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Nintendo Switch Battery Replacement

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Written By: Craig Lloyd (and 6 other contributors)
  • Comments: 49
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Featured Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

21

Time Required

45 minutes - 2 hours

Sections

5

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Featured Guide

Featured Guide

This guide has been found to be exceptionally cool by the iFixit staff.

Introduction

Follow this guide to replace an old and degraded battery in the Nintendo Switch game console.

For your safety, discharge the battery below 25% before disassembling your Switch. This reduces the risk of a dangerous thermal event if the battery is accidentally damaged during the repair. If your battery is swollen, take appropriate precautions.

Note: When you remove the shield plate, you’ll need to replace the thermal compound between the plate and the heatsink. Since normal thermal paste isn’t designed to bridge large gaps, the closest replacement is K5 Pro viscous thermal paste.

Note: This guide, and the part we sell, are compatible with the original Nintendo Switch model released in 2017, as well as the newer refreshed model released in 2019 (model numbers HAC-001 and HAC-001(-01), respectively).

Video Overview

  1. 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.

    • 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.

    Edit

  2. Continue sliding the controller upward until it's completely removed from the console. Repeat this same process for the other controller. Repeat this same process for the other controller.

    • Continue sliding the controller upward until it's completely removed from the console.

    • Repeat this same process for the other controller.

    Edit

  3. Use a Y00 screwdriver to remove the four 6.3 mm-long screws securing the rear panel.
    Tool used on this step:
    Magnetic Project Mat
    $19.99

    • 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.

    Edit

  4. Use a JIS 000 screwdriver to remove the following screws securing the rear panel: One 2.5 mm-long screw on the top edge of the device

    • Use a JIS 000 screwdriver 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

    Edit

  5. Use a JIS 000 screwdriver to remove the two 3.8 mm center screws on the sides of the device (one on each side). Use a JIS 000 screwdriver to remove the two 3.8 mm center screws on the sides of the device (one on each side).

    • Use a JIS 000 screwdriver to remove the two 3.8 mm center screws on the sides of the device (one on each side).

    Edit

  6. 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.

    • 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.

    Edit

  7. Use a JIS 000 screwdriver to remove the 1.6 mm screw in the kickstand well.

    • Use a JIS 000 screwdriver to remove the 1.6 mm screw in the kickstand well.

    Edit

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

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

    Edit

  10. Use a JIS 000 screwdriver to remove the 3.1 mm screw securing the microSD card reader to the device.

    • Use a JIS 000 screwdriver to remove the 3.1 mm screw securing the microSD card reader to the device.

    Edit

  11. 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.

    • 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.

    Edit

  12. Use a JIS 000 screwdriver to remove the six 3 mm screws securing the shield plate to the device.

    • Use a JIS 000 screwdriver to remove the six 3 mm screws securing the shield plate to the device.

    Edit

  13. 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. 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.

    • 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.

    Edit

  14. Insert a spudger underneath the shield plate along the edge of the device. Pry up to lift the shield plate up. You may feel a bit of resistance. This is normal, since the shield plate is slightly bonded to the heat sink with thermal paste.

    • Insert a spudger underneath the shield plate along the edge of the device.

    • Pry up to lift the shield plate up.

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

    • Remove the shield plate.

    • A thick pink thermal compound bridges the gap between the shield plate and the copper heat sink underneath. For best results, whenever the shield plate is removed, refer to our thermal paste guide to remove the old thermal compound and replace it with an appropriate, thick compound such as K5 Pro during reassembly.

    Edit

  15. Use the point of a spudger to pry the battery connector straight up and out of its socket on the motherboard. Use the point of a spudger to pry the battery connector straight up and out of its socket on the motherboard.

    • Use the point of a spudger to pry the battery connector straight up and out of its socket on the motherboard.

    Edit

  16. Apply a few drops of adhesive remover or high-concentration (90% or higher) isopropyl alcohol inside the battery well along the top edge to weaken the adhesive. If you are using adhesive remover, follow these preparation steps first.
    Tool used on this step:
    iFixit Adhesive Remover
    $19.99
    Edit

  17. Tilt the top edge of the device upward to allow the isopropyl alcohol to work its way underneath the battery. Hold for 1-2 minutes to allow time for the isopropyl alcohol to weaken the adhesive.

    • Tilt the top edge of the device upward to allow the isopropyl alcohol to work its way underneath the battery.

    • Hold for 1-2 minutes to allow time for the isopropyl alcohol to weaken the adhesive.

    Edit

  18. Insert an opening pick into the gap between the battery and the wall of the battery well. Carefully dig the tip of the opening pick underneath the battery and slide it along the edge to begin slicing the adhesive. Take care not to puncture or bend the battery with your tool—a punctured or bent battery may leak dangerous chemicals or cause a thermal event.

    • Insert an opening pick into the gap between the battery and the wall of the battery well.

    • Carefully dig the tip of the opening pick underneath the battery and slide it along the edge to begin slicing the adhesive.

    • Take care not to puncture or bend the battery with your tool—a punctured or bent battery may leak dangerous chemicals or cause a thermal event.

    Edit

  19. Leave the opening pick in place and apply a few more drops of adhesive remover or isopropyl alcohol inside the battery well.

    • Leave the opening pick in place and apply a few more drops of adhesive remover or isopropyl alcohol inside the battery well.

    • Tilt the top edge of the device upward and wait 1-2 minutes for the isopropyl alcohol to weaken the adhesive.

    Edit

  20. Continue sliding the opening pick deeper along the top edge of the battery, slicing more of the adhesive underneath.

    • Continue sliding the opening pick deeper along the top edge of the battery, slicing more of the adhesive underneath.

    Edit

  21. Once there's enough room, insert the flat end of a spudger underneath the battery and slowly pry the battery up. You may need to apply more isopropyl alcohol if you have difficulty prying. Be careful not to bend the battery as you pry.

    • Once there's enough room, insert the flat end of a spudger underneath the battery and slowly pry the battery up.

    • You may need to apply more isopropyl alcohol if you have difficulty prying.

    • Be careful not to bend the battery as you pry.

    • Remove the battery.

    • Do not reuse the battery after it has been removed, as doing so is a potential safety hazard. Replace it with a new battery.

    Edit

  22. Use adhesive remover or isopropyl alcohol and a microfiber cloth to clean up any remaining adhesive left behind in the battery well before you install the new battery.

    • Use adhesive remover or isopropyl alcohol and a microfiber cloth to clean up any remaining adhesive left behind in the battery well before you install the new battery.

    • If your new battery does not come with pre-installed adhesive, follow this guide to install pre-cut adhesive on the bottom of the battery.

    Edit
Conclusion

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

For optimal performance, calibrate your newly installed battery after completing this guide.

Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.

Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Nintendo Switch Answers community for help.

69 other people completed this guide.

Author

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Craig Lloyd

Member since: 02/10/2016

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19 Comments

Add a comment

Can anyone confirm that Switch will NOT work with the battery removed or dead (dead as in once it’s totally non-functional as all lithium batteries eventually are, not dead as in just discharged but the battery works).

PSP works with the battery dead or pulled, as far as I know DS, 3DS, Vita and Switch do NOT, which is a gigantic design flaw.

Tester - Reply

Why can't you reuse the switch's battery?, if I'm just replacing the shell of the switch and have to move the battery why can't I reuse the battery in the new shell?

Matt - Reply

Good question!

For safety reasons, we strongly discourage people from reusing a battery once it has been removed. Bending a lithium-ion battery even slightly can create uneven spots between the thin layers inside the battery. The battery may function fine for awhile, but over time and charge cycles, the uneven area can wear down faster, eventually resulting in an electrical short. The battery would fail, swell up, and possibly catch on fire.

Arthur Shi -

I left my switch off for months, and now I cant charge it in anyway. It was a hacked switch, it doesnt turn on, doesnt indicate that's its charging or show anything on screen even after being plugged in for few days, does replacing the battery fix my issue?

Matt B - Reply

Hi Matt. With a modded switch, once the battery loses power you will not see anything on the screen while it is charging. After plugging it in for a while just try booting it in the method you normally do. (I prefer using the RCM loader tool as it lets you bypass the annoying jig method.) If that doesn’t work for you, then yes, it’s most likely your battery. Hope that helps!

Rich Isaninja -

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