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Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement

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  1. Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Opening the controller (1/3): crwdns2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Opening the controller (1/3): crwdns2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Start by unscrewing the four (4) tri-wing ("Y00")from the back panel.

    • Keep the screws somewhere safe and organized.

  2. Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Opening the controller (2/3): crwdns2935265:02crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Opening the controller (2/3): crwdns2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Opening the controller (2/3): crwdns2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Insert an opening pick into the seam at the bottom edge of the controller (opposite the L and ZL buttons).

    • Slowly slide the flat edge of your opening pick up the side of the Joy-Con.

  3. Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Opening the controller (3/3): crwdns2935265:03crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Opening the controller (3/3): crwdns2935265:03crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • With the charging rail facing away from you, open the Joy-Con like a laptop.

    • Do not fully remove the back panel yet; there are still two ribbon cables connecting the charging rail to the motherboard.

  4. Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Disconnecting the battery: crwdns2935265:04crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Gently pry the battery connector straight up from its socket on the motherboard using a plastic spudger (avoid metal ones to reduce the risk of shorting components). This will keep the Joy-Con from powering on during the repair.

    • Use caution while working around the rumble's module cable which runs in the vicinity of the battery connector.

    • When handling electronics and/or batteries, it's a good idea to wear at least an anti static bracelet.

  5. Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Removing the battery: crwdns2935265:05crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Removing the battery: crwdns2935265:05crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Insert a spudger between the battery and the Joy-Con housing.

    • Gently pry out the battery.

    • The battery is lightly taped in place.

    • Be careful not to deform, puncture or damage the battery.

  6. Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Removing the battery housing: crwdns2935265:06crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the three (3) 3½mm golden Phillips #00 screws from the midframe.

  7. Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Accessing the controller's motherboard: crwdns2935265:07crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Carefully flip the midframe over, away from the motherboard, as if you were turning the page of a book.

    • The ribbon cables are extremely fragile. It is advised to use non-sharp tweezers rather than bare hands.

  8. Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Disconnecting the ribbon cables: crwdns2935265:08crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Disconnecting the ribbon cables: crwdns2935265:08crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Use tweezers to flip the ZIF connector lock opposite the cable.

    • The ZL button is locked in place by a small ZIF connector on the motherboard.

    • Use tweezers to gently pull the ZL button flex cable out of its ZIF connector socket. The midframe is now disconnected and can be removed.

  9. Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Removing the L button: crwdns2935265:09crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Removing the L button: crwdns2935265:09crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Unlock the rail's top ZIF connector and then disconnect the cable.

    • Unlock the rail's bottom ZIF connector and disconnect the cable. We can now remove the rail from the back frame.

    • Remove the L button and its spring.

    • Be careful because the spring tends to fling away.

  10. Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Removing the rail: crwdns2935265:010crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Removing the rail: crwdns2935265:010crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Removing the rail: crwdns2935265:010crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the screw holding the rail in place. Remove the rail from the back frame and set it off to the side.

  11. Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Removing the latch button: crwdns2935265:011crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the latch button and set it off to the side.

  12. Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Removing the triggers 1/2: crwdns2935265:012crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Removing the triggers 1/2: crwdns2935265:012crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Depress the latch underneath the trigger using tweezers. Gently pry the trigger off.

    • Make sure to note the position of the two springs under the trigger as they will need to go back in the same spot on the new mid-frame.

  13. Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Removing the triggers 2/2: crwdns2935265:013crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Removing the triggers 2/2: crwdns2935265:013crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the screw holding the circuit board for the trigger in place.

    • Remove the circuit board.

  14. Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Removing the joystick 1/2: crwdns2935265:014crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Removing the joystick 1/2: crwdns2935265:014crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the screws holding the joystick in place.

    • The top-left screw is covered by the L button's flex cable.

    • Unlock the ZIF connector and remove the ribbon cable using tweezers.

  15. Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Removing the joystick 2/2: crwdns2935265:015crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Removing the joystick 2/2: crwdns2935265:015crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the joystick.

  16. Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Removing the top flex circuit: crwdns2935265:016crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Removing the top flex circuit: crwdns2935265:016crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Removing the top flex circuit: crwdns2935265:016crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the screws holding the flex circuit (marked by a red circle) for the minus and L buttons.

    • Remove the flex circuit.

  17. Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Removing the minus button: crwdns2935265:017crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the minus button.

    • There will be a silicone membrane covering the minus button. Make sure to put it back over the minus button during reassembly.

  18. Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Removing the motherboard 3/3: crwdns2935265:018crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the screws holding the motherboard in place.

  19. Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Removing the rumble pack: crwdns2935265:019crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Removing the rumble pack: crwdns2935265:019crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Removing the rumble pack: crwdns2935265:019crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Using the spudger, gently pry the rumble pack out of its housing.

    • Remove the rumble pack and the motherboard.

  20. Nintendo Switch Left Joy-Con Shell Replacement, Removing the remaining buttons: crwdns2935265:020crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the remaining five buttons from the shell.

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

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Jose Castro

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University of North Texas, Team S1-G12, Raign Spring 2020 crwdns2935289:0University of North Texas, Team S1-G12, Raign Spring 2020crwdne2935289:0

UNT-RAIGN-S20S1G12

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crwdns2944067:011crwdne2944067:0

This guide was very helpful! A picture of the latch location on the trigger (step 12) would have been a big help, that step took a minute because I was putting pressure on the wrong spot.

I also noticed that most of the #00 screws were more receptive to a J00 bit. Might be worth noting in the tools section since swapping between them can strip a screw.

Fitz Montville - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0

Used this guide for reference on the tools needed, someone else pointed out to use the J00 bit instead of the P00 and I’ll second that as the fit for the screws was much better, thanks for the guide much appreciated!

Lee Whittaker - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0

Exactly what I needed! Dropped a set of controllers on a tile flow and the rail popped out and pulled the ribbon cables too. I picked up another iFixit toolkit with some J bits to put it back together. I don’t know why I waited this long to fix it. Charged the controllers overnight and I’m up another set now!

energy96 - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0

Others above have mentioned that they needed to use a J00 bit instead of P00, but mine did not work with a J00 and was better with a P000

Jeremy Johnson - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0

Small thing. In the tools list, it incorrectly says Y0 while the rest of the post correctly says Y00 for the back screws.

William Doering - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0

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