A Switch Lite screen replacement costs £75 with me, sent by post. Nintendo's own out-of-warranty price for a Switch Lite is capped at £108, and because a broken screen counts as accidental damage, it's treated as out of warranty whatever the age of the console. Nintendo may also swap your console for a replacement rather than repair yours, so back up your saves before you send it anywhere.
What £75 covers
The price is for the Switch Lite screen replacement itself: I open the console, remove the damaged screen, fit a quality replacement panel and put it all back together. Then I test it before it goes back to you. That includes:
- the whole display for dead pixels, lines, patches and even backlighting;
- touch response across the full screen, corners included;
- buttons, sticks, sound, charging and game card reading, so nothing else was disturbed while it was open.
The insured, tracked return is included. You pay the postage to get it to me.
Cracked glass or a damaged LCD?
It helps to know which of these you've got, because it tells you whether the console is usable in the meantime.
Cracked glass, picture still fine
If the picture underneath looks normal and touch still works, it's the top layer that's broken. You can often keep playing for a while, but cracks tend to spread, and small pieces of glass can lift and cut fingers. A strip of clear tape over the crack is a reasonable stopgap.
Damaged LCD
Signs that the display panel itself is damaged include:
- coloured or white lines across the picture;
- black patches or blots that spread from the point of impact;
- ink-like bleeding in one area;
- a backlight that works but no image, or an image that flickers.
An LCD fault usually gets worse rather than better, so it's worth sorting before it reaches the point where you can't navigate the menus to back up. The Switch Lite has no TV output, so unlike the original Switch you can't plug it into a dock and carry on playing on the telly.
On the Lite, the glass and display are handled together in this repair, so the price is the same either way.
Nintendo or an independent repair?
Nintendo's service is a reasonable option, and some people prefer the official route. Two things to weigh up:
- Price: £108 at Nintendo's cap against £75 here.
- Your console: Nintendo's price list says the maximum price applies when the item is swapped with a replacement or re-manufactured product. Save data lives on the console's internal storage, so a swapped console comes back without your saves unless you backed them up.
Nintendo also says a repair might take up to 10 working days. If you want a fuller comparison, I've written about Nintendo repair versus an independent repairer.
Back up before you post it
A screen repair shouldn't touch your saves. The storage stays in the console and I don't wipe anything. Still, any console going in the post is at some risk, so back up what you can first. If you have a Nintendo Switch Online membership, Save Data Cloud covers most games, though not every game supports it. My guide to backing up Switch save data before a repair walks through it, including what to do if the screen is too damaged to read.
Before packing it:
- Take out the game card and the microSD card.
- Charge it a little if you can, but don't worry if the screen won't show anything.
- Pack it well in a sturdy box. The booking confirmation email gives the address and packing guidance.
How it works
- Book and pay online.
- Post the console to me using the details in your confirmation email.
- I replace the screen, test it, and send it back insured and tracked.
Every repair comes with 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.
If your Lite has other problems as well, such as stick drift, see the Nintendo Switch repairs page for everything I do. If you've got an original Switch rather than a Lite, the Switch screen repair cost guide covers that model.
Frequently asked questions
Will I lose my games and saves?
A screen replacement doesn't involve the storage, and I don't reset or wipe the console. Your saves should be exactly where you left them. It's still sensible to back up anything you can before posting, because any parcel can be lost or damaged in transit.
Is it worth fixing a Switch Lite screen?
For most people, yes. The repair costs well under the price of a replacement console, and you keep your own console with its saves and settings. If the Lite has several other faults as well, get in touch first and I'll give you an honest view on whether it's worth it.
Can I keep using it with a cracked screen?
If the picture and touch still work, you can, but cracks tend to spread and loose glass can cut. Cover the crack with clear tape and avoid pressing on it. If you're seeing lines or black patches, the display itself is damaged and it's likely to get worse.
