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Official iFixit API visual reference

PlayStation Portal D-pad Replacement

This guide shows how to remove and replace the...

Sony PlayStation Portal Moderate 20 minutes - 1 hour Guide 171201

Licensed iFixit integration

This attributed iFixit guide is displayed through Fixonic's recorded commercial API permission. iFixit remains the independent source and author of the procedure.

Guide overview

Before you begin

This guide shows how to remove and replace the D-pad on your PlayStation Portal. If your D-pad is dirty, use this guide to remove and clean it. This guide shows how to remove the D-pad buttons only. If your D-pad is unresponsive, you may need to replace the membrane switches, which are not covered in this guide.

Step 1

Power off your PlayStation Portal

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Before you begin repairs, power off your PlayStation Portal and unplug any cables.

Step 2

Pry up the L1 bumper

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Both bumpers are held in place with clips.
Rest a finger over the L1 bumper to prevent it from flying off when you pry.
Insert the flat end of a spudger between the top edge of the bumper and the white shell.
Pry up to unclip the bumper.
Slide the spudger along the seam to release any remaining clips.

Step 3

Repair step

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Remove the L1 bumper.

Step 4

Pry up the R1 bumper

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Repeat the procedure to pry up and remove the R1 bumper.

Step 5

Reassembly information

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To install a bumper during reassembly:
Align the bumper into its slot.
Use a finger to press the bumper down firmly until it clicks into place.

Step 6

Loosen the left joystick trim strip

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Insert the tip of an opening pick underneath the left joystick trim strip, where it wraps below the grip.
Twist the opening pick to release the bottom clip.

Step 7

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Insert the tip of an opening pick underneath the outer edge of the trim strip.
Slide the opening pick along the edge to release the clips.

Step 8

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Insert the tip of an opening pick under the inner edge of the strip.
Slide the opening pick along the edge to release the clips.

Step 9

Repair step

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Grasp the bottom edge of the trim strip and slowly lift to release any remaining clips.
If the strip feels stuck, twist or shift the strip sideways to help release any stubborn clips.

Step 10

Remove the left joystick trim strip

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Lift and remove the left joystick trim strip.

Step 11

Remove the right joystick trim strip

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Repeat the procedure to unclip and remove the right joystick trim strip.

Step 12

Reassembly information

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To reattach a trim strip during reassembly:
Use your fingers to align and clip the top edge in place.
Firmly press along the remaining edges to clip the strip in place.

Step 13

Remove the back shell screws

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP JIS 00 Screwdriver Bit Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Phillips head screwdriver Size PH00 Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two 6.5 mm‑long screws at the bottom tips of each grip.
You may need to peel off some tamper-evident stickers to access the screws.

Step 14

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP JIS 00 Screwdriver Bit Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Phillips head screwdriver Size PH00 Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two 6.5 mm‑long screws securing the top corners of the shell.

Step 15

Back shell information

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) Referenced by the iFixit guide

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The back shell is still secured with numerous clips. The next few steps will show how to unclip the shell while reducing the chance of damaging the clips.

Step 16

Unclip the back shell

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Push the flat edge of a spudger into the back shell's left, inner seam.
This releases the clip in that area while flexing the shell slightly, creating a larger outer seam.
Keep the spudger inserted in the seam.

Step 17

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Insert the tip of an opening pick into the shell's left, outer seam.
Slide the pick along the seam to release the clips securing the edge.
Keep a pick in the seam to prevent the shell from clipping back together.

Step 18

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Remove the spudger from the inner seam.

Step 19

Repair step

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Repeat the previous three steps on the right side of the Portal to release the clips along the right edge.

Step 20

Repair step

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Carefully flip your Portal over.
Grasp the top edge of the back shell, near a corner.
Gently pull the top edge away until you feel the clips release in that corner.

Step 21

Repair step

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Pull along the top edge to release all the top edge clips.

Step 22

Repair step

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Grasp the bottom edge of the back shell, near the center.
Pull away with firm force to release the clips securing the bottom edge.

Step 23

Remove the back shell

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Remove the back shell.

Step 24

Reassembly information

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To clip the back shell in place during reassembly:
Align the corners near the trigger buttons first.
Firmly press around the entire perimeter to clip the shell back in place.

Step 25

Loosen the left grip shell

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP JIS 00 Screwdriver Bit Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Phillips head screwdriver Size PH00 Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two 6.5 mm‑long screws securing the left grip shell to the Portal.
From the back, these screws are on the right side of the Portal.
These screws can be tight. Brace the Portal with your hand and apply strong pressure to the screwdriver.
You can also try using a JIS #00 screwdriver to get a better grip on these screws.

Step 26

Repair step

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Grasp the top edge of the grip shell and twist it slightly outwards (away from the screen) to release the inner clips.

Step 27

Remove the left grip shell

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Insert the flat edge of a spudger underneath the inner edge of the grip shell, near the vibration motor.
Twist the spudger along the edge to unclip the bottom portion of the grip shell.
Remove the left grip shell.

Step 28

Remove the button cover

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP iFixit Opening Picks (Set of 6) Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use your fingers to peel the gray button cover away from the grip shell and remove it.
During reassembly:
Make sure the orientation arrow on the button cover points upwards.

Step 29

Remove the D-pad

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Flip the grip shell over to drop out the D-pad.
During reassembly:
Orient the D-pad such that the alignment tabs rest in the shell's cutouts.