step 3, image 1 of 2 Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Unclip the back cover: step 3, image 2 of 2

    • Insert an opening pick into the thin gap between the back cover and the front shell, along the edge of the right grip.

    • Pry up on the back cover to release it from the locking clips.

    Edit

  4. Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Remove the back cover: step 4, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Remove the back cover: step 4, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Remove the back cover: step 4, image 3 of 3

    • 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.

    Edit

  5. Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Uncover the hidden shield screw: step 5, image 1 of 2 Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Uncover the hidden shield screw: step 5, image 2 of 2

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

    • 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.

    Edit

  6. Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Remove the shield screws: step 6, image 1 of 1

    • Use a Phillips driver to remove the three screws securing the board shield:

    • One 3.4 mm screw

    • Two 3.7 mm screws

    Edit

  7. Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Remove the shield: step 7, image 1 of 2 Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Remove the shield: step 7, image 2 of 2
    Edit

  8. Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Disconnect the battery: step 8, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Disconnect the battery: step 8, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Disconnect the battery: step 8, image 3 of 3

    • Grip the battery cable by its pull tab and pull it directly away from the motherboard to disconnect it.

    • 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.

    Edit

  9. Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Unclip the right trigger: step 9, image 1 of 2 Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Unclip the right trigger: step 9, image 2 of 2

    • The right trigger will be on your lefthand side when working on the Steam Deck, as it's laying upside down.

    • 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 right clip.

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

    • During reassembly, latch the outermost peg first. Once in place, push down on the trigger to latch the innermost peg, producing an audible "click" sound.

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

    Edit

  11. Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Remove the right trigger: step 10, image 1 of 2 Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Remove the right trigger: step 10, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the right trigger.

    • Take care to not lose the trigger spring. It press-fits onto a peg on the trigger's underside.

    Edit

  12. Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Remove the trigger bracket screws: step 11, image 1 of 1

    • Use a Phillips driver to remove the three 5.2 mm screws securing the right trigger bracket.

    Edit

  13. Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Remove the trigger bracket: step 12, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the right trigger bracket.

    • Replacement triggers require calibration to work as expected. To calibrate new triggers, follow this calibration guide.

    Edit

  14. Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Disconnect the right thumbstick: step 13, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Disconnect the right thumbstick: step 13, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Disconnect the right thumbstick: step 13, image 3 of 3

    • 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.

    • Grip the cable by the blue pull tab, not by the cable itself.

    Edit

  15. Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Remove the thumbstick screws: step 14, image 1 of 2 Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Remove the thumbstick screws: step 14, image 2 of 2

    • Use a Phillips driver to remove the three 5.2 mm screws securing the thumbstick.

    • 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.

    Edit

  16. Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Remove the right thumbstick: step 15, image 1 of 2 Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Remove the right thumbstick: step 15, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the right thumbstick.

    Edit

  17. Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Disconnect the button board cable: step 16, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Disconnect the button board cable: step 16, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Disconnect the button board cable: step 16, image 3 of 3

    • Use the pointed end of a spudger to lift up the small locking flap on the button board cable's ZIF connector.

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

    • Grip the cable by the blue pull tab, not by the cable itself.

    Edit

  18. Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Disconnect the interconnect cable: step 17, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Disconnect the interconnect cable: step 17, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Disconnect the interconnect cable: step 17, image 3 of 3

    • 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.

    • Grip the cable by the blue pull tab, not by the cable itself.

    Edit

  19. Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Disconnect the remaining button board cables: step 18, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Disconnect the remaining button board cables: step 18, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Disconnect the remaining button board cables: step 18, image 3 of 3

    • 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 action buttons cable.

    • Disconnect the touchpad board cable.

    • Disconnect the touchpad cable.

    Edit

  20. Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Disconnect the right haptics: step 19, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Disconnect the right haptics: step 19, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Disconnect the right haptics: step 19, image 3 of 3

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

    Edit

  21. Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Remove the button board screws: step 20, image 1 of 1

    • Use a Phillips driver to disconnect the four screws securing the right button board:

    • Three 5.2 mm screws

    • One 3.9 mm screw

    Edit

  22. Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Remove the button board: step 21, image 1 of 2 Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Remove the button board: step 21, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the right button board.

    • Keep track of the quick access button and its membrane, as once the right button board is removed, they're no longer secured in place.

    Edit

  23. Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Remove the touchpad board screws: step 22, image 1 of 1

    • Use a Phillips driver to remove the four 4.7 mm screws securing the touchpad board.

    Edit

  24. Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Remove the touchpad board: step 23, image 1 of 2 Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Remove the touchpad board: step 23, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the touchpad board.

    Edit

  25. Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Remove the touchpad screws: step 24, image 1 of 2 Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Remove the touchpad screws: step 24, image 2 of 2

    • Use a Phillips driver to remove the four 4.7 mm screws securing the touchpad.

    • You may need to temporarily remove the quick access button membrane for easier access to the bottom right screw.

    • Each of the touchpad's four mounting corners have a locating peg. During reassembly, ensure each is properly seated.

    Edit

  26. Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Remove the right touchpad: step 25, image 1 of 3 Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Remove the right touchpad: step 25, image 2 of 3 Steam Deck Right Touchpad Replacement, Remove the right touchpad: step 25, image 3 of 3

    • 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 right touchpad partway through the front shell to unseat it.

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

    • Remove the touchpad.

    Edit
Conclusion

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.

3 other people completed this guide.

Author

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Carsten Frauenheim

Member since: 03/10/20

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2 Comments

Can I buy the right-side trackpad? I don't see it listed and need to replace it.

Robert Everette - Reply

where do I buy the track pad?? I can not find it.

Marius Todea - Reply

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