How do I Put My Xbox One Controller Back Together?
As you can see in my other videos [How to Open an Xbox One Controller (Part 1| Part 2)], taking apart an Xbox One controller is easy, and can be done with little experience. But what about reassembling, or putting an Xbox One controller back together? XboxDIY‘s easy-to-follow video tutorial on How to Take Apart an Xbox One Controller (Part 3 – Reassemble) will have you back gaming in no time.
Whether you want to take apart an Xbox One controller to clean buttons, or if you’re learning How to Fix Broken Bumpers on Your Xbox One Controller, you’ll need to know how to
Xbox One controllers are easy to break – whether you’ve dropped it, knocked it off a table, or thrown it across the room in a fit of rage. Why spend $60 on a new controller, or wait months for Microsoft to fix it, when you can do it yourself right now?
What You’ll Need to Get Started:
- Safety Torx Screwdriver (Wondering What Size Torx Screwdriver You Need for an Xbox One Controller?)
- A Soldering Kit
- Replacement Xbox One Controller Parts (Optional)
- Helping Hand with Magnifying Glass
- Wire Strippers (Optional)
Step 1: Place the Buttons Back in to the Xbox One Controller Frame
The first step of reassembling your Xbox One controller is to place the buttons back into the frame of the controller. You’ll need to place the A, B, X, Y, Home, Back, and Start buttons back in to the proper slot. Make sure you have them the right way by flipping the controller back over before moving on to the next step.
After placing the buttons back in to the frame of the controller, take the grey button cover and place it over the same buttons. You’ll know it’s in right because it will sit nicely over the buttons and flush with the frame.
Step 2: Secure the First Circuitboard to the Xbox One Controller Frame
The next step of putting your controller back together is securing the first of two circuitboards to the frame of the controller. Place the circuitboard flush with the controller frame, and your torx screwdriver and 6 torx screws to secure the circuitboard.
Step 3: Secure the Second Circuitboard to the Xbox One Controller Frame
After securing the first circuitboard to the controller, you’ll need to secure the second circuitboard to the first circuitboard and controller frame. The biggest difference between securing the first circuitboard and the second circuitboard, is that there are two 14-pin connectors that need to be aligned before securing the controller. Make sure these snap in to place (you’ll feel them click), and then use your torx screwdriver and 2 torx screws to secure the circuitboard.
Step 4: Replace the Sync Button, and Home Button Cover
Don’t forget this part: Place the sync button in the sync button slot (to the left of the home button), and then slide the Xbox Home Button cover on top of the controller. If you have trouble getting the Xbox Home Button cover on, press down on the Xbox Home Button before sliding the cover back over.
Step 5: Reattach the Triggers and Trigger Rumble Motors
To reattach the triggers, place the trigger rumble motors into the trigger housing that is already attached to the frame of the controller, and then place the trigger covers back over top of the rumble motors.
When placing the trigger rumble motors back into the frame, make sure that the motors sit flush against the trigger housing. You’ll know the motors are placed correctly when they sit nicely in the housing. Also, make sure that the wires run down the front of the controller (we will wrap these wires around the back of the controller, and reattach them in a later step).
Finally, reattach the top of the triggers by aligning the trigger cover with the frame, then use your torx screwdriver and 4 torx screws (2 for each trigger).
Step 6: Reattach Attach the Bumpers
Once the Xbox Home/Sync Button housing and triggers have been reattached, the next step is installing the left and right bumpers. Simply slide the bumpers in between the triggers and the Xbox Home/Sync Button housing. Make sure they are secured, you’ll feel them snap in to place. You’ll hear them snap in to place. Double check that they are working correctly by pressing down on the bumpers; you’ll hear a click.
Step 7: Solder the Trigger and Handle Rumble Motors Back on to the Circuit Board
The first thing you’ll want to do before soldering the rumble motors back on is to make sure the board and contacts are free of any solder. You’ll use a soldering iron, and either a solder sucker or soldering wick to clean the contacts. Be careful, you can burn the contacts and ruin your circuitboard, rendering your rumble motors inoperable.
After you’ve cleaned the contacts, insert the bottom rumble motors into their housing. Since these are free standing, you may want to tape them down temporarily to make it easier manage. You can always remove the tape after.
Once your rumble motors are in place, run the wires along the sides of the controller, securing them with the yellow tape that we took off while taking your Xbox One Controller apart. Make sure the wires are long enough to reach the contacts, but have enough slack so they don’t pull on the triggers or the rumble motors. If you need to remove the insulation to expose more wire, use a pair of wire strippers.
My recommendation for the next step is to either use a helping hand with gator clips, or find a friend who’s brave enough to let you put a 600 Degree soldering iron near their fingers. Let’s go with the helping hand.
Place the wire in the helping hand, and move your circuit board and wire close together. Before reattaching the wires, make sure to tin the wire to make it easier to attach the circuit board. This is the act of applying a tiny bit of solder onto the wire.
The next part is pretty simple. Place your wire and circuit board contacts on each other with your helping hand. Then, use your soldering iron to melt the solder until it covers the wire and contact, reattaching it to the board. Check that the solder job is secure by gently tugging on the wire.
*If you placed tape on the rumble motors in the handle of the controller, don’t forget to remove it before moving on to the final step.
Step 8: Reattach the D-Pad and its Housing
Placing the D-pad back in to the controller is pretty straightforward. Simply reattach the metal housing – you may need to bend the metal clip at the top and bottom of the housing for it to fit properly. Then, place the D-Pad back on top of the metal housing, ensuring that you feel the feedback of the D-pad as you normally would. You may need to reapply electronic grease if you accidentally wiped it off, or if it wasn’t there to begin with.
Step 9: Reattach the Outer Shell of the Xbox One Controller
Now that your controller is starting to look like a controller again, the last thing you’ll need to do is reattach the front, back, and sides of the Xbox One controller. If you’re interested in re-painting, or applying an Xbox One Controller skin, this is the time to do it.
Place the back of the Xbox One Controller on – make sure the battery prongs slide into the battery housing, and the triggers have enough room to operate.
Next, flip the controller over and place the front cover of the Xbox One controller over the buttons. Make sure there aren’t any gaps between the front and the back of the controller. Once the front of the controller is on, take your torx screwdriver, and the 1 torx screw with a pin in the middle of it, and use it to secure the front and back of the controller together via the hole behind the battery pack cover. This will make the rest of the assembly easier to manage.
After securing the front and back together, use the torx screwdriver and 4 torx screws to secure the top and bottom of the controller by the handles. The smaller torx screws should be used to secure the bottom of the handles, and the larger torx screws for the top of the controller near the triggers.
Once your front and back panels have been secured, snap the side panels back on. You’ll hear a few clicks when these have been secured correctly.
Last but not least, put 2 AA batteries into the battery compartment and place the battery cover back on (luckily, the Xbox One controllers don’t have a terrible battery pack cover like the Xbox 360 controllers did).
Conclusion – Do It Yourself, It’s Better!
Thanks for taking the time to read this tutorial. Check out XboxDIY.com and visit XboxDIY on YouTube for more help with solving your own Xbox One, Xbox 360, and other gaming problems.
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