Wii U GamePad Outer Case Replacement

Valentina Cerruty and 8 other contributors

Last updated on March 20, 2025

4 - 7 minutes

Easy

Archived Guide

This guide is retained solely for historical purposes. Use the updated version of the guide to perform your repair.

Introduction

Go to step 1

This guide will help you to remove the outer case and be able to open the Nintendo Wii U Gamepad. You will need a Tri-point Y1 screw driver.

What you need

Tools

Step 1 Battery

Wii U GamePad Outer Case Replacement, Battery: step 1, image 1 of 1

Place Gamepad face down and remove the two 4.7 mm screws with a Phillips size #00 screwdriver.

Edit

tried to unscrew the 10 Tri-Wing size Y1 screw with my iFixIt toolkit

unfortunately the tool is too “fat” and short, it cannot reach 4 screws on the corners of the gamepad.

having the iFixIt toolkit and needing to purchase an additional slim screwdriver it’s a shame…

Antonello Iannone - Mar 7, 2021 Reply

Step 2

Lift and remove the battery plate.

Edit

Step 3

Wii U GamePad Outer Case Replacement: step 3, image 3 of 3

With your finger, press down and pull back on the battery connector plug.
Remove the battery from the battery case.

Edit

Battery lifts up from the bottom not the top like the photo shows.

Tyler Schommer - Oct 5, 2017 Reply

Step 4 Outer Case

Wii U GamePad Outer Case Replacement, Outer Case: step 4, image 1 of 3

Wii U GamePad Outer Case Replacement, Outer Case: step 4, image 2 of 3

Wii U GamePad Outer Case Replacement, Outer Case: step 4, image 3 of 3

Remove 10 9mm screws with Tri-Wing size Y1 screwdriver around the outer case.
Lift up on the back of case.
Lift gently because the rumble motor in the back of the case is still connected by a cable to the motherboard.

Edit

I used a small blade tip to life up on the black squares that covered the screw holes. Replacing them after.. I skipped that as it seemed impossible they would even stick back down.

Chris - Oct 29, 2018 Reply

I am having trouble getting the two screws on the hand grips as the screws are too deep. What should I use to get them?

[deleted] - Jun 10, 2021 Reply

I ended up having to buy some cheap amazon screwdrivers and are very disappointed

[deleted] - Jun 10, 2021

Step 5

Unplug outer case rumble motor connector from the motherboard with your fingers.
Do not pull on the wires as shown in this picture, they will likely break off. Pull directly on the plug (NOT the receptacle)

Edit

Do not pull by the wires! If you do, you better be pretty good at soldering.

Brandon - Apr 9, 2018 Reply

I agree. A circle over the plug would have been better as the picture looks like you just pull on the wires lol.

Chris - Oct 29, 2018

Thanks for the comment. I did get a set of tweezers and the negative cable broke anyway. They really could have done a better job at using a different connector for that.

Kristen Bartholomew - Nov 20, 2021

Great. Didn't pull on cord. Whole thing ripped off.

August - May 6, 2020 Reply

Why in the world is this thing so tightly connected?

Andrew Moore - Nov 9, 2020 Reply

Thanks for the comment. I did get a set of tweezers to try to pull it out but still ended up breaking the negative cable. They really could have used a better set of cables and connectors for this.

Kristen Bartholomew - Nov 20, 2021 Reply

You don’t have to do this step!!!! Just open the switch while keeping this wire intact!!!!!

Garrison Bradford - Feb 27, 2025 Reply