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Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the shield plate and both Wi-Fi antennas in your Nintendo Switch OLED.

The Switch OLED uses JIS screws, but you can use a Phillips screwdriver in a pinch. Be very careful not to strip the screws. iFixit's Phillips bits are designed to be cross-compatible with JIS-style screws.

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.

What you need

  1. Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Release the Joy Con controller locking tabs: step 1, image 1 of 3 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Release the Joy Con controller locking tabs: step 1, image 2 of 3 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, 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.

    Edit

  2. Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Remove the Joy Con controllers: step 2, image 1 of 3 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Remove the Joy Con controllers: step 2, image 2 of 3 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, 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.

    Edit

  3. Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Remove the top screw: step 3, image 1 of 2 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Remove the top screw: step 3, image 2 of 2

    • Use a Phillips driver, or a JIS driver, to remove the 2 mm-long screw securing the top of the rear case to the frame.

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

    Edit

  4. Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Remove the bottom screws: step 4, image 1 of 2 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Remove the bottom screws: step 4, image 2 of 2

    • Use a Phillips driver to remove the two 2 mm-long screws securing the bottom of the rear case to the frame.

    Edit

  5. Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Remove the right screw: step 5, image 1 of 2 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Remove the right screw: step 5, image 2 of 2

    • Use a Phillips driver to remove the 3.8 mm screw securing the right Joy-Con sensor rail to the rear case.

    • 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.

    Edit

  6. Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Remove the left screw: step 6, image 1 of 2 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Remove the left screw: step 6, image 2 of 2

    • Use a Phillips driver to remove the 3.8 mm screw securing the left Joy-Con sensor rail to the rear case.

    Edit

  7. Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Open the kickstand: step 7, image 1 of 2 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Open the kickstand: step 7, 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.

    Edit

  8. Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Remove the back-side screws: step 8, image 1 of 2 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Remove the back-side screws: step 8, image 2 of 2

    • Use a Y00 screwdriver to remove the two 4.3 mm screws securing the rear case to the frame.

    Edit

  10. Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Remove the rear case: step 9, image 1 of 3 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Remove the rear case: step 9, image 2 of 3 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Remove the rear case: step 9, image 3 of 3

    • Lift the rear case up from the top of the device and remove it.

    • If you're having trouble removing the case, use an opening pick to pry up the plastic clips.

    Edit

  11. Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Remove the shield plate's tape: step 10, image 1 of 2 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Remove the shield plate's tape: step 10, image 2 of 2

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to separate a corner of the tape from the shield plate.

    Edit

  12. Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 3 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement: step 11, image 2 of 3 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement: step 11, image 3 of 3

    • Use tweezers, or your fingers, to peel back and remove the tape.

    • Store the tape in a clean space for reinstallation.

    Edit

  13. Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Disconnect the primary Wi-Fi antenna: step 12, image 1 of 2 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Disconnect the primary Wi-Fi antenna: step 12, image 2 of 2

    • Use tweezers, or your fingers, to pull up and disconnect the primary Wi-Fi antenna's coaxial cable.

    • During reassembly, these can be tricky to reconnect. One at a time, hold each connector in place over its socket and press down with the flat end of a spudger. The connector should snap into place.

    Edit

  14. Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Reroute the primary antenna's coaxial cable: step 13, image 1 of 3 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Reroute the primary antenna's coaxial cable: step 13, image 2 of 3 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Reroute the primary antenna's coaxial cable: step 13, image 3 of 3

    • Use tweezers, or your fingers, to reroute the primary antenna's coaxial cable out of its slots in the shield plate.

    Edit

  15. Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Unfasten the primary Wi-Fi antenna: step 14, image 1 of 2 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Unfasten the primary Wi-Fi antenna: step 14, image 2 of 2

    • Use a Phillips driver to remove the two 4.4 mm screws securing the primary Wi-Fi antenna to the shield plate.

    Edit

  16. Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Remove the primary Wi-Fi antenna: step 15, image 1 of 3 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Remove the primary Wi-Fi antenna: step 15, image 2 of 3 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Remove the primary Wi-Fi antenna: step 15, image 3 of 3

    • Insert an opening pick between the primary Wi-Fi antenna and the shield plate.

    • Pry up with the pick to separate the primary Wi-Fi antenna from the shield plate.

    Edit

  17. Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 2 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement: step 16, image 2 of 2

    • Remove the primary Wi-Fi antenna.

    Edit

  18. Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Disconnect the secondary Wi-Fi antenna: step 17, image 1 of 2 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Disconnect the secondary Wi-Fi antenna: step 17, image 2 of 2

    • Use tweezers, or your fingers, to pull up and disconnect the secondary Wi-Fi antenna's coaxial cable.

    Edit

  19. Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Reroute the secondary Wi-Fi antenna's coaxial cable: step 18, image 1 of 2 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Reroute the secondary Wi-Fi antenna's coaxial cable: step 18, image 2 of 2

    • Use the point of a spudger to reroute the secondary Wi-Fi antenna's coaxial cable from its slot in the frame.

    Edit

  20. Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Unfasten the secondary Wi-Fi antenna: step 19, image 1 of 2 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Unfasten the secondary Wi-Fi antenna: step 19, image 2 of 2

    • Use a Phillips driver to remove the 4.4 mm screw securing the secondary Wi-Fi antenna to the shield plate.

    Edit

  21. Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Remove the secondary Wi-Fi antenna: step 20, image 1 of 3 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Remove the secondary Wi-Fi antenna: step 20, image 2 of 3 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Remove the secondary Wi-Fi antenna: step 20, image 3 of 3

    • Insert an opening pick between the secondary Wi-Fi antenna and the shield plate.

    • Pry up with the pick to separate the secondary Wi-Fi antenna from the shield plate.

    • Don't attempt to completely remove the antenna yet, as its coaxial cable is still routed through the frame.

    Edit

  22. Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement: step 21, image 1 of 3 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement: step 21, image 2 of 3 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement: step 21, image 3 of 3

    • Use the point of a spudger to reroute the secondary Wi-Fi antenna's coaxial cable out of its slot in the frame.

    • Remove the secondary Wi-Fi antenna.

    Edit

  23. Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Unfasten the shield plate: step 22, image 1 of 2 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement, Unfasten the shield plate: step 22, image 2 of 2

    • Use a Phillips driver to remove the six 4.4 mm screws securing the shield plate to the frame.

    Edit

  24. Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement: step 23, image 1 of 2 Nintendo Switch OLED Model Shield Plate Replacement: step 23, image 2 of 2

    • Use your fingers to lift the top of the shield plate up and away from the frame.

    • 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. Whenever the shield plate is removed, 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.

    Edit
Conclusion

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

Compare your new replacement part to the original part—you may need to transfer remaining components or remove adhesive backings from the new part before you install it.

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

One other person completed this guide.

Author

Alex Diaz-Kokaisl

Member since: 01/16/22

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3 Comments

My question is, where do I get replacement screws? Are the shield screws the same size as the regular switch?

Ren Aokawa - Reply

Hi Ren.

Unfortunately, we don't sell the screws alongside the replacement shield. The regular Switch has different screws as well, but you might find some on eBay. I'm not sure how effective Nintendo's customer service is here, but you could give it a shot to find out the type of screws.

Alex Diaz-Kokaisl -

Where do I even by the oled heat plate from I keep finding normal switch or this %#*@ tutorial

Irritating llama - Reply

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