DualSense Controller V5 Front Case Replacement

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.

Step 6

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.

Tried prying from the front of the buttons as pictured and my spudger broke off in the gap. A video I watched showed them being pried off from the back (between the R1/R2 and L1/L2 buttons) which seemed much easier.

Lora Singleton -

Agree with Lora's comment above. I was able to use an old credit card to take L1/R1 out this way. I pressed down the L2/R2 button to create space to work in, then came in from between L1/L2 and R1/R2. It's easy to pop one of the outer corners first then you can work the credit card around the top and the rest falls out.

darkstar448 -

Man, if I'd just read the thumb part...

caldugen -

Step 7

Repeat the previous step to remove the R1 button.

to save a few bucks, the L1 and R1 buttons can be removed without the use of the spudger tool by using any thin prying tool and just pry the buttons from the bottom instead of the top

Alan Peng -

What I didn't see addressed anywhere (here or in other similar articles) is that replacement R1 / L1 buttons can be differ enough to be un-usable depending on which model your ps5 controller is. The ones I ordered don't fit and now I can't find a way to be sure I get the right ones because few know there's even a difference.

Walt Mather -

Did you already figured it out? The version the we need yo use?, We are in the same situation here.

Gerald Ross Rodriguez -

Tried prying from the front of the buttons as pictured and my spudger broke off in the gap. A video I watched showed them being pried off from the back (between the R1/R2 and L1/L2 buttons) which seemed much easier.

Lora Singleton -

Step 8

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

Step 9

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

Step 10

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.

Step 11

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.

Step 12

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

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.

Step 14

Remove the rear case.

Step 15

Don't try to fully remove the battery, as it's still connected to the controller by delicate cables.
Swing the battery out of its recess so you can access its connector, making sure to not strain the cables.
Keep the battery supported so it doesn't fall during the next step.

Step 16

Use a pair of angled tweezers to firmly grip the short sides of the battery connector.
To get a stronger hold on the connector, grip the tweezers as close to the connector as you can.
Rock the connector side‑to‑side to walk it out of its socket and disconnect it.

Step 17

Remove the battery.

Step 18

Use tweezers to grip the lower microphone cable's plastic tab and pull it straight out of the socket to remove the microphone.
During reassembly, make sure the microphone has its rubber gasket and that the alignment tab goes into its cutout.

Step 19

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

Step 20

Remove the battery bracket.

Step 21

Use tweezers to grip the hard plastic section of the right trigger ribbon cable and pull the cable straight out of its socket to disconnect it.
If you're having trouble, try gripping the tweezers as close to the cable as possible to get a better hold.

Step 22

Repeat the previous step to disconnect the three other ribbon cables that connect to the motherboard.

Step 23

Throughout the rest of your repair, be very careful not to strain the delicate wires attached to the bottom edge of the board. They can easily tear, requiring soldering to fix them.
Use your fingers to gently push the joysticks through their cutouts on the shell to separate the motherboard.

Step 24

Carefully flip the motherboard down so the joysticks are facing up.

Step 25

The speaker will either be stuck to the motherboard or in its recess between the joystick cutouts.
Use your fingers or tweezers to remove the speaker.
During reassembly, place the speaker in its recess so the foam pad is on the left and the spring contacts are on the right.

Step 26

Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two 6.5 mm‑long screws securing the midframe.

Step 27

Carefully lift the midframe and motherboard up and out of the front case.

Step 28

Use tweezers or your fingers to remove the Options and Create buttons.

Step 29

Use tweezers or your fingers to remove the three silicone pads covering the Action, PS, and Directional buttons.

Step 30

Use tweezers or your fingers to remove the Action, PS, and Directional buttons.
Alternatively, you can slowly flip the front case over to let the buttons fall out.
During reassembly, use the alignment tabs to orient each button into its recess—each one is keyed specifically for its recess and proper orientation.

Step 31

Use tweezers to remove the Mute button.
During reassembly, make sure the button's tabs click back into their cutouts on the shell.

Step 32

Use your fingers to push down on the front of the touchpad until it detaches from the shell.
You should feel and hear a "click" as the touchpad detaches.

Step 33

Swing the bottom of the touchpad up and away from the controller to remove it.
During reassembly:
Insert the touchpad through the back of the case and hook the top edge into place.
Make sure the touchpad cable doesn't get trapped between the case and the touchpad.
Push the bottom edge of the touchpad firmly into place, making sure the circular alignment posts snap into place and are sitting flush in their cutouts.
Check the front edge of the touchpad and make sure the thin strip of plastic on the front shell isn't wedged under the touchpad. If it is, remove the touchpad and reinsert it so the thin strip is parallel to the touchpad.

Step 34

Use tweezers to remove the silicone pad around the Action buttons cutouts.

Step 35

Use tweezers to remove the microphone, threading its cable through the cutout in the case.
During reassembly, make sure the microphone has its rubber gasket and that the alignment tab goes into its cutout.

Step 36

You're left with the front shell.
During reassembly, you'll need to transfer all the parts you removed from your original front shell to the new one.

DualSense Controller V5 Front Case Replacement

Introduction

Tools

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