Here’s How to Disassemble Your PS5 DualSense Controller

Removing the Faceplates

Gather the materials you'll need. There are a few things you will need in order to safely take apart your controller. You can purchase a repair kit with all the tools you need online. The tools you need are as follows: Plastic spudger or pry tool. A small precision Phillips screwdriver for 6.4mm and 1.5mm screws. Tweezers or pincers.

Remove the black trim between the back and front faceplates. This is the black part that surrounds the thumbsticks. Use a plastic pry or spudger to pry it loose Start at the bottom corners and go along the edges. Once it is loose, lift it up over the thumbsticks. Be careful not to break any of the plastic. Exerting too much force may break the controller. You may want to unplug your PS5 to avoid accidentally turning it on during disassembly. Warning: Disassembling the controller risks damage to the controller, loss of small parts, and voiding of your warranty. Do not disassemble if still under warranty. Do not disassemble more than you need access to. Warning: If you plan on disassembling the controller completely, you may want to allow the battery to fully drain first to avoid accidental discharge that could damage the controller and possibly cause injury.

Remove the R1 and L1 buttons. These are the bumper buttons on the left and right sides of the controller just above the triggers. To remove them, insert a plastic pry tool or spudger in between the button and trigger. Push down against the trigger button to pry the bumper buttons loose.

Rewmove the screws holding the faceplates together. There are four screws you need to remove. Two are under the L1 and R1 buttons you just removed. The other two are on the bottom of the controller at the base of the handles. Use a small Phillips screwdriver to remove these screws. Be careful removing the screws under the L1 and R1 buttons. Make sure they don't fall inside the controller.

Remove the bottom faceplate. There are two clips at the bottom of the controller on both sides of the mic and charging connectors. Use a plastic pry tool or spudger to separate those clips, then go along the sides of the controllers with a plastic pry tool to create separation at the seams. Once you have enough separation, turn the PS5 controller face down. Lift the bottom shell up and rotate it towards the trigger buttons as you remove it.

Removing the Battery and Motherboard

Remove the battery. The battery is the large grey block sitting on the plastic holder. Lift it up gently. Use a pair of tweezers or pincers to disconnect the wires attached to the motherboard on the right side. Grab at the connector the wires are attached to and wiggle it until it is loose. Warning: Be careful if you need to pull on the wires. If they break, you will need to replace the battery.

Remove the plastic battery holder. There is a single screw holding the black battery holder in place. Use a small Phillips screwdriver to remove this screw. Carefully remove the microphone, which is attached to the motherboard via a ribbon cable at the base. Then remove the battery holder. This exposes the back of the motherboard. Be careful not to damage the ribbon cable the microphone is attached to.

Remove the motherboard. There are four ribbon cables attached to the motherboard. Two on the sides, one on the top, and a small one on the bottom. Use a pair of pincers to remove the ribbon cables from the clips on the motherboard. Then lift the motherboard straight up and rotate it over. This gives you access to the thumbsticks. Warning: The motors are attached to the motherboard via wires that are soldered to the motherboard. Be careful not to damage the wires while removing the motherboard.

Removing the Buttons and Touchpad

Remove the thumbstick covers. The thumbstick covers slide right over the thumbstick modules. You can pull them right off.

Remove the screws holding the inner holder. This is the piece that holds the triggers and the motors. There are two screws above the motors. Depending on the generation of controller you have, there may be two more screws above the motors or two screws at the top of the controller. Use a small screwdriver to remove these screws. Then lift the plastic holder—with the motors and triggers attached—away from the front faceplate. This allows you to access the buttons. If the screws are at the top of the controller, they are also holding down two plastic pieces that the light flows through around the touchpad.

Remove the buttons. There are two rubber pads that the buttons sit on. Remove those and then the buttons will slide right out.

Remove the touchpad. If you want to remove the touchpad. There are a couple of small screws and then remove the touchpad. The PS5 controller is now completely disassembled.

Reassembling the Controller

Place the buttons back in the front faceplate. The buttons slide back into their perspective places. Reinsert the touchpad back in the front faceplate and screw it down if needed.

Reattach the inner holder. Place the back piece that holds the motors and the triggers back on the front plate and resecure it using the screws. If there were two plastic pieces for the lights around the touchpad, make sure those are also reattached and screwed down.

Reinsert the motherboard. Place the thumbsticks back on the thumbstick modules and then slide the motherboard back into place so the thumbsticks fit through the holes. Use a pair of tweezers or pincers to reattach all the ribbon cables to the ports on the back of the motherboard.

Reinstall the battery. Place the battery holder back on top of the motherboard and screw it down with the screw. Place the microphone back in the holder at the bottom and make sure it is connected to the motherboard. Then connect the battery wires to the motherboard by plugging them into their port and sit the battery on top of the holder.

Reattach the back plate. Place the backplate over the triggers and fit it over the front faceplate. Go along the edges applying pressure. Make sure the clips on the sides of the microphone and charging port are inserted. Make sure all edges are securely fastened. Then resecure the back faceplate to the front faceplate with the screws that go under the bumper buttons and on the end of the handles. Make sure all the ribbon cables and battery are properly connected before reattaching the faceplates.

Reinsert the bumper buttons. You should be able to snap the L1 and R1 buttons back into place above the trigger buttons.

Reattach the black plate. Place the plate that goes around the thumbsticks over the thumbsticks. Go along the seems applying pressure and reattach the plate. The PS5 controller is now reassembled. Be sure to test it and make sure it works.