How to change a Game Boy Color shell

It's always best to start with a thorough inspection. Look for any damage and take note of missing screws. Be careful when inspecting the battery compartment. It's common to find handhelds in storage with batteries inside. This can lead to corrosion and damage the Game Boy Color. If you do find battery damage, all hope isn't lost. Visit our guide on cleaning Game Boy battery contacts for a few tips.

Power off the Game Boy Color and remove the batteries. The Game Boy Color is held together using proprietary screws. You will need a small tri-wing screwdriver to remove them. There are 6 screws total during this step.

Once the shell halves are detached, you need to remove the internal components. The motherboard is held to the front shell casing with 3 Phillips screws. You will need to remove them to pull the motherboard out.

Keep track of the smaller accessories. This includes:

• A/B buttons
• D-pad
• Start/select buttons
• Power switch
• Small black shield

Carefully place the buttons, switch, and shield into the new shell casing. This is the best opportunity to clean the Game Boy Color screen with a microfiber cloth. Don't forget to clean the inside of the new screen cover. When you’re ready, place the motherboard into the front shell casing. Using a Phillips head screwdriver, attach the motherboard to the new shell.

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Press the two halves together. The biggest obstacle you'll find is wedging the battery plates into place. Once they're together, the shell can be screwed together. Using the tri-wing screwdriver, attach the shell using the 6 tri-wing screws.

Congratulations! Your hard work has paid off. Pop in a fresh set of AA batteries and find your favorite game. If everything was assembled correctly, your Game Boy Color is ready for new adventures with a brand new shell. Nice work!