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Repair guide

Replace the save battery in a Game Boy, Game Boy Color or GBA cartridge

Saving games use a small coin cell on the cartridge board. When it dies, saves are lost, so swap it before it does.

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Battery · Medium · about 30 minutes. Try it, but check first. This will not fix every machine, so read the sources first.

You are in the right place if: A game starts a new file every time, or your progress vanishes after switching off.

Before you start

  • Do not solder directly to a bare lithium cell for long.
  • If there is leakage, clean it with the ConsoleMods process before fitting a new cell.

Board revisions and models

Cell type varies by game, so check your own cartridge. I did not find a source listing sizes per game, so treat that as unconfirmed.

Parts you may need

  • Coin cell with solder tabs. check the size on your old cell Amazon · eBay
  • Coin cell holder. alternative Amazon · eBay

Tools

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Step by step

  1. Confirm the game has a battery Open it and look for a coin cell on the board, or check the game's title against a list of battery games.
  2. Back up the save if you can A cartridge reader lets you copy it. Otherwise assume the save may be lost during the swap.
  3. Open the cartridge Use the correct security bit for the shell.
  4. Photograph the battery and tabs Note which way it faces.
  5. Read the battery type Cell sizes vary between games. Check what is printed on yours, and replace like with like.
  6. Remove the old cell Snip or desolder the tabs. Clean any leakage.
  7. Fit the new cell Solder a battery with tabs, or a holder, with a quick touch of the iron.
  8. Test the save Start the game, save, power off and on again.

Tips, tales and maybes

Found in write-ups and forum threads. These are other people's reports, not tested by us.

  • Maybe (Low confidence). Common cell sizes include CR2025 and CR2032, but check yours. This is general knowledge, not from a fetched source. General technique, no source.
  • Tip (Medium confidence). Leaked batteries should be neutralised, scrubbed, dried and tested for continuity per ConsoleMods. Source

Guides we used

We wrote the steps in our own words from these. They have the photos and the full detail, so please read them and support their authors.

Boards and models vary, so check what is in front of you. A repair can involve hot tools, chemicals and, on some machines, dangerous voltages. You do it at your own risk.

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