The original Switch Joy-Con replaceable battery design arrived in revised first-generation controllers in 2026. Look for AX at the start of the left Joy-Con serial number or AW on the right. Older controllers begin with XB and XC, respectively. Those prefixes are the quickest way to tell which battery design you have without taking anything apart.
Nintendo is bringing the revised hardware to selected European colours in stages. For an original Switch Joy-Con replaceable battery model, the colour alone is no proof of what’s inside. You can identify the correct version through the serial, printed model number, screw heads and original box. This guide keeps the older Switch Joy-Con separate from Joy-Con 2, which uses an entirely different design.
How to identify the original Switch Joy-Con replaceable battery
On a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 where the controller is paired, select System Settings > System > Serial Number from the HOME Menu. Find the controller serial rather than the console number. Compare its first two characters with Nintendo’s official list. Left and right units have different prefixes, so check each one separately rather than assuming a pair was manufactured together.
| Controller | Revised, replaceable | Earlier battery |
|---|---|---|
| Original left Joy-Con | HAC-015(-01), AX serial | HAC-015, XB serial |
| Original right Joy-Con | HAC-016(-01), AW serial | HAC-016, XC serial |
To identify an original Switch Joy-Con replaceable battery model, look for its small model marking near the rail. The revised left model is HAC-015(-01); the revised right model is HAC-016(-01). Earlier HAC-015 and HAC-016 units do not have that suffix. A second-hand pair may contain one revised and one older controller, so inspect both before ordering any battery replacement parts.
Check the screws and packaging before buying
Nintendo’s revised Joy-Con use four Phillips cross-head screws on the rear housing. Older units use Y-head screws. You do not need to loosen them to check their shape. If you still have the packaging, look at the Contents section on the back: Nintendo lists HAC-015(-01) and HAC-016(-01) for the revised controllers. A retailer’s generic product photo is not enough to establish which version will arrive.
If the serial and model information are difficult to read, use Nintendo’s identification page and compare all the visible clues. Avoid a battery-replacement tutorial meant for the wrong model. The original Switch Joy-Con replaceable battery change concerns the internal battery and service procedure, not a new style of attachment or a different controller layout.
When was the original Switch Joy-Con replaceable battery introduced?
Nintendo began rolling out selected revised Joy-Con colours in Europe from 16 July 2026, with different colours arriving at different times. Nintendo says the new design retains the previous battery capacity and controller weight. It is a change to make batteries user-replaceable, not a claim of longer battery life or faster charging.
Original Switch-family hardware sales on Nintendo Store are due to end in mid-February 2027. That statement does not give every revised colour a confirmed UK stock date, and it does not mean existing Joy-Con stop functioning. See our Nintendo Switch sales ending guide for what that date covers.
Original Switch Joy-Con replaceable battery: can you replace it yourself?
Nintendo has published separate instructions for left HAC-015(-01) and right HAC-016(-01) controllers. Both refer to replacement battery HAC-006(-01) and the matching Nintendo kit. Follow Nintendo’s procedure for the exact controller model, including its safety warnings, rather than treating an old Joy-Con as if it had the same replaceable construction.
Nintendo’s official support material describes the replacement kit as becoming available through Nintendo Store in the future. It does not establish a guaranteed UK price or stock date. If your controller is the earlier non-user-replaceable type, do not use the new instructions as a shortcut. Nintendo provides servicing information for older products separately.
Original Switch Joy-Con replaceable battery: does it work with Switch 2?
Yes, the original Joy-Con can pair wirelessly with Switch 2. It cannot attach to the newer console’s magnetic connectors or recharge there. The revised battery does not change that compatibility rule. You still need your original Switch or a compatible charging accessory to recharge the older controller while using it with Switch 2.
An original Switch Joy-Con replaceable battery model is not a Joy-Con 2 controller. Joy-Con 2 has different BEE identifiers and connects magnetically. If you have the new controllers instead, use our Joy-Con 2 replaceable battery model guide to find the correct serial numbers and product codes.
Related Guides
Official source: Nintendo Joy-Con battery identification guide.
