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Nintendo Switch Fan Replacement

Follow this guide to replace a broken or faulty...

Nintendo Switch Moderate 30 minutes - 1 hour Guide 113058

Licensed iFixit integration

This attributed iFixit guide is displayed through Fixonic's recorded commercial API permission. iFixit remains the independent source and author of the procedure.

Guide overview

Before you begin

Follow this guide to replace a broken or faulty fan in the Nintendo Switch game console. The Nintendo Switch uses JIS screws, which are slightly different than Phillips. We don’t recommend using Phillips drivers for JIS screws; however, iFixit Phillips bits are specifically designed to be compatible with JIS screws. If you use a non-iFixit Phillips driver, you risk stripping the screws. Note: When you remove the shield plate, you’ll need to replace the thermal compound between the plate and the heatsink. Normal thermal paste isn't designed to bridge large gaps, so you'll need thermal putty or viscous thermal paste. Note: This guide is compatible with the original Nintendo Switch model released in 2017, as well as the newer refreshed model released in 2019 (model numbers HAC-001 and HAC-001(-01), respectively), but the replacement fans are model and year specific.

Step 1

Release the Joy Con controller locking tabs

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Before you begin this repair, make sure the device is completely powered off.
Press and hold down the small round button on the back of the Joy Con controller.
While you hold down the button, slide the controller upward.

Step 2

Remove the Joy Con controllers

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Continue sliding the Joy Con upward until it's completely removed from the console.
Repeat this same process for the other Joy Con.

Step 3

Remove the back-side screws

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP JIS 00 Screwdriver Bit Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tri-point Y00 Screwdriver Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use a Y00 screwdriver to remove the four 6.3 mm-long screws securing the rear panel.
Throughout this repair, keep track of each screw and make sure it goes back exactly where it came from.
If you do happen to strip one of the four 6.3 mm-long Y00 screws, If you are lucky and careful, you may be able to use a Y0 bit to remove the screw(s). Please note that if you do attempt this, a bit of extra pressure will need to be applied to the screwdriver so that the screwdriver bit catches the screw.
If you do end up removing the stripped screw with this method, PLEASE do not reuse the screw again and instead replace the screw.

Step 4

Remove the top and bottom screws

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP JIS 00 Screwdriver Bit Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tri-point Y00 Screwdriver Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use a JIS 00 driver to remove the following screws securing the rear panel:
One 2.5 mm-long screw on the top edge of the device
Two 2.5 mm-long screws on the bottom edge of the device
To prevent these tight screws from stripping, apply firm downward force, work slowly, and try another JIS 00 driver if the screws won't come out. Make sure the driver is fully inserted.
You can use a Phillips #000 screwdriver in a pinch, but you risk damaging or stripping the screws. Push down firmly on the screwdriver and twist slowly. Often, switching drivers may help, even if they are the same size.

Step 5

Remove the center side screws

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP JIS 00 Screwdriver Bit Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tri-point Y00 Screwdriver Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use a JIS 00 driver to remove the two 3.8 mm center screws on the sides of the device (one on each side).

Step 6

Repair step

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Use your finger to flip up the kickstand on the back of the device.
If there's a microSD card in the microSD card slot, remove it now before you continue to the next step.

Step 7

Remove the kickstand well screw

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP JIS 00 Screwdriver Bit Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tri-point Y00 Screwdriver Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use a JIS 00 driver to remove the 1.6 mm screw in the kickstand well.
Close the kickstand.

Step 8

Remove the rear panel

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Open the game card cartridge flap.
The game card cartridge flap attaches to the other half of the plastic shell, preventing you from completely lifting up the rear panel if it's closed.
Lift the rear panel straight up from the bottom of the device and remove it.
Don't tilt it upwards while opening or else you risk breaking the plastic tabs on the top edge of the panel.

Step 9

Remove the microSD card reader

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP JIS 00 Screwdriver Bit Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tri-point Y00 Screwdriver Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use a JIS 00 driver to remove the 3.1 mm screw securing the microSD card reader to the device.

Step 10

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tweezers Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the microSD card reader press connector and lift straight up to remove it.
During reassembly, remove the foam pad before connecting the press connector to the motherboard. Set the foam pad back in place after you verify it's connected.

Step 11

Reassembly information

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tweezers Referenced by the iFixit guide

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During reassembly:
Peel the foam block off the MicroSD card reader.
Carefully align the MicroSD card reader press connector over its socket on the board and press down to connect it.
Don't try to force the connector into place. If you're having trouble, reposition it and try again.
Set the foam block onto the connector and press it into place.

Step 12

Remove the shield plate

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP JIS 00 Screwdriver Bit Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tri-point Y00 Screwdriver Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use a JIS 00 driver to remove the six 3 mm screws securing the shield plate to the device.

Step 13

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tweezers Referenced by the iFixit guide

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If the console doesn't have this foam, skip this step.
Use your fingers or a pair of tweezers to peel back the piece of foam on the top edge of the device near the fan exhaust port.
If the foam doesn't easily peel away, don't force it as it might end up tearing. Carefully peel at different spots to pull back the foam.

Step 14

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Insert a spudger underneath the shield plate along the edge of the device.
Pry up to lift the shield plate and remove it from 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.
A thick pink thermal compound bridges the gap between the shield plate and the copper heat sink underneath. This helps prevent the Switch from overheating.
During reassembly, if you don't have replacement thermal compound, use the flat end of a spudger to distribute the old compound evenly across the heat pipe, as thick as possible to ensure proper contact. Repeat this process on the shield plate.
If you need to replace it, refer to our thermal paste guide to remove the old thermal compound and replace it with an appropriate compound, such as thermal putty or K5 Pro, during reassembly.

Step 15

Disconnect the battery

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tweezers Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Insert the point of a spudger beneath the battery cable and slowly lift straight up to disconnect the flat‑topped battery connector from the board.

Step 16

Remove the heat sink

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP JIS 00 Screwdriver Bit Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tri-point Y00 Screwdriver Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use a JIS 00 driver to remove the three 3 mm screws securing the heat sink to the motherboard.

Step 17

Repair step

No step image supplied by iFixit.

TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Carefully peel the two foam pieces stuck over both the heatsink and the fan away from the fan.
The foam only needs to be peeled back enough to clear the fan.
The foam is really delicate and tears easily. Use the following technique to peel the foam:
If you have some, dip the point of a spudger in adhesive remover or isopropyl alcohol (90% or greater).
Insert the point of a spudger underneath a part of the foam that isn't stuck to anything.
Press the top of the foam with your finger to hold it in place.
Roll the spudger tip underneath the foam all the way to the other end of the foam to release it.

Step 18

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use a spudger or your fingers to lift the heatsink up and off 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 high-concentration (90% or higher) isopropyl alcohol and a microfiber cloth. Apply new thermal paste to the CPU before reassembly. Don't reuse the old thermal paste.
Apply thermal paste to all surfaces that had thermal paste applied previously. This includes between the heatpipe and aluminum shield, which the Switch uses as additional heatsinking.

Step 19

Remove the headphone jack and game card reader

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tweezers Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use an opening tool or your fingernail to flip up the small, hinged locking flap on the digitizer cable's ZIF connector.

Step 20

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tweezers Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use a pair of tweezers to slide the digitizer cable horizontally out of its connector on the game card reader board.
Before inserting the cable during reassembly, make sure the ZIF connector locking flap is flipped up.
With the cable parallel to the board, gently slide it into its connector.
Don't force the cable into the connector. If it doesn't insert, ensure the locking flap is flipped up, reposition the cable, and try again.
If your touchscreen doesn't work after the repair but your Game Card reader does, make sure this cable is properly inserted. If your Game Card reader also doesn't work, check the Game Card connector in the next step instead.

Step 21

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tweezers Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use the point of a spudger to pry the headphone jack and game card reader connector straight up to disconnect it from the motherboard.
To re-attach press connectors like this one, carefully align and press down on one side until it clicks into place, then repeat on the other side. Do not press down on the middle. If the connector is misaligned, the pins can bend and cause permanent damage.
If the touch screen doesn't work and/or game cards aren't detected after reassembly, you might have not fully reconnected this press connector. Carefully disconnect it and try again.

Step 22

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP JIS 00 Screwdriver Bit Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tri-point Y00 Screwdriver Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use a JIS 00 driver to remove the three 3.1 mm screws securing the headphone jack and game card reader board to the device.

Step 23

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tweezers Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to remove the headphone jack bracket.

Step 24

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tweezers Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to remove the headphone jack and game card reader board.

Step 25

Remove the fan

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tweezers Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use an opening tool, spudger, or your fingernail to flip up the small, hinged locking flap on the fan cable ZIF connector.

Step 26

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tweezers Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Spudger Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use a pair of tweezers to pull the fan cable straight out of its connector on the motherboard.

Step 27

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP JIS 00 Screwdriver Bit Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tri-point Y00 Screwdriver Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use a JIS 00 driver to remove the three 4.8 mm screws securing the fan.

Step 28

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tweezers Referenced by the iFixit guide

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Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to lift the fan straight up and remove it from the device.
Compare your new replacement part to the original part. You may need to transfer remaining components (such as the rubber bushings) to the new part before installing.