A battery replacement costs £55 with me for the original Switch, the Switch OLED and the Switch Lite, sent by post. Nintendo's out-of-warranty caps, which include battery repairs, are £120 for the Switch, £190.50 for the OLED and £108 for the Lite. If your battery is swollen, don't post it: get in touch first.
What £55 covers
The Switch battery replacement is the same price across the three models. I open the console, remove the old battery, fit a replacement, and reassemble it. Then I test it:
- charging from the official charger and in the dock;
- that the battery level reads correctly and rises as it charges;
- that it runs on battery and shuts down and wakes properly;
- buttons, sound, screen and game card reading, so nothing else was disturbed.
The insured, tracked return is included. You pay the postage to send it in.
The Switch 2 is priced separately, at £69, on the Switch 2 battery replacement page.
The battery is glued in
On every Switch model, the battery is held in with adhesive. That's the main reason it isn't a quick unplug-and-swap job. Getting a glued lithium battery out safely means softening the adhesive and lifting it slowly, without bending or puncturing the cell. A damaged lithium cell can catch fire, so prying at it with a screwdriver is a bad idea.
It's also why I'd steer people away from cheap DIY kits unless they're confident. The screws and ribbon cables are small, and the battery is the part where a slip matters most.
Do you need a new battery?
Batteries wear with age and charge cycles, so a console that used to last an evening and now barely gets through a train journey may simply have a tired battery. It's worth ruling out the settings first, though. My guide to a Switch battery that's draining fast covers brightness, Wi-Fi, rumble and the other things that eat charge.
Signs the battery itself is the problem include:
- it runs down much faster than it used to, even with sensible settings;
- the percentage drops suddenly, or it switches off with charge still showing;
- it only works while plugged in;
- it won't hold charge after being left in a drawer for months.
If it won't charge or turn on at all, it may not be the battery. It could be the charging port or a fault on the board, so have a look at what to check when a Switch isn't charging first.
Swollen battery: stop and get in touch
A lithium battery can swell as it ages or after damage. On a Switch, the signs are:
- the back of the console bulging or no longer sitting flat;
- the screen lifting away from the frame at one edge;
- gaps opening up between the case halves.
If you see any of these, stop using and charging the console. Royal Mail won't carry a swollen or damaged lithium battery, so please don't post it. Get in touch first and we'll work out the safest next step. Keep it somewhere cool, away from anything that burns, and don't press on the bulge.
Nintendo or an independent repair?
Nintendo's caps include battery repairs, but they're well above £55. The price list also says the maximum applies when the item is swapped with a replacement or re-manufactured product. Saves live on internal storage, so a swapped console comes back without them unless they were backed up. Nintendo says a repair might take up to 10 working days.
A battery replacement with me doesn't touch the storage, so your saves and settings should stay as they were. Even so, back up where you can before posting: see backing up Switch save data before a repair.
Sending it in
- Book and pay online.
- Take out the game card and microSD card. Don't send the dock or Joy-Con.
- Pack it well in a sturdy box, using the address and guidance in your confirmation email.
I replace the battery, test it, and send it back insured and tracked. Every repair has a 12-month warranty, and it's no fix, no fee: if I can't repair it, I refund what you paid, less return postage. For other repairs, see the Nintendo Switch repairs page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the battery price the same for the Switch, OLED and Lite?
Yes. It's £55 for all three. The Switch 2 is a different console with a different battery and is priced separately.
Can I post a Switch with a swollen battery?
No. Royal Mail won't carry a swollen or damaged lithium battery. Stop using and charging the console, keep it somewhere cool, and get in touch before sending anything.
Will I lose my saves if the battery is replaced?
The battery replacement doesn't involve the storage, so your saves should be untouched. It's still sensible to back up what you can before posting any console.
