A Game Boy cartridge with a failing save battery may lose saves or retain them only intermittently. Many original Game Boy cartridges use a 3 V CR2025, but Game Boy-family boards also use CR1616 and CR2032 cells, so check the designation printed on your cartridge board before buying. Replacing it requires a 3.8 mm security bit and soldering; back up any save you want to keep because removing the old cell can erase it.
Which battery does a Game Boy cartridge use?
There is no single battery size for every Game Boy-family cartridge. The iFixit guide for an original Game Boy cartridge identifies a 3 V CR2025 (iFixit’s Game Boy cartridge replacement guide). Game Boy Resource documents CR1616, CR2025, and CR2032 cells across the family; CR1616 is common on many cartridges, while CR2025 appears on notable exceptions (Game Boy Resource battery information).
Before ordering, open the cartridge and check the battery marking and the board’s footprint. Match both the cell size and polarity. A product listing may describe a battery as compatible with select Game Boy or Game Boy Color cartridges, but that does not establish compatibility with every cartridge.
Use a cell with welded tabs
Buy a coin cell with welded solder tabs in the matching size. An ordinary loose coin cell is not the documented drop-in replacement: the cartridge board is designed for a tabbed cell that can be soldered in place. A CR2025 product page specifies 3 V and solder-tab installation for select Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges (iFixit CR2025 battery listing).
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#1 Best Overall
- GAMEBOY GAME-SAVER: Mart Cobra's CR2025 batteries keep your Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges saving progress again. Replace the old battery and continue your favorite classic adventures without losing saved data.
- PREMIUM QUALITY: Our CR 2025 3v lithium coin batteries are 20 x 2.5 mm and weigh about 2.0 grams per coin battery. With a long-lasting performance, our batteries stayed charged longer losing less than 3% per year when kept at room temperature.
- AFFORDABLE POWER: Get a 10-pack of CR2025 batteries with solder tabs for under $10. Save up to 10 games! Ideal for GameBoy cartridge replacements, ensuring long-lasting game saves. Our 3v lithium batteries keep games charged!
- EASY INSTALLATION: Use a 3.8 mm screwdriver to open the GameBoy cartridge. Carefully remove the old battery. Insert a new CR2025 tabbed battery in the right orientation. Solder the tabs. Close the cartridge and test by saving your game progress.
- HIGH-PERFORMANCE CHOICE: Opt for our 10-pack of CR2025 batteries, the ultimate power source for your gaming needs. Perfect for GameBoy cartridges, GameCube memory, and more. Reliable 3V lithium round batteries designed for long-lasting use
Will replacing the battery erase the save?
It can. The cartridge’s save memory depends on battery power, and removing the old battery may interrupt that power long enough to erase the existing save. If the game still loads a save you want to keep, dump or back it up before starting when possible. A replacement battery helps retain future saves; it does not recover data already erased.
What you need before opening the cartridge
- A 3.8 mm game-bit or security-bit screwdriver for the cartridge screw.
- A matching-size coin cell with welded solder tabs.
- A soldering iron and solder, plus desoldering braid and flux as needed.
- Tweezers and a multimeter with voltage measurement.
- A clean, heat-resistant work surface and a way to record the original battery orientation, such as a clear photo.
The Nintendo Repair Hut installation guide also lists a tabbed CR2025, soldering iron, solder, soldering braid, and 3.8 mm security bit among its supplies (Nintendo Repair Hut installation guide).
Rank #2
- BATTERIES AND TOOLS SEPARATELY PACKED IN A SEALED PACK: Tabbed CR2025 Batteries 10-pack with 3.8mm, 4.5mm Security Bits and Triwing Screwdriver Set.
- GAMEBOY CARTRIDGE BATTERY REPLACEMENT: These batteries are the perfect replacement for most of your Gameboy and Gameboy Color (GBC) Games.
- POKEMON GAMEBOY GAME BATTERY REPLACEMENT: Pokemon Games including but not limited to Pokemon Yellow, Pokemon Crystal, Pokemon HeartGold, Pokemon Soul Silver, Pokemon Gold and More!
- SOLDER TAB BUTTON CELL BATTERY: Perfect for replacing batteries without the need to add any solder tabs, makes replacing save battery in your games fast and easy
- WORKING BATTERIES GUARANTEE: All Batteries are packaged separately, so no batteries will be dead on arrival. If any batteries arrive dead, please contact us for a free replacement!
How to replace the battery
- Back up the save, if possible. Confirm you can still access the save and make a backup before disconnecting the battery.
- Open the cartridge. Remove the security screw with a 3.8 mm game-bit, slide the shell open, and take out the board.
- Record the original orientation. Photograph or mark the old battery’s tab placement and polarity, and note the board’s positive and negative markings.
- Remove the old cell. Heat each solder joint briefly and lift the tab with tweezers. Avoid prolonged heat on the board. Use desoldering braid and flux as needed to clear excess solder.
- Fit the replacement. Confirm its size matches the original and align its positive and negative sides with the board markings.
- Solder the tabs. Secure both tabs to the board. The iFixit procedure advises placing the replacement tabs onto the heated solder and checking that the cell is secure; avoid bridging adjacent contacts.
- Check the installation. With the multimeter in voltage mode, check the installed cell’s voltage and polarity against the battery markings. Inspect the joints for a secure connection and any solder bridges.
- Reassemble. Clean residual flux, return the board to the shell, slide the case closed, and reinstall the screw.
When to stop or troubleshoot
If you do not have electronics soldering experience, consider using a repair service. The procedure involves soldering near cartridge contacts, and ConsoleMods warns that the work can carry a shorting risk (ConsoleMods battery replacement guidance).
If the cartridge still will not retain saves after replacement, check the battery’s polarity, the solder joints, board corrosion, and cartridge contacts before concluding that the new cell is defective. A correctly measuring cell does not by itself confirm that the board connections or save circuitry are working.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- RTB CR2025 batteries are designed to last long. Enjoy long CR 2025 lithium 3V coin battery life without worry. Use this time with pleasure.
- Cell Battery with Solder Tabs: Excellent for battery replacements that don't require extra solder tabs, ensuring a swift and effortless battery swap in your games.
- CR2025 lithium battery is designed to withstand extreme temperatures, whether hot or cold. Battery CR 2025 3V lithium cell robust construction makes it resistant to vibration and impact, ensuring it can withstand the rigours of daily use.
- Doube-end portable design of Gamebit Screwdriver compatible with original NES Nintendo game cartridge, Super Nintendo game cartridge, Nintendo 64 game cartridge, Original Game Boy game cartridge, Game Boy Color game cartridge, Virtual Boy game cartridge, Sega Game Gear game cartridge, Sega Genesis System game cartridge, Sega 32x System game cartridge, Super Nintendo console, Nintendo 64 console, Game Cube console, Virtual Boy console, Game Gear console, TurboGrafx 16 console, TurboDuo console
- Convenient Design 4.5mm & 3.8mm Gamebit Screwdrivers bits: Designed with a gentle magnetic tip, these bits keep small screws in place, so you don't have to worry about them dropping or disappearing.
Rank #4
- Battery characteristics: The battery is a non rechargeable battery with a capacity of 170mah and a working temperature range of -20~60 degrees. This product is environmentally friendly, mercury free, high energy density, durable, and has good continuous discharge stability.
- Gameboy cartridge battery replacement:Suitable for most Gameboy and Gameboy Color (GBC) GameBoy Advance (GBA) games.
- Compatible with Gameboy&Gameboy color cart attery replacement:Compatible with Gameboy Pokemon Gold Yellow Silver Red Wario land 2, Compatible with Gameboy Color Pokemon Blue Crystal, Compatible with ET Digital Companion Mary-Kate and Ashley - Pocket Planner, etc.
- Welding tab button battery: Very suitable for battery replacement. When packaging, we wrap the positive and negative poles of the product in red and black sleeves, so that you can clearly know the positive and negative poles when welding.
- Battery packaging: Each battery product is individually packaged, these batteries cannot be charged, otherwise the battery and product will be damaged.
Rank #3
- ✅CR1616 Battery Sets perfect for GameBoy, GameBoy Color, GameBoy Advance, Nintendo NES, Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis game console, also applicable to Pokémon Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire games, perfect save battery replacement
- ✅CR1616 3v 16mm Lithium Batteries with solder tabs, free of mercury and cadmium, environmentally friendly, high volts and high energy density provide a good continuous discharge performance
- ✅CR1616 Coin Battery Size: 16 *1.6mm, perfect to replace old save battery in Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance cartridges, come with 5 pcs, there are enough amount for use
- ✅3.8mm, 4.5mm and Triwing screwdrivers help you perfectly open the game cartridge, easily disassembly and installation
- ✅Easy Install: Open your GameBoy cartridge, carefully desolder the old battery, put in these new CR1616 solder labeled button cell batteries in the correct direction, solder the wiring, then your gaming console will back to life!
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