Cartridge Save Battery Replacement

£20

No fix, no fee · 12-month warranty · Insured, tracked returns

Signs you need this repair

  • The game won't save, or your save is gone when you switch back on
  • A new game starts every time
  • Saves disappear after the console has been off for a while
  • A Game Boy Pokémon game has lost its save
  • The cartridge is decades old and you want to keep saving on it

Many older cartridges keep saves in memory powered by a small coin battery, often a CR2032 or CR2025. That includes Game Boy, Game Boy Color and SNES cartridges, and some N64 and Mega Drive games. When the battery dies, saves are lost and the game won't save. For £20, I open the cartridge, fit a new battery and test that it saves again before it goes back, insured and tracked. The replacement has a 12-month warranty.

Please read this before booking: replacing the battery clears the existing save unless it's backed up first. If the battery is already dead, the save has usually gone already. If the battery still holds a save you want to keep, it needs backing up before the swap. The guide to the Pokémon Game Boy save battery explains how this works on the games people most want to keep.

Game Boy Advance cartridges are different. Most don't need a battery to save at all. On Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald, the battery runs only the in-game clock. The message "The internal battery has run dry" means time-based events stop, but saving still works. Read what "the internal battery has run dry" means before booking a GBA game.

Some honest limits. A new battery fixes a game that won't save because the battery has died. It won't fix a cartridge with other faults, and if a game won't start at all, try it with clean contacts and in another console first. If I can't fix it, there's no fee: no fix, no fee. For consoles and other repairs, see the retro console repairs page.

Cartridge Save Battery Replacement

Frequently asked questions

Will I lose my save?
Replacing the battery clears the existing save unless it's backed up first. If the battery has already died, the save is usually already gone. If it still holds a save you care about, it needs backing up before the new battery goes in.
My Pokémon Ruby says "The internal battery has run dry". Will it still save?
Yes. On Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald, the battery runs only the clock. Time-based events stop, but saving still works.
Which games use a save battery?
Game Boy, Game Boy Color and SNES cartridges that save, plus some N64 and Mega Drive games. Most Game Boy Advance games don't need a battery to save.
What battery do you fit?
A new coin battery of the right type for the cartridge. Many use a CR2032 or CR2025.

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About this service

How does your mail-in repair service work?
Three steps: book and pay for your repair online, post your item to me using the packing instructions I email you, and I repair it, test it, and send it back tracked. You'll get updates as it moves through each stage.
What is your no-fix-no-fee promise?
Payment is taken upfront at booking. If I can't fix your item, there's no repair fee — I refund what you paid, less £4.99 return postage to send it back to you. Assessment bookings work differently: the £4.99 covers return postage and comes off the repair if you go ahead, but isn't refunded if you decide not to or it can't be repaired.
Do your repairs come with a warranty?
Yes. Every repair carries a 12-month workmanship warranty against the same fault returning. If it does, I'll put it right.
How long will my repair take?
Most repairs are completed within 3-6 working days of arrival, then posted back by tracked post. If a part needs ordering, I'll tell you as soon as I've diagnosed it and give you a realistic date. Diagnostic-led jobs take a little longer if I'm waiting on your approval of a quote.
How do I package my item safely to post it?
I send clear packing guidance when you book. In short: wrap the item well, use plenty of padding, and a sturdy box — the return leg is insured and tracked, and good packing on the way in protects your item too.
Where do I send my item?
Your postage address is included in the confirmation email after you book — you don't post anything until you've booked, so your item is always matched to your order.
Do you cover the whole UK?
Yes — I run a mail-in repair service, so you can send your item from anywhere in the UK. There's nothing local you need to find.
What if my item turns out to be unrepairable?
I'll tell you honestly and, where the fault allows, offer an alternative. If I can't fix it, there's no repair fee — I refund what you paid, less £4.99 return postage to send it back to you.