Difficulty
Moderate
Steps
16
Time Required
20 - 45 minutes
Sections
4
- Back Panel
- 8 steps
- Shield Plate
- 2 steps
- Nintendo Switch Lite Battery Disconnection
- 3 steps
- Heat Sink
- 3 steps
Flags
0
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Introduction
The Switch Lite uses JIS screws, but you can use a Phillips screwdriver in a pinch. Be very careful not to strip the screws. iFixit’s Phillips bits are designed to be cross-compatible with JIS-style screws.
Note: This procedure requires removing the shield plate and heat sink. The thermal paste will need to be cleaned off of both components—as well as the CPU—and reapplied before reinstalling the shield plate and heat sink.
What you need
Step 1
Remove the back panel screws
- Before beginning this repair, make sure that the device is completely turned off.
- Use a Y00 screwdriver to remove the four 6.3 mm-long screws securing the back panel.
- Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from.
Before beginning this repair, make sure that the device is completely turned off.
Use a Y00 screwdriver to remove the four 6.3 mm-long screws securing the back panel.
Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from.
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Step 2
Remove the top and bottom back panel screws
- Use a JIS 000 driver or an official iFixit PH 000 driver to remove the following screws securing the back panel:
- Two 3.6 mm-long screws on the top of the device
- Two 3.6 mm-long screws on the bottom of the device
- To prevent these tight screws from stripping, apply firm downward force, work slowly and try a different screwdriver if the screws won’t come out.
Use a JIS 000 driver or an official iFixit PH 000 driver to remove the following screws securing the back panel:
Two 3.6 mm-long screws on the top of the device
Two 3.6 mm-long screws on the bottom of the device
To prevent these tight screws from stripping, apply firm downward force, work slowly and try a different screwdriver if the screws won’t come out.
Step 3
Release the clips securing the back panel
- Insert an opening tool into the left speaker grille on the bottom of the device.
- Twist the opening tool to release the clips securing the back panel.
- Avoid inserting the opening tool further than required to prevent damage to the speaker module.
Insert an opening tool into the left speaker grille on the bottom of the device.
Twist the opening tool to release the clips securing the back panel.
Avoid inserting the opening tool further than required to prevent damage to the speaker module.
Step 4
Continue releasing the clips around the device
- Slide the opening tool around the bottom-left corner to release the clips on the left side of the device.
Slide the opening tool around the bottom-left corner to release the clips on the left side of the device.
Step 5
Twist to release the clips
- Insert an opening tool into the right speaker grille on the bottom of the device.
- Twist the opening tool to release the clips.
- Avoid inserting the opening tool further than required to prevent damage to the speaker module.
Insert an opening tool into the right speaker grille on the bottom of the device.
Twist the opening tool to release the clips.
Step 6
Slide and pry around the corners
- Slide and pry the opening tool around the bottom-right corner to release the clips on the right side of the device.
Slide and pry the opening tool around the bottom-right corner to release the clips on the right side of the device.
Step 7
- Continue sliding and prying the opening tool along the gap on the top of the device to release the clips.
Continue sliding and prying the opening tool along the gap on the top of the device to release the clips.
Step 8
Remove the back panel
- Lift the bottom edge of the back panel, opening it like a book.
- Remove the back panel.
Lift the bottom edge of the back panel, opening it like a book.
Remove the back panel.
Step 9
Remove the shield plate
- Use a JIS 000 driver or an official iFixit PH 000 driver to remove the following four screws:
- Three 3.1 mm screws
- One 4.5 mm screw
Use a JIS 000 driver or an official iFixit PH 000 driver to remove the following four screws:
Three 3.1 mm screws
One 4.5 mm screw
Step 10
- Use a spudger or your fingers to lift the shield plate up and out of the device.
- You may feel a bit of resistance. This is normal, since the shield plate is slightly bonded to the heat sink with thermal paste.
- Remove the shield plate.
- Clean off the old thermal paste from the shield plate and heat sink using isopropyl alcohol and a microfiber cloth. Apply new thermal paste to the heat sink before reassembly.
Use a spudger or your fingers to lift the shield plate up and out of the device.
You may feel a bit of resistance. This is normal, since the shield plate is slightly bonded to the heat sink with thermal paste.
Remove the shield plate.
Clean off the old thermal paste from the shield plate and heat sink using isopropyl alcohol and a microfiber cloth. Apply new thermal paste to the heat sink before reassembly.
Step 11
Disconnect the battery
- Use an opening tool or your fingernail to flip up the small, hinged locking flap on the motherboard interconnect cable’s ZIF connector.
Use an opening tool or your fingernail to flip up the small, hinged locking flap on the motherboard interconnect cable’s ZIF connector.
Step 12
- Use a pair of tweezers to slide the interconnect cable out of its connector on the motherboard.
Use a pair of tweezers to slide the interconnect cable out of its connector on the motherboard.
Step 13
- Use the point of a spudger to pry the battery connector straight up and out of its socket on the motherboard.
Use the point of a spudger to pry the battery connector straight up and out of its socket on the motherboard.
Step 14
Remove the heat sink
- Use the flat end of a spudger or your fingers to carefully peel up the foam that’s lightly adhered to the fan.
- The foam only needs to be peeled back enough to clear the fan.
Use the flat end of a spudger or your fingers to carefully peel up the foam that’s lightly adhered to the fan.
The foam only needs to be peeled back enough to clear the fan.
Step 15
- Use a JIS 000 driver or an official iFixit PH 000 driver to remove the three 3 mm screws securing the heat sink to the motherboard.
Use a JIS 000 driver or an official iFixit PH 000 driver to remove the three 3 mm screws securing the heat sink to the motherboard.
Step 16
- Use a spudger or your fingers to lift the heatsink up and off of the motherboard to remove it.
- You may feel a bit of resistance. This is normal, since the heat sink is slightly bonded to the CPU with thermal paste.
- Clean off the old thermal paste from the heat sink and CPU using isopropyl alcohol and a microfiber cloth. Apply new thermal paste to the CPU before reassembly.
Use a spudger or your fingers to lift the heatsink up and off of the motherboard to remove it.
You may feel a bit of resistance. This is normal, since the heat sink is slightly bonded to the CPU with thermal paste.
Clean off the old thermal paste from the heat sink and CPU using isopropyl alcohol and a microfiber cloth. Apply new thermal paste to the CPU before reassembly.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
Take your e-waste to an R2 or e-Stewards certified recycler.
Repair didn’t go as planned? Try some basic troubleshooting, or ask our Nintendo Switch Lite Answers community for help.
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Craig Lloyd
Member since: 02/10/2016
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Fern - Apr 28, 2022
Reply
What kind of thermal paste should I use and should it be conductive or non conductive?
