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Midframe Removal

Prerequisite Only
This guide is only intended to be used as a prerequisite for other guides. It's incomplete by itself.

Introduction

Follow this guide to remove the midframe on a Sony PlayStation 5 DualSense controller.

What you need

  1. Midframe Removal, Unclip the right end of the middle trim: step 1, image 1 of 2 Midframe Removal, Unclip the right end of the middle trim: step 1, image 2 of 2

    • 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.

    Edit

  2. Midframe Removal, Unclip the lower-right edge of the middle trim: step 2, image 1 of 3 Midframe Removal, Unclip the lower-right edge of the middle trim: step 2, image 2 of 3 Midframe Removal, Unclip the lower-right edge of the middle trim: step 2, image 3 of 3

    • Slide the opening pick along the lower-right edge of the middle trim to release the clips securing it to the case.

    Edit

  3. Midframe Removal, Unclip the left end of the middle trim: step 3, image 1 of 2 Midframe Removal, Unclip the left end of the middle trim: step 3, image 2 of 2

    • 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.

    Edit

  4. Midframe Removal, Unclip the lower-left edge of the middle trim: step 4, image 1 of 3 Midframe Removal, Unclip the lower-left edge of the middle trim: step 4, image 2 of 3 Midframe Removal, Unclip the lower-left edge of the middle trim: step 4, image 3 of 3

    • Slide the opening pick along the lower-left edge of the middle trim to release the clips securing it to the case.

    Edit

  5. Midframe Removal, Remove the middle trim: step 5, image 1 of 3 Midframe Removal, Remove the middle trim: step 5, image 2 of 3 Midframe Removal, Remove the middle trim: step 5, image 3 of 3

    • 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.

    Edit

  6. Midframe Removal, Remove the L1 button: step 6, image 1 of 3 Midframe Removal, Remove the L1 button: step 6, image 2 of 3 Midframe Removal, Remove the L1 button: step 6, image 3 of 3

    • 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.

    Edit

  7. Midframe Removal, Remove the R1 button: step 7, image 1 of 3 Midframe Removal, Remove the R1 button: step 7, image 2 of 3 Midframe Removal, Remove the R1 button: step 7, image 3 of 3

    • Repeat the previous step to remove the R1 button.

    Edit

  8. Midframe Removal, Remove the rear case screws: step 8, image 1 of 2 Midframe Removal, Remove the rear case screws: step 8, image 2 of 2

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

    Edit

  9. Midframe Removal: step 9, image 1 of 2 Midframe Removal: step 9, image 2 of 2

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

    Edit

  10. Midframe Removal, Separate the rear case: step 10, image 1 of 3 Midframe Removal, Separate the rear case: step 10, image 2 of 3 Midframe Removal, Separate the rear case: step 10, image 3 of 3

    • Be gently 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.

    Edit

  11. Midframe Removal: step 11, image 1 of 3 Midframe Removal: step 11, image 2 of 3 Midframe Removal: step 11, image 3 of 3

    • 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.

    Edit

  13. Midframe Removal: step 12, image 1 of 3 Midframe Removal: step 12, image 2 of 3 Midframe Removal: step 12, image 3 of 3

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

    Edit

  14. Midframe Removal: step 13, image 1 of 2 Midframe Removal: step 13, image 2 of 2

    • 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.

    Edit

  15. Midframe Removal, Remove the rear case: step 14, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the rear case.

    Edit

  16. Midframe Removal, Disconnect the battery: step 15, image 1 of 2 Midframe Removal, Disconnect the battery: step 15, image 2 of 2
    Tool used on this step:
    Tweezers
    $4.99
    Buy

    • Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to disconnect the battery from the motherboard.

    • Grip the connector, not the wires, when disconnecting.

    Edit

  17. Midframe Removal, Remove the battery: step 16, image 1 of 2 Midframe Removal, Remove the battery: step 16, image 2 of 2

    • Lift the battery straight out of the battery bracket.

    Edit

  18. Midframe Removal, Remove the lower microphone: step 17, image 1 of 2 Midframe Removal, Remove the lower microphone: step 17, image 2 of 2
    Tool used on this step:
    Tweezers
    $4.99
    Buy

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

    Edit

  19. Midframe Removal, Remove the battery bracket: step 18, image 1 of 2 Midframe Removal, Remove the battery bracket: step 18, image 2 of 2

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

    Edit

  20. Midframe Removal: step 19, image 1 of 2 Midframe Removal: step 19, image 2 of 2

    • Lift the battery bracket out of the motherboard.

    Edit

  21. Midframe Removal, Disconnect the right trigger assembly: step 20, image 1 of 2 Midframe Removal, Disconnect the right trigger assembly: step 20, image 2 of 2

    • 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.

    • Do not completely remove the ribbon cable yet.

    Edit

  22. Midframe Removal: step 21, image 1 of 2 Midframe Removal: step 21, image 2 of 2

    • 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.

    Edit

  23. Midframe Removal, Disconnect the left trigger assembly: step 22, image 1 of 2 Midframe Removal, Disconnect the left trigger assembly: step 22, image 2 of 2

    • 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.

    • Do not completely remove the ribbon cable yet.

    Edit

  24. Midframe Removal: step 23, image 1 of 2 Midframe Removal: step 23, image 2 of 2

    • 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.

    Edit

  25. Midframe Removal, Disconnect the upper microphone: step 24, image 1 of 2 Midframe Removal, Disconnect the upper microphone: step 24, image 2 of 2

    • 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.

    Edit

  26. Midframe Removal, Disconnect the touchpad: step 25, image 1 of 2 Midframe Removal, Disconnect the touchpad: step 25, image 2 of 2

    • 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.

    Edit

  27. Midframe Removal, Lift out the motherboard: step 26, image 1 of 3 Midframe Removal, Lift out the motherboard: step 26, image 2 of 3 Midframe Removal, Lift out the motherboard: step 26, image 3 of 3

    • 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.

    Edit

  28. Midframe Removal, Remove the light guide: step 27, image 1 of 2 Midframe Removal, Remove the light guide: step 27, image 2 of 2

    • Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two 8.5 mm screws securing the light guide.

    Edit

  29. Midframe Removal: step 28, image 1 of 2 Midframe Removal: step 28, image 2 of 2
    Tool used on this step:
    Tweezers
    $4.99
    Buy

    • Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to remove the light guide bracket.

    Edit

  30. Midframe Removal: step 29, image 1 of 2 Midframe Removal: step 29, image 2 of 2

    • Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to remove the light guide.

    Edit

  31. Midframe Removal, Remove the speaker: step 30, image 1 of 3 Midframe Removal, Remove the speaker: step 30, image 2 of 3 Midframe Removal, Remove the speaker: step 30, image 3 of 3
    Tool used on this step:
    Tweezers
    $4.99
    Buy

    • Use a pair of tweezers to remove the speaker from the midframe.

    • Be sure to reinstall the speaker in the correct orientation with the foam pad on the left side and the gold contact points on the right.

    Edit

  32. Midframe Removal, Remove the midframe: step 31, image 1 of 2 Midframe Removal, Remove the midframe: step 31, image 2 of 2

    • Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two 6.4 mm screws securing the midframe to the front case.

    Edit

  33. Midframe Removal: step 32, image 1 of 3 Midframe Removal: step 32, image 2 of 3 Midframe Removal: step 32, image 3 of 3

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

    • Be careful not to strain the vibrator motor wires.

    • During reassembly, feed the touchpad's ribbon cable back through its rectangular opening in the midframe.

    Edit
Conclusion

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.

Author

with 2 other contributors

Sam Omiotek

Member since: 02/25/19

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