The Tri-Wing screw has three slotted wings radiating from a triangular centre. It was originally developed for aerospace applications where high-torque, tamper-resistant fastening was needed. Today, it is best known as the security screw Nintendo uses on nearly all its game consoles.
Tri-Wing Sizes and Devices
| Size | Wing Span (approx.) | Used On |
|---|---|---|
| TW0 | ~1.5 mm | Nintendo DS, some small electronics |
| TW1 | ~2.0 mm | Nintendo Switch (Joy-Con), Wii, Game Boy Advance, Wii U, some phones |
| TW2 | ~2.5 mm | Nintendo GameCube, Wii console housing, some battery packs |
| TW3 | ~3.0 mm | Larger electronics enclosures, some appliances |
| TW4 | ~4.0 mm | Aerospace fasteners, industrial enclosures |
| TW5 | ~5.0 mm | Aerospace and military equipment |
Why Tri-Wing Exists
Tri-Wing serves two purposes. In aerospace, the three-wing design provides excellent torque transfer and resistance to vibration loosening - similar advantages to Torx but with a different geometry. In consumer electronics, it acts as a tamper-resistant security fastener. Nintendo adopted Tri-Wing specifically to discourage casual disassembly of game consoles by consumers.
Getting a Tri-Wing Driver
Tri-Wing bits are not standard in most screwdriver sets. You will typically find them in precision screwdriver kits marketed for electronics repair (iFixit, Jakemy, and similar brands include them). For Nintendo repairs, a Y1.0 (TW1) driver or bit is the size you need for most consoles. Make sure you are buying genuine Tri-Wing - some cheap kits label Y-type (tri-point) bits as Tri-Wing, but they are different fastener types.
Do not confuse Tri-Wing with Y-type (tri-point) screwdrivers. Tri-Wing has three offset wings; tri-point (Y-type) has three straight slots meeting at a centre point. Apple uses tri-point on some devices; Nintendo uses Tri-Wing.
