Dualsense Controller V2 Front Case Replacement Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          1 - 2 hours

Sections

Middle Trim
5 steps
L1 and R1 Buttons
2 steps
Rear Case
4 steps
Battery
3 steps
Motherboard Removal
11 steps
Light Guide
1 step
Midframe Removal
2 steps
Touchpad
3 steps
Front Case
8 steps

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Introduction

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.

What you need

Step 1

              Unclip the right end of the middle trim

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.

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.

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Step 2

              Unclip the lower-right edge of the middle trim

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

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

Step 3

              Unclip the left end of the middle trim

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.

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

              Unclip the lower-left edge of the middle trim

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

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

Step 5

              Remove the middle trim

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.

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

              Remove the L1 button

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.

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

              Remove the R1 button

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.

Insert the flat end of your spudger into the gap above the R1 button.

Pry the spudger upward to remove the R1 button.

Step 8

              Remove the case screws

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

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.

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two 6.5 mm screws behind the L1 and R1 buttons.

Step 10

              Unclip the rear case

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

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

Step 11

              Remove the rear case

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.

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.

Step 12

              Reposition the battery

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.

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

              Disconnect the battery

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.

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

Remove the battery.

Remove the battery.

Step 15

              Remove the lower microphone

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.

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.

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

Step 17

              Remove the battery bracket

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

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.

Lift the battery bracket off of the motherboard.

Step 19

              Disconnect the right trigger assembly

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.

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.

Grip the right trigger assembly cable with a pair of tweezers or your fingers, and disconnect it from the trigger assembly.

Remove the ribbon cable.

Step 21

              Disconnect the left trigger assembly

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.

Grip the left trigger assembly cable with a pair of tweezers or your fingers to disconnect it from the motherboard.

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.

Grip the left trigger assembly cable with a pair of tweezers or your fingers to disconnect it from the trigger assembly.

Step 23

              Disconnect the upper microphone

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.

Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to disconnect the upper microphone from the motherboard.

Step 24

              Disconnect the touchpad

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.

Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to disconnect the touchpad cable from the motherboard.

Step 25

              Lift out the motherboard

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.

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.

Step 26

              Remove the light guide

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

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

              Remove the midframe

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

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

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.

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 touchpad

Use your Phillips screwdriver to remove the 6.5 mm screw securing the touchpad to its bracket.

Use your Phillips screwdriver to remove the 6.5 mm screw securing the touchpad to its bracket.

Step 30

Remove the Select and Start buttons from the front case.

Remove the Select and Start buttons from the front case.

Step 31

Grip the top right corner of the touchpad (near where the screw was) and gently pry it off of its bracket.
The touchpad is lightly secured to its bracket by clips.
Hold the bracket in place with your thumb as you separate the touchpad.
During reinstallation, make sure the touchpad clips engage with the bracket. You should hear and feel a snap when installed properly.

Grip the top right corner of the touchpad (near where the screw was) and gently pry it off of its bracket.

The touchpad is lightly secured to its bracket by clips.

Hold the bracket in place with your thumb as you separate the touchpad.

During reinstallation, make sure the touchpad clips engage with the bracket. You should hear and feel a snap when installed properly.

Step 32

              Remove all components from the front case

Remove the touchpad bracket from the front case.

Remove the touchpad bracket from the front case.

Step 33

Use a pair of tweezers to carefully thread the microphone cable out through the front case.
Don’t force the cable if you encounter resistance. It may have snagged on the front case.
Remove the microphone.
During reinstallation, verify that the microphone cable is properly seated in its retaining clips in the front case.

Use a pair of tweezers to carefully thread the microphone cable out through the front case.

Don’t force the cable if you encounter resistance. It may have snagged on the front case.

Remove the microphone.

During reinstallation, verify that the microphone cable is properly seated in its retaining clips in the front case.

Step 34

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

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

Step 35

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.

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 36

Hold the front case close to the surface of your table and slowly turn the front case over to let the buttons fall out.
Reassembly note: 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.

Hold the front case close to the surface of your table and slowly turn the front case over to let the buttons fall out.

Reassembly note: 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.

Step 37

Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to remove the rubber insulation pad from the front case.

Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to remove the rubber insulation pad from the front case.

Step 38

Use your fingers to press the touchpad bezel out through the inside of the front case.

Use your fingers to press the touchpad bezel out through the inside of the front case.

Step 39

The front case is all that remains.

The front case is all that remains.

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.

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Author

                    Sam Omiotek

Member since: 02/25/2019

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