HTC Vive Controller Motherboard Replacement

Written By: Christopher Amaro
  • Comments: 48
HTC Vive Controller Motherboard Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

20

Time Required

40 minutes

Introduction

The HTC Vive controller motherboard may be damaged and not able to function. The motherboard is crucial for all functions of the remote. This guide will show you how to replace the motherboard.

  1. qspXEGpclMcc4FU6
    qspXEGpclMcc4FU6
    f5aVdykiHKTKwZrt
    WaHUHm3CCPZva2kE

    • Turn over the Vive controller so that the bottom saucer is facing up.

    • Use the T5 Torx screwdriver to remove three black 21mm screws from the bottom saucer.

    Where can I buy new t5 21 mm screws? Mine are getting stripped out!

    jeremyvanwoerden -

    Where can you get replacement batteries?

    Mike Justice -

    The middle bottom screw may have some form of warranty sticker on it if you have a Vive Pro wand (which is purple). Mine had this. Easy enough to remove and get on with it.

    sodiboo -

  2. EGCPx1qHeDmAW5Ml
    EGCPx1qHeDmAW5Ml
    jIuFdwxxDs4sPAoK

    • Use the nylon spudger to separate the top and bottom saucer covers all around the edges.

    • Remove only the top saucer cover by pulling up with your hand.

    My top saucer was REALLY stubborn. Don’t force it with your hand, use the spudger to separate it at the seam. Try not to poke your spudger in too deep, there are internals just inside the seam.

    trevorsklar -

    The second time around, I learned why it was so stubborn. The picture suggests that you should start at the base of the saucer and work your way around, but that’s backwards.

    Start separating with your spudger at the distal side of the saucer and work your way toward the handle. Then for the last part, pull the piece up and away, like peeling a banana. See the second picture for the bottom half of the saucer, below. Do the same on the top.

    trevorsklar -

  3. eopOkINCcVTJW1m1
    eopOkINCcVTJW1m1
    iTZHnfipdduRqsQD

    • Use the Phillips 00 screwdriver to remove the three silver 12.8mm screws from the exposed upper sensor panel.

    It’s Phillips 0, not 00.

    trevorsklar -

    You do not need to remove these screws to remove the bottom saucer. They provide stability to the two halves of the donut.

    pacoavocado -

    I had the same experience. Putting the screws back in made the bottom shell easier to remove.

    Nate Plamondon -

    I concur, you don’t need to remove these screws to take the bottom shell off.

    I found mine had ph#000 screws size, not ph#00.

    Rocko the fixit cat -

    please do not remove the Phillips-head screws it is not necessary to remove them.

    Darkwolf Darkside -

  4. RwISVSeNWEEMabNP
    RwISVSeNWEEMabNP
    MpnwlFakAusPfs3P
    ESDnXEfXK21LaofB

    • Carefully pull away the bottom saucer cover with your hand.

    • To aid in removing the saucer cover, squeeze the base of the controller with your other hand, as shown in the second image of this step. Squeezing will make the clips easier to release and help prevent them from breaking.

    I found the re-assembly of this difficult until I concentrated on two areas - the lugs which go into the handle first, then the central ring. My earlier concern was for the optical sensors on the wings but these snapped into place easily as the central ring was manoeuvred.

    Doug -

    From what I can tell, there are two clicks on each side? one is quite easy, then the other one seems to require considerable force pushing down and on the side, I had to do it one side at a time and found two YouTube videos performing this step to use as reference. I have the vive pro wands and not the originals, so this may explain the difference. This felt very wrong to me.

    sodiboo -

  5. UOWqkw4uFOpoxUxW
    UOWqkw4uFOpoxUxW
    2norTKXKua4vfSLO

    • Use the T5 Torx screwdriver to remove the two black 5.2mm screws on the back gray panel.

  6. wKWxaK3AYGHu4kYK

    • Turn over the Vive controller so that the exposed bottom saucer panel is facing up.

    • Use the T5 Torx screwdriver to remove the three black 5.2mm screws.

    Leave the middle screw where it is (the one being unscrewed in the picture). That screw holds the two halves of the photodiode assembly together, not the case.

    trevorsklar -

    five screws… two at bottom

    andrew sauter -

    I concur with trevosklar, don’t need to remove center screw to remove front panel (pad cover).

    Rocko the fixit cat -

  7. 2L3YKSAgk6xB2Gmq
    2L3YKSAgk6xB2Gmq
    qEFqwKVrCSACpHDP

    • Use the nylon spudger to separate the front panel gently by running the spudger around the edges of the handle.

    • Only separate the front panel around the edges. Do not try to completely remove the panel yet.

    • Gently lift the right side of the panel to the left.

  8. ZUWhRIxeXJ11ArsI

    • Disconnect the upper ribbon cable gently by pulling the ribbon up and away from the motherboard with two fingers.

    • Do not try to disconnect the ribbon cables from the front panel.

    You do not have to remove the ribbon cables from the plugs…you can carefully work the battery holder around them and remove it…being very gentle. And the black part of the handle will stay attached to the cables and be in the way. But removing the cables does make it easier to access the area for the battery, just not completely necessary.

    controll -

  9. qFWyWN2RxMJGm6IN
    qFWyWN2RxMJGm6IN
    Lr3HUlIGprrlUOMS

    • Disconnect the middle ribbon cable gently by pulling the ribbon cable up and away from the motherboard with two fingers.

    • Do not try to disconnect the ribbon cables from the front panel.

    where can one buy the ribbon cable.

    Luigi Munoz -

  10. wl5HFJQW4a4lXNhy
    wl5HFJQW4a4lXNhy
    jqk4JmFF4wCyqiHN
    tGdDUMVWB21k6Lfi

    • Use the nylon spudger to lift the white tab by 90 degrees.

    • Disconnect the bottom ribbon cable gently by pulling the ribbon cable down with two fingers.

    Hallo what is the name of this conector because i Broker it

    Happy Forscher -

    Yeah I did as instructed only to realize after that my gen 1 vive controller does not do that, and i desoldered the power button ribbon. That cable, does NOT detach on my model. destroyed.

    Algol Gaming -

    On my controllers, there was yellow tape over these? and in some other places as well? Why?

    sodiboo -

  11. ex2nOfqCh4UvnaZY
    ex2nOfqCh4UvnaZY
    VWdiA2mNpNTk6kXY

    • Use the Phillips 00 screwdriver to remove two black 2.8mm screws from the silver plate.

    • Use the Phillips 00 screwdriver to remove the black 5.8mm screw from the bottom right corner of the silver plate.

    I don't have this metal piece in my first gen vive wand for some reason. Instead, there is just a piece of kapton tape covering the connector. It does not seem there are even screw holes for it.

    TheRedStormer -

  12. 1VVAHSsuxyImblPZ

    • Remove the silver plate by pinching it with two fingers and lifting up.

    There is no plate on mine, only tape covering it.

    tamgoddess -

    I found this to be true of mine as well (purchased 2018).

    Renjamin -

    Same with mine, also purchased 2018. It seems the silver plate part can be skipped for later models.

    Slendy Nerd -

  13. yAFWwBpDPbelS2Pw

    • Use the Phillips 00 screwdriver to remove the black 5.8mm screw from the top left of the battery frame.

  14. JLMt55eTqD2E1QVB
    JLMt55eTqD2E1QVB
    qvbAYEYcKGbHdNKM

    • Use the T5 Torx screwdriver to remove the two silver 4.2mm screws from the bottom of the battery frame.

    On my controller these were Philips 000 5.8mm screws, the same as in the previous step.

    Daan Steenmeijer -

    Second the above with a slight correction. Phillips 00.

    tamgoddess -

    I also needed the Philips 000 for steps 11 - 14. Controller purchased in 2018.

    Renjamin -

  15. Nb6ywHODQTB4ZvsL
    Nb6ywHODQTB4ZvsL
    LCgamK1HIJvvJl52

    • Disconnect the three-pin cable gently by pinching the cable with two fingers and pulling up.

    Don't pull the battery cable! You risk pulling the pins out of the socket. Happened to me. I don't know how to do it properly but I had to use a fine flat screwdriver to try to get the socket out. It got a bit mangled unfortunately.

    Rob -

  16. KyAwWyDltI2TItyB
    KyAwWyDltI2TItyB
    2BBCLuMQRkdAETeT
    Q5Pqpf6CFQtiar6U

    • Lift the battery frame to remove the battery from the Vive controller

    Suddenly, here the electronics of the saucer are gone, but there’s no previous step mentioning its removal. This is kind of important because loosening the ribbon cables attaching it to the mainboard is a bit finicky.

    Olav Reinert -

  17. wMGoMoZiKDRUwnRN

    • Use the Phillips 00 screwdriver to remove the two black 5.8mm screws from the top of the motherboard.

    These should be the silver screws not the black screws

    Thomas Edwards -

    Yeah, I think he switched the bottom battery screws with these in a previous disassembly. (see my comment at step 14) I’m opening mine for the first time since new purchase and the motherboard has 4 T5 screws.

    Daan Steenmeijer -

  18. DIgOQPLd4FhY1VeO
    DIgOQPLd4FhY1VeO
    LrXACqwbAkSgNjFO

    • Use the T5 Torx screwdriver to remove the two silver 4.2mm screws from the bottom of the motherboard.

  19. wgxYIoCiA1bUVCNW
    wgxYIoCiA1bUVCNW
    FC5rCCsU2ZNMWUEe
    WO4jrxcybU1WMmSL

    • Use the nylon spudger to rotate the black tab up by 90 degrees.

    • Disconnect the ribbon cable carefully with your finger.

  20. GBRWYDDDoHMPPr23
    GBRWYDDDoHMPPr23
    2BF5snL3howcnDtN
    tHiCiDE3ZdBL1vmt

    • Lift the motherboard up and out of the Vive controller using your hands.

    what is the benefit of the rectangular silver steel or ironic metal ,that iside the htc vive hand controller.?????

    is it to solve some issus with the Mpu6500 sensor ??

    or related to get rid of interferrences ??

    the rectanguler metal piece is near to the mother board and the battery in the following image :-

    https://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/ig...

    Thanks in advance!

    Moatazzu993 -

    I believe it’s just a weight to help balance the controller by shifting the center of gravity closer to the rear/bottom end. It doesn’t connect to anything, and the board has its own shield. So, just a slab of metal.

    Jeff Suovanen -

    Awesome THANKS. … uh … where do I get another motherboard? DoH!

    John Crocco -

    Anyone know of a good replacement button for the trackpad press button? (The one on the top side, tan or pinkish colored.)

    Sean Bowers -

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Author

Christopher Amaro

Member since: 16/10/17

960 Reputation

13 comments

Hi, do you know where I can get a new motherboard? I bought my controller second hand and after several months it stoppedworking…. when I took it apart the connection at the bottom has been removed and two wires soldered in place but it’s so small I can’t do it again so I need a new motherboard

thanks

nick.bentley.france -

I am looking for the connetor at step 10. The top of the connector is broken (fail quality assurence). I am not interrested to purchase a new controler at 200$ because of a 2 cents connector.

Thank you

Yahveh Me -

I had the same connector problem in step 10, where can I just buy the mother board

Adam Vosburgh -

did either of you find the connector for the power button to mother board in step 10

stang98kjg -

what plug is the for the bottom of the mother board for the main button looking to replace in step 10

angeloro -

I’m have a problem with step 10 too)

where I can buy new motherboard or how I can fix this ?

my connector in step 10 was broken

Folomieiev -

Thanksgiving, bu I think I’ll just get a new one.

Chunkiest Boy -

Thanks*………..

Chunkiest Boy -

Where can i get controller motherboard, just had a problem on mine. HELP. thanks

jozell Castillo -

Another broken step 10 conector here

Nicolás Victorero Mier -

Hello.

Where can I find motherboard repair instructions? First the tracking had dropouts, then the controller completely and permanently lost the pairing.

This is the second controller where this has happened.

That must be a lack of series. So someone has to know the reason. Has nobody really solved this problem with soldering iron etc.? Or do professionals keep the cause of the error secret (greed)?

Unfortunately there are only disassembly instructions on this website.

But no real repair instructions. Details of the real cause of the error.

Maybe it helps to bake the motherboard at a certain temperature?

Tobias Claren -

yup. went to fix the thumb pad and while disassembling it was that part in step 10 that killed the board. cheap mirco connector, pulled the tape off and the %#*@ thing came with it… would suggest going to a computer repair shop and they can tin on the connector or wire around it.

adam seekell -

There is no point to producing these guides explaining how to do the repair if no-one will tell us where they can buy the parts.

Mefish -