GBxCart and Joey Junior cart-backup tools, the modder community's go-to range for Game Boy ROM and save preservation at ZedLabz.
Browse Game Boy cart-backup tools by use case
- GBxCart RW Pro by colour — InsideGadgets cart reader-writer-flasher in 6+ coloured shells
- GBA FRAM flash carts and cart shells — reflashable BennVenn carts plus replacement cases
- Game Boy DMG parts and mods — DMG-01 console parts that pair with cart maintenance
- Game Boy Color parts and mods — CGB-001 console parts
- Game Boy Advance parts and mods — AGB-001 console parts
- Modding tools — tri-wing, Phillips PH00, opening tools
Original Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance cartridges store save data in SRAM backed by a small lithium coin cell soldered to the cart PCB. After two decades that cell tends to run flat, and once it does the save is gone. Cart-backup tools let you dump the ROM and save to PC before that happens, write the save back after a battery swap, and re-flash compatible carts with patched or homebrew ROMs. ZedLabz stocks the InsideGadgets GBxCart RW 1.4 Pro (the most-shipped tool on this page), the BennVenn Joey Junior JR V2++, and BennVenn's 8MB FRAM reflashable flash cart with optional MBC5 mode.
Quick picks for any Game Boy cart-backup project
- Easy entry point: the GBxCart RW 1.4 Pro — comes assembled, no soldering, USB-C, works with Windows, Mac and Linux. The standard first-time buy.
- The crowd favourite: the GBxCart RW Pro paired with a BennVenn 8MB FRAM flash cart — back up your originals, then play them off a single reflashable cart.
- The pro choice: the BennVenn Joey Junior JR V2++ for builders who prefer BennVenn's open-source toolchain, plus an EZ-Flash Omega Definitive Edition for the deepest GBA-side library.
The cart-backup workflow — what to do in what order
- Open the cart with a Y-bit tri-wing screwdriver from our modding tools range — original Nintendo cart shells use Y00 security screws.
- Inspect and clean the PCB edge contacts — IPA wipes and cotton buds are usually enough; a soft anti-static brush helps with dust.
- Dump the ROM and save via GBxCart RW Pro or Joey Junior. Both tools handle GB, GBC and GBA cartridges with auto ROM-size detection.
- Replace the save battery if the cart has one — original Game Boy / Color games typically use a tabbed CR2025 or CR1616 cell, soldered to two pads. Test the dumped save in an emulator before proceeding.
- Restore the save via the same tool, then verify in an emulator like BGB before putting the cart back into rotation.
GBxCart RW Pro vs Joey Junior — which one?
| Tool | Console support | Soldering required | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBxCart RW 1.4 Pro | GB, GBC, GBA | No (comes assembled) | First-time buyers, customers who want one tool that covers the whole Game Boy family |
| BennVenn Joey Junior JR V2++ | GB, GBC, GBA | No (plug and play) | BennVenn-toolchain users, modders who prefer the open-source firmware path |
All Game Boy cart-backup tools ship from the UK with global delivery. Returns and replacements per our returns policy.
Related collections
- GBxCart RW Pro by colour — shop the GBxCart by shell colour
- GBA FRAM flash carts and cart shells — what to flash onto after dumping
- Game Boy DMG parts — DMG-01 console parts
- Game Boy Color parts — CGB-001 console parts
- Game Boy Advance parts — AGB-001 console parts
Game Boy cart-backup — FAQs
What does the GBxCart RW Pro actually do?
It connects an original Game Boy, Game Boy Color or Game Boy Advance cartridge to a PC over USB-C and lets you back up the ROM, back up and restore the save, and write ROMs to compatible flash carts. It comes assembled — no soldering required — and runs on Windows, Mac and Linux per the InsideGadgets product page.
Do I need to solder anything to back up a Game Boy cart?
No — the GBxCart RW Pro and the Joey Junior are both solderless. You'll only need a soldering iron if you separately want to replace the save battery inside the cartridge, which is a different job.
My Game Boy cart's save keeps wiping — what should I do?
The internal coin cell is most likely flat. Use the GBxCart RW Pro to back up the existing save (if any remains) to PC, then replace the cart's tabbed CR2025 or CR1616 battery via the soldering pads on the cart PCB, then restore the save via the same tool. Verify the save loads in an emulator like BGB before reinstalling the cart in your console.
Which flash carts work with the GBxCart RW Pro?
The GBxCart writes to InsideGadgets' own flash cart range — see our FRAM flash carts and cart shells collection — and to some clone / repro flash carts that use compatible chips. Per the InsideGadgets product page, the M29F160F-based flash carts are the well-supported path.
What if I just want to play backups, not dump originals?
If you don't need to dump your own cartridges, an off-the-shelf flash cart with a microSD slot — EZ-Flash Omega Definitive Edition for GBA, EZ-Flash Junior for GB / GBC, EZ-Flash Air for GBA — gives you the whole-library experience without needing a writer tool first.
Does the GBxCart RW Pro work on a Chromebook?
No. Per the InsideGadgets product page, the GBxCart requires Windows, Mac or Linux (including Raspberry Pi). Chromebook is not supported.
