DualSense Controller v2 Button Replacement

Written By: Sam Omiotek

Comments: 8

DualSense Controller v2 Button Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

1 - 2 hours

Introduction

Follow this guide to replace the buttons in your Sony DualSense controller.

Note: This guide is for current DualSense controllers with FCC IDs that end with A. Check the back of your controller to verify your model. If yours ends in a 1, it is an early model and there will be internal differences. Follow these guides for the earlier version.

Note: Several photos in this guide have been re-used from the Front Cover Replacement guide. The light guide and microphone are shown removed, but do not need to be removed. Follow the procedure as written.

Tools

Parts

PlayStation DualSense Controller v2 Button Rubber Membrane Set

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.
During reassembly, position the middle trim into place and press along all edges to engage the clips securing it to the controller.

Step 6

Insert the flat end of your spudger into the gap above the L1 button.
Cover the button with your thumb to prevent it from ejecting across the room.
Pry the spudger upward to remove the L1 button.

Step 7

Insert the flat end of your spudger into the gap above the R1 button.
Cover the button with your thumb to prevent it from ejecting across the room.
Pry the spudger upward to remove the R1 button.

Step 8

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two 6.5 mm screws securing the bottom corners of the lower case.

Step 9

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two 6.5 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.

Step 11

Use your hands to carefully pull the rear case off of the controller.
During reassembly, make sure the red and black vibration motor wires are not pinched between the front and rear case.

You can´t just grab both ends and expect it to open flawlessly, first you gotta travel the spudger around the seam at the outer edges of the controller, there are multiples clips in that area, there a couple really hard to get out at the outer edges of the R1 and L1 buttons, for those you need to insert the spudger bending outwards the bottom piece of the controller (a fairly amount, like 1.5mm) and while bending outwards use the same inserted spudger to lever them apart carefully, the plastic will bend quite a bit so be very careful with the motion of the spudger.

Yet again, that was my personal experience opening it up, try first as the guide says, if you feel the upper and bottom pieces glued around the R1 and L1, then try this.

Carlos Santana -

I had the same experience, the best way to reach these for me was to place the spunger from L1 R1 side whilst using a spunger to press outwards from the side like in Carlos's comment. Thank you Carlos I was struggling with this!

Remco geuze -

This did not work for me. Finally I just pulled the two parts apart at the bottom side, carefully twisting and manipulating until the parts clicked loose at the top side

Gilian Mischker -

This is the biggest hassle in the whole process. It seems that all controllers now come with those extra clips that other people mentioned here. I, however, didn't have the same success with their steps of running a spudger on the sides to undo the clip. Looking around, I found this Youtube video showing that you can undo the clips simply by twisting up from the bottom. Do it carefully because it pops off easily using this method - when I did, I used some force and the back just flew from my table.

I found it easier like that and was able to continue the process.

Rodrigo Castro -

+1 to this. None of the suggestions worked well enough for me, but this video clip got this step done for me nearly instantly. note the position of the tech's fingers and thumbs - I copied that exactly and had no issue.

Nathan K -

Step 12

Lift the battery out of its bracket and reposition it to the right for better access to the battery connector.
Don't strain the battery cables.

Step 13

Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to disconnect the battery from the motherboard.
Don't pull on the wires to disconnect the battery.

Step 14

Remove the battery.

Step 15

Use the pointed end of your spudger to remove the lower microphone from its bracket next to the battery.
During reassembly, make sure the end of the microphone's ribbon cable is slotted into the bracket.

Step 16

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

Step 17

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the 6.5 mm screw securing the battery bracket.

Step 18

Lift the battery bracket off of the motherboard.

Step 19

Grip the right trigger assembly cable with a pair of tweezers or your fingers and disconnect it from the motherboard.
Use the pull tab to disconnect the cable. Don't pull on the cable itself.
Don't completely remove the ribbon cable yet.

Step 20

Grip the right trigger assembly cable with a pair of tweezers or your fingers, and disconnect it from the trigger assembly.
Use the pull tab to disconnect the cable. Don't pull on the cable itself.
Remove the ribbon cable.

Step 21

Grip the left trigger assembly cable with a pair of tweezers or your fingers to disconnect it from the motherboard.
Use the pull tab to disconnect the cable. Don't pull on the cable itself.
Don't completely remove the ribbon cable yet.

Step 22

Grip the left trigger assembly cable with a pair of tweezers or your fingers to disconnect it from the trigger assembly.
Use the pull tab to disconnect the cable. Don't pull on the cable itself.
Remove the ribbon cable.

Step 23

Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to disconnect the upper microphone from the motherboard.
Use the pull tab to disconnect the cable. Don't pull on the cable itself.

Step 24

Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to disconnect the touchpad cable from the motherboard.
Use the pull tab to disconnect the cable. Don't pull on the cable itself.

Step 25

Carefully guide the joysticks through the front case and lift the motherboard out.
Don't strain the four soldered wires tethering the motherboard to the vibration motors.

There's small tabs holding the board in place along the side.

Roger Perez - 30/10/23

Step 26

Use the pointed end of your spudger to lift the center of the light guide out of the controller.
Remove the light guide.

Step 27

Use your Phillips driver to remove the two 6.5 mm screws securing the midframe to the front case.

My problem was the connection between the staggered contacts of flex cable from the button pads on the top side, and the staggered contacts on the motherboard below the joystick on the right in the photo.

Dave Hartman -

Step 28

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.

Step 29

Remove the Select and Start buttons from the front case.

Step 30

Use your fingers to lightly pinch the plastic clip securing the microphone mute button to the front case and remove it.

Step 31

Remove the three conductive silicone rubber pads from the inside of the front case.
The remaining buttons are now resting loose in the front case.

Step 32

Hold the front case close to the surface of your table and slowly turn the front case over to let the buttons fall out.
The buttons are designed to be impossible to install incorrectly. Do not force any buttons into place—they will fall into place when positioned correctly.

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 Answers community for help.

Author

Sam Omiotek

Member since: 25/02/19

75131 Reputation

One comment

OK I just did this with my red dualsense and it was actually easier than this. Maybe it is a newer version??? I don't know, but it is different.

If you have the same one as me then do all steps up to, and including, step 18. Then do steps 23 and 24. Remove the two screws in step 27. All the guts will then lift out of the plastic shell, leaving you in a similar situation to step 29.

However, step 11 was difficult for me as the two parts did not simply pull apart. The bottom half came apart easily, but I had to push a thin tool in the top part near the trigger to release an extra clip. Only on one side, then the other side was easy.

Have fun!

token - 05/11/23