Step-by-step

1. 1

   Power Off the Console

   1 min

   Press and hold the Power button for three seconds, then select Power Options and Turn Off. Remove any inserted Game Cards and microSD cards from the slots.

2. 2

   Unscrew the Rear Housing

   2 min

   Use a Y00 Tri-point driver to remove the four outer rear screws securing the back cover. Store screws in a compartmentalized tray.

3. 3

   Remove Perimeter Screws

   2 min

   Use a Phillips #00 driver to remove the screws along the top, bottom, and Joy-Con rail slots. Keep track of differing screw lengths.

4. 4

   Pry Off the Back Cover

   3 min

   Insert a plastic opening pick into the seam along the bottom edge of the housing. Gently pry up around the perimeter to release the plastic snaps and remove the cover.

5. 5

   Unscrew the Metal Shield Plate

   2 min

   Remove the six Phillips #00 screws holding the aluminum EMI shield plate to the inner frame.

6. 6

   Lift Out the EMI Shield Plate

   1 min

   Gently lift the metal shield plate straight up off the chassis and set it aside on your clean workspace mat.

7. 7

   Disconnect the Battery Cable

   2 min

   Insert a spudger beneath the battery wire bundle and pry the connector straight up from its motherboard socket to kill power.

8. 8

   Unscrew the MicroSD Board Assembly

   1 min

   Remove the single Phillips #00 screw securing the daughterboard for the microSD reader.

9. 9

   Disconnect the MicroSD Reader

   2 min

   Pry the microSD card reader board straight up to release its press connector from the mainboard.

10. 10

    Unscrew the Copper Heat Sink

    2 min

    Remove the three Phillips #00 screws securing the heat pipe assembly over the main SoC.

11. 11

    Remove the Copper Heat Sink

    2 min

    Gently pry up the heat sink to break the thermal paste seal and lift it off the motherboard.

12. 12

    Disconnect Display and Touch Ribbons

    3 min

    Use fine-tip tweezers to flip up the locking ZIF levers for the display and digitizer ribbon cables, then slide the cables out.

13. 13

    Disconnect Joy-Con Rail Connectors

    2 min

    Flip up the ZIF retaining flaps for the left and right rail flex cables and slide both cables out of their sockets.

14. 14

    Disconnect Speaker and Button Flex Cables

    3 min

    Unplug the speaker leads and flip the ZIF latch for the volume/power button flex cable to disconnect them from the board.

15. 15

    Unscrew Motherboard Mounting Screws

    3 min

    Remove the remaining Phillips #00 screws holding the mainboard onto the plastic lower frame.

16. 16

    Extract the Motherboard

    3 min

    Lift the motherboard up from the bottom edge and lift it clear of the lower housing without snagging any loose ribbon cables.

17. 17

    Inspect and Repair the Board

    15 min

    Place the motherboard under a magnifying glass or microscope, clean old thermal paste using 99% isopropyl alcohol, and perform required board-level component inspection or soldering.

18. 18

    Reinstall Motherboard and Reapply Paste

    10 min

    Set the repaired motherboard back into the frame, apply fresh thermal paste to the SoC die, and reverse all disassembly steps to reassemble.