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Simple Steps to Disassemble, Access, and Replace Your Switch's Battery
Is your Nintendo Switch battery barely holding a charge or not charging at all? This guide walks you through replacing the battery in a Nintendo Switch and determining its model generation. Note that Nintendo does not recommend this process, and it may void your console's warranty.
Important Points to Consider
- If you have a screwdriver, K-9 thermal paste, a new battery, and confidence in disassembling tech, you can replace your Nintendo Switch battery yourself.
- Nintendo discourages users from replacing their own Switch batteries, and doing so will void the warranty.
- To find the correct replacement battery, you'll need to identify your Switch's generation, which can be done by decoding the model number on the back.
Procedure
Battery Replacement Procedure
Ensure the battery level is below 25%. Lowering the battery charge reduces the risk of fire in case of damage during the replacement process. If the battery is swollen, do not attempt to replace it yourself and seek professional assistance.
- If you detect a foul odor or excessive heat from the battery, avoid handling it. Never inhale fumes from a smoking battery and take immediate steps to mitigate fire hazards.
- In the event of a fire, suffocate it with sand, use foam or CO2 fire extinguishers, apply cold water, cover it with a fire-resistant container, and maintain a safe distance.
Unscrew the screws from the back panel. Flip your Switch and remove the four screws securing the backplate.
- Keep the screws organized as they may vary in type or size!
Remove the screws from the top and bottom. There are two screws—one at the top and another along the bottom edge—that need to be unscrewed.
Take out the screws located around the edges.
On both sides of your Switch, there are two longer screws that need to be removed, positioned slightly inward from the edges.
Lift the kickstand and remove the microSD card. If your Switch doesn't have a microSD card, skip this step. However, you still need to lift the kickstand.
Undo the screw inside the kickstand compartment. Beneath the kickstand, there's a smaller screw. Unscrew it and close the compartment.
Detach the rear panel. This is the cover for the game cartridge slot. Gently lift it to remove.
Take out the screw from the microSD card slot and extract the reader. After unscrewing the small screw inside the microSD card slot, you can pull out the entire reader.
- If you can't remove the reader manually, use tweezers or a similar tool.
Unscrew the 6 screws securing the shield plate and remove it. Once the screws are out, you can lift off the shield plate.
- For newer models, there might be a foam piece to remove. Use caution to avoid tearing it, and if it's stubborn, gently pry it off with a plastic tool.
- If the shield plate is difficult to remove, gently pry it with a plastic chip or spudger. On the other side, you'll find thermal paste, which helps prevent overheating.
- You can reuse the thermal paste if it's clean. Otherwise, replace it with K-9 thermal paste.
Disconnect the battery. Use a small, pointed tool like the spudger's tip to gently pry the battery connector off. Pull it straight out to avoid damaging anything.
- Keep the socket firmly in place while removing the connectors to prevent damage to the motherboard.
Remove the battery. Apply a few drops of adhesive remover or 90%+ isopropyl alcohol inside the battery compartment. Allow time for the adhesive to dissolve or loosen, which can take 2-20 minutes.
- If the battery is stubborn, use a spudger or plastic putty knife to lift a corner, then carefully use dental floss to separate it from the adhesive.
- Be cautious with heat to avoid battery damage.
- Avoid bending the battery during removal.
Clean any remaining adhesive from the battery compartment. After removing the battery, ensure the area is free from adhesive or residue.
Install the new battery and reassemble your Switch. Follow the reverse steps to reassemble your Switch. Reconnect the battery, replace the shield plate, reinstall the microSD card reader, screw in the screws, replace the cartridge flap, secure the screw in the kickstand well, and reinsert more screws.
Determine Your Switch's Model
To obtain a replacement battery, identify your Switch's generation. Flip your Switch over to view the backside. Locate the model number labeled as 'Mod'.
- HAC-001: Original Nintendo Switch
- HAC-001(--01): New Nintendo Switch
- HDH-001: Nintendo Switch Lite
- HEG-001: Nintendo Switch OLED
Helpful Tips
Essential Supplies
- K5‑PRO Viscous Thermal Paste
- Isopropyl Alcohol
- Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
- Spudger (or small, thin tools like plastic chips and tweezers)
- Small screwdrivers, such as Y00 or Y0.
- Replacement battery
