Right Joy-Con Teardown

Written By: Josh Yacktman

Published: 06/03/25

Comments: 0

Right Joy-Con Teardown

Published: 06/03/25

Teardown

Introduction

This guide aims to show how to completely disassemble your right joycon without hurting any parts. This disassembly is more difficult than the right joycon due to the additional IR sensor, Bluetooth antenna, and NFC reader.

In this guide I refer frequently to the iFixit Phillips PH000 which is designed to work with JIS screws. The screws in the Nintendo Joy Con are, if I understand it correctly, JIS screws which iFixit sells drivers for separately as well.

Tools

Step 1

Remove the four Tri-Point Y00 screws
Remember to organize your screws as the joycon uses many differently sized screws

Step 2

To separate the shell halves there are two options:
1. Use an opening pick and insert it between the IR sensor and the other half carefully prying them apart
2. Push up on the rail towards the shell halve not attached to the IR sensor
With the shell halves separated, carefully put the side with the rail next to the other half
There are two ribbon cables connecting the half with the rail to the other side

Step 3

Next, carefully disconnect the battery from the joycon using the spudger

Step 4

With the battery disconnected, disconnect the bluetooth antenna and pull it out of its compartment carefully

Step 5

Using an opening pick or the flat side of the spudger, pry up the battery from beneath it.
There is some light adhesive holding down the battery which may require some force to overcome
Take care not to puncture the battery. Try prying up the battery from one side and using the angle to pull it off the adhesive. If this does not work, use some isopropyl alcohol to soften the adhesive

Step 6

Insert the flat side of the spudger or the opening pick between the ZR button and the upper bracket. Lift up on the ZR button until the clips disengage and you can carefully remove it.
There are springs beneath the ZR trigger. Make sure to disengage the clips and remove the button carefully and slowly as the two marked springs will want to fly out

Step 7

Carefully remove the two springs

Step 8

Using a Phillips PH000 screwdriver, remove the screw holding down the flex cable and button
Lift up the flex cable and button board using the spudger to disconnect it from the bracket

Step 9

Remove the three Phillips PH000 screws holding down the upper bracket and pull the bracket off the motherboard
Make sure not to hurt the free ZR trigger button flex cable as you pull up the bracket

Step 10

Flip up the ZIF connector lock holding in the ZR trigger button cable with the tip of the spudger and remove the flex cable

Step 11

Flip up the ZIF connector locks holding in the rail ribbon cables and remove the flex cables

Step 12

Working on the charging rail, remove the two Phillips PH000 screws holding down the buttons
Though there are three holes on the joy con rail, only two are used for screws

Step 13

Remove the rubber button backings and the plastic buttons

Step 14

Remove the Phillips PH000 screw holding the rail to the back shell

Step 15

Remove the last Phillips PH000 screw in the rail holding down the buckle lock
While I was unable to remove my buckle lock successfully, there is an official iFixit guide for removing it worth checking out:
Joy-Con Buckle Lock Replacement

Step 16

Concluding our time with the rail, remove the lock button from the shell

Step 17

Carefully remove the R trigger button by pulling it up and out of the upper chassis
Be wary of the spring here and ensure it does not fly off into the abyss

Step 18

Flip the ZIF connector for the joystick and pull out the cable
Note for reassembly: this is tricky to get back in, notice the angle the ribbon cable is at and attempt to get the same angle as you prepare to reinsert the cable into the ZIF connector

Step 19

Remove the two Phillips PH000 screws holding down the joystick

Step 20

Remove the joystick carefully
Do not pull out the joystick quickly or with extreme force! There is a liner underneath the joystick that it will likely get caught on which protects the internals from dust and debris. Wiggle out the joystick carefully lining up the joystick center to the liner and using light force

Step 21

Carefully remove the joystick liner by pulling up on it with tweezers and lightly pulling on the sections adhered to the upper chassis
One of the adhered sections is under the motherboard of this controller so be patient removing the liner
Note for reassembly: Try reattaching this when the mainboard is not connected as it it difficult to get one of the adhered sections under the mainboard

Step 22

Flip up one of the ZIF connectors (I will not be responding to messages at this time regarding the allegation I forgot to disconnect the second cable until later on)
Note for reassembly: These two ZIF connectors should be connected before screwing back in the mainboard as it is a royal pain to line up the cables and connectors when screwed on

Step 23

Remove the rumble pack by prying up on the corner next to where the rail once was with a spudger. Once out of its socket, use tweezers to pull the cable connector out of the socket. It is inserted quite firmly so be careful not to hurt the cable and use your fingernails if needed
There is some mild adhesive holding down the rumble pack so take care not to damage the rumble pack. Additionally, do not remove it fast enough to hurt one of its connecting cables if it suddenly breaks free

Step 24

Carefully pull the IR sensor out of its socket making sure not to tear the ribbon cable connected to its button

Step 25

Remove the final two Phillips PH000 holding down the motherboard

Step 26

Flip the final ZIF connector, detach both cables, and remove the motherboard (again, as I mentioned in step 22, I am not responding to any allegations regarding forgetting to flip this ZIF cable earlier)

Step 27

Carefully remove the IR sensor
The ribbon cable is lightly adhered to the chassis of the controller so make sure not to use excessive force or tear it

Step 28

Remove the adhered NFC reader by prying up on an edge carefully and pulling up on other areas until it can be safely removed (marked is the corner I pulled up from)
The wires on the NFC reader (while insulated) are not protected from poor attempts to lift up this piece. Use your eyes, good judgement, and great care not to damage this component