Not every Joy-Con customization requires a full shell swap. Every eXtremeRate shell kit includes a complete replacement button set — face buttons, triggers, bumpers, D-Pad or directional buttons, joystick caps, and rail release button. If your current shells are fine but the buttons are worn, discolored, or you just want a color accent, a button-only swap gets the job done at a fraction of the effort.
What Buttons Can Be Replaced
| Button | Location | Swap Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| ABXY face buttons (right Joy-Con) | Front face | Easy — drop in during shell swap |
| Directional buttons / D-Pad (left Joy-Con) | Front face | Easy — drop in (D-Pad requires membrane alignment) |
| SL / SR buttons | Side rail | Easy — snap fit |
| ZL / ZR triggers | Top shoulder | Moderate — spring must be correctly positioned |
| L / R bumpers | Top shoulder | Easy — clip in |
| Joystick caps | Center front | Varies — some press-fit, some require adhesive |
| Plus (+) / Minus (-) | Front face | Easy — drop in |
| Home / Capture buttons | Front face | Easy — drop in |
Why Swap Just the Buttons
Worn button surfaces. After years of use, Joy-Con buttons develop smooth, shiny spots where thumb contact has worn through the matte texture. New buttons restore the original tactile feel.
Color accents without a full reshell. Replacing only the buttons creates a two-tone look: original shell color with contrasting button colors. This is especially effective with bright or themed button sets against stock gray or black shells.
Salvaging a partial kit. If you bought a shell kit but only need the buttons (perhaps you scratched a shell during installation and reverted), the included button set still works with your existing shells.
How Button Swaps Work During a Shell Swap
Buttons are replaced as part of the shell swap process — they’re not a separate procedure. When you open the Joy-Con to swap the shell, the buttons are loose between the shell and the circuit board. You simply place the new buttons into the new shell before reassembly.
The process from the complete shell replacement guide applies. The button swap happens at Step 4 (reassembly): instead of placing the original buttons into the new shell, place the replacement buttons.
Button Colors Available in ModZone Shell Kits
Every shell kit includes a matching button set. The button colors you can get depend on which kit you purchase:
| Shell Kit | Button Colors Included | Price |
|---|---|---|
| White | White buttons | $18.99 |
| Glacier Blue D-Pad | Matching blue buttons + D-Pad | $19.30 |
| Clear Black | Smoke-tinted transparent buttons | $21.44 |
| Chameleon Purple Blue | Matching chameleon buttons | $23.97 |
| SNES Classic EU | Multicolored SNES-style buttons | $25.23 |
| Cherry Blossoms Pink D-Pad | Matching pink buttons + D-Pad | $33.99 |
Mix-and-match opportunity: Buy two different kits to create custom button combinations. For example, use the SNES multicolored buttons in a Clear Black shell for a retro-meets-modern look. The buttons are physically interchangeable across all eXtremeRate kits.
Trigger Spring Warning
The ZL and ZR trigger buttons include a small spring that provides the return force. During a button swap, this spring can pop out and get lost. Before removing the triggers, note the spring’s position. When installing the new triggers, ensure the spring sits in its guide channel before pressing the trigger into place.
If a trigger feels stuck or has no return spring after reassembly, the spring is either missing or mispositioned. See 7 Common Problems When Installing Custom Shells for the trigger spring fix.
FAQ
Can I buy just buttons without a shell?
ModZone sells complete shell kits that include buttons. Standalone button-only sets are not currently sold separately. However, if you only need the buttons, the shell kit still provides them — you can keep the unused shells as spares.
Do replacement buttons feel different from stock Nintendo buttons?
Slightly. eXtremeRate buttons use ABS plastic with marginally different surface texture than Nintendo’s OEM parts. The click feel is very close but not identical — experienced users may notice a slightly different tactile response. For most players, the difference is imperceptible during gameplay.
Can I use buttons from one kit with shells from another?
Yes. All eXtremeRate Joy-Con buttons are dimensionally identical across kits. White buttons in a Clear Black shell, SNES colored buttons in a Chameleon shell — any combination works mechanically.
Do I need to recalibrate after a button swap?
Buttons don’t require calibration — they’re binary inputs (pressed or not pressed). Only joystick swaps require recalibration through System Settings → Controllers and Sensors → Calibrate Control Sticks.