Nintendo Switch Game Card Reader How-To - Easy, unless the pins break
Рет қаралды 28,381
3 жыл бұрынIn 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)
@everydayjumblist 2 жыл бұрын
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 👍
@KidusYohannes 2 жыл бұрын
This was super helpful and easy to follow. Thank you!
@kingdomreachministries695 Жыл бұрын
Yes! back in business 😎👍 Thanks for making this video.
@billbo3590 2 жыл бұрын
Great Vid man thank you so much. Worked like a charm.
@fauxpro4561 2 жыл бұрын
Great video very helpful thank you!
@avorees 3 жыл бұрын
I fixed it!!! My 10 year old is ecstatic! Thank you!
@TapticDigital 3 жыл бұрын
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!
@jonathan1622 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks i used this video for a school project. I probably watched this video 15 times
@TapticDigital 2 жыл бұрын
That's awesome! That sounds like a great project, I hope your teachers agree!
@Monkey_11 2 жыл бұрын
Great video!
@PalmettoMoon 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for a perfect step by step video 👍😃
@TapticDigital 2 жыл бұрын
Thank YOU for watching! I hope it helped!
@zacyoho9235 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you. Great video helped me get my boys Nintendo back going.
@TapticDigital 2 жыл бұрын
I'm so glad it helped!
@benjaminrohrbacher9286 2 жыл бұрын
Great video, huge help. Now I've got plenty of extra minecraft time because you made this simple, informative, and concise. Thankyou
@TapticDigital 2 жыл бұрын
Lucky, I want more Minecraft time. 😉 Glad it helped you out Benjamin!
@oneman2768 2 жыл бұрын
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...
@TapticDigital 2 жыл бұрын
@@oneman2768 here goes Microsoft, attacking Nintendo as usual
@AlbertoLopez-lj8te 3 жыл бұрын
You sir, are a master! Thank you for sharing!
@TapticDigital 3 жыл бұрын
I'm glad it was informative for you! Thanks for the great feedback!
@audioalysis 3 жыл бұрын
Excellent video. Thanks
@TapticDigital 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you! I hope it helped or was at least entertaining!
@macrafy1976 3 жыл бұрын
Great and simple repair video. Easy to follow.
@TapticDigital 3 жыл бұрын
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!
@TapticDigital 3 жыл бұрын
@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.
@mattspurrell6572 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks!
@charliep726 2 жыл бұрын
Your the man
@mokitowastaken 3 жыл бұрын
you saved me
@Thehanged_man Жыл бұрын
I like this video :)
@TapticDigital Жыл бұрын
I like this comment! Thanks!
@geralsssfoogaa493 2 жыл бұрын
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!
@TapticDigital 2 жыл бұрын
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!
@geralsssfoogaa493 2 жыл бұрын
@@TapticDigital Thank you very much! Will definitely be using this tutorial later.
@eggdogtim8593 3 жыл бұрын
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
@TapticDigital 3 жыл бұрын
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
@dennis12879 2 жыл бұрын
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
@TapticDigital 2 жыл бұрын
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.
@Matanumi Ай бұрын
@@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
@danielmyles2312 Жыл бұрын
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!
@TapticDigital Жыл бұрын
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
@danielmyles2312 Жыл бұрын
@@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!
@TapticDigital Жыл бұрын
@@danielmyles2312 glad to hear it! On some repairs, a prayer is definitely one of the steps involved!
@jakestatefarm2153 3 жыл бұрын
Can you replace the foam on the copper heat pipe
@TapticDigital 3 жыл бұрын
Sure can, it's pretty generic single-sided foam tape, just really thin.
@toppesto8904 2 жыл бұрын
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!
@TapticDigital 2 жыл бұрын
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
@toppesto8904 2 жыл бұрын
@@TapticDigital thank you!! I’ll be back to tell you how it goes!
@yeatt3883 2 жыл бұрын
hey, would you recommend me buying the game card reader from mobile sentrix?
@TapticDigital 2 жыл бұрын
I like them as a vendor, they've been pretty reliable and have a good return policy
@yeatt3883 2 жыл бұрын
@@TapticDigital okay! i'll be purchasing one from them, thank you
@dawnwingsbam14 2 жыл бұрын
Where do u get those tools to unscrew those screws
@TapticDigital 2 жыл бұрын
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.
@TheRealKingShady 2 жыл бұрын
Where did you buy a card reader?
@TapticDigital 2 жыл бұрын
This one came from Mobile Defenders, you can also find them on MobileSentrix and others.
@hemdvonlidl2613 Жыл бұрын
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.
@TapticDigital Жыл бұрын
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!
@hemdvonlidl2613 Жыл бұрын
@@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
@TapticDigital Жыл бұрын
@@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.
@hemdvonlidl2613 Жыл бұрын
@@TapticDigital I bought a complete V1 Reader, now it works.
@TapticDigital Жыл бұрын
@@hemdvonlidl2613 it's silly how many go bad, but I'm glad you got it working!
@Caspian1423 3 жыл бұрын
Can I buy the card reader from Ebay (seller from China) or you wouldn't recommend it?
@TapticDigital 3 жыл бұрын
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
@Mrsubs-ze3ou 3 жыл бұрын
Does anyone know if this works?
@TapticDigital 3 жыл бұрын
Yes. I can confirm it works after playing more Smash Bros than I should have during work hours.
@HippyHouse 2 жыл бұрын
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!
@TapticDigital 2 жыл бұрын
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!
@HippyHouse 2 жыл бұрын
@@TapticDigital very simple fixes! You gained a subscriber!
@elijahrontale 3 жыл бұрын
Chris M rigseverything
@isaners 2 жыл бұрын
The yellow things in the game reader hole are twisted and one have snapped off what do I do 😭
@TapticDigital 2 жыл бұрын
Time to replace the card reader just like how this video shows!
@isaners 2 жыл бұрын
@@TapticDigital how expensive is it?
@TapticDigital 2 жыл бұрын
@@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.
@JIMWESTDG 2 жыл бұрын
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?
@TapticDigital 2 жыл бұрын
Sounds like a bad card reader to be honest, or could have the pin issue I did
@JIMWESTDG 2 жыл бұрын
@@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 😁.
@davidfisher8840 Ай бұрын
Same issue. Some suggested to me that the replacement card reader needs to be in serial with the digitizer S/N
@Projekt_Nightmare 2 жыл бұрын
How much does it cost for you to do this?
@TapticDigital 2 жыл бұрын
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!
@Projekt_Nightmare 2 жыл бұрын
@@TapticDigital ok well could you plz tell me how much a new card reader is, and Y00 bit?
@eggdogtim8593 3 жыл бұрын
Funny minecraft is the game that broke my reader
@TapticDigital 3 жыл бұрын
That pesky Minecraft! Redstone may have influenced me a bit when learning to solder, now that I think about it.
@shaunnys1973 2 жыл бұрын
Easyer to just buy the ones with the circuit board already
@TapticDigital 2 жыл бұрын
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!
@superstardoughball9822 2 жыл бұрын
What happens if the pins break?
@TapticDigital 2 жыл бұрын
They need to be pulled out and replaced with another part. It just makes for more work.
@superstardoughball9822 2 жыл бұрын
@@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
@TapticDigital 2 жыл бұрын
@@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!
@superstardoughball9822 2 жыл бұрын
@@TapticDigital You are amazing I thank YOU! Last thing, out of those 3 (nintendo CPR UbreakIfix) who would you suggest :>
@TapticDigital 2 жыл бұрын
@@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.
@dalestart3439 Жыл бұрын
it won’t let me put back the reader
@TapticDigital Жыл бұрын
Can you explain a little more? What do you mean out back?
@dalestart3439 Жыл бұрын
@@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
@TapticDigital Жыл бұрын
@@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
@dalestart3439 Жыл бұрын
@@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
@TapticDigital Жыл бұрын
@@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
@MiiPlanet 3 жыл бұрын
What do i do if my pins break
@TapticDigital 3 жыл бұрын
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.
@girlfri3ndvsboyfri3nd6 3 жыл бұрын
Contact Nintendo and file a repair report
@girlfri3ndvsboyfri3nd6 3 жыл бұрын
@@TapticDigital that’s what I did
@MiiPlanet 3 жыл бұрын
@@girlfri3ndvsboyfri3nd6 my serial number is not eligible for repaire
@girlfri3ndvsboyfri3nd6 3 жыл бұрын
@@MiiPlanet oh well the may be able to get you a discount
@jORGEzsz Жыл бұрын
I'm 13 I'm to stupid to do this 😭
@TapticDigital Жыл бұрын
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
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