Difficulty
Moderate
Steps
16
Time Required
30 minutes - 1 hour
Sections
1
- Charging Rail
- 16 steps
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BackNintendo Switch Joy-Con
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Introduction
Before using this guide, check for potential bent pins on the charging rail that can be bent back. If possible, test if the Joy-Con can be charged from an external source or check if the problem is actually with the sensor rail on the Nintendo Switch console.
If the problem is the Nintendo Switch sensor rail, then follow this guide: Nintendo Switch Left Joy Con Sensor Rail Replacement
What you need
Step 1
Charging Rail
- Use the Tri-point Y00 screwdriver to remove the four 6 mm screws from the back of the Joy-Con.
Use the Tri-point Y00 screwdriver to remove the four 6 mm screws from the back of the Joy-Con.
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Step 2
- Insert the opening pick into the bottom of the Joy-Con, then move it towards the L and ZL buttons.
- Lift the back shell off the Joy-Con and place it to the side.
- Be careful when removing the back shell as it is connected to two ribbon cables by the charging rail and motherboard. Potential for device damage may occur if it is yanked apart.
Insert the opening pick into the bottom of the Joy-Con, then move it towards the L and ZL buttons.
Lift the back shell off the Joy-Con and place it to the side.
Be careful when removing the back shell as it is connected to two ribbon cables by the charging rail and motherboard. Potential for device damage may occur if it is yanked apart.
Step 3
- Insert a spudger or prying tool beneath the battery wires and gently pry the battery plug out of the socket on the motherboard.
- Once the battery plug is removed from the socket, lift the battery off the mid-frame.
- A spudger is recommended for this step if one is available. If not, use an ESD safe tool.
Insert a spudger or prying tool beneath the battery wires and gently pry the battery plug out of the socket on the motherboard.
Once the battery plug is removed from the socket, lift the battery off the mid-frame.
A spudger is recommended for this step if one is available. If not, use an ESD safe tool.
Step 4
- Unscrew the three golden 3 mm Phillips #000 screws holding the mid-frame in place.
- Lift the mid-frame off the motherboard and place it to the side.
Unscrew the three golden 3 mm Phillips #000 screws holding the mid-frame in place.
Lift the mid-frame off the motherboard and place it to the side.
Step 5
- Unlatch the ZIF connector that is locking the ribbon cable on the mid-frame to the motherboard.
- Use tweezers to gently pull the ribbon cable out of the ZIF connector.
Unlatch the ZIF connector that is locking the ribbon cable on the mid-frame to the motherboard.
Use tweezers to gently pull the ribbon cable out of the ZIF connector.
Step 6
- Unlatch the two ZIF connectors that are locking the ribbon cables on the charging rail to the motherboard.
- Use tweezers to gently pull the ribbon cables out of the ZIF connectors.
Unlatch the two ZIF connectors that are locking the ribbon cables on the charging rail to the motherboard.
Use tweezers to gently pull the ribbon cables out of the ZIF connectors.
Step 7
- Remove the 2 mm Philips #000 screw holding the charging rail onto the back shell.
- Remove the charging rail from the back shell.
- There is an adhesive tape that helps keep the charging rail in place on the back shell. When placing the new charging rail onto the back shell, it is advised to also replace the adhesive to add extra support, but it is not essential.
Remove the 2 mm Philips #000 screw holding the charging rail onto the back shell.
Remove the charging rail from the back shell.
There is an adhesive tape that helps keep the charging rail in place on the back shell. When placing the new charging rail onto the back shell, it is advised to also replace the adhesive to add extra support, but it is not essential.
Step 8
- Use the Phillips #000 screwdriver to remove the two 3 mm screws at the center of the PCB.
- Remove the PCB from the charging rail.
Use the Phillips #000 screwdriver to remove the two 3 mm screws at the center of the PCB.
Remove the PCB from the charging rail.
Step 9
- Remove the SL, SR and sync buttons from the charging rail.
Remove the SL, SR and sync buttons from the charging rail.
Step 10
- Place the SL, SR and sync buttons into the new charging rail and make sure the tabs on the SL and SR buttons fit into their respective socket grooves.
- Place the PCB over the buttons and secure it in place using the two golden 3 mm Phillips #000 screws.
- Potential for device damage. If the buttons are not properly placed into the charging rail, proceeding to screw in the PCB will cause it to warp.
Place the SL, SR and sync buttons into the new charging rail and make sure the tabs on the SL and SR buttons fit into their respective socket grooves.
Place the PCB over the buttons and secure it in place using the two golden 3 mm Phillips #000 screws.
Potential for device damage. If the buttons are not properly placed into the charging rail, proceeding to screw in the PCB will cause it to warp.
Step 11
- Align the charging rail with the two standoffs on the back shell.
- Secure the rail onto the back shell using the 2 mm Phillips #000 screws.
Align the charging rail with the two standoffs on the back shell.
Secure the rail onto the back shell using the 2 mm Phillips #000 screws.
Step 12
- Use tweezers to insert the ribbon cables for the charging rail into the ZIF connectors on the motherboard.
- Press down on the latch for each ZIF connector to secure the ribbon cables in place.
Use tweezers to insert the ribbon cables for the charging rail into the ZIF connectors on the motherboard.
Press down on the latch for each ZIF connector to secure the ribbon cables in place.
Step 13
- Use tweezers to insert the ribbon cable for the mid-frame into the ZIF connector on the motherboard, with the golden pins facing upwards.
- Press down on the ZIF connector latch to secure the ribbon cable in place.
Use tweezers to insert the ribbon cable for the mid-frame into the ZIF connector on the motherboard, with the golden pins facing upwards.
Press down on the ZIF connector latch to secure the ribbon cable in place.
Step 14
- Place the the mid-frame over the motherboard.
- Using Philips #000 screwdriver, secure the three golden 3 mm screws of the mid-frame onto the motherboard.
- When placing the mid-frame onto the motherboard, the bumper button may come loose. To reattach the bumper button, first insert the spring on the bumper button into the groove located on the top left side of the Joy-Con, then insert the right side of the bumper button into the Joy-Con.
Place the the mid-frame over the motherboard.
Using Philips #000 screwdriver, secure the three golden 3 mm screws of the mid-frame onto the motherboard.
When placing the mid-frame onto the motherboard, the bumper button may come loose. To reattach the bumper button, first insert the spring on the bumper button into the groove located on the top left side of the Joy-Con, then insert the right side of the bumper button into the Joy-Con.
Step 15
- Place the battery into the mid-frame.
- Use tweezers to align the battery plug over the socket and with a pry tool or an object with a flat edge, press the plug into the socket.
Place the battery into the mid-frame.
Use tweezers to align the battery plug over the socket and with a pry tool or an object with a flat edge, press the plug into the socket.
Step 16
- Align the charging rail into the notch on the left side of the Joy-Con.
- Apply even pressure on both sides of the Joy-Con until the two shells click together.
- Screw in the four 6 mm Tri-point Y00 screws into the back of the Joy-Con.
Align the charging rail into the notch on the left side of the Joy-Con.
Apply even pressure on both sides of the Joy-Con until the two shells click together.
Screw in the four 6 mm Tri-point Y00 screws into the back of the Joy-Con.
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16 other people completed this guide.
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Peter Lam
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York University, Team S1-G14, O'Regan Summer 2021
Member of York University, Team S1-G14, O'Regan Summer 2021
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7 Guides authored
Luis - Nov 12, 2021
Reply
I did this and still doesn’t work. I also changed the rail on the console side too. Very carefully of course. Any ideas?
Peter Lam - Nov 12, 2021
Hey Luis,
Can you give me more detail on the problem? Like is the Joy-Con not being detected when it’s plugged in or is it not charging. If possible, can you test the console rail with a working Joy-Con?
If the Joy-Con is not charging, it could also be a battery problem. If you are comfortable with it, I would suggest swapping out the battery with a working one from the other Joy-Con to see if it solves the problem. You should probably attempt this after double-checking the connections for potential tears or if the connectors are too loose in the sockets.
Jakkrij Sihanatkathakul - Dec 20, 2021
Reply
Hi, I need help. My left Joy-Con is not charging because of the ZIF connector for the charging rail ribbon has been detached and I have lost it. Is there a way to fix this problem?
Yakarot Sennin - Apr 18, 2022
Honestly, I would recommend replacing the entire Motherboard, unless you can find a trusted repair shop to solder it on.
I damaged the ZIF connector for the battery on my Switch. It works with some pressure and perfect alignment, but I’ve had issues ever since I damaged it during repairs :/
I’m going to swap it with a functional motherboard, I would advise you do the same.
Matthew Molt - May 2, 2022
Reply
Hello need a little help. the ribbon cable will not stay connected. and it will not charger. Any thing will help.
