Switch Bulging

[flat sentinel]

Hello!

Over the course of my Switch's lifespan, I've started to notice a small expansion in the back of the console. When I lay it flat on a table (with or without joycons attached), it will have some wobble room that concerns me. The back plate also has a very small amount of wobble near the top, as if being pushed out by the inside.

I suspect that this is caused by an expanding battery, but I haven't experienced any weird battery lifespan / percentage behaviour yet.

Is this an issue I should worry about? I've briefly checked Amazon, and it looks like they have replacement internal batteries, but they all look off-brand. Is it safe to use these batteries? Should I just send it in to Nintendo & hope that they fix it? How costly would that be?

Thanks.

[steady owl]

For how long have you had the Switch?

@flat sentinel sorry, forgot to tag you

[flat sentinel]

Give or take December 2019
Right before pandemic; It's the v2 model w/ better battery life
I have no doubt it's beyond warranty covering it

[sonic dune]

It’s not too hard to get in to see the battery

It’s located in this area

If you want to change it just don’t use any metal tool to pry it out

If it is that battery

[flat sentinel]

my main concern is whether these Amazon knock-offs are even safe to use (assuming it is the battery) as replacements
and I don't have the required screwdrivers to access the back yet anyways
another scary thing is that I know there's thermal paste between the metal sheet and a vent, and I don't know if opening it would mean I'd have to replace it? or would it be fine?

[sonic dune]

This battery looks fine:
https://a.co/d/2GIbFNg

When searching, look for the highest amount of reviews, the highest ratings and read some of the ★☆☆☆☆ and ★★☆☆☆ reviews to look for trends that indicate the worst case scenarios

As long as you don’t touch or remove the thermal paste, you’ll be fine

If you want to do a thorough job, you should clean the old off and replace it.

[sonic dune]

Oof

My bad

Probably signifies it was a decent choice

[hazy canyon]

We do have a list of battery you can buy to replace but... If you are willing to spend the money, I suggest using well-known suppliers.

Check below

[terse cipher]

battery

BATTERY ISSUE

§ If you leave the Switch inactive, not charging for a long period of time (1-2 weeks or more), the battery's voltage may drop too low and will refuse to be charged, leading to a "dead" Switch. This can also degrade the battery's life and cause battery % number fluctuate randomly.

👉 Please check Charging/Power guide for best charging practices

■ Solution for dead battery

1. Unplug the AC adapter from the wall socket for 30 seconds then plug it back in. This is to reset the AC adapter.
2. Plug the AC adapter directly into your Switch, not through the dock.
3. Leave it to charge for 6-12 hours.
4. Attempt to turn it on by holding the Power button for 15 seconds, then at the 15s mark, release your finger, press down once to turn it on. This is to bypass boot issue.

■ If the above steps didn't work
Your last resort is to replace the battery entirely, via a repair service or DIY.
[👉 Click here for Repair Service Guide](#986637761916317707 message)

■ DIY Repair
Replacing the battery is not complicated but still requires tools, skills and patience.
･ iFixit's video tutorial
･ Sosav's written guide
※ Note: Since replacing the battery will ruin the thermal paste of the Switch, you should consider reapplying the paste as well.

■ Replacement Battery
･ Antank 3rd party battery with toolkit
･ US iFixit Battery
･ UK/EU Zedlabz battery

Requested by BladeSpringSun#4133

[hazy canyon]

iFixit and Zedlabz are great

If you are in other region, let me know

[flat sentinel]

It looks like the iFixit can ship to my location. This & Zedlabz were the reputable suppliers you meant, right?
& is the thermal paste anything I'd have to worry about when opening, or is it fine to leave as-is?

[hazy canyon]

iFixit has NA and EU distributor

Zedlabz is mostly UK and EU

The thermal paste can actually be re-used but it will be worse than before. I highly recommend to reapply a new one.

However, before anything, can you tell me if this is the first time you are repairing delicate electronic?

[sonic dune]

Forgot about iFixit
Totally spaced on that

[flat sentinel]

Yes, it is.
Hence my worry.

if I need to, how much thermal paste should I be reapplying?
if I don't swap it out, will it be something to worry about in the future?

[sonic dune]

For the thermal paste, a dime size should do the trick
One between the heat pipe and the metal shield, another between the processor and the heat pipe

Just center it so it will spread out evenly and cleanly