Nintendo will be selling an official battery replacement kit to change the battery in revised Switch 1 Joy-Cons in Europe.
The console maker’s official website (via OatmealDome on Twitter/X) has shared an elaborate battery replacement procedure to change the battery in Switch 1 Joy-Cons using the kit. The kit is intended for use with the upcoming Europe-exclusive revised model.
The new kits are intended for the revised Joy-Con (L) HAC-015(-01) and Joy-Con (R) HAC-016(-01) models. As per Nintendo, the original HAC-015 and HAC-016 Joy-Cons contain batteries that are not user-replaceable, as the new “-01” revisions have been redesigned with battery replacement in mind. Additionally, the outer Y-head screws have been replaced with normal Phillips screws in the new revision.
Each battery replacement kit includes everything required for the repair, including a replacement HAC-006(-01) battery, a PH00 Phillips screwdriver, plastic tweezers, a plastic spudger (or the handle of the included tweezers), and replacement double-sided adhesive strips.
Nintendo’s official repair guide walks users through a detailed step-by-step process, beginning with removing the four screws securing the back housing before carefully opening the controller. Users are instructed not to disconnect the two flat cables connecting the rear housing to the main board and to keep the controller face down throughout much of the repair process.
Once opened, the existing battery can be pried loose from its adhesive strips, disconnected from the motherboard, and removed. After replacing the old adhesive with the supplied double-sided tape, the new battery is installed before finally reconnecting its cable and reassembling the controller. The console maker instructs users to reconnect the battery cables at the end of the assembly procedure in order to prevent unnecessary electrical current.
Nintendo further warns that using an incompatible battery carries “a risk of fire or explosion.” Users are also instructed to discharge static electricity before opening the controller, avoid damaging internal components, and properly recycle old batteries instead of disposing of them with household waste.
Although the procedures for the left and right Joy-Con are nearly identical, the right controller includes an additional inspection step to ensure the antenna cable is correctly routed before the battery connector is reattached.
The support pages state that both the revised Joy-Con controllers and the Battery Replacement Kit will be available to purchase in Europe from Nintendo Store in the future.
