Guide

Ultimate Joystick Mod on Steam Deck

Hey, fans and subscribers, this is your host, Joe, from the GamingForInsight channel with a written guide (below) to the ultimate joystick mod for your Steam Deck OLED through installing the Steam Deck OLED Tighter Hall Effect Joystick, for FPS Games, Capacitive Touch, 1 Pair developed by HandheldDIY.

You may be aware of or have discovered some limitations with the Steam Deck OLED default joysticks that you want to unlock with a mod option. Like me, you may be curious about modding and want to see what you can unlock by installing a mod on one of your handhelds within your gaming handheld collection. HandheldDIY sent me its tighter Hall Effect joysticks for FPS games for the Steam Deck OLED (reference: https://www.handhelddiy.com/products/steam-deck-oled-tighter-hall-joystick) in agreement that I would create a video for the product/mod. No money was exchanged, and no terms were set. HandheldDIY delivered this joystick mod for the Steam Deck OLED right to me.

Thank you, HandheldDIY, for the opportunity to experience another one of your products.

What can you expect on this page? I go through installing and testing this HandheldDIY product/mod for the Steam Deck OLED. My YouTube video is only meant as an overview of the process. If you are looking to sink your curiosity into details, then please read through my guide on this page. Before you begin installing the mod, I provide test results and what you can expect going through the process so you can further determine whether this is the mod for you, at least based on my results.

Steam Deck OLED Tighter Hall Effect Joystick, for FPS Games, Capacitive Touch, 1 Pair (NON-AFFILIATE LINK: https://www.handhelddiy.com/products/steam-deck-oled-tighter-hall-joystick)
- HandheldDIY packages the mod joysticks with a PHO screwdriver, guitar pick, pliers and instruction manual.
A Steam Deck OLED (new or refurbished) (NON-AFFILIATE LINK: https://store.steampowered.com/steamdeck)
- You will want to have the initial setup completed for this prior to installing this mod.
- You may want to have the official or supported charger in case your Steam Deck OLED needs charging.

What You Gain Installing This Mod

A Note on Testing…

I have two Steam Deck OLED devices: a Limited Edition and a refurbished one. The Limited Edition Steam Deck OLED has no mods installed on it and performs as was shipped to me; it serves as the comparison for original and stock performance with the joysticks. I installed the modified (i.e., mod) HandheldDIY joysticks on the refurbished Steam Deck OLED. Therefore, for testing, you can observe what the experience without the mod on the Limited Edition Steam Deck is and what the experience with the mod (i.e., the HandheldDIY joystick mod for the Steam Deck OLED) on the refurbished Steam Deck OLED is. The performance of the original joysticks on my Limited Edition Steam Deck OLED was not altered to perform differently than how it was originally shipped to me; I provided no additional calibration to my Limited Edition Steam Deck OLED stock joysticks. What is captured is intended to be objective and done without a bias to alter the results to favor either product; furthermore, the testing is based only on my experience and is not intended as a definitive representation of either product.

IMPROVED FPS CONTROL…

When I think of an FPS, the first one that comes to mind is Doom, so for my test to experience any difference between the HandheldDIY joystick mod and the original stock joystick experience, I went to play Doom Eternal. The gameplay uses the default deadzone joystick setting amount (preset in the controller calibration settings menu) – meaning that the refurbished Steam Deck OLED was not set to a zero deadzone.

Immediately, though, I recognized a difference in the maneuverability and the control with the HandheldDIY joystick mod compared to the stock joysticks. I prefer using the HandheldDIY joystick mod because my thumbs can better grip the joysticks for movement and control, especially when aiming with weapons and in a quick-paced game like Doom Eternal. The video below compares the Limited Edition Steam Deck OLED and the refurbished Steam Deck OLED at the same point in Doom Eternal Ancient Gods Part 2 DLC/expansion. Enjoy!

ZERO DRIFT WITH ZERO DEADZONE…

HandheldDIY advertises that with its Steam Deck OLED joystick mod, one can decrease the dead zone setting in the controller calibration settings area (i.e., specifically the “Calibration & Advanced Settings” area within “Joysticks” where you can adjust Right/Left Joystick “Deadzone”) to zero percent without having to have any to compensate for drift. The HandheldDIY joystick mod for the Steam Deck OLED is advertised as high precision; therefore, an added or compensated dead zone amount is not needed to prevent drift (for its immediate or future presence). The test I performed was to adjust the dead zone amount in the controller calibration settings on the refurbished Steam Deck OLED to zero percent and then go to the same level in Doom Eternal Ancient Gods Part 2 DLC/expansion where I left the joysticks still to see if drift would occur. I can confirm that there is no drift with the HandheldDIY joysticks with this game having adjusted the controller settings to have zero percent added or compensated dead zone. You can learn more about drift with newer and older controllers through one of the links in Additional Resources if you are interested in reading more about it.

Part 1 - Rotate Steam Deck OLED and Unfasten as well as Detach Backplate

You can optionally have your Steam Deck OLED off to begin. Rotate the steam deck to face the backplate (or the back of the Steam Deck OLED). There are eight screws to unfasten to remove the backplate. One is above and below the two programmable buttons on each side of the Steam Deck OLED. Four are in the center (two upper and two lower). Use the corresponding video to direct you to locate each of the eight. Use the PHO screwdriver that came with the HandheldDIY mod package to unfasten the eight screws. One recommendation for when you remove the eight screws from the backplate is to put them in a spot for safekeeping to not lose them during the mod install; the box provided by HandheldDIY (you can close the lid of the box, too, for additional safekeeping) can serve as that safe place for keeping the screws.

The backplate has to be detached with the guitar pick that comes with the HandheldDIY mod package. I targeted the upper right-hand corner near the right bumper and trigger, as well as the lower right-hand side, to start wedging the guitar pick in between the main frame of the Steam Deck OLED and the backplate. Do ensure you removed all eight of the screws, as leaving one can cause the backplate to not fully detach and unfasten. As you work your way around the Steam Deck OLED with the guitar pick (clockwise or counterclockwise), and if all eight screws were removed, then the backplate will detach.

Part 2 - Left and Right Joystick Removal and Mod Installation

Part 2A - A Note Before Proceeding…

Your left and right joysticks will be in opposite directions when installing them since you are facing the back of the Steam Deck OLED. To clarify, you will install the left joystick on the right when looking (facing) at the back of the Steam Deck OLED, and you will install the right joystick on your left when looking (facing) at the back of the Steam Deck OLED. In this guide, I will always refer to the joystick as left and right based on the letter shown on it (i.e., “L” for left and “R” for right); I will not refer to the left joystick to mean direction left facing back, for example. I use parenthesis as well to help indicate the direction of where to locate what joystick.

Part 2B - Left Joystick on Direction Right (Facing Back) Removal and Installation

Let’s start with the left joystick that is attached to the circuit board on your right-hand side when facing the back of the Steam Deck OLED. You can disconnect the data cable from the circuit board of the left joystick by unfastening the lever from the closed position (facing towards the top) to open (pointing straight up or in the middle position). I used my fingernail to open the lever. Disconnect the data cable at the bottom of the joystick circuit board. Next, unfasten the three screws so to remove the joystick from the circuit board. I unfastened these screws one at a time. Importantly, as you unscrew the joystick, the pressure on the top of the joystick will cause the Steam Deck OLED to sink some onto the surface where you are doing this mod install. Once you unfasten as well as remove the screws and put them in a safe place, such as the box that the mod joysticks came in from HandheldDIY, make sure not to confuse the joystick circuit board screws with other screws placed in there. You may use a baggie and label if needed.

Gently pull the default joystick attached to the circuit board away from the Steam Deck OLED to remove it. You may need to change the joystick's position on the circuit board before removing it because the joystick cover could cause it to be stuck.

Take the mod joystick with “L” on the back of its circuit board (indicating it is the left joystick) and position it where we just removed the default joystick (which, if you are following this guide correctly, is on the direction right facing the back of the Steam Deck OLED). The left joystick required me to angle the top of the left joystick away from me to have it fit into the area. Next, take the three screws that you originally unfastened (to remove the default joystick attached to the circuit board) and position them to fasten the left joystick mod. The approach I took is to slowly rotate each screw a slight amount at a time (one or two turns) and then go in a rotation to each one until they are fully fastened. You do not want to fully fasten the screws one at a time before because it can cause an improper installation to occur. Lastly, re-attach the data cable to the bottom of the mod circuit board. You must position the cable into the port where the black hinge is. Once the cable is positioned so it cannot go into the port any further, you will lower the hinge. I used part of my finger and then my fingernail to confirm the hinge was fully closed downward.

Part 2C - Right Joystick on Direction Left (Facing Back) Removal and Installation

Next, let's transition to the right joystick attached to the circuit board on your left-hand side when facing the back of the Steam Deck OLED. You can disconnect the data cable at the bottom of the circuit board of the right joystick by unfastening the lever from the closed position towards the top to the open position, pointing straight up or in the middle position. I used my fingernail to open the lever. Disconnect the data cable at the bottom of the joystick circuit board. Next, unfasten the three screws so to remove the joystick from the circuit board. I unfastened these screws one at a time. Importantly, as you unscrew the joystick, the pressure on the top of the joystick will cause the Steam Deck OLED to sink some onto the surface where you are doing this mod install. Once you unfasten as well as remove the screws and put them in a safe place, such as the box that the mod joysticks came in from HandheldDIY, make sure not to confuse the joystick circuit board screws with other screws placed in there. You may use a baggie and label if needed.

Gently pull the default joystick attached to the circuit board away from the Steam Deck OLED to remove it. You may need to change the joystick's position on the circuit board before removing it because the joystick cover could cause it to be stuck.

Take the mod joystick with "R" on the back of its circuit board (indicating it is the right joystick) and position it where we just removed the default joystick (which, if you are following this guide correctly, is in the direction left facing the back of the Steam Deck OLED). Next, take the three screws that you originally unfastened (to remove the default joystick attached to the circuit board) and position them to fasten the right joystick mod. The approach I took is to slowly rotate each screw a slight amount at a time (one or two turns) and then go in a rotation to each one until they are fully fastened. You do not want to fully fasten the screws one at a time before because it can cause an improper installation to occur. Lastly, re-attach the data cable to the bottom of the mod circuit board. You must position the cable into the port where the black hinge is. Once the cable is positioned so it cannot go into the port any further, you will lower the hinge. I used part of my finger and then my fingernail to confirm the hinge was fully closed downward.

Part 3 - Rotate Steam Deck OLED and Prepare for Joystick Calibration

Keep the backplate off and rotate the Steam Deck OLED so that you are facing the front of it. Press the power button to either power on the device or initiate the quick resume function (if it was left on already during the previous parts of the guide). Press the Steam button located above the left front-facing speaker or below the left trackpad. Navigate (e.g., use your finger to touch the display or use the direction pad) to highlight the Controller settings area. Navigate to select “Open” for the “Calibration & Advanced Settings”. You will then see another menu showing a visual for the Left Joystick and other options. Remain in this area for Part 4.

Part 4 - Edge Calibration on Left and Right Joysticks

Let’s start with the left joystick for this part of the guide (joystick marked with “L”). Optionally, keep the device screen on and rotate the device. Locate the left joystick (direction right facing back). You can use the PHO screwdriver provided and press the Key 1 button on the top of the left joystick to the right (of the two buttons). A light will start flashing from that joystick (if it does not start flashing, press it again as the initial press was not registered likely). The light will flash from the upper left-hand side of the left joystick. Rotate the Steam Deck OLED to face its front side. Initiate a quick resume with the power button if needed. Use the direction pad if needed to select “LEFT JOYSTICK” in the Steam “Calibration & Advanced Settings” menu. Press the Y button. Rotate the left joystick (direction left front facing) three times thoroughly clockwise (I counted a few extra turns for good measure to ensure I completed a full rotation to the outermost circumference on the menu’s diagram). Press the “Y” button to stop testing. Optionally, keep the device screen on and rotate the device. You can use the PHO screwdriver provided and press the Key 1 button on the top of the left joystick (direction right facing back) to the right (of the two buttons). A light will stop flashing from that joystick (if a light does not stop flashing, then press it again as the initial press was not registered likely). The light will stop flashing from the upper left-hand side of the left joystick. Rotate the Steam Deck OLED to face its front side.

You can navigate to the “RIGHT JOYSTICK” in the Steam “Calibration & Advanced Settings” at this point to begin completing the same process for the right joystick.

Next, complete the same steps with the right joystick for this part of the guide (joystick marked with “R”). Optionally, keep the device screen on and rotate the device. Locate the right joystick (direction left facing back). You can use the PHO screwdriver provided and press the Key 1 button on the top of the left joystick to the right (of the two buttons). A light will start flashing from that joystick (if a light does not start flashing, then press it again as the initial press was not registered likely). The light will flash from the upper right-hand side of the right joystick. Rotate the Steam Deck OLED to face its front side. Initiate a quick resume with the power button if needed. Use the direction pad if needed to select “RIGHT JOYSTICK” in the Steam “Calibration & Advanced Settings” menu (if you have not done so already). Press the Y button. Rotate the right joystick (direction right front facing) three times thoroughly clockwise (I counted a few extra turns for good measure to ensure I completed a full rotation to the outermost circumference on the menu’s diagram). Press the “Y” button to stop testing. Optionally, keep the device screen on and rotate the device. You can use the PHO screwdriver provided and press the Key 1 button on the top of the right joystick (direction left facing back) to the right (of the two buttons). A light will stop flashing from that joystick (if it does not stop flashing, press it again as the initial press was not registered likely). The light will seize, flashing from the upper right-hand side of the right joystick. Rotate the Steam Deck OLED to face its front side.

Calibration for these controls has not yet been completed. Proceed to Part 5 for continuing the calibration.

Part 5 - Center Point Calibration on Left and Right Joysticks

The final part of calibrating both joysticks is calibrating the center point on each one. I share details in this part of the guide for the method I use to calibrate the center points individually for left and right joysticks, as it can be seen as not very approachable unless you use my method. For each joystick individually, navigate to where to initiate testing for each one; this is the same area in the Steam menu (i.e., "Calibration & Advanced Settings") where pressing the Y button initiates testing for a designated joystick. You may see the center point of the joystick move the farthest part of the circular diagram; that is ok as this part of the guide calibrates the center point. Note that you will need to follow through with this process for the left and right joystick, as calibrating the center point for one does not calibrate the center point for the other.

Once you initiate testing for a joystick (i.e., by pressing the Y button), stand the Steam Deck OLED with the side having the joystick you are not calibrating at the bottom (touching the surface) while the side having the joystick you are calibrating is closest to you. Take your left hand (if you are right-handed) to hold the front of the Steam Deck OLED while your left pointer finger touches the top of the joystick you are calibrating. Tilt the Steam Deck (while standing it upright) slightly so you can see the screen's surface. You need to observe the screen to see where your center dot is on that joystick. Use your left pointer finger to position the center dot in the dead center of the diagram you view on the Steam menu. Once you have the center dot in the dead center, then with your right hand holding the back of the Steam Deck OLED, press the Key 2 button for that joystick you are calibrating (i.e., press Key 2 on the joystick labeled "L" when calibrating the left joystick) using the same PHO screwdriver provided by HandheldDIY. When you press Key 2 on each joystick, you will see a light flash once from the same respective area that light flashed from pressing the other Key button on each joystick (the difference is the light will not continue flashing when pressing Key 2 on each joystick). You may need to press the Key 2 button more than once to have the dots centered for each joystick individually.

Once you complete the process for each joystick, press the Y button again to end the testing. If the center dot is more centered after pressing the Y button to complete testing than when you enter testing, then the dot is not fully centered, and it is recommended to go through this process again (for that joystick). You can exit this menu and return to the main area of the Steam overlay.

Part 6 - Re-attach and Refasten Backplate

You are ready to re-attach and refasten the backplate to finish this guide and mod installation. Ensure you position the backplate to place it on the back of the Steam Deck OLED. Begin snapping it into place. It is normal to hear a snapping sound as you do this. You can inspect the perimeter of the Steam Deck OLED to see if there are areas you can further snap or re-attach the backplate before fastening the screws. Fasten the eight screws that you originally unfastened in Part 1. I recommend not fully fastening each one upon original placement (so start halfway fastening). Once you have all of the screws halfway fastened, then follow through with fully fastening them to complete the overall fastening of the backplate. You can re-inspect the perimeter of the Steam Deck again to see if there are any additional areas to snap or re-attach that were not done so during the fastening of the screws. Rotate the Steam Deck OLED to face the front. Now it's time to get gaming.