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Introduction

A prerequisite guide for disconnecting the Li-ion battery in a Nintendo Switch.

What you need

Step 1 Release the Joy Con controller locking tabs

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.

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Step 2 Remove the Joy Con controllers

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.

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Step 3 Remove the back-side screws

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.
If you do happen to strip one of the four 6.3 mm-long Y00 screws, If you are lucky and careful, you may be able to use a Y0 bit to remove the screw(s). Please note that if you do attempt this, a bit of extra pressure will need to be applied to the screwdriver so that the screwdriver bit catches the screw.
If you do end up removing the stripped screw with this method, PLEASE do not reuse the screw again and instead replace the screw.

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Step 4 Remove the top and bottom screws

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 00 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 00 driver if the screws won't come out. Make sure the driver is fully inserted.
You can use a Phillips #000 screwdriver in a pinch, but you risk damaging or stripping the screws. Push down firmly on the screwdriver and twist slowly. Often, switching drivers may help, even if they are the same size.

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Step 5 Remove the center side screws

Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite, Remove the center side screws: step 5, image 1 of 2

Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite, Remove the center side screws: step 5, image 2 of 2

Use a JIS 00 driver to remove the two 3.8 mm center screws on the sides of the device (one on each side).

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Step 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.

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Step 7 Remove the kickstand well screw

Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite, Remove the kickstand well screw: step 7, image 1 of 1

Use a JIS 00 driver to remove the 1.6 mm screw in the kickstand well.
Close the kickstand.

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Step 8 Remove the rear panel

Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite, Remove the rear panel: step 8, image 1 of 3

Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite, Remove the rear panel: step 8, image 2 of 3

Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite, Remove the rear panel: 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 straight up from the bottom of the device and remove it.
Don't tilt it upwards while opening or else you risk breaking the plastic tabs on the top edge of the panel.

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Step 9 Remove the microSD card reader

Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite, Remove the microSD card reader: step 9, image 1 of 1

Use a JIS 00 driver to remove the 3.1 mm screw securing the microSD card reader to the device.

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Step 10

Tool used on this step:

Tweezers

$4.99

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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.

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Step 11 Remove the shield plate

Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite, Remove the shield plate: step 11, image 1 of 1

Use a JIS 00 driver to remove the six 3 mm screws securing the shield plate to the device.

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Step 12

Tool used on this step:

Tweezers

$4.99

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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.

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Step 13

Nintendo Switch Battery Disconnect Prerequisite: step 13, image 3 of 3

Tool used on this step:

iFixit Thermal Putty

$9.95

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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 thermal putty or K5 Pro, during reassembly.