What's the best kit to buy to open the Switch?

[unpatchedswitch]

Hi so far I've wasted my money on 3 different screwdrivers on ebay to try to open the Y shaped screws on the back of the switch and I'm tearing my hair out. These tiny, crappy screwdrivers on ebay just aren't fit for purpose and I'm wasting my money on buying these pieces of junk!

Can someone recommend a proper kit that they've used themselves to get the screws off?

Preferably something off amazon (UK) so if it doesn't work I can at least return it and get my money back. When I search on amazon there's too many to choose from and I don't want to end up with another cheaply made piece of tat that will never in a million years remove the Y screws.

Lastly, just to pre-empt any potential comments that the screws might be stripped,... I have two switch consoles I intend to open. I've only been using the the aforementioned cheapo screwdrivers on the first console and the heads still look in good condition. The second console hasn't yet been touched by a screwdriver so the screws are as good as new as they've never been tampered with.

 

[tmnr1992]

You can try the iFixit Moray set, I used it to open a Wii U and a GameCube and the bits seem to be made of fairly sturdy metal.

https://www.amazon.com/iFixit-Moray...e&keywords=ifixit+moray&qid=1729645502&sr=8-1

 

[hippy dave]

I can second iFixit for quality, I've got a bigger set with a different silly name and they're really well made plus have a lifetime warranty.

 

[CMDreamer]

Even if using expensive tools, if you don't know how to use them properly you will rip the screws.

I would never buy ifixit overpriced tools, but that's just my own decision. I haven't needed very expensive tools to pry open my Switch Lite.

And "best" has a very relative meaning.

 

[tmnr1992]

Even if using expensive tools, if you don't know how to use them properly you will rip the screws.

I would never buy ifixit overpriced tools, but that's just my own decision. I haven't needed very expensive tools to pry open my Switch Lite.

And "best" has a very relative meaning.

At 20 dollars for 32 bits it's hardly overpriced, but as long as it's not the absolute cheapest one it should be fine.

 

[randy_w]

I've been using a $20 generic aliexpress set for 5 years, comes with flat/square/triwing/phillips/torx/security torx/hex bits, worked pretty well for all console i owned/worked on, including gbc/3ds/psp/psv/ps2/ps3/ps4/360/wii/wii u/switch. Build quality is also pretty good, used the flat head to pry off x clamps on 360 all the time and it's not even bent a single bit. Not all ebay/aliexpress ones are junk just fyi

 

[thesjaakspoiler]

But to be serious, it's always a bit of a gamble what you get from Ali/Amazon.
Some free drivers I got lasted longer than the bits in such sets.
Of course if you are willing to pay $20 for a Wera, Anex or SwissTools driver,
then you get something that will survive even the worst abuse.

Sometimes the problem isn't the driver but a screw that is completely stuck.
Maybe you had the bad luck to encounter such a screw.
They either wreck the bit or the plastic.

 

[unpatchedswitch]

Thanks for the replies. In the event I do manage to prise it open, would you recommend putting the same screws back in it when I seal it back up. Or could anybody recommend a similar sized screw to put into it?

Thanks

 

[tmnr1992]

Thanks for the replies. In the event I do manage to prise it open, would you recommend putting the same screws back in it when I seal it back up. Or could anybody recommend a similar sized screw to put into it?

Thanks

I would use the same screws unless any of them got lost or stripped.