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Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite

Prerequisite Only
This guide is only intended to be used as a prerequisite for other guides. It's incomplete by itself.

What you need

  1. Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite, Release the Joy Con controller locking tabs: step 1, image 1 of 3 Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite, Release the Joy Con controller locking tabs: step 1, image 2 of 3 Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite, Release the Joy Con controller locking tabs: step 1, image 3 of 3
    • Before you begin this repair, make sure the device is completely powered off.

    • Press and hold down the small round button on the back of the Joy Con controller.

    • While you hold down the button, slide the controller upward.

  2. Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite, Remove the Joy Con controllers: step 2, image 1 of 3 Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite, Remove the Joy Con controllers: step 2, image 2 of 3 Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite, Remove the Joy Con controllers: step 2, image 3 of 3
    • Continue sliding the Joy Con upward until it's completely removed from the console.

    • Repeat this same process for the other Joy Con.

  3. Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite, Remove the back-side screws: step 3, image 1 of 1
    Tool used on this step:
    Magnetic Project Mat
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    • Use a Y00 screwdriver to remove the four 6.3 mm-long screws securing the rear panel.

    • Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from.

  4. Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite, Remove the top and bottom screws: step 4, image 1 of 2 Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite, Remove the top and bottom screws: step 4, image 2 of 2
    • Use a JIS 000 driver or an official iFixit PH 000 driver to remove the following screws securing the rear panel:

    • One 2.5 mm-long screw on the top edge of the device

    • Two 2.5 mm-long screws on the bottom edge of the device

    • To prevent these tight screws from stripping, apply firm downward force, work slowly and try another JIS 000 or PH 000 driver if the screws won't come out.

  5. Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite: step 5, image 1 of 2 Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite: step 5, image 2 of 2
    • Use a JIS 000 screwdriver or an official iFixit PH 000 driver to remove the two 3.8 mm center screws on the sides of the device (one on each side).

  6. Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite: step 6, image 1 of 2 Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite: step 6, image 2 of 2
    • Use your finger to flip up the kickstand on the back of the device.

    • If there's a microSD card in the microSD card slot, remove it now before you continue to the next step.

  7. Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite: step 7, image 1 of 1
    • Use a JIS 000 screwdriver or an official iFixit PH 000 driver to remove the 1.6 mm screw in the kickstand well.

    • Close the kickstand.

  8. Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite: step 8, image 1 of 3 Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite: step 8, image 2 of 3 Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite: step 8, image 3 of 3
    • Open the game card cartridge flap.

    • The game card cartridge flap attaches to the other half of the plastic shell, preventing you from completely lifting up the rear panel if it's closed.

    • Lift the rear panel up from the bottom of the device and remove it.

  9. Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite, Remove the microSD card reader: step 9, image 1 of 1
    • Use a JIS 000 screwdriver or an official iFixit PH 000 driver to remove the 3.1 mm screw securing the microSD card reader to the device.

  10. Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite: step 10, image 1 of 2 Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite: step 10, image 2 of 2
    • Use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to lift the microSD card reader straight up from the device to disconnect and remove it.

    • During reassembly, make sure the press connector underneath the foam pad is firmly connected to the motherboard. It may help to remove the foam pad before reinstalling the card reader.

  11. Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite, Remove the shield plate: step 11, image 1 of 1
    • Use a JIS 000 screwdriver or an official iFixit PH 000 driver to remove the six 3 mm screws securing the shield plate to the device.

  12. Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite: step 12, image 1 of 2 Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite: step 12, image 2 of 2
    • Use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to peel back the piece of foam on the top edge of the device near the fan exhaust port.

    • If the foam doesn't easily peel away, don't force it as it might end up tearing. Carefully peel at different spots to pull back the foam.

  13. Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite: step 13, image 1 of 3 Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite: step 13, image 2 of 3 Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite: step 13, image 3 of 3
    • Insert a spudger underneath the shield plate along the edge of the device.

    • Pry up to lift the shield plate and remove it from the device.

    • You may feel a bit of resistance. This is normal, since the shield plate is slightly bonded to the heat sink with thermal paste.

    • A thick pink thermal compound bridges the gap between the shield plate and the copper heat sink underneath. This helps prevent the Switch from overheating.

    • You can reuse the pink thermal compound if you're careful. Keep the compound clean and make sure it makes solid contact between the heat sink and the shield during reassembly.

    • If you need to replace it, refer to our thermal paste guide to remove the old thermal compound and replace it with an appropriate compound, such as K5 Pro, during reassembly.

  14. Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite, Disconnect the battery: step 14, image 1 of 2 Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite, Disconnect the battery: step 14, image 2 of 2
    • Use the point of a spudger to pry the battery connector straight up and out of its socket on the motherboard.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

One other person completed this guide.

Craig Lloyd

Member since: 02/10/16

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