If you’ve ever tried to take the Wii user interface apart, you’ve probably noticed that there are screws holding it together that require a Y-shaped screwdriver to remove. These types of screws are known as tri-wing screws and are sometimes called Nintendo screws. The reason they are known as the Nintendo screw is because Nintendo has used it for many years to assemble its video game consoles and other products.
In this article we’ll answer some questions you might have about these screws in relation to Wii U. We’ll also answer some questions you probably haven’t thought of but do care about.
Ask: What’s the deal with the triwing screw? Does Nintendo know it’s a drawback?
Answer: Yes, Nintendo knows that it is inconvenient and they intended it that way. Many times companies will use something called a security screw. A security screw is a screw that requires a tool that is not very accessible to remove it. Companies like Nintendo use these types of screws because they don’t want just anyone to be able to take their stuff apart. They’d rather you fix it or buy a new console.
Ask: Does the Wii U only use triwing screws?
Answer: No, it’s not just the tri-wing screws that hold the Wii U together that work. There are also some small Phillips screws in the mix. When disassembling a Wii U, you’ll need to have a Phillips screwdriver handy along with your tri-wing screwdriver.
Ask: Does the Wii U gamepad also use triwing screws?
Answer: Yeah! The gamepad is also guilty of using these small screws. When it comes to a product made by Nintendo you have a 95% chance of using this type of screw. The gamepad, just like the actual console, uses a combination of tri-wings and Phillips screws.
Ask: Why does Nintendo also use Phillips screws? Can’t they just use one type of screw instead of multiple?
Answer: This is a mystery to all of us. His guess is as good as the next. It seems like it would make more sense to use one type instead of mixing and matching, but I guess we’ll just have to keep scratching our heads.
Ask: Is there a website that sells a good tri wing screwdriver?