this post was submitted on 26 May 2025
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Steam Deck

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I noticed the back of my steam deck feeling uneven yesterday. Opened it up to find a spicy pillow inside.

Replacement is underway, but I'm gonna remove this one now, already. Wish me luck...

all 28 comments
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[–] [email protected] 104 points 1 month ago (2 children)

operation seems to have been successful, Follow up pictures of the removed battery

[–] [email protected] 55 points 1 month ago

”Bomb has been defused”

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Now find a lot of sand and a metal bucket

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

This, is a bucket. (and sand)

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago

Gentlemen synchronize your death watches (and sand)

[–] [email protected] 61 points 1 month ago (1 children)

"the bomb has been planted"

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 month ago

"Get outta there, it's gonna blow."

[–] [email protected] 48 points 1 month ago (1 children)

You won't need luck if you go slowly and methodically, and follow the iFixIt guide:

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Steam+Deck+Battery+Replacement/149070

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago (1 children)

those guides are great - had to swap out my display because i cracked it, was done in under 1 hour. the repairability of this thing is insane

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

I've installed two SSDs now, so fuckin' easy

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Isn’t battery adhesive the worst thing ever?

I remember fixing a few macbooks that had batteries like this. The batteries were gigantic and the adhesive was crazy strong. Dumping acetone behind them with a syringe, heat, and gently prying eventually got them out but it was quite nerve wracking. I guess you can’t dump solvents in a steam deck though

It’s so dumb. Adhesives make assembly easier but fuck over repairability. The only advantages are even distribution of pressure and vibration dampening, which are notable, but are not worth making the main wear item completely inaccessible and a nightmare to replace for the majority of people who don’t have experience with heat guns and sliding cards/thin metal to cut the stupid fucking adhesive that could’ve been replaced by a screw making the product 0.5mm thicker and 0.1g heavier (if that)

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 month ago (1 children)

This was a chore to remove. I had to heat up the battery so much, I was really worried.

I remember batteries that had a pull tab, why can't they use those anymore

I am considering not using the adhesive that comes with the new battery, but using something a lot less adhesive.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago

The problem is the adhesive does serve a purpose (mainly vibration/keeping the battery in place). Depends on how much you travel with it and the design overall (I’m not familiar with the steam deck but looking at the ifixit it appears ribbons are fixed to it so having the battery bounce around could be a problem)

That said you can buy those pull tab strips and could probably use them here. I hate those things but why not? Better than what was there, I guess. Especially bc the off brand ones can be fairly weak adhesive

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I hate lithium batteries. Every so often I see one of these type of posts and have to go through every single electronic in the house to check for spicy pillows.

Now, OP, please tell me you the let battery fully drain a bunch and recharged it full and left it there but not plugged in and when you did again you played until it powered off.

Because I know battery management systems, and battery management systems still need electricity to work correctly. If the battery gets fully discharged they can't work correctly and occasionally the pillows get spicy.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago (1 children)

If youre talking about before the operation: I let the battery discharge completely (fired up a game and played until the system shut off on its own). I haven't charged it afterwards, but imidiatelly removed it.

If youre talking about general usage: it was plugged into the outlet whenever I was not gaming, It barely drained below 40% when I used it.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Dang. You understand batteries. I was really hoping that it wasnt chance that the battery went poofy.

Time to do my paranoid check again

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Dang. You understand batteries.

eh, apparently, not really. When it comes to battery health, it feels to me like the wisdom changes every few years. It probably wasn't very healthy for the battery to be on the charger for dozens of hours on end, despite battery management.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 month ago

Best of luck champ

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago
[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago

Better poke it with a needle to let the excitement out

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Okay but how did you order a replacement??? Every time I've checked Ifixit they've been out of stock and I've signed up for an email telling me when they're in stock... Its been like a month...m

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I just went to ifixit's website and ordered the battery. Ordered it on sunday night, according to my tracking app it has just been delivered, so no long waiting times.

Maybe it depends on your region? It's in stock on the german website.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Must be regional then. I noticed that my shell isn't completely flat after seeing your post and now I'm obviously very concerned.

I've reached out to Steam Support atleast, hopefully they can directly sell me one, or point me somewhere that I'm not buying one off Amazon but this should likely be replaced asap...

When did you get your steam deck? Mines an original Q3 an curious if this is something common for our 2 year old devices?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I noticed that my shell isn’t completely flat

Probably a good idea to quickly pop it open and have a look at the battery. Opening the steam deck is quite easy (remember to remove the SD card!), It only takes 3 minutes to check :)

I’ve reached out to Steam Support atleast, hopefully they can directly sell me one, or point me somewhere that I’m not buying one off Amazon

From what I understand, iFixit is their official partner, valves support website directed me towards that as well.

When did you get your steam deck? Mines an original Q3 an curious if this is something common for our 2 year old devices?

August 2022, close to three years old now.