Nintendo struck gold with the Switch – a console that’s a must-have for all of us! The catch is, we’re talking about a system released in 2017, and by now, many Nintendo Switch batteries are feeling the effects of time.
If you suspect your Nintendo Switch battery isn’t performing well, it might be damaged.
In some cases, it can be even worse – your console won’t turn on at all, and that’s because the battery is completely shot.
In this guide, Gaming Power Up will scout global prices and budgets to figure out how much it costs to replace a Nintendo Switch battery.
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Quick Gaming Answer
The average cost of replacing the Nintendo Switch console battery is between $80 and $100, whether you use Nintendo’s Official Technical Service or take the Switch to a Third-Party location. Only the battery + the tool kits to repair it by yourself cost around $50. However, Nintendo might replace the battery for free if your console is still under warranty (12 months from the moment of purchase).
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Can You Replace Nintendo Switch Battery?
Yes, you can replace the Nintendo Switch battery if it goes bad, but Nintendo says that opening the Switch console by yourself just to replace the battery is forbidden.
My opinion is that regular gamers should not attempt to replace the Switch battery at home.
Instead, sending the Nintendo Switch to a specialized technical service is the best way to completely replace the Nintendo Switch system battery.
What Is the Lifespan of a Nintendo Switch Battery?
According to official information provided by Nintendo, the lifespan of the batteries inside the Nintendo Switch console and Nintendo Switch Lite console is estimated to be around 800 charges.
After approximately 800 charge/discharge cycles, the battery capacity will be approximately 80% compared to that of a newly purchased console. This means that the battery’s capacity will gradually decrease over time as it undergoes charge/discharge cycles.
If we translate this information into years, the lifespan of a Nintendo Switch battery is between 5 and 10 years.
Since the first Switch consoles were released over 6 years ago, the battery life of some consoles might be close to an end.
We believe that getting a Nintendo Switch in 2023 is completely worth it, but opting for the OLED or 2019 Standard Model is the way to go.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace Switch Battery With Nintendo Technical Service?
The first option to replace the Nintendo Switch battery is to do it via the official Nintendo Technical Service Team.
They can replace Nintendo Switch fan, joycons, and, of course, the battery.
According to Nintendo, all consoles have a 12-month warranty from the moment the console is purchased. That being said, there are two possible prices for getting the Nintendo Switch battery fixed by Nintendo:
- If your console is still under warranty, repairing the Nintendo Switch battery is entirely free. The process takes a while, but you will not spend a dime!
- If your Nintendo Switch console is no longer under warranty, Nintendo might charge you from $80 to $100 to replace the battery of the Nintendo Switch, including shipping costs.
All the prices in this guide are in USD. However, it is worth noting that some Reddit users believe that Nintendo sent them an entirely new refurbished console after asking for a battery replacement.
It is hard to determine the exact price for out-of-warranty Switch consoles as Nintendo does not provide official costs until they examine the console, which only happens after shipping it.
How Much to Replace Nintendo Switch Battery With Third-Party Technical Service?
Third-party technical services are also a great alternative to getting the Nintendo Switch battery replaced.
These technical services are unofficial, and they all operate differently. However, people that work there are often specialized in repairing Nintendo Switch consoles, so they know what they are down.
The average price of repairing the Switch battery with a third-party technical service is between $80 and $100.
On the other hand, only the battery costs around $20-$30, according to Amazon.
If you attempt to repair the Nintendo Switch battery by yourself, you will need to spend around $25 for the battery plus $25 in tool kits – that’s $50 to replace the battery by yourself.
I’d never attempt to get the Nintendo Switch battery fixed by myself as I don’t have the required knowledge to do so, but if you are savvy enough, you can try to fix it by following online tutorials.
Can You Fix the Nintendo Switch Battery Not Working?
There are a few things you may do to repair the Nintendo Switch battery not working. According to Nintendo Support, certain homemade fixes can get the battery up and running again.
We once showed you how to fix corrupted data on Nintendo Switch, and now, let’s take a look at the best ways to fix Nintendo Switch battery not working at home.
Fix #1: Hard Reset the Nintendo Switch
Sometimes, when the Nintendo Switch battery does not work as it should (i.e., the console is not charging or not turning on properly), the issue might be caused due to a software glitch.
In this case, Nintendo recommends performing a hard reset on the Nintendo Switch. Some of your data will be lost, but that’s the price to pay to repair the Switch battery at home. This is how you hard reset a Nintendo Switch console:
- Press the HOME button on your Switch and go to System Settings.
- Select “System,” and navigate to “Formatting Options.”
- Choose “Initialize Console” – this will delete all data on the console.
- Complete the on-screen steps, sign into Nintendo Online with your account, and attempt to charge the Nintendo Switch.
- If the battery works now, excellent! Otherwise, move on to the following fix.
Fix #2: Use a Different Nintendo Switch AC Adapter
Third-party Nintendo Switch chargers are cheaper, but they are not better.
Nintendo is highly against using unofficial Nintendo Switch AC adapters, so do not use them!
If the battery of the console is not charging or working as it should, then buy an original Nintendo AC adapter and see if this resolves the problems.
The AC adapter for Nintendo Switch is only $29, so it’s cheaper than getting the entire battery replaced.
Fix #3: Try Different Charging Methods
There are three different ways to charge the Nintendo Switch console, and all of them should work. These are the alternatives players have at hand:
- AC Adapter: The primary and recommended method is to use the AC adapter that comes with the console. Simply connect one end of the AC adapter to the USB Type-C port on the bottom of the console, and the other end to a power outlet. The console can be charged both while in use and in sleep mode.
- Charging Dock: The Nintendo Switch can also be charged by placing it in the official Nintendo Switch Dock. The Dock connects to the AC adapter, and the console slides into the Dock, allowing it to charge while connected to a TV or in tabletop mode.
- USB Type-C Cable: The Nintendo Switch can be charged using a USB Type-C cable connected to a power source, such as a USB wall adapter or a USB port on a computer. However, it is important to use a certified USB Type-C cable that is compatible with the console to ensure safe and optimal charging.
Switch between charging methods, and see if some of them work. If, for instance, you can’t change the console while docked, but the battery is successfully charging when you connect the AC adapter directly to the console, then the problem is related to the dock.
Now, if the battery does not work regardless of what you do, then move on to the next section.
How to Replace a Nintendo Switch Battery
At this point, you have tried everything, and the Nintendo Switch battery is still not working.
This means that the battery is completely damaged, and the only way to fix it is by replacing it.
First, remember that replacing the Switch console battery costs up to $100, so make sure to have the money. Then, follow these steps to replace the Nintendo Switch battery not working.
Step 1: Set up an Official or Third Party Switch Battery Replacement
I highly recommend getting the Nintendo Switch console battery repaired by a professional.
We do not recommend DIY repairing methods as the Nintendo Switch hardware is delicate and hard to handle if you don’t have the required knowledge.
There are two ways to set up a repair:
- Find a third-party Nintendo Switch technical service near you. Ask them how much it costs to repair the battery of the console, check their reviews, and go to their location.
- Set up a Nintendo Repair. Official Nintendo Repairs can be set up online on this official Nintendo link by logging into your Nintendo account and checking if the warranty is still active.
If your console is still under warranty, the official Nintendo repair will be free – otherwise, wait for Nintendo to tell you how much you need to pay (it shouldn’t be over $100!).
Step 2: Send the Nintendo Console
After choosing your preferred repair option, it’s time to ship or take your console to repair.
Nintendo gives you a shipping address to send the console that you can check by logging into the Nintendo website mentioned above.
Either way, if you chose the third-party repair option, then simply take the console to the location of the specialized technical service.
Step 3: Wait for Specialists to Replace the Battery
Now, Nintendo specialists will do their magic.
The turnaround times for getting the Nintendo Switch battery replaced by Nintendo can be quite long – from 1 to 3 weeks.
On the other hand, third-party technical services can have it ready in 2 or 3 days.
However, I prefer the official Nintendo option as it ensures that the process will go smoothly, even if it takes longer.
Besides, even if your console is out of warranty, I’d say that paying the $100 to get the battery replaced by the official company is better than opting for an unofficial technical service, even if that means waiting for more time.
Gaming Summary: How Much Does it Cost to Replace Nintendo Switch Battery?!
Luckily, replacing the Nintendo Switch battery is not as expensive as many people believe. This original Gaming Power Up research shows that the replacement prices of Nintendo Switch batteries are the following (in USD):
- If the problem is related to a software bug, then following our solutions is entirely free (updating and hard resetting the Switch).
- If you are using an unofficial AC Adapter, buy an official Nintendo Switch adapter for $29 and forget about battery problems.
- Third-party technical services charge from $80 to $100 to replace the Switch battery.
- Official Nintendo Support Options repair the console’s battery for free if the Switch is under warranty period, or may charge up to $100 if the console is outside the warranty period.
- If you want to buy only the battery and the tools to repair it yourself, expect to spend around $50.
Gamers Also Ask
Is the Nintendo Switch Lite Battery the Same as the Standard Switch?
The Nintendo Switch Lite has a different battery life compared to the standard Nintendo Switch. The Nintendo Switch Lite typically offers shorter battery life than the standard Switch. On average, the Nintendo Switch Lite battery can last between 3 to 7 hours, depending on factors such as game intensity and console settings.