5 Easy Steps to Disassemble Your PS5 Controller

Unveiling the hidden complexities of the PlayStation 5 (PS5) controller may seem daunting, but it’s a rewarding endeavor for tech-savvy individuals. However, dismantling this intricate device requires precise execution and adherence to proper procedures. This comprehensive guide will meticulously guide you through the intricate process of disassembling your PS5 controller, empowering you with the knowledge and confidence to tackle this undertaking.

Before embarking on this disassembly journey, it’s imperative to gather the necessary tools, including a small Phillips screwdriver and a pry tool. Additionally, ensuring a well-lit and organized workspace will significantly enhance your experience. Patience and meticulous attention to detail will serve as your steadfast companions throughout this process. Remember, haste makes waste, and rushing through the steps may lead to unintended consequences. Therefore, proceed with care and precision to maintain the integrity of your controller.

First, we’ll venture into the controller’s exterior, where the backplate beckons for removal. Locate the four screws securing it and gently unscrew them with the Phillips screwdriver. Once liberated, carefully lift the backplate away, unveiling the controller’s internal circuitry. Take caution not to apply excessive force, as delicate ribbon cables connect the backplate to the controller’s mainboard. These cables are vital to the controller’s functionality, so handle them with the utmost care. In the subsequent steps, we’ll delve deeper into the controller’s anatomy, gradually disentangling its inner workings.

Disassembling the External Shell

**Step 1: Removing the Back Screws**

To begin disassembling the external shell of your PS5 controller, you’ll need a T5 Torx screwdriver. Start by flipping the controller over and locating the four T5 screws on the back. These screws hold the two halves of the shell together.

Carefully unscrew all four screws. Be sure to hold onto them, as you’ll need them later for reassembly.

**Step 2: Separating the Shell Halves**

Once the screws are removed, you can begin separating the two halves of the shell. Start by gently prying apart the top and bottom edges of the controller. The two halves of the shell should separate easily.

**Step 3: Disconnecting the Battery Connector**

Once the shell halves are separated, you’ll need to disconnect the battery connector. The battery connector is a small, white connector located on the left-hand side of the controller.

Gently lift the battery connector up and away from the controller. Be careful not to damage the connector or the wires attached to it.

**Step 4: Removing the Shoulders**

The next step is to remove the shoulder buttons. The shoulder buttons are held in place by two screws each. Locate the four screws and remove them using your T5 Torx screwdriver.

Once the screws are removed, you can lift the shoulder buttons up and away from the controller. Be careful not to damage the buttons or the wires attached to them.

**Step 5: Removing the Faceplate**

The final step is to remove the faceplate. The faceplate is held in place by clips. Gently pry the faceplate around the edges until it pops off.

Once the faceplate is removed, the external shell of your PS5 controller will be completely disassembled.

Removing the Battery

To remove the battery, you will need a Phillips #00 screwdriver.

1. Turn the controller upside down so that the back is facing you.

2. Locate the four screws that hold the back panel in place and remove them.

3. Carefully lift the back panel off of the controller. Be careful not to damage the ribbon cable that connects the back panel to the controller.

4. Locate the battery connector and disconnect it from the controller.

5. Remove the battery from the controller.

Screw Size	Quantity
Phillips #00	4

6. To reassemble the controller, simply follow these steps in reverse order.

Accessing the Motherboard

Once you’ve removed the back cover, you’ll have access to the motherboard. However, before you can disconnect the motherboard, you need to remove a few more screws.

Removing the Motherboard Screws

There are 10 screws that hold the motherboard in place. They are located in the following places:

Four screws in the corners of the motherboard
Two screws on the left side of the motherboard, near the headphone jack
Two screws on the right side of the motherboard, near the USB ports
Two screws in the middle of the motherboard, near the battery connector

Use a Phillips #0 screwdriver to remove all 10 screws. Once the screws are removed, you can carefully lift the motherboard up and out of the controller.

Disconnecting the Motherboard

Once the motherboard is lifted up, you’ll need to disconnect a few cables. These cables are located on the bottom of the motherboard, near the battery connector.

There are three cables that need to be disconnected:

Cable	Location
Battery cable	Next to the battery connector
Rumble motor cable	Next to the rumble motors
Headphone jack cable	Next to the headphone jack

To disconnect a cable, gently pull on the connector until it comes loose. Do not pull on the wires, as this could damage the cable.

Detaching the Joysticks

Step 1: Remove the Joysticks’ Escutcheons

Locate the two small, round escutscheons that cover the base of each joystick. Using a flat-head screwdriver or a spudger tool, gently pry up the escutscheons and remove them.

Step 2: Expose the Joystick Screw

Once the escutscheons are removed, you’ll see the single screw that holds each joystick in place. Using a Phillips #00 screwdriver, carefully unscrew both screws.

Step 3: Lift and Disconnect the Joystick

Grasp the bottom of the joystick and gently lift it upward. As you lift, disconnect the ribbon cable that connects the joystick to the controller’s mainboard by pulling the connector straight up.

Step 4: Use a Spudger to Disconnect the Side Buttons

Before removing the joystick completely, you need to disconnect the side buttons (L1/R1 or L2/R2) associated with it. Insert a spudger or a flat-head screwdriver into the small gap between the joystick and the controller’s body. Gently pry up to disconnect the side button. Repeat this step for the other side button on the joystick.

Joystick	Side Buttons
Left	L1/L2
Right	R1/R2

Disconnecting the Triggers

The triggers on the PS5 controller are easy to disconnect, making it possible to replace them if they become damaged. Here’s how to do it:

Remove the four screws on the back of the controller.
Gently pry the controller open using a plastic prying tool.
Locate the trigger assembly, which is held in place by three screws.
Remove the three screws to detach the trigger assembly.
Carefully disconnect the two ribbon cables that connect the triggers to the controller’s mainboard. The ribbon cables are fragile, so be sure to use care when disconnecting them.
Once the ribbon cables are disconnected, the trigger assembly can be removed from the controller.

To reconnect the triggers, simply reverse the steps above. When reconnecting the ribbon cables, be sure to align the white arrow on the cable with the white dot on the connector on the mainboard.

Screw Size	Quantity
T8 Torx	4
PH00 Phillips	3

Separating the D-Pad and Face Buttons

Step 5: Removing the Button Ribbon Cable

Disconnect the eight-pin button ribbon cable from the motherboard by gently prying it upwards with a plastic opening tool. Avoid pulling or bending the cable excessively to prevent damage.

Caution: Handle the ribbon cable with care as it is delicate and prone to tearing. If the cable becomes damaged, you may need to replace the entire button assembly.

Step 6: Disassembling the D-Pad Assembly

6.1: Removing the Face Buttons

Remove the four screws securing the face buttons using a Phillips #00 screwdriver. Lift the face buttons straight up to detach them from the controller. Note the orientation of the buttons and replace them in the same way to ensure proper functionality.

6.2: Separating the D-Pad PCB

Disconnect the two-pin connector attaching the D-Pad PCB to the motherboard by gently prying it upwards with a plastic opening tool. Carefully lift the D-Pad PCB away from the controller.

6.3: Disassembling the D-Pad

To disassemble the D-Pad, gently press down on the center of the D-Pad and remove the top part. Then, remove the four screws securing the bottom part of the D-Pad and separate the individual buttons.

Removing the Speaker Module

To remove the speaker module from your PS5 controller, follow these steps:

1. Remove the back cover.

Use a T8 Torx screwdriver to remove the four screws holding the back cover in place. Lift the back cover off the controller.

2. Disconnect the battery ribbon cable.

Use a spudger to carefully disconnect the ribbon cable connecting the battery to the motherboard.

3. Remove the battery.

Use your fingers to lift the battery out of the controller.

4. Disconnect the speaker ribbon cable.

Use a spudger to carefully disconnect the ribbon cable connecting the speaker to the motherboard.

5. Remove the speaker screws.

Use a T5 Torx screwdriver to remove the two screws holding the speaker in place.

6. Lift the speaker out of the controller.

Use your fingers to carefully lift the speaker out of the controller.

7. Troubleshooting: Speaker Not Working

If the speaker is not working after reassembly, check the following:

Possible Cause	Solution
Damaged speaker	Replace the speaker
Loose connection	Reseat the speaker ribbon cable
Faulty motherboard	Contact Sony for support

Isolating the Rumble Motors

The rumble motors add an immersive touch to your gaming experience, providing feedback for explosions, impacts, and other in-game events. Isolating them requires some precision and care:

1. Locate the two screws holding the rumble motor assembly to the controller’s backplate.

2. Use a T6 Torx screwdriver to remove the screws.

3. Carefully pry the motor assembly away from the controller. It may be slightly adhered, so use a plastic pry tool to avoid damage.

4. Disconnect the motor assembly’s ribbon cable from the controller’s mainboard.

5. Note the orientation of the rumble motors. They must be reinstalled in the same position later.

6. Use a T8 Torx screwdriver to remove the four screws holding each rumble motor in place.

7. Gently lift each motor out of its housing.

Disassembling the Rumble Motors (Optional)

For further disassembly, you can remove the rumble motors’ plastic housings:

1. Inspect the plastic housing for small screws or clips. Remove them.

2. Pry the plastic housing open carefully, using a plastic pry tool to avoid damage.

3. Note the orientation of the gears and magnets inside the housing. They must be reassembled correctly.

4. Carefully remove the gear and magnet assembly from the housing.

Disassembling the Touchpad

The touchpad is one of the most important parts of the PS5 controller. It allows you to navigate the user interface, play games, and interact with other players. If you’re having problems with your touchpad, you may need to disassemble it to clean it or replace it.

Here’s how to disassemble the touchpad:

Remove the four screws on the back of the controller.
Gently pry the back panel off the controller.
Locate the touchpad ribbon cable connector. It’s a small, black connector located on the top of the motherboard.
Use a spudger to gently pry the ribbon cable connector up from the motherboard.
Carefully lift the touchpad out of the controller.

Cleaning the Touchpad

If your touchpad is dirty, you can clean it with a soft cloth and some isopropyl alcohol. Be sure to dry the touchpad completely before reassembling the controller.

Replacing the Touchpad

If your touchpad is damaged, you can replace it with a new one. Here’s how to replace the touchpad:

Locate the new touchpad ribbon cable connector. It’s a small, black connector located on the back of the touchpad.
Use a spudger to gently pry the ribbon cable connector onto the motherboard.
Carefully place the touchpad into the controller.
Replace the back panel and screws.

Your PS5 controller should now be working properly.

Step	Action
1	Remove the four screws on the back of the controller.
2	Gently pry the back panel off the controller.
3	Locate the touchpad ribbon cable connector. It’s a small, black connector located on the top of the motherboard.
4	Use a spudger to gently pry the ribbon cable connector up from the motherboard.
5	Carefully lift the touchpad out of the controller.
6	Locate the new touchpad ribbon cable connector. It’s a small, black connector located on the back of the touchpad.
7	Use a spudger to gently pry the ribbon cable connector onto the motherboard.
8	Carefully place the touchpad into the controller.
9	Replace the back panel and screws.

Reassembling the Controller

Now that you’ve removed all the components and cleaned them, it’s time to reassemble the controller. Follow these steps in reverse order to put it all back together:

1. Reattach the L2/R2 Triggers

Align the L2/R2 triggers with their slots and snap them back into place.

2. Reinstall the Battery

Insert the battery into its compartment and slide it in until it clicks.

3. Reattach the Back Shell

Align the back shell with the front shell and snap them together firmly.

4. Screw in the Backplate

Use the 5 screws to secure the backplate to the back shell.

5. Reattach the Handles

Slide the handles back onto the controller until they snap into place.

6. Reattach the Directional Pad

Align the directional pad with its slot and push it in until it clicks.

7. Reattach the Buttons

Align the buttons with their respective slots and press them in until they snap into place.

8. Reattach the Analog Sticks

Push the analog sticks back into their sockets until they click.

9. Reattach the Touchpad

Align the touchpad with its slot and push it in until it clicks.

10. Test the Controller

Connect the controller to your PlayStation 5 console or PC and test the functionality of all buttons, sticks, triggers, and touchpad to ensure everything is working correctly before you start playing again.

How to Take a PS5 Controller Apart

Taking apart a PS5 controller is a relatively simple process that can be completed in a few minutes. However, it is important to take your time and follow the instructions carefully to avoid damaging the controller. Here are the steps on how to take apart a PS5 controller:

Remove the four screws on the back of the controller using a Phillips #00 screwdriver.
Gently pry open the two halves of the controller using a plastic pry tool or your fingers.
Disconnect the battery connector by gently pulling it straight up.
Remove the six screws holding the motherboard in place using a Phillips #00 screwdriver.
Gently lift the motherboard out of the controller.
Disconnect the ribbon cable connecting the buttons to the motherboard.
Remove the four screws holding the trigger assembly in place using a Phillips #00 screwdriver.
Gently lift the trigger assembly out of the controller.
Disconnect the ribbon cable connecting the analog sticks to the motherboard.
Remove the two screws holding the analog stick assembly in place using a Phillips #00 screwdriver.
Gently lift the analog stick assembly out of the controller.
The controller is now disassembled.