Console · Nintendo · Switch OLED
Nintendo Switch OLED Hard Drive Replacement
Hard Drive Replacement guide for the Nintendo Switch OLED
Before you begin
Tools
- Y00 Tri-Point Screwdriver
- JIS #00 Screwdriver
- Spudger
- Tweezers
- Precision Bit Driver
Parts / materials
- Replacement Nintendo Switch OLED MicroSD Card Reader Board
- Thermal Paste
Safety
- Power off the console completely before disassembling to prevent electrical shorts.
- Wear an anti-static wrist strap during the repair to prevent electro-static discharge.
- Disconnect the battery before touching or swapping any internal components.
Overview
Step-by-step
- 1
Power off the Switch and remove MicroSD card
1 minTurn off the Nintendo Switch OLED completely. Open the kickstand and eject any inserted MicroSD card.
- 2
Remove the back panel Y00 screws
2 minUse a Y00 Tri-Point screwdriver to remove the four corner screws on the rear housing.
- 3
Remove the top and bottom JIS screws
2 minUse a JIS #00 screwdriver to remove the single screw on the top edge and the two screws on the bottom edge.
- 4
Remove the kickstand screws
2 minFlip open the kickstand fully and use a JIS #00 screwdriver to remove the two screws hidden beneath it.
- 5
Remove the side rail screws
2 minRemove the center JIS #00 screw from both the left and right Joy-Con slide rails.
- 6
Unclip and remove the back cover
1 minGently lift the plastic back cover off the console chassis and set it aside.
- 7
Remove the metal shield screws
3 minUse a JIS #00 screwdriver to remove the six screws securing the aluminum heat shield.
- 8
Lift and remove the metal shield
2 minCarefully lift the metal shield off the motherboard, taking care not to disturb the underlying thermal foam.
- 9
Disconnect the battery cable
2 minUse the flat end of a spudger to gently pry the battery connector straight up from the motherboard socket.
- 10
Unscrew the storage reader board
1 minUse a JIS #00 screwdriver to remove the single screw holding the MicroSD card reader board in place.
- 11
Disconnect the card reader connector
1 minPry the press connector of the reader board straight up off the motherboard using a spudger.
- 12
Install the replacement reader board
2 minAlign the new MicroSD card reader board, press the connector down until it clicks, and secure it with the screw.
- 13
Reconnect the battery
1 minPress the battery cable connector straight down into its socket on the motherboard until fully seated.
- 14
Reinstall the metal shield and back cover
4 minReplace the metal shield, secure all JIS screws, then snap the back cover in place and reinstall the outer screws.
After your Nintendo Switch OLED hard drive replacement
Power the Switch OLED back on and test the hard drive replacement function before you put every screw away. Check touch/display response, charging, cameras, buttons, and wireless as relevant to this repair. If something fails after closing the device, reopen carefully and reseat the connectors for this Nintendo Switch OLED job before assuming the part is defective. Keep leftover adhesive and screws labeled in case you need a second pass.
Keep learning
Explore more Nintendo Switch OLED repair context in the encyclopedia, or open related DIY guides.
