Nintendo Switch Exterior Power and Volume Button Replacement

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.

Continue sliding the Joy Con upward until it's completely removed from the console.

Use a Y00 screwdriver to remove the four 6.3 mm-long screws securing the rear panel.

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

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

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.

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

Close the kickstand.

Open the game card cartridge flap.

Lift the rear panel straight up from the bottom of the device and remove it.

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

Use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to lift the microSD card reader straight up from the device to disconnect and remove it.

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

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.

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.

During reassembly, if you don't have replacement thermal compound, use the flat end of a spudger to distribute the old compound evenly across the heat pipe, as thick as possible to ensure proper contact. Repeat this process on the shield plate.

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.

Use the point of a spudger to pry the battery connector straight up and out of its socket on the motherboard.

Use a JIS 00 driver to remove the three 3 mm screws securing the heat sink to the motherboard.

Carefully peel the two foam pieces stuck over both the heatsink and the fan away from the fan.

If you have some, dip the point of a spudger in adhesive remover or isopropyl alcohol (90% or greater).

Insert the point of a spudger underneath a part of the foam that isn't stuck to anything.

Press the top of the foam with your finger to hold it in place.

Roll the spudger tip underneath the foam all the way to the other end of the foam to release it.

Use a spudger or your fingers to lift the heatsink up and off the motherboard to remove it.

Apply thermal paste to all surfaces that had thermal paste applied previously. This includes between the heatpipe and aluminum shield, which the Switch uses as additional heatsinking.

Use an opening tool or your fingernail to flip up the small, hinged locking flap on the digitizer cable's ZIF connector.

Use a pair of tweezers to slide the digitizer cable horizontally out of its connector on the game card reader board.

Use the point of a spudger to pry the headphone jack and game card reader connector straight up to disconnect it from the motherboard.

Use a JIS 00 driver to remove the three 3.1 mm screws securing the headphone jack and game card reader board to the device.

Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to remove the headphone jack bracket.

Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to remove the headphone jack and game card reader board.

Use an opening tool, spudger, or your fingernail to flip up the small, hinged locking flap on the fan cable ZIF connector.

Use a pair of tweezers to pull the fan cable straight out of its connector on the motherboard.

Use a JIS 00 driver to remove the three 4.8 mm screws securing the fan.

Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to lift the fan straight up and remove it from the device.

Use a spudger to flip up the small black locking flap on the power/volume ribbon cable ZIF connector.

Use the flat end of a spudger to pry up the taped down power/volume ribbon cable.

Remove the power/volume board with a pair of blunt nose tweezers.

Pull the rubber conductive pad out with a pair of blunt nose tweezers.

Pull the power and volume buttons out with a pair of blunt nose tweezers.