DIY Switch Lite Shell Swap: Step by Step Tutorial [4K]

Animal Crossing Switch Lite mod:

Time codes:
1. Tear down: (1:36)
2. Transplant the screen (7:14)
3. Rebuild (8:46)

[bearytown]

Timestamps for ALL SCREWS

Just taking some personal timestamp notes for the screws! Kinda messy notes since they were for myself but if you can figure them out I hope it helps!

TOTAL SCREWS: 48 (to keep track)

1:47 - x 4 Back Screws - x2 Top Screws - x 2 Bottom Screws

2:25 - x3 Silver x1 Gold Shield Screws


3:03 - x3 Copper Heat Pipe Screws

3:25 - x7 Game Card & Audio Screws

3:44 - x3 Black Fan Screws

4:07 - x2 Gold ZL - x2 Gold ZR

5:06 - x1 Gold Left Speaker - x1 Gold Right Speaker

5:39 - x2 Gold Left Board - x2 Gold Main Board (SAME SIZE & COLOR)


5:53 - x2 Long Silver Midframe

6:05 - x3 'Board Screws' (SAME SIZE)

6:36 - x2 Joystick Left - x2 Joystick Right

6:58 - x1 Long Silver Midframe - x3 Smaller Midframe (LAST SCREWS!)

[AuthenticGadzooks]

As a PC repair tech, I can say that this tutorial was spot-on. Lots of useful tips and warnings that inexperienced users might not consider.

[EricaGriffin]

I have not disappeared. I have been switching gears and working on longer term projects. A change of pace was needed and there is so much more I want to learn and do. Technology is SO MUCH MORE than reviewing only smartphones.

[jfn]

Lol dang I thought all I had to do was just remove the shell

[xeienar]

I just did a shell replacement following this. Some advices:
1: you don't have to disconnect the battery. The little cables that goes to the connector are VERY fragile. They break very easily and if you do like in this vid (unpluging it by pushing out the cables) you will break it for sure. Just make sure that you power off the switch COMPLETELY. Do not dissassemble if you have your system in wait mode or you may fry the motherboard.
2: the same goes to the speakers. You don't have to unplug them. They are EXTREMELY fragile and breaking the cables is very easy. Just handle the board with extra care, but do not unplug them.
3: the new shell should not use the original screws. Use the ones that come with the new shell, as you may crack the shell otherwise like erica said.
4: do not place the hair dryer for a WHOLE minute while it's on hot. Just a couple seconds its okay. You may damage the digitizer and the LCD if it is very hot. Remember that you only need to heat the adhesive, not the LCD.
5: it is not necessary to replace the thermal paste if its in a good condition, but it's always a good idea. The switch lite does not overheat that much either.

[victorreyes]

I would recommend making a video on how to fix the joy con drift! There may be lots of videos out there that relate to that topic, but you explain things so well in 4K. Plus you’re awesome!

[middy]

Kinda wish I had a switch. Although even if i did I'd never trust myself enough to do something like this

[LyonClips]

Never seen anyone anywhere do a video so crisp and clean with explanations and tutorials and step by step!! I love you ❤️

[GlitzGangg]

I’ve watched a ton of videos on shell swaps and this is my favorite! Very clear and straightforward! Easy to understand! Will be using this video if I swap shells!

[dragoniraflameblade]

"Oh, cool, I can do that. At your own risk? Surely you can't be removing tiny parts...?"
Starts removing tiny parts.
"I can't watch, it's stressing me out! I'll settle for decal stickers!"
My hands shake and jerk, so precision work+ tiny parts isn't for me.

[simonw]

I don't comment much on videos, but this was the best case tutorial I have seen so had to compliment you. Clear visuals, concise commentry with no unnecessary waffle. I wish all tutorials were as good as this.

[QuietMisdreavus]

Just followed this tutorial for one of the ExtremeRate shells. Thank you so much! The way you talked through every step and showed off all the screws and ribbon cables with close-ups was extremely useful.

[ThePonDePon]

I have seen multiple videos on how to do this and your video is the first one I've seen that recommends heating the screen, everyone else just rips off the screen which made me anxious but your way of doing it gives me confidence to try this

[braydenisstillhere]

Thank you for this tutorial! Atomic purple was the color of my first ever game boy color I first got back in 1999 and it will forever be my favorite colorway!

[_____________a_a]

This video makes me wanna buy used and/or broken switch lites and re-build them. It was a really good tutorial. I had no idea THERE WOULD BE A THOUSAND SCREWS.

[RedneckOgre]

"prone to stress fractures" 4 words that equal no sale for me.

[explodedrainbow]

I don't trust me to do this but it looks so cool 🤣

[Linkophere]

This doesn't look TOO hard. Just of steps but holy hell is this a 5 hour project easily. God damn

[metatwo]

This is by far one of the best tutorials. For anyone watching one thing I would change:

After you tested it on please unplug the battery as shown on the video description

[KDJewl]

Thank you so much for this video, Erica. I reshelled a Switch Lite last night for a friend of mine and it turned out impeccably thanks to your excellent breakdown of the process. I can't thank you enough! Now I wanna buy one to do for myself haha