Nintendo Switch Game Card Reader How-To - Easy, unless the pins break
Вставка
- Опубліковано 7 вер 2024
- In this video I've made a guide of replacing a faulty game card reader on the Nintendo switch. The most common issue is damaged pins. The device will say it can't read the game. With a basic small screws toolkit and a replacement, this is an easy and straight-forward repair. The replacement part had a fault that made the repair go a step further than normal. I had to solder a new reader to the old board to rig a working PCB.
Parts:
iFixit Nintendo Switch Game Card Reader Repair Kit:
amzn.to/3RLELQy
Game Card Reader Only:
amzn.to/3RNbh4w
If you enjoy my content, please consider watching some of my videos for some long-format start to finish device repairs. I work on a number of different consumer electronics, and I'm working on making a series of how-to videos on repairing them.
Want more content? Maybe a specific device? Drop a line in the comments and let me know what you'd want to see, and if a broken one comes to my shop I might just make a video on it!
Tools:
Technik Tweezers (Almost the only kind I'd recommend)
amzn.to/3KPS6EB (out of stock? look below)
Hakko Tweezers (Made to last!)
amzn.to/3wRk6mI
Precision Screwdriver Set w/ Security Torx for consoles/phones
amzn.to/33SEPuV
Get my silicone work mat here:
amzn.to/3Cr7ofO
Curved Pry Tool (for separating adhesive):
amzn.to/3RSkWqt
Need something else? Leave a comment below with what tools you're looking for and I might just have a recommendation for you!
(Some links such as Amazon are affiliate links which support the channel, see the channel's About page for more information regarding affiliate links)
![[FATAL ERROR]: Switch Doesn't Read SD Cards | Can I FIX It?](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ON_UOAkQl00/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks so much, this was exactly what I needed. Old card reader with lego stuck inside has been removed, new card reader installed and working perfectly. Brilliant, thank you 👍
I fixed it!!! My 10 year old is ecstatic! Thank you!
Nice job! Way cheaper than replacing the whole thing, and now you've learned more about repairs in the process! I'm so glad it worked!
Thanks i used this video for a school project. I probably watched this video 15 times
That's awesome! That sounds like a great project, I hope your teachers agree!
Great video, huge help. Now I've got plenty of extra minecraft time because you made this simple, informative, and concise. Thankyou
Lucky, I want more Minecraft time. 😉 Glad it helped you out Benjamin!
how ironic, today i fixed a bent pin on my old switch so that i could be able to play minecraft. when minecraft arived, a pin broke off when i inserted minecraft in...
@@oneman2768 here goes Microsoft, attacking Nintendo as usual
This was super helpful and easy to follow. Thank you!
Thank you. Great video helped me get my boys Nintendo back going.
I'm so glad it helped!
Excellent video. Thanks
Thank you! I hope it helped or was at least entertaining!
Great Vid man thank you so much. Worked like a charm.
Yes! back in business 😎👍 Thanks for making this video.
You sir, are a master! Thank you for sharing!
I'm glad it was informative for you! Thanks for the great feedback!
Great and simple repair video. Easy to follow.
Thanks! Lately the game card readers I've been swapping are kind of hit and miss, they don't always work well. It seems to be a compatibility issue, and I've just been trying new card readers until getting one that works. Be sure the vendor you get them from has a good return policy!
@Monica Farmer-Hajduk hey Monica, I get a lot of my parts from Mobile Defenders, Mobile Sentrix, I've also found them on Injured Gadgets. Make sure you get the part that includes the board, unless you want to solder the game card reader on your own.
Thank you so much for a perfect step by step video 👍😃
Thank YOU for watching! I hope it helped!
Great video!
Great video very helpful thank you!
I like this video :)
I like this comment! Thanks!
hello mate i replaced my game card reader with the help of your vid around 8 months ago thanks for that. anyway it lasted 2 months i got another one today that never worked at all but with the after market card readers in the digitzer dont work but when i put the original part back in the digitzer works do you get this problem thanks dennis
Hey Dennis, in my experience it's a faulty card reader board. At one point I went through 3 just to find one that functioned. Until Nintendo supports Right to Repair and sells OEM parts, it's kind of a gamble if the ones you buy are good.
@@TapticDigital I've had the same issue with SD card readers for years. That one's awful because you can run so many more games on it including mods
Thank God its module at least.... but I've seen pins failn
Hey there! Thank you so much for this video, it's super helpful. I'm preparing to make this repair myself and had a few quick questions.
1. I have a launch model Switch. Is there a specific model part I should buy, and where should I get it?
2. Does the repair alter save data in any way?
Thank you!
Thanks! As long as the card reader you get is for your model, and not the Lite or OLED versions, it should work just fine. I have had a bad defect rate in the past, so buying two may be a good idea.
Zero impact on save data, all that should be on your SD card
@@TapticDigitalThanks again for the reply and video! I completed the repair, and thanks to your video, a friend's guidance, and a little help from the Lord, everything went smoothly and my data is intact. Woo hoo!
@@danielmyles2312 glad to hear it! On some repairs, a prayer is definitely one of the steps involved!
Thanks!
Oh also whare do you buy your parts in need the cartridge reader obviously and my sd card reader is acting up so should replace that as well and I need screwdriver set for switch
I cycle between a few vendors like Mobile Defenders, Mobile Sentrix, and Injured Gadgets, really whoever had the best price and return policy in case of a defect
My daughter ruined her card reader and this video is super helpful in the replacement of it, but what replacement reader do you recommend purchasing? TIA!
For the easiest replacement I would find one that has the reader already installed on the little board (unless you like to solder!). And I would recommend buying two to be safe, as sometimes they just don't work with the device, you can usually return the unused part. I usually get these parts from Mobile Defenders or Mobile Sentrix
@@TapticDigital thank you!! I’ll be back to tell you how it goes!
Your the man
Quick question; Repair looks great! My Switch is among one of the first batches, and I saw at the end of your video you had pin problems. What is the likely hood of this happening to me? The first part seems simple but if the pins break off, that's too much for me to deal with. Love the simple instructions!
Thanks so much! The probability of this is very unlikely. It may have been a poorly refurbished part. As with anything being mass-produced there are bound to be some faulty parts. Glad you enjoyed the video!
@@TapticDigital Thank you very much! Will definitely be using this tutorial later.
you saved me
Can you replace the foam on the copper heat pipe
Sure can, it's pretty generic single-sided foam tape, just really thin.
hey, would you recommend me buying the game card reader from mobile sentrix?
I like them as a vendor, they've been pretty reliable and have a good return policy
@@TapticDigital okay! i'll be purchasing one from them, thank you
Does anyone know if this works?
Yes. I can confirm it works after playing more Smash Bros than I should have during work hours.
Where do u get those tools to unscrew those screws
They are triwing bits, you can find them at most hardware stores. The kit I used came from Harbor Freight, it's a small "Precision Screwdriver Set" and included three sizes of them.
Is it possible to remove the Game Card Reader without hot air? I broke some pins with a faulty repaired game card :-D Ive got rosin, desoldering braid and a powerful station iron.
It is possible! The only thing actually holding the reader down are the solder joints. The four feet can be tricky, but then it should easily come out. Just make sure the data pins don't rip!
@@TapticDigital I made it, i was heating the solder joints and pushed them softly out and at the same time i used a desoldering pump. but the new reader isnt well designed, modules dont stay in. so much work for nothing. but solderskills +1 :-D
@@hemdvonlidl2613 A for effort! I should say I have about a 60% success rate with the readers, sometimes they just don't function at all.
@@TapticDigital I bought a complete V1 Reader, now it works.
@@hemdvonlidl2613 it's silly how many go bad, but I'm glad you got it working!
Can I buy the card reader from Ebay (seller from China) or you wouldn't recommend it?
You sure can, I've actually had pretty good luck with ebay stuff from China, it's just the long shipping time that's bothersome
Lmao I just picked up a switch for 100 bucks, don’t read the game cartridges and the kick stand is missing lol oh and the battery dies quick too. Thanks for the video!
Those are all pretty cheap fixes! If you do it yourself you'll probably spend less than $100 on parts. The most expensive of those is the card reader, but it's only about $30-$40. Glad this video helped!
@@TapticDigital very simple fixes! You gained a subscriber!
Where did you buy a card reader?
This one came from Mobile Defenders, you can also find them on MobileSentrix and others.
The yellow things in the game reader hole are twisted and one have snapped off what do I do 😭
Time to replace the card reader just like how this video shows!
@@TapticDigital how expensive is it?
@@isaners the parts themselves aren't too bad, around $50 for a reader and board combo. Most repair places will charge about $150 for the parts and labor involved.
I've done this repair on my son's switch, but now it's not only not reading the cards, but I'm not even getting the card reader error message. Any ideas?
Sounds like a bad card reader to be honest, or could have the pin issue I did
@@TapticDigital I was afraid of it being a bad reader that I got in lol. I just ordered another one to see if that works, if not then I'll find a place to take it lol. Thank you for the reply though, I appreciate it. Also, very good video. Very easy to follow along with 😁.
Same issue. Some suggested to me that the replacement card reader needs to be in serial with the digitizer S/N
What happens if the pins break?
They need to be pulled out and replaced with another part. It just makes for more work.
@@TapticDigital Does nintendo provide this service? i'm not good with pulling things like this apart and while i have friends to trust i dont even know how much nintendo may charge
@@superstardoughball9822 I believe Nintendo offers this as a service, as well as most independent and franchise repair shops like CPR and UBreakIFix. I will say this is one of the easier-to-get to parts for repair, and my issue with the pins breaking is NOT a common occurrence. Independent shops will usually charge about $99-$150, but I'm not sure what Nintendo offers, it's worth calling!
@@TapticDigital You are amazing I thank YOU! Last thing, out of those 3 (nintendo CPR UbreakIfix) who would you suggest :>
@@superstardoughball9822 I'd call Nintendo first to get a price for official work, but I've worked with CPR before and they are usually very reputable and have a good warranty. I don't have as much experience with UBreakIFix but they seem to put out good work.
How much does it cost for you to do this?
I believe the shop charges about $99-$129, I don't offer mail-in service just yet so definitely check around for some local repair shops. If all else fails, Google Shane Fix for mail-in! Sorry!
@@TapticDigital ok well could you plz tell me how much a new card reader is, and Y00 bit?
it won’t let me put back the reader
Can you explain a little more? What do you mean out back?
@@TapticDigital so i took the original reader out so i can fix my fan but when i try to put the lego piece back it just doesn’t go in the slot
@@dalestart3439 it's possible some of the pins from the old one broke off inside, check the old connector for missing teeth. Definitely don't try to force it, try to walk it into the connector. And be sure it's for the correct Switch, Lite uses a different one
@@TapticDigital i check for some missing teeth and i think some were missing and i tried putting it back on and the lego piece just snapped off the ribbon and now i’m scared there’s damage on the actual motherboard on the switch
@@dalestart3439 very unlikely, just like in my video the teeth will prevent a connector from going in. You'll have to remove them gently from the board connector with tweezers, and may need a different game card reader
Chris M rigseverything
Easyer to just buy the ones with the circuit board already
That's exactly what I did on this one, until those pins snapped and I had to go in manually. The board replacement is much easier, and more cost effective!
Funny minecraft is the game that broke my reader
That pesky Minecraft! Redstone may have influenced me a bit when learning to solder, now that I think about it.
I'm 13 I'm to stupid to do this 😭
You're not too stupid for anything! At 13 you are just starting out no matter what you're trying, and that's a fantastic place to be. You've got a blank book ready to be written, and you can do anything you set your mind to
What do i do if my pins break
At that point it's usually easiest to just replace the part. By the time you track down a replacement connector and go through the trouble of soldering it on, it's just not worth it. And trying to re-attach the pins is not a great idea.
Contact Nintendo and file a repair report
@@TapticDigital that’s what I did
@@girlfri3ndvsboyfri3nd6 my serial number is not eligible for repaire
@@MiiPlanet oh well the may be able to get you a discount