Game Boy Advance Buttons Replacement

Step 1

Remove the battery cover

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• Release the battery cover tab with your finger and swing the cover away from your Game Boy to remove it.
• During reassembly, insert the tabs on the bottom edge of the cover into their cutouts and press the cover into place.

Step 2

Remove the batteries

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• Remove the two AA batteries.
• If the metal terminals are corroded, follow this guide to clean them.
• When installing batteries, use the diagram in the battery well to properly orient them.

Step 3

Remove the back shell screws

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Phillips #1 Screwdriver Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tri-point Y1 Screwdriver Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• Remove the seven screws securing the back shell:
• Six 9.4 mm‑long tri‑point Y0 screws
• One 8.5 mm‑long JIS 1 screw
• You can try to use a non-iFixit Phillips driver in a pinch, but you risk damaging or stripping screws. Push down firmly on the driver and twist slowly.

Step 4

Remove the back shell

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• Lift the back shell straight up and remove it.
• During reassembly, squeeze the shell firmly around the edges and ensure the shoulder buttons and bumpers are properly seated with no large gaps. Gently test the buttons to make sure everything feels correct.

Step 5

Remove Triggers

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• Remove left and right triggers by lifting and pulling them away from the system.
• Do the same for side panels
• For finicky or jammed triggers only! Adjust and correct triggers and reassemble. Most jammed triggers are caused by buttons misplaced or jammed in its enclosure.

Step 6

Remove the On/Off Switch

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• Remove the gray On/Off Switch by pulling up and away from the unit. Replace with another switch if necessary.

Step 7

Repair step

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Phillips #1 Screwdriver Referenced by the iFixit guide

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TOOL USED ON THIS STEP Tri-point Y1 Screwdriver Referenced by the iFixit guide

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• Remove the three screws on the circuit board with a Phillips #1 screw driver.

Step 8

Repair step

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• Pull circuit board away from the front panel by pulling up at the bottom of the circuit board, keeping the top ribbon still connected.
• Handle with care! The ribbon connecting the circuit board to the LCD screen can easily be damaged and will require replacement if broken.

Step 9

Repair step

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• Remove the rubber button pads from their pockets.
• Remove the plastic buttons and the D-pad from beneath the rubber pads with tweezers or by hand.