Unplug any cables connected to your Steam Deck.

Turn on your Steam Deck and allow the battery to discharge below 5% before starting your repairs, as a charged lithium-ion polymer battery can be dangerous if accidentally punctured.

Put your Steam Deck into battery storage mode within the BIOS. Read how to do that here.

If you have a microSD card installed, make sure to remove it before opening the Steam Deck. If you attempt to remove the back cover with it still installed, it could snap right in half.

Pro tip: it can be helpful to lay the Steam Deck face-down into its case to protect the thumbsticks and prevent wobble.