DualSense Joystick Replacement

Introduction

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

Tools

• 1 x Opening Picks
• Spudger
• Phillips #00 Screwdriver
• Tweezers
• Soldering Workstation
• Helping Hands

Parts

• PlayStation DualSense Controller Joystick
• PS5 DualSense Controller - Gulikit TMR Joystick

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.

Two images show an opening pick being inserted into the seam at the bottom-right of the controller's middle trim.

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.

Three images illustrate an opening pick being slid along the lower-right edge of the middle trim to release clips.

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.

Two images show an opening pick being inserted into the seam at the bottom-left of the controller's middle trim.

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.

Three images show an opening pick being slid along the lower-left edge of the middle trim to release clips.

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.

Three images demonstrate lifting the bottom edge of the middle trim and then removing it over the joysticks.

Step 6 — Remove the L1 button

With one hand, grip the controller and use your thumb to hold down the left trigger.

With your free hand, insert the flat end of a spudger between the L1 and L2 buttons.

Use the spudger to gently pry the L1 button away from the controller and remove it, holding your finger over the button so it doesn't eject.

Three images show a spudger being used to pry the L1 button away from the controller.

Step 7 — Remove the R1 button

Repeat the previous step to remove the R1 button.

Three images show the R1 button being pried off, similar to the L1 button.

Step 8 — Remove the rear case screws

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

Two images show a Phillips screwdriver removing screws from the bottom corners of the controller's rear.

Step 9

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

Two images show a Phillips screwdriver removing screws located behind the L1 and R1 buttons on the controller's rear.

Step 10 — Separate the rear case

⚠️ Be gentle when releasing the rear cover clips—they're delicate and can easily break.

Use the point of a spudger to release the two clips on either side of the headset jack.

Three images show the point of a spudger releasing clips on either side of the headset jack on the rear case.

Step 11

ℹ️ Tight plastic clips secure the left and right edges of the rear case.

Insert the flat end of a spudger between the front and rear shells near the bottom of the left edge.

Slide the spudger along the left edge and gently pry the shells apart to release the clips.

Three images show a spudger being inserted and slid along the left edge of the controller to separate the rear case shells.

Step 12

Repeat the previous step on the right edge to release its clips.

Three images show a spudger being used to separate the rear case shells along the right edge.

Step 13

Lay your controller upside down so the joysticks are on your work surface.

Hold the controller down with your fingers and use your thumbs to lift the rear case away from the controller to fully separate it.

Two images show the controller being held upside down, with the rear case being lifted and separated from the main body.

Step 14 — Remove the rear case

Remove the rear case.

Two images show the rear case being held separately from the controller's internal components.

Step 15 — Disconnect the battery

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

Two images show a battery connector being carefully unplugged from the motherboard using tweezers.

Step 16 — Remove the battery

Lift the battery straight out of the battery bracket.

Two images show the battery being lifted straight out of its bracket.

Step 17 — Remove the lower microphone

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

Two images show a ribbon cable for the lower microphone being disconnected from the motherboard with tweezers.

Step 18 — Remove the battery bracket

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

Two images show a Phillips screwdriver removing a screw securing the battery bracket.

Step 19

Lift the battery bracket out of the motherboard.

Two images show the battery bracket being lifted out of the motherboard.

Step 20 — Disconnect the right trigger assembly

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.

ℹ️ Do not completely remove the ribbon cable yet.

Two images show a ribbon cable for the right trigger assembly being disconnected from the motherboard with tweezers.

Step 21

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.

Two images show the right trigger assembly ribbon cable being disconnected from the trigger assembly itself.

Step 22 — Disconnect the left trigger assembly

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.

ℹ️ Do not completely remove the ribbon cable yet.

Two images show a ribbon cable for the left trigger assembly being disconnected from the motherboard with tweezers.

Step 23

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.

Two images show the left trigger assembly ribbon cable being disconnected from the trigger assembly itself.

Step 24 — Disconnect the upper microphone

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.

Two images show the upper microphone ribbon cable being disconnected from the motherboard with tweezers.

Step 25 — Disconnect the touchpad

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.

Two images show the touchpad ribbon cable being pulled straight out of its motherboard connector.

Step 26 — Lift out the motherboard

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.

Three images show the motherboard being carefully guided and lifted out of the front case, with wires still attached to vibrator motors.

Step 27 — Desolder the vibration motors

ℹ️ The next few steps require desoldering and soldering connections. To learn how to solder, check out our soldering guide—if you've already soldered, you can still find some helpful tips and tricks in this guide!

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.

Three images show the controller and motherboard flipped over, with wires being desoldered from the motherboard using a soldering iron.

Step 28

Separate the controller from the motherboard.

An image shows the controller halves separated from the motherboard.

Step 29 — Remove the joystick covers

Pull the joystick covers straight off the joystick assemblies.

Only the motherboard remains.

Three images show joystick caps being pulled straight off the joystick assemblies.

Step 30 — Desolder the joysticks

Use a soldering iron and desoldering pump to desolder the fourteen connections on each joystick.

ℹ️ See our desoldering pump guide.

Two images show the motherboard with solder points for the joysticks circled, indicating where to desolder.

Step 31

Remove the joysticks from the motherboard.

An image shows a joystick assembly being removed from the motherboard with tweezers.

Reassembly and Disposal

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.