Sony DualSense Controller Touchpad Replacement

Written By: Sam Omiotek

Comments: 38

Sony DualSense Controller Touchpad Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

1 - 2 hours

Introduction

Follow this guide to replace the touchpad on a Sony PlayStation 5 DualSense controller.

Note: This guide is for DualSense controllers with an FCC ID ending in 1. Check the back of your controller to verify your model. If yours ends in A, there will be differences in the internal design.

Tools

Step 1

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.

Step 2

Slide the opening pick along the lower-right edge of the middle trim to release the clips securing it to the case.

Step 3

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.

Step 4

Slide the opening pick along the lower-left edge of the middle trim to release the clips securing it to the case.

Step 5

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.

Step 6

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.

Step 7

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.

to save a few bucks, the L1 and R1 buttons can be removed without the use of the spudger tool by using any thin prying tool and just pry the buttons from the bottom instead of the top

Alan Peng -

What I didn't see addressed anywhere (here or in other similar articles) is that replacement R1 / L1 buttons can be differ enough to be un-usable depending on which model your ps5 controller is. The ones I ordered don't fit and now I can't find a way to be sure I get the right ones because few know there's even a difference.

Walt Mather -

Step 8

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two 6.4 mm screws securing the bottom corners of the lower case.

Step 9

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two 6.4 mm screws behind the L1 and R1 buttons.

Step 10

Use the pointed edge of a spudger to unclip the two clips on either side of the headset jack.

If these are similar in nature to the DS4’s clips, don’t use too much force so you don’t end up breaking them

Strings Cat -

there is a clip that holds the rear cover in place located in R1 and L1

Zargruzski nakamura -

Is there a clip in R1 and there's another in L1? Any way to see where exactly? The part of the back cover near L1 and R2 is that one that's not coming off. I can't seem to pull it off easily the way it looks in Step 11.

tofu -

Step 11

Remove the rear case.

There are four more clips/hooks hidden in the seams along the outer sides of the handles. If you pull open the controller as shown in this step, then you will shear off the two tiny clips which are right next to the R1 and L1 buttons.

Therefore, you should first release those clips by prying the seams open sideways.

I noticed this with the updated design of the controller, not sure whether the hooks are present on the first version.

The hooks are not critical for the integrity of the controller as the two halves are held together by the screws hidden under the buttons. The damage does show that the controller has been taken apart.

Nick -

Thought I'd clarify: The clips next to the L1 and R1 are on the outer side from the L1 and R1 buttons, I'd suggest zooming in on the picture to see them. They're quite easy to break, but also easy to remove using the plastic spudger along the seam, bending the bottom cover outwards

Franz Rolfsvaag -

I am still strugling to find the clips. Could someone point them out in the image with a screen shot or something like that.

aGingerThing -

I keep getting stuck at this step too with the new DualSense CFI-ZCT1WA revision. The top and bottom shells seem like they are fused together next to L1/R1 but I can't seem to be able to find where these hidden clips are located. My controller is still in warranty so I don't want to break them in case I can't fix my issue.

but also easy to remove using the plastic spudger along the seam, bending the bottom cover outwards

I tried this but it seems that the you need a lot of force and I ended up bending the tip of my spudger. Are you sure it's not the top cover that you need to pry away? The bottom cover has a ridge to make sure it's under the top cover so it's not easy to bend outwards.

@samomio I think there needs to be a step added for these new clips.

robplease -

Ok, not seeing a lot of motion on this request, so I've uploaded photos of the hooks to imgur.

Here ya go: https://imgur.io/a/7NWmQi5

Sean Murphy -

Life save Sean. Appreciate the image.

Vili -

Step 12

Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to disconnect the battery from the motherboard.
Grip the connector, not the wires, when disconnecting.

Tweezers aren't gonna grip that the way you need.

Leif DeWolf -

For those having trouble using tweezers to pull out the connector, you can grab below the lip of the connector and use the controller as a lever to pull it up as seen here DualSense Controller v2 Battery Replacement

This little trick helped me so much and I believe it should be shown on this guide as well.

Ezra Worthington -

Step 13

Lift the battery straight out of the battery bracket.

Step 14

Grab the lower microphone ribbon cable pull tab with your fingers or a pair of tweezers and disconnect it from the motherboard.

These ribbon cables have small tabs on either side you can use to help pull out the cable. You can slightly pull up, alternating between the two sides, to slowly wiggle the connector out.

Tran Anh Nguyen -

Might be a rookie mistake, but DO NOT REMOVE THE WHITE BRACKETS, only the ribbon! If you do, you’ll have an awful time putting it back and will most likely mess it up. Yes I did.

Joris D -

Step 15

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the 6.4 mm screw securing the battery bracket.

Step 16

Lift the battery bracket out of the motherboard.

Black and red wires fit neatly under the lower left and lower right arms of the battery bracket, to avoid potential damage when reconnecting the rear case.

Sean Gonzales -

This needs to be noted. Thanks!

Nick Gatti -

Step 17

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.

Step 18

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.

Step 19

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.

Step 20

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.

Step 21

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.

what is the white thing soldered to the motherboard called where the mic ribbon cable plugs and where can i find the part?

Abhi K - 03/01/23

Step 22

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.

Step 23

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.

Pushing on the joysticks makes this much easier.

zidek22 -

My motherboard wouldn't just lift right out. So I noticed there's also a pair of barely visible small black clips, one on each side of the motherboard, holding it down. One is right beside the battery connector and the other's directly across on the opposite side of the motherboard right beside the ribbon cable connector.

Jason Mulholland -

Such a good observation!

zidek22 -

Just push on the sticks. Pops out like a charm, zero effort.

Italian Retro Guy -

Step 24

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two 8.5 mm screws securing the light guide.

Mine didn't have this piece

John -

Step 25

Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to remove the light guide bracket.

Step 26

Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to remove the light guide.

Where do i buy a new light guide?

Jasper Nuyts -

Step 27

Use a pair of tweezers to remove the speaker from the midframe.
Be sure to reinstall the speaker in the correct orientation with the foam pad on the left side and the gold contact points on the right.

Speaker may be attached to the motherboard via the foam pad.

Daniel Geppert - 24/05/21

Step 28

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two 6.4 mm screws securing the midframe to the front case.

Step 29

Carefully lift the midframe and motherboard up and out of the front case.
Be careful not to strain the vibrator motor wires.
During reassembly, feed the touchpad's ribbon cable back through its rectangular opening in the midframe.

Feed the ribbon cable back through the rectangular slot in the midframe during reassembly.

Sean Gonzales -

Thank you for catching this!

Sam Omiotek -

Step 30

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two 6.4 mm screws securing the touchpad bracket to the touchpad.

On my early 2022 controller it only had one screw, the other side was a hook, i was able to separate them but pulling the touch pad up slightly away from the top of the controller and pushing towards the side the one screw was on.

Ryan Hynes -

Step 31

Lift the touchpad bracket straight up off the front case.
Feed the ribbon cable back through the rectangular slot in the bracket during reassembly.

Step 32

Lift the front case up off of the touchpad.

Has anyone found a replacement logic board for trackpads?

Bob -

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.

Author

Sam Omiotek

Member since: 25/02/19

62518 Reputation

9 comments

New touch won’t work with motherboard

Manson Knowz -

Can you elaborate? I’m looking to buy one of these for this repair, and not sure which, or where

Gregg Cerenzio -

Hii, first of all big fan but i am havinf trouble finding the touchpad motherboard online to replace mine like i am talking about the whole unit cus the ribbon that is atach to mine i glued on and cant replase the ribbon so if you guys can help me find it would be a big help thx

patrick yard -

Did you found a replacement part? I'm looking for the same thing

Julian Giraldo -

kasynparts have ps5 touchpad replacement parts

kasynlife -

Superb guide! Allowed me to confidently dismantle the pad and get it back together again in full working order.

John Batchelor -

I have different model, is there guide for the newer model?

Daz -

It's worth noting, on FCC ID : A controllers the ribbon cable for the touch pad is 16 pins and not 18. When searching for parts online 18 pin seems to be the most common.

Adam wilson -

I just ran into this with one of my student's PS5 controllers. I could not find the 16-pin version anywhere: every single vendor selling a "PS5 controller touchpad cable" sells the 18pin version. Fortunately, the alignment of the pins in the two cable types is exact. I took an 18-pin cable, and using an x-acto knife, straight edge, and a microscope, I was able to cut off two traces, giving a perfect replacement.

John Lasseter -