this post was submitted on 20 Apr 2025
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Steam Deck

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[Help] Failing power button (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 2 weeks ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
13 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

My launch LCD Steam Deck is unfortunately now afflicted with a power button issue. It amounts to the power button being unresponsive ~9 times out of 10 (and getting worse). It has been reported on, but has no definitive fix as far as I can tell.

My fixes attempt so far have been:

  • Squirt isopropyl alcohol (also contact cleaner later on) from the outside (suggested in [https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/vlv3px/psa_how_i_fixed_my_steam_decks_unresponsive_power/]) : no perceptible change.
  • Open up the casing and try pushing the board back into a better position (as a proposed fix in [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=123jykFjF50]) : felt like an improvement, but did not stick for very long.
  • Mostly I have been working around the issue by using the wake on Bluetooth feature from the SteamOS preview channel and using a Switch Pro controller (because it's not BLE) or a headset. This has been pretty reliable but for obvious reasons this is not ideal (and also will not work after a shutdown).

This is an in-depth analysis of the problem : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAZtSyyx-ww]

Did someone try a lasting fix for the issue without soldering ? Maybe putting a piece of plastic or electrical tape between the button and the switch helps (like in [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhwThw6Ke-U]) ?

Edit 26/04/2025: I put a piece of electric tape between the button and the switch. and there is a very tangible improvement. Not every button press works but most of them do so far. I'll see about the longevity of this fix.

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[–] [email protected] 27 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

I had the same issue and ordered replacement parts from ifixit. Took 10 minutes to replace and works good as new.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I am aware, thanks. I did the whole noisy fan replacement a year ago 😁 https://sh.itjust.works/post/20372232 That worked really well and I am glad I did it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Do you mean this part [https://www.ifixit.com/en-eu/products/steam-deck-power-button] ? I do not see how this would fix my issue since this does not include the switch, only the plastic button.

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

Exactly. I had the same issue where the power button would not work, and I'd have to press and hold, click, try again, etc. Replacing this and making the contact work again was enough. I did this fix a year ago and have had no issues since.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 weeks ago

I have the same issue but at least it's still a bit more responsive than yours.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I had that as well. I folded a piece of paper and stuck it under the power button. Worked well until I had to RMA due to another issue. Then they fixed it properly.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Thanks for giving me hope for a "light" fix. How long did that hold until your unrelated RMA ?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

don't remember. At least a few months. I think I had even forgotten about it when I sent it in.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

I did the fix today, with a small strip of electric tape folded in 2. Hopefully it holds long enough to get to the Steam Deck 2 🤞

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Could you take it to a local repair shop and see if they can order a new part and do the soldering for you?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

Maybe if I could find an adequate one, but it's likely to be expensive and they could as well break it for good.

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

Mine is doing the same thing. I had huge improvement taking off the back shell and board shield, then using mini qtips to brush alcohol between the button and the board vigorously.