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Nintendo Switch Battery Replacement

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Written By: Blake Klein (and 4 other contributors)
  • Comments: 66
  • Favorites: 10
  • Completions: 51

Featured Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

14

Time Required

30 minutes - 1 hour

Sections

4

Flags

1

Featured Guide

Featured Guide

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

Introduction

Follow this guide to replace the battery in a Nintendo Switch gaming console.

The battery is heavily glued in and will require adhesive remover to make replacement possible.

Before disassembling your device, discharge the battery below 25%. The battery can catch fire and/or explode if accidentally punctured, but the chances of that happening are much lower if discharged.

If your battery is swollen, do not heat your Switch. Use a dropper, or syringe, to inject isopropyl alcohol (90+%) underneath the battery to weaken the adhesive. Swollen batteries can be dangerous, so wear eye protection and exercise due caution if attempting removal yourself. Take it to a professional if you’re not sure how to proceed.

Video Overview

  1. Remove the four 6.3 mm Tri-point Y00 screws from the rear panel.

    • Remove the four 6.3 mm Tri-point Y00 screws from the rear panel.

    Edit

  2. Remove the single 6.1 mm Phillips #000 screw from underneath the kickstand.

    • Remove the single 6.1 mm Phillips #000 screw from underneath the kickstand.

    Edit

  3. Remove the two 2.7 mm Phillips #000 screws from the bottom of the device.

    • Remove the two 2.7 mm Phillips #000 screws from the bottom of the device.

    Edit

  4. Remove the single 2.7 mm Phillips #000 screw from the top of the device.

    • Remove the single 2.7 mm Phillips #000 screw from the top of the device.

    Edit

  5. Remove the single 3.8 mm Phillips #000 screw from the right Joy-Con rail. Remove the single 3.8 mm Phillips #000 screw from the left Joy-Con rail.

    • Remove the single 3.8 mm Phillips #000 screw from the right Joy-Con rail.

    • Remove the single 3.8 mm Phillips #000 screw from the left Joy-Con rail.

    Edit

  7. Pull the rear panel up and off of the device. Pull the rear panel up and off of the device. Pull the rear panel up and off of the device.

    • Pull the rear panel up and off of the device.

    Edit

  8. Remove the single 3.1 mm Phillips screw from micro SD card board.

    • Remove the single 3.1 mm Phillips screw from micro SD card board.

    Edit

  9. Gently lift the micro SD card board straight up, away from the Switch to disconnect and remove it. During reassembly, line up the micro SD card board and lightly press on the foam pad until the press connector snaps into place to reconnect it.

    • Gently lift the micro SD card board straight up, away from the Switch to disconnect and remove it.

    • During reassembly, line up the micro SD card board and lightly press on the foam pad until the press connector snaps into place to reconnect it.

    Edit

  10. Remove the six 3.1mm Phillips #000 screws from the shield plate.

    • Remove the six 3.1mm Phillips #000 screws from the shield plate.

    Edit

  11. Remove the shield plate from the device. 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. 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.

    • Remove the shield plate from the device.

    • 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

  12. Insert the pointed end of a spudger underneath the white connector and pry upwards to disconnect the battery from the motherboard. Insert the pointed end of a spudger underneath the white connector and pry upwards to disconnect the battery from the motherboard.

    • Insert the pointed end of a spudger underneath the white connector and pry upwards to disconnect the battery from the motherboard.

    Edit

  13. The Nintendo Switch battery is glued in place. For best results, we recommend applying some high-concentration (90% or greater) isopropyl alcohol or our Adhesive Remover as shown in this step before attempting to remove the battery. Apply a small amount of adhesive remover or isopropyl alcohol (approximately 1 ml) evenly along one edge of the battery cell.
    Tool used on this step:
    iFixit Adhesive Remover
    $19.99

    • The Nintendo Switch battery is glued in place. For best results, we recommend applying some high-concentration (90% or greater) isopropyl alcohol or our Adhesive Remover as shown in this step before attempting to remove the battery.

    • Apply a small amount of adhesive remover or isopropyl alcohol (approximately 1 ml) evenly along one edge of the battery cell.

    • Tilt the switch so the liquid solvent spreads underneath the battery.

    • Wait 2-3 minutes for the solvent to break down the adhesive underneath the battery before you proceed to the next step.

    Edit

  14. Use a pry tool to lever the battery out. Don't use excessive force. A damaged lithium-ion battery can leak toxic chemicals and/or catch fire. If the battery doesn't lever out fairly easily, apply a little more solvent and try again.

    • Use a pry tool to lever the battery out.

    • Don't use excessive force. A damaged lithium-ion battery can leak toxic chemicals and/or catch fire. If the battery doesn't lever out fairly easily, apply a little more solvent and try again.

    Edit

  15. Remove the battery from the Switch console.
    Tool used on this step:
    Tesa 61395 Tape
    $2.99

    • Remove the battery from the Switch console.

    • Don't re-use the battery once it's removed.

    • Use strips of double-sided adhesive tape to secure the new battery.

    Edit
Conclusion

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

51 other people completed this guide.

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Blake Klein

Member since: 01/29/2017

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20 Comments

Add a comment

You forgot the part where you need to remove, or at least disconnect the SD card reader, before removing the shield ;)

WiN6MaN - Reply

Good catch! should be fixed now, thanks!

Blake Klein -

Should I use new adhesive when I replace the battery? If so, what adhesive should I use?

Aaron Loyd - Reply

yes, at first I just replaced the battery but the battery would slide around. There is plastic all around the battery housing so it probably wouldn’t damage anything. I went back in and added a small piece of 3M double sided tape and have not had any issues.

John -

it would be worth noting that Nintendo has put some kind of thermal paste between the heat shield and the heatpipe/cooler on the chip. This thermal paste is much thicker than PC thermal paste and my switch was fine just pressing the 2 back together.

John - Reply

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