Hello Sr. I followed your instructions and it worked out perfectly. At first it was really intimidating, more than anything I've repaired before, but your instructions were clear, your video showed every little detail and the troubleshooting at the end was just what I needed. I hope you are doing great and thank you very much for the video!
My son broke his top screen almost a year ago, and I've been putting off fixing it ever since. When I looked up repairing it back then, your video was the only good one I found, and a year later, it was still the only one. I've done several shell swaps for the PSP and DS units, and while I may have ben able to figure this one out, your video was one of the best I've ever used. If I ever had to do this again, I would be much better prepared now and pretty confident in doing it safer and ever faster. Thanks for the video, as it helped tremendously.
I've repaired/refurbished a lot of New 3ds xls. Glad to see that the new 3ds top housing just clicks into place. The amount of times on the xl that I had a shell not want to close properly is unreal. It's mostly because I use after market shells. The cheap plastic clips always bend. Great work btw I would usually pull out all the ribbon cables. Instead of just removing the screen ribbon cable by itself. I've been making it so much harder on myself than it needed to be.
I just wanted to tell you, your tutorial is amazing! I didn't have to replace my top screen, but rather the speaker and sliders harness. Your instructions were quite easy to follow, and I was able to do it without problems!
Thank you for your great step by step guide as well as the explanation for which cable is linked to which function. I kinda destroyed a short strip of the blue cable for the touchscreen because I didn't see the hinge and it frayed. So I need to replace it now, but it's still cheaper than buying a used New 3DS.
I never repair anything in my life so when i say this was amazing i truly mean it. I followed everything you said and managed to not only fix my screen but even replace the screen lens and clean it out with an air spray. Tysm this was very educational!
Thank you so much for this guide. I tried looking for help with removing the hinge as I ended up horribly damaging the plastic shell of my brother's 3DS and I wasn't sure how people got their hinges out so easily, as every video I checked, most either cut out the part where they got it out, or they somehow got it out with ease and no tips. I will be ordering more replacement parts soon to repair his and my new second New 3DS XLs and I will definitely be watching your guide again when the time comes!
Thank you so much for this dude, my 3DS works perfect now, I’d never done anything like this before but had no issues whatsoever. Such a detailed guide, again, thank you so much.
I never comment on videos but I wanted to take the time to thank you. You made the process so seamless, especially with the seperation of the ribbon cables from the top and bottom part. I had an ease following this tutorial. Thank you so much!
Thank you so much. I have had this video bookmarked since 2020 and i finally decided to replace my screen, and your video was such a great guide. Thank you so so so very much for helping me restore some of my childhood
You have my thanks! I've just fixed two new 3DS's thanks to your tutorial. You've got a real talent to explain. I appreciate the fact that you go in particular depth regarding the place that can be tricky to deal with.
Did this with 2 new 3ds back to back, crazy, I can't believe I did this lol, now I just gotta sleep, long story short, great tutorial, just need the right tools(any 3ds kit. Preferably the ones that give you a ton of variety) a lot of patience, and delicacy. God bless yall, hey man great video 🎉
Ik this is an old comment but im curious-how were you able to find an IPS panel? Did you take it from another 3DS or bought it alone? I havent been able to find either 😭
Absolute legend. Was a bit worried about the hinge (its different than a n3dsxl), and there arent many guides out there for the regular n3ds. Thanks for the help!
I used this guide to swap an IPS screen and new digitizer into a beat up 3DS I got dirt cheap from Japan, I just have to say thank you so much, I really couldn't have done it without you. If you ever need a kidney transplant or something let me know, I will be there for you
@@daviddickson1415 Just found one on ebay, 10~11 months ago. Guy selling them said it was one of the last few he had laying around so I snatched it up on impulse.
Amazing tutorial and very clear instructions! I appreciate it when you show what you're doing twice as well! I personally just watch from about 20:00 to 25:00, but I imagine the rest of the video is as good as it 👍
i love your videos, they are so informative and super easy to follow...you should make some more videos like these, given your situation allows. i know i would watch them!!
I followed this today and got my screen replaced with zero issues. The only thing I will say is to remind people to be careful not to lose their buttons.
3 years later and still the best tutorial. Thanks for the awesome video and tips. Made the process so much smoother on the new 3ds I got from Japan. Images did not show how bad the yellowing was and scuffs on the lens so I decided to swap it out.
Very inspiring, might buy a bunch of broken New 3DS LL from Japan and fix them myself. They are like dirty cheap and it's a good way to preserve such a nice piece of hardware.
thank you, you helped me figure out why my touch screen wasnt working, the lcd ribbion cable broke, well one of them, now i know what i need to replace and what i dont need to replace
I just wanted to say thank you so much. I recently purchased a New 3DS and the hinge on it is completely gone - it’s like a floppy mess. I followed your tear down and was able to remove the hinge and slide the ribbon cables through successfully. I can officially say it’s in halves at the moment while I wait for a replacement hinge to arrive here in a few weeks - but I cross my fingers to put everything back the way it goes here soon. You gave me the confidence to rip open my console and take control of its problem - and I can say I am so very happy and officially found a new hobby! Console repair!
I repaired a few ds lites before but never a 3ds & boy this has alot more ribbon cables with more steps, excited but nervous if i break anything during the process of the repair. Thank you for this video it'll come in handy.
I had a question. I was able to get a spare display lens for my New 3DS. The old one has scratches on it, but works fine otherwise. If I'm only replacing the display lens on the top screen, would I still have to disassemble everything?
No, just heat the screen lens with a hairdryer until it's warm to the touch, then wedge something like a razor blade between the lens and the housing and start to pry. Your old lens should unstick and you can just stick your new one in place (reusing the old adhesive).
I know this video is old, but it's still relevant. It's great and I only have one criticism. When putting the lens back on the screen, it is much easier to put the screen into the top housing first, then put the lens on so that it's perfectly in place. Both pieces can only go in one way, and this ensures that the lens is put on perfectly without having to readjust it to get it into place.
If you managed to replaced the screen, I'm sure you'll be able to fix the home button too! But yeah, it's not too much of an issue so maybe enjoy playing for a while first haha If you need help lmk
@@neotil1 Yeah right after I commented that I double checked and sure enough the home button ribbon cable was loose so I put it back in and it works great now!
An excellent video. Though I had to figure this out myself all the steps you mentioned were exactly what I went through! So happy to see a professional + detailed video available. Will definitely refer this video to others!
Hi, great video, just about 10 mins in atm and you're very clear for a beginner like me! I'm looking into doing 3ds repairs myself as a hobby. But im finding it hard to even find any broken ones. Do you have an idea where to get any and also links for the tools you are using?
Hey, sorry for replying so late. I buy my consoles locally as well as on eBay, usually in bulk (because separate auctions are way to expensive and would leave super slim profit margins) For tools, just get something like an iFixit kit to start. It has all the basics you need
Whew, glad for this to exist! I bought a Japan import N3DS to serve as a kinda like a backup (or perhaps replace and keep the other one as a backup) to my main N3DS after I flashed it with CFW and American English region firmware, and in my idiocy, I ever so slightly poked the ribbon cable for the top screen during teardown (because I was curious!) and ruined that. :s And because barely anyone in the NA region has a non-XL N3DS, iFixIt's guides weren't too helpful with a top screen repair. Gonna shelve this for now till I buy a replacement top screen!
Nice to hear! I just use a cutting mat (for X-Acto knives). For consoles that are prone to scratching (glossy and/or collectible ones) I'll also lay a fresh microfiber cloth underneath :)
What was the antenna eith the blue cable for? Is that the Wifi antenna, or is it for bluetooth or IR? Thanks for your help, its extremely appreciated!!
Excellent video! You have the exact same screen my customer has (I can tell by the placement of the brackets around the edges of your screen) but I cannot find this part for sale anywhere. Which model 3DS do you have? Thanks!
nice bro. i actually didnt need to replace the screen i just had to fix it because it would just show up in 3d mode when the 3d slider is off so i needed to know how to disassemble it and put it back together but i wil, use this in the future if anything goes wrong with my screen like cracking etc. i also refurbish 3ds's so i might use this as well. thanks for the tutorial
Thank goodness this exists, I'll be attempting this next week as the N3DS I ordered from eBay had a yellowing top screen. I'll update the comment once I've attempted, wish me luck!! :D (ps I've watched this video like 6 times already just to prepare myself with a greater understanding of the internals)
@@neotil1 It worked!! Thank you SO much for your guide, my only fault was that I broke off the little notch that locks onto the 3D slider, meaning I cant access 3D anymore, but considering I never use the 3D functionality, I'd chalk it up as a win XD Thanks again for this incredible guide!! If I ever get round to repairing the slider, this video will come in handy again!! :D
Followed this to replace the camera (IR LED burned out or broke) and it was a massive help. There really are no shortcuts since everything inside the regular sized new 3ds is so compact. However, for some reason I have two extra tiny brass screws and I have no idea where they came from, I secured everything back exactly as they were... Nothing sounds or feels loose though so no way am I opening it up again lol
Haha, it'll be just fine with a couple screws missing. If you're really picky about it, take a photo of the screws and link me the image. I'll probably be able to tell you where they go
So I was following the step in this video (and this is an awesome walkthrough) to repair my sons 3DS (KTR-001) top screen, and when I went to reconnect the bottom touch screen the ribbon cable latch came off. The pins are all bent to heck and the board is essentially ruined. Problem is, I can't find just a main board anywhere. Any thoughts on where I might find one?
Ouch. There's not much part availability for the n3DS (non XL) unfortunately. You can try searching on AliExpress. The sellers are usually very nice so you can ask them if they sell boards or if they know of another shop. If that doesn't work, I think the only option is to look for a second broken console or ask around on local classifieds to see if someone is willing to sell a mainboard :/ If you can find an electronics repair shop to do it for you, replacing the ribbon latch by soldering is actually quite an easy process. I charge about 40€ for the service here in Germany. Good luck!
This really helped! I ran into an issue at the end though. Both screens flash so they seem to both receive power, and audio confirms that all buttons work too, just that both screens are black and unresponsive. Any place specifically should I look for incorrectly placed cables?
Hi thank you for the vid. My issue is the lower screen of my New 3DS has some dead pixels and its getting worst everyday. Do you have any guide for lower screen replacement? I’m scared that without proper guidance such in this vid of yours I’ll make mistakes and brick my console..
Does anyone know which part I should look at to find the cause of a top screen that blinks at regular intervals. With and without 3D on or off position. New 3DS. Bought it used and seller didn't mention this. Otherwise like new cosmetically. And what are those "tweezers" called? Plastic or ceramic tip? Where to get in Sweden, Poland or Europe in general? Thanks in advance!
I just got a new 3ds today and i cant tell if my screen is a bit yellow or its just that its a tn panel that im not used to and the new 3ds xl and 2ds xl i have are both ips
Hey man! i have a small question, i have a n3DSXL with a capture card installed and both screens have gone bad, i think the lcd screens broke, is it harder to replace the screens with a capture card installed? or is the process the same?
Are you ever gonna make a new 3ds xl housing replacement video? I'm thinking of swapping the housing for my new 3ds xl with one from ebay but there's some extra parts I see in photos that I don't know what they'd be used for.
Alright! Everything went relatively smooth, although I broke one of the speakers' cables (the red and black ones), but that's no big deal for me. I'm having another issue now, you see, before doing this job, my New 3DS had a problem with the L button (It wouldn't press down), now, the L button is completely fixed, but my R button is always on, so I can't scroll through the HOME menu or stuff like that. Do you happen to know how can I fix that?
If you know how to solder (or know someone who does), fixing the speaker cable is super easy :) About the pressed button, have you checked if the button is wedged in between the housing somehow? Make sure it moves freely and nothing is stuck.
I’m really worried, you saying I have to disassemble BOTH halves of the system to replace the top screen? My launch day system started randomly crashing as a result of an accidental drop, my replacement system just arrived, it works but the top screen is a bit discolored!
Hello all, did the replacement and found myself in a very weird situation. Bought a used japanese new 3ds off of eBay. The top screen was extremely yellowed so I endeavoured to do a top screen replacement. It worked pretty well (except for the plastic lcd cover not coming off of the old screen, adhesive ripped, waiting for a new screen cover). Other than accidentally ripping the mb connector for the home button, everything else went surprisingly well. Until today I noticed the strangest issue. If/when I press either R button or select button, it presses both of them. So system treated a R button press as R+select, same with select. Anyone experience anything like this? I installed rehid to map home button to select+start, but I already tried removing that config to see if it was an issue. I opened the 3ds back up to reseat the R button cable, still nothing. I'm not a 100% sure if this is hardware or software. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
At 29:23 I opened the connector thinking it was a latch now when I try to turn on the 3ds it makes a popping sound and doesn't light up anywhere on screen. I was wondering if I needed to buy a new motherboard or is it a different problem? Thanks in advance.
That's the bottom screen backlight connector. Unfortunately, if it's bent it will prevent your 3DS from booting. Are you able to bend it back into place? (Applying pressure onto the cable with something like a paper towel wedged between it and the housing might help as well). If you broke the piece off, your motherboard unfortunately needs to be fixed. Replacing the connector requires soldering, so you'll need to take it to a repair shop (or replace the board entirely). I hope you can bend it back into place! Good luck
Are you sure the top screen is connected properly? Make sure the speaker ribbon cable is inserted into the connector on the motherboard properly and also check if the top screen is also connected to the speaker ribbon cable in the top half of the 3DS (two small ribbon cables)
I made the same mistake but was able to bend it back somewhat. I then cut a small piece of 0.5mm thermal pad and used it to secure the connector and ribbon cable in place.
Thank you so much for a straightforward and detailed tutorial! (Nintendo console fixes are relatively new for me, so I appreciate u being one of the few super helpful TH-camrs out there!) By chance, have u ever replaced a ZIF Connector? There’s a N3DS XL (2012) motherboard where one of these gray latches fell off and disintegrated. I’ve got a donor motherboard (water-damaged) but still have no idea how to get the latches on/off. Just thought I’d ask your expertise (as it seems to be a common problem but videos / detailed instructions are lacking)
Made this for you specifically ❤️ th-cam.com/video/4vQQOG1hmxA/w-d-xo.html Just kidding, I've gotten dozens of requests haha. But in the end your comment motivated me to (finally) create a video. I hope it helps!
Thank you 1000x over!! Omg I never expected a response day-of, let alone a TUTORIAL- I can’t wait to finally have this nightmare-of-a-console fixed! Thank you!
Don’t know if you’ll ever see this but do you have any idea where I can find a replacement new 3ds screen? It’s like impossible to find parts and I desperately want to fix mine
I have an issue, when I fully close the 3ds it refuses to turn on, if its not screwed in fully but the bottom is only half screwed on it'll turn on. Any pressure makes it turn off then it has to be disasembled and the 3 ribbon cables on the back need to be taken off and put in again.
@@BEkov-kd8cf It sounds like something isn't connected properly. It could be that your connectors are just worn out, I've had that with a couple consoles. To fix that, you need to solder a new connector in place which isn't doable if you don't have good equipment. Still, to be sure it's not something else: disconnect all the "unnecessary" parts. The only things you want to have connected are the speaker/backlight cable, the top screen cable, the bottom backlight and screen cable, the power board and in case you have an old 3DS, make sure the WiFi chip is plugged in. (Make sure camera, touch, microphone, SD card reader, analog stick, C-Stick if you have one, game card reader if you have one, are disconnected.) The 3DS should boot up just fine. See if your issue persists. Then you probably need a new motherboard (read: a new 3DS). If this solved your issue, one of the separate parts are defective. Reconnect them one after each other (disconnecting the battery in between) and see which part is the culprit. Wish you the best of luck!
I have a few problems with my N3DS XL with the LCD touch screen showing black lines, and soon to be black spots. After that I found myself in a tough spot. My Home Button doesn’t work. I tried paper under the HB cable, putting pressure, and the small needle technique which didn’t do good. If anyone has any ideas to what I can do to fix it please let me know.
Great video! I liked how, near the end, you mentioned some troubleshooting tips if screens don't come on after power. If you have some time, maybe you could weigh in on an issue I'm seeing with bootup? - I press the power button, it stays blue. - Neither screen displays anything, yet **I hear the main menu sounds** in the background. - I am able to manipulate the touch screen just fine. Does this sound like an issue with the camera? Or something entirely different?
New 3DS (not XL)? It could be the camera, so just leave it unplugged. Did the screens work before the repair? Are you sure you inserted the top display flex the right way around?
@@neotil1 Thanks for the response! It was probably the camera. I replaced it and the top screen at the same time and all was working again. I wish there were more repair vids for the N3DS out there. It seems to be the white whale of 3DS family consoles.
I bought a 3ds from a pawn shop months ago in hopes of refurbishing it at some point and i was hoping you could help me figure out where to get some of the necessary parts for it. 1. I need new screen lens for the top screen due to it being scratched by the bottom screen, I've looked on ebay and some of the lenses look like they're for the Xl so I'm skeptical on where to find some 2. the entire system doesn't have its matte paint anymore and is just smooth, if you could help me find a paint that's similar to the one on the system I would appreciate that as well 3. I may need a new bottom screen since some parts look washed out than a majority of the screen so if you know where to look please let me know i'm not sure if you can answer all of these but if you can answer just one and leave a link it'd mean a lot.
I'm assuming you're talking about the new 3DS (as the o3DS is supposed to be glossy/smooth)... 1. something like this should work: a.aliexpress.com/_BTB7D8 2. just get any acrylic paint in a color of your liking as well as some 2k matte clear coat. it is very important you clear coat the paint! if you don't, the paint will scratch/wear off very quickly. 2k clear is automotive grade and will hold up a long time. make sure to disassemble the console completely and paint the housing pieces separately. (I've never painted a housing before, so I don't know if the results will be good) 3. something like this should work: a.aliexpress.com/_BOMX86
I followed everything but now the 3D is on and can’t be adjusted by the slider; I’ve already gone and checked to see if the slider piece was aligned properly and still nothing. Would greatly appreciate for some help
So the latch at 4:00 came off how do I reattach it or is that not possible and whenever I try to power it on it makes a pop. When I put it all together it powers on and works but if I plug and play it just shuts off and I have it on for a minute and it shuts off. Please help
I really appreciate this video, although I was curious if you or anyone knows whether a latch could be fixed if the little latch comes off. A while back I wasn’t careful and accidentally took off the latch for the touch screen and I really don’t know what to do :(
Excelente video tutorial que gusta da ver un buen video sin música entorpecedora o con terrible voz al hablar y tan completo como el suyo, felicitaciones excelente video siga así ! Saludos desde Ecuador
Does Nintendo use a third party brand for their upper screens? Which brand is the same or closest for a replacement for a New 3DS XL? Are the other brands of the same quality?
Thanks a lot! I was able to replace my screen but I think I blew a fuse bc it only plays when plugged in. Do you know where the fuses are in this specific model?
This happened to me today. I’ve had a 3DS for around 7 years, I never have broken the screen. But today it happened… I have this really old 3DS case and it’s been on my 3ds for a while (basically since i’ve first gotten it) and today I was trying to take it off from the top part, and the screen broke. It’s not fully broken, It’s still playable. Kind of… Basically like a small area of the screen is not visible. I really regret trying to take off the case.. I just hope i’m able to fix it eventually.
Hello! I really like your tutorial, but i have an issue. It does the "popping" sound, and down screen flashes and upper not, but i connected the wires just how you showed me. Could there be a problem with how i went with it through the barrel? Thanks!
Sounds like your top screen and/or speaker ribbon cable is either not connected properly or is damaged. Try reconnecting both parts. If that doesn't work, you may have broken one of the cables during reassembly and need to purchase a replacement :/
@@neotil1 First of all, thanks for the reply! Youre an amazing guy. I recconected them, but nothing happened. Is there a possibility, that it cant turn on because maybe i did a bad job with cable going through the barrel? I think right now all i can do is to repeat that job. I bought screen from ebay and reviews said that its great. Really hope that wasnt a scam.
I've never had a bad screen and I've bought over 100 replacement so I doubt your screen was bad... Thing is, these cables are extremely fragile and it's very common for novice technicians to rip cables during installation (tiny micro-tears). So the only tip I can give you is to disassemble the 3DS completely and inspect every single cable and connector thoroughly. If you can't find any defects, plug everything in (but don't install it into the housing yet) and perform a "bench test". Just see if the thing powers on while you have good access to all the cables/connectors. If it still doesn't work, you might need a new screen, speaker ribbon or worst case, a new motherboard.
So i replaced the top screen of my New 3ds xl and in the process broke the Ribbon Cabel of the Speaker and the Volume/3d Slider (And also the speaker themselves broke from the board because their cabels are weak af) I just finishd building it together because i thought maybe the system dosent checks for it because only one of the 2 "boards" is disconnected. Now if i plug in my charger it just flashes the Charging Ligth for a second and then turns it of again and neither of the screens flashes so i wanted to ask if the 3ds checks if the speaker cable is broke.(I wanted to replace the speaker anyways but just wanted to rule out thath it isnt anything other) Hope everything is understandable as english isnt my first language. Edit:And if i need to replace the speakers could you maybe name me good sources from where to get them?
After replacing the screen, sometimes when opening the top screen will flash and then the 3ds will turn off. I've removed and reassembled, double-checked the connecting cables to make sure it's not loose or broken, but the 3ds still turns off. May I ask is this a screen broken or did I install it incorrectly?
Hi! Great video, it really helped. I have a problem, the bottom shell doesn't close properly, specifically in the leds part. Do you or anyone have any advise? I really made sure everything is in place. Thanks in advance
I have a crack in the middle where the two screens are connected and it is almost split in two separate parts also it doesn't turn on as you could guess because I really fucked it up.
when i try to power on, tghe blue light turns on and then back off. when i try to turn on again it does power on, but the touch screen doesnt work help!
Hello Sr. I followed your instructions and it worked out perfectly. At first it was really intimidating, more than anything I've repaired before, but your instructions were clear, your video showed every little detail and the troubleshooting at the end was just what I needed. I hope you are doing great and thank you very much for the video!
Awesome! Reading comments like these really makes the time I put into making videos worth it.
My son broke his top screen almost a year ago, and I've been putting off fixing it ever since. When I looked up repairing it back then, your video was the only good one I found, and a year later, it was still the only one. I've done several shell swaps for the PSP and DS units, and while I may have ben able to figure this one out, your video was one of the best I've ever used. If I ever had to do this again, I would be much better prepared now and pretty confident in doing it safer and ever faster. Thanks for the video, as it helped tremendously.
I've repaired/refurbished a lot of New 3ds xls. Glad to see that the new 3ds top housing just clicks into place. The amount of times on the xl that I had a shell not want to close properly is unreal. It's mostly because I use after market shells. The cheap plastic clips always bend.
Great work btw I would usually pull out all the ribbon cables. Instead of just removing the screen ribbon cable by itself. I've been making it so much harder on myself than it needed to be.
Oh, the n3DSXL is easy to do as well. You have to slide it on/off but people rarely know this haha
Hope this helps next time you take one apart ;)
I just wanted to tell you, your tutorial is amazing! I didn't have to replace my top screen, but rather the speaker and sliders harness. Your instructions were quite easy to follow, and I was able to do it without problems!
Glad it helped!
Everything went well for me. It’s nice to see a detailed tutorial.
Thank you for your great step by step guide as well as the explanation for which cable is linked to which function.
I kinda destroyed a short strip of the blue cable for the touchscreen because I didn't see the hinge and it frayed. So I need to replace it now, but it's still cheaper than buying a used New 3DS.
I never repair anything in my life so when i say this was amazing i truly mean it. I followed everything you said and managed to not only fix my screen but even replace the screen lens and clean it out with an air spray. Tysm this was very educational!
Thank you so much for this guide. I tried looking for help with removing the hinge as I ended up horribly damaging the plastic shell of my brother's 3DS and I wasn't sure how people got their hinges out so easily, as every video I checked, most either cut out the part where they got it out, or they somehow got it out with ease and no tips. I will be ordering more replacement parts soon to repair his and my new second New 3DS XLs and I will definitely be watching your guide again when the time comes!
Good luck, I'm sure you'll be able to fix it on your second try!
How was it?
Thank you so much for this dude, my 3DS works perfect now, I’d never done anything like this before but had no issues whatsoever. Such a detailed guide, again, thank you so much.
I'm so glad I was able to help :)
I never comment on videos but I wanted to take the time to thank you. You made the process so seamless, especially with the seperation of the ribbon cables from the top and bottom part. I had an ease following this tutorial. Thank you so much!
That makes me super happy! My video quality and voiceover certainly isn't the best, but I'm glad it was still helpful!!
Dude I just want to say thanks for this video. Getting prepared to do a shell swap and this in-depth video sure does help a lot. Thanks mate!
Thanks for the video, also that is the most satisfying screwdriver I have ever heard.
Thank you so much. I have had this video bookmarked since 2020 and i finally decided to replace my screen, and your video was such a great guide. Thank you so so so very much for helping me restore some of my childhood
I'm very happy my guide was helpful to you! Have fun playing :D
if you don't have another TH-cam channel where you just repair random things you need to make one this is one of the best repair videos I've seen
Thank you so much. I spent few hours to repair it, but now it works perfectly ! Your steps are really clear !
I'm happy I was able to help! :)
You have my thanks! I've just fixed two new 3DS's thanks to your tutorial. You've got a real talent to explain. I appreciate the fact that you go in particular depth regarding the place that can be tricky to deal with.
Thanks! Glad I could help :)
I don’t trust myself enough imma find someone who can do it 😭
As long as you take your time, it will work out. Have confidence my friend. We all start somewhere to learn these things.
Did this with 2 new 3ds back to back, crazy, I can't believe I did this lol, now I just gotta sleep, long story short, great tutorial, just need the right tools(any 3ds kit. Preferably the ones that give you a ton of variety) a lot of patience, and delicacy. God bless yall, hey man great video 🎉
Thank you so much for making this video. I was able to replace a TN panel with a fresh IPS screen on my new 3DS, thanks a bunch.
Have fun with it!
Ik this is an old comment but im curious-how were you able to find an IPS panel? Did you take it from another 3DS or bought it alone? I havent been able to find either 😭
Absolute legend. Was a bit worried about the hinge (its different than a n3dsxl), and there arent many guides out there for the regular n3ds. Thanks for the help!
Glad it helped!
I used this guide to swap an IPS screen and new digitizer into a beat up 3DS I got dirt cheap from Japan, I just have to say thank you so much, I really couldn't have done it without you. If you ever need a kidney transplant or something let me know, I will be there for you
Where’d you get your IPS screen from if you don’t mind me asking? I’m in a similar boat and probably need to replace mine soon.
@@daviddickson1415 Just found one on ebay, 10~11 months ago. Guy selling them said it was one of the last few he had laying around so I snatched it up on impulse.
I repair electronics for a living. But this one nearly drove me insane. Thanks for the vid bro
Amazing tutorial and very clear instructions! I appreciate it when you show what you're doing twice as well! I personally just watch from about 20:00 to 25:00, but I imagine the rest of the video is as good as it 👍
Glad you liked it! I really appreciate your comment
i love your videos, they are so informative and super easy to follow...you should make some more videos like these, given your situation allows. i know i would watch them!!
I followed this today and got my screen replaced with zero issues. The only thing I will say is to remind people to be careful not to lose their buttons.
3 years later and still the best tutorial. Thanks for the awesome video and tips. Made the process so much smoother on the new 3ds I got from Japan. Images did not show how bad the yellowing was and scuffs on the lens so I decided to swap it out.
aww thank you :)
Very inspiring, might buy a bunch of broken New 3DS LL from Japan and fix them myself. They are like dirty cheap and it's a good way to preserve such a nice piece of hardware.
Thanks to 3ds.hacks.guide that region lock won't be an issue either ;)
thank you, you helped me figure out why my touch screen wasnt working, the lcd ribbion cable broke, well one of them, now i know what i need to replace and what i dont need to replace
Great video, thanks. used this to help repair the hinge on mine. Saved me a great deal of hassle 👍🏻
I just wanted to say thank you so much. I recently purchased a New 3DS and the hinge on it is completely gone - it’s like a floppy mess. I followed your tear down and was able to remove the hinge and slide the ribbon cables through successfully. I can officially say it’s in halves at the moment while I wait for a replacement hinge to arrive here in a few weeks - but I cross my fingers to put everything back the way it goes here soon. You gave me the confidence to rip open my console and take control of its problem - and I can say I am so very happy and officially found a new hobby! Console repair!
Awesome, I'm super happy to help. Good luck and happy fixing!
I repaired a few ds lites before but never a 3ds & boy this has alot more ribbon cables with more steps, excited but nervous if i break anything during the process of the repair. Thank you for this video it'll come in handy.
good luck :)
Thanks, what a helpful video! I manage to replace my top screen using this video as a guide :)
I had a question. I was able to get a spare display lens for my New 3DS. The old one has scratches on it, but works fine otherwise. If I'm only replacing the display lens on the top screen, would I still have to disassemble everything?
No, just heat the screen lens with a hairdryer until it's warm to the touch, then wedge something like a razor blade between the lens and the housing and start to pry. Your old lens should unstick and you can just stick your new one in place (reusing the old adhesive).
I know this video is old, but it's still relevant. It's great and I only have one criticism. When putting the lens back on the screen, it is much easier to put the screen into the top housing first, then put the lens on so that it's perfectly in place. Both pieces can only go in one way, and this ensures that the lens is put on perfectly without having to readjust it to get it into place.
Thanks you so much, I was able to repair my camera with your video ❤️
This video helped me out so much!!!! i fixed my 3ds that's been broken since 2017
Big support for the channel and keep on making awesome content and guides and giveaways in the future as well. Worked for me
Just finished! Thank you for the help! sadly the home button won't work, but worth it for a new screen.
If you managed to replaced the screen, I'm sure you'll be able to fix the home button too! But yeah, it's not too much of an issue so maybe enjoy playing for a while first haha
If you need help lmk
@@neotil1 Yeah right after I commented that I double checked and sure enough the home button ribbon cable was loose so I put it back in and it works great now!
Awesome :D
An excellent video. Though I had to figure this out myself all the steps you mentioned were exactly what I went through! So happy to see a professional + detailed video available. Will definitely refer this video to others!
Glad you like it!
Hi, great video, just about 10 mins in atm and you're very clear for a beginner like me! I'm looking into doing 3ds repairs myself as a hobby. But im finding it hard to even find any broken ones. Do you have an idea where to get any and also links for the tools you are using?
Hey, sorry for replying so late. I buy my consoles locally as well as on eBay, usually in bulk (because separate auctions are way to expensive and would leave super slim profit margins)
For tools, just get something like an iFixit kit to start. It has all the basics you need
How do I open the top screen shell if there are no screws underneath the covers? (I have a 3DS XL)
Whew, glad for this to exist! I bought a Japan import N3DS to serve as a kinda like a backup (or perhaps replace and keep the other one as a backup) to my main N3DS after I flashed it with CFW and American English region firmware, and in my idiocy, I ever so slightly poked the ribbon cable for the top screen during teardown (because I was curious!) and ruined that. :s And because barely anyone in the NA region has a non-XL N3DS, iFixIt's guides weren't too helpful with a top screen repair. Gonna shelve this for now till I buy a replacement top screen!
Hey I just followed your guide and the repair went great. Just curious, what kind of mat do you use to work on? Thanks!
Nice to hear! I just use a cutting mat (for X-Acto knives). For consoles that are prone to scratching (glossy and/or collectible ones) I'll also lay a fresh microfiber cloth underneath :)
What was the antenna eith the blue cable for? Is that the Wifi antenna, or is it for bluetooth or IR? Thanks for your help, its extremely appreciated!!
just used this guide in 2024, thank you!!
12:46 is viable to heat up the plastic a bit with a hair dryer to soften the adhesive before removing the screen? Dont want to break the plastic :/
Hey what size screwdriver do you need to remove the screws underneath the back plate the five and then the two above them
Super easy with your video, THANK YOU :D !
I need to replace the hinge my 3ds. I’m assuming I can replace the hinge once I follow this guide up until 9:57 in your video, right?
Great video! thinking of replacing my jp new 3ds XL top screen just for the heck of it. Shame it was an IPS model.
Thanks! There are some sellers that have IPS screens, so you can replace it with one of those ;)
Excellent video! You have the exact same screen my customer has (I can tell by the placement of the brackets around the edges of your screen) but I cannot find this part for sale anywhere. Which model 3DS do you have? Thanks!
This is a new 3DS. Parts are available on AliExpress but take a while to arrive
nice bro. i actually didnt need to replace the screen i just had to fix it because it would just show up in 3d mode when the 3d slider is off so i needed to know how to disassemble it and put it back together but i wil, use this in the future if anything goes wrong with my screen like cracking etc. i also refurbish 3ds's so i might use this as well. thanks for the tutorial
I only need to replace the cameras I’m going to try and use this tutorial but not have to go as far as the top screen so any tips would be helpful
Thank goodness this exists, I'll be attempting this next week as the N3DS I ordered from eBay had a yellowing top screen. I'll update the comment once I've attempted, wish me luck!! :D (ps I've watched this video like 6 times already just to prepare myself with a greater understanding of the internals)
Good luck :)
@@neotil1 It worked!! Thank you SO much for your guide, my only fault was that I broke off the little notch that locks onto the 3D slider, meaning I cant access 3D anymore, but considering I never use the 3D functionality, I'd chalk it up as a win XD Thanks again for this incredible guide!! If I ever get round to repairing the slider, this video will come in handy again!! :D
Followed this to replace the camera (IR LED burned out or broke) and it was a massive help. There really are no shortcuts since everything inside the regular sized new 3ds is so compact. However, for some reason I have two extra tiny brass screws and I have no idea where they came from, I secured everything back exactly as they were... Nothing sounds or feels loose though so no way am I opening it up again lol
Haha, it'll be just fine with a couple screws missing. If you're really picky about it, take a photo of the screws and link me the image. I'll probably be able to tell you where they go
So I was following the step in this video (and this is an awesome walkthrough) to repair my sons 3DS (KTR-001) top screen, and when I went to reconnect the bottom touch screen the ribbon cable latch came off. The pins are all bent to heck and the board is essentially ruined. Problem is, I can't find just a main board anywhere. Any thoughts on where I might find one?
Ouch. There's not much part availability for the n3DS (non XL) unfortunately. You can try searching on AliExpress. The sellers are usually very nice so you can ask them if they sell boards or if they know of another shop.
If that doesn't work, I think the only option is to look for a second broken console or ask around on local classifieds to see if someone is willing to sell a mainboard :/
If you can find an electronics repair shop to do it for you, replacing the ribbon latch by soldering is actually quite an easy process. I charge about 40€ for the service here in Germany.
Good luck!
What do you think about quality? Im think about replace my top screep because yellowing but Im concern about some possible low quality
This really helped! I ran into an issue at the end though. Both screens flash so they seem to both receive power, and audio confirms that all buttons work too, just that both screens are black and unresponsive. Any place specifically should I look for incorrectly placed cables?
What do you mean by saying the audio confirms buttons are working? Usually ether the screens pop or it boots into the home menu
Hi thank you for the vid. My issue is the lower screen of my New 3DS has some dead pixels and its getting worst everyday. Do you have any guide for lower screen replacement? I’m scared that without proper guidance such in this vid of yours I’ll make mistakes and brick my console..
Does anyone know which part I should look at to find the cause of a top screen that blinks at regular intervals. With and without 3D on or off position. New 3DS. Bought it used and seller didn't mention this. Otherwise like new cosmetically. And what are those "tweezers" called? Plastic or ceramic tip? Where to get in Sweden, Poland or Europe in general? Thanks in advance!
I just got a new 3ds today and i cant tell if my screen is a bit yellow or its just that its a tn panel that im not used to and the new 3ds xl and 2ds xl i have are both ips
Hey man! i have a small question, i have a n3DSXL with a capture card installed and both screens have gone bad, i think the lcd screens broke, is it harder to replace the screens with a capture card installed? or is the process the same?
Question could you do a video for the shoulder buttons so I can know how to replace them or fix them
Are you ever gonna make a new 3ds xl housing replacement video? I'm thinking of swapping the housing for my new 3ds xl with one from ebay but there's some extra parts I see in photos that I don't know what they'd be used for.
Ah sorry I've kind of switched to camera repairs
Alright! Everything went relatively smooth, although I broke one of the speakers' cables (the red and black ones), but that's no big deal for me.
I'm having another issue now, you see, before doing this job, my New 3DS had a problem with the L button (It wouldn't press down), now, the L button is completely fixed, but my R button is always on, so I can't scroll through the HOME menu or stuff like that. Do you happen to know how can I fix that?
If you know how to solder (or know someone who does), fixing the speaker cable is super easy :)
About the pressed button, have you checked if the button is wedged in between the housing somehow? Make sure it moves freely and nothing is stuck.
I’m really worried, you saying I have to disassemble BOTH halves of the system to replace the top screen? My launch day system started randomly crashing as a result of an accidental drop, my replacement system just arrived, it works but the top screen is a bit discolored!
Hello, help please,
Does the 3D part of the screen still work with a new generic 3D screen?
Yes, of course
@@neotil1 thank you!!subbed:)
Hello all, did the replacement and found myself in a very weird situation. Bought a used japanese new 3ds off of eBay. The top screen was extremely yellowed so I endeavoured to do a top screen replacement. It worked pretty well (except for the plastic lcd cover not coming off of the old screen, adhesive ripped, waiting for a new screen cover).
Other than accidentally ripping the mb connector for the home button, everything else went surprisingly well. Until today I noticed the strangest issue. If/when I press either R button or select button, it presses both of them. So system treated a R button press as R+select, same with select. Anyone experience anything like this? I installed rehid to map home button to select+start, but I already tried removing that config to see if it was an issue. I opened the 3ds back up to reseat the R button cable, still nothing. I'm not a 100% sure if this is hardware or software.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
At 29:23 I opened the connector thinking it was a latch now when I try to turn on the 3ds it makes a popping sound and doesn't light up anywhere on screen. I was wondering if I needed to buy a new motherboard or is it a different problem? Thanks in advance.
That's the bottom screen backlight connector. Unfortunately, if it's bent it will prevent your 3DS from booting. Are you able to bend it back into place? (Applying pressure onto the cable with something like a paper towel wedged between it and the housing might help as well).
If you broke the piece off, your motherboard unfortunately needs to be fixed. Replacing the connector requires soldering, so you'll need to take it to a repair shop (or replace the board entirely).
I hope you can bend it back into place! Good luck
@@neotil1I think I fixed it as the screen is flickering when I start it up however the top screen is unresponsive
Are you sure the top screen is connected properly?
Make sure the speaker ribbon cable is inserted into the connector on the motherboard properly and also check if the top screen is also connected to the speaker ribbon cable in the top half of the 3DS (two small ribbon cables)
I made the same mistake but was able to bend it back somewhat. I then cut a small piece of 0.5mm thermal pad and used it to secure the connector and ribbon cable in place.
Hi mate, do you know if there are ips replacements available? I don't want to replace it with a TN display if possible. Cheers
Thank you so much for a straightforward and detailed tutorial! (Nintendo console fixes are relatively new for me, so I appreciate u being one of the few super helpful TH-camrs out there!)
By chance, have u ever replaced a ZIF Connector?
There’s a N3DS XL (2012) motherboard where one of these gray latches fell off and disintegrated. I’ve got a donor motherboard (water-damaged) but still have no idea how to get the latches on/off.
Just thought I’d ask your expertise (as it seems to be a common problem but videos / detailed instructions are lacking)
I'll try and make one later today. If I don't post anything, please remind me in a couple days :)
Made this for you specifically ❤️ th-cam.com/video/4vQQOG1hmxA/w-d-xo.html
Just kidding, I've gotten dozens of requests haha. But in the end your comment motivated me to (finally) create a video. I hope it helps!
Thank you 1000x over!! Omg I never expected a response day-of, let alone a TUTORIAL- I can’t wait to finally have this nightmare-of-a-console fixed! Thank you!
Don’t know if you’ll ever see this but do you have any idea where I can find a replacement new 3ds screen? It’s like impossible to find parts and I desperately want to fix mine
Thank you so much, you make a hard repair kinda easy.
I have an issue, when I fully close the 3ds it refuses to turn on, if its not screwed in fully but the bottom is only half screwed on it'll turn on. Any pressure makes it turn off then it has to be disasembled and the 3 ribbon cables on the back need to be taken off and put in again.
I can get it to start but if its pressed on where the DS cart slot is located it shuts off and must be reseated.
@@BEkov-kd8cf It sounds like something isn't connected properly. It could be that your connectors are just worn out, I've had that with a couple consoles. To fix that, you need to solder a new connector in place which isn't doable if you don't have good equipment.
Still, to be sure it's not something else: disconnect all the "unnecessary" parts. The only things you want to have connected are the speaker/backlight cable, the top screen cable, the bottom backlight and screen cable, the power board and in case you have an old 3DS, make sure the WiFi chip is plugged in. (Make sure camera, touch, microphone, SD card reader, analog stick, C-Stick if you have one, game card reader if you have one, are disconnected.) The 3DS should boot up just fine. See if your issue persists. Then you probably need a new motherboard (read: a new 3DS). If this solved your issue, one of the separate parts are defective. Reconnect them one after each other (disconnecting the battery in between) and see which part is the culprit.
Wish you the best of luck!
I have a few problems with my N3DS XL with the LCD touch screen showing black lines, and soon to be black spots. After that I found myself in a tough spot. My Home Button doesn’t work. I tried paper under the HB cable, putting pressure, and the small needle technique which didn’t do good. If anyone has any ideas to what I can do to fix it please let me know.
Great video! I liked how, near the end, you mentioned some troubleshooting tips if screens don't come on after power.
If you have some time, maybe you could weigh in on an issue I'm seeing with bootup?
- I press the power button, it stays blue.
- Neither screen displays anything, yet **I hear the main menu sounds** in the background.
- I am able to manipulate the touch screen just fine.
Does this sound like an issue with the camera? Or something entirely different?
New 3DS (not XL)? It could be the camera, so just leave it unplugged. Did the screens work before the repair? Are you sure you inserted the top display flex the right way around?
@@neotil1 Thanks for the response!
It was probably the camera. I replaced it and the top screen at the same time and all was working again.
I wish there were more repair vids for the N3DS out there. It seems to be the white whale of 3DS family consoles.
I bought a 3ds from a pawn shop months ago in hopes of refurbishing it at some point and i was hoping you could help me figure out where to get some of the necessary parts for it.
1. I need new screen lens for the top screen due to it being scratched by the bottom screen, I've looked on ebay and some of the lenses look like they're for the Xl so I'm skeptical on where to find some
2. the entire system doesn't have its matte paint anymore and is just smooth, if you could help me find a paint that's similar to the one on the system I would appreciate that as well
3. I may need a new bottom screen since some parts look washed out than a majority of the screen so if you know where to look please let me know
i'm not sure if you can answer all of these but if you can answer just one and leave a link it'd mean a lot.
I'm assuming you're talking about the new 3DS (as the o3DS is supposed to be glossy/smooth)...
1. something like this should work: a.aliexpress.com/_BTB7D8
2. just get any acrylic paint in a color of your liking as well as some 2k matte clear coat. it is very important you clear coat the paint! if you don't, the paint will scratch/wear off very quickly. 2k clear is automotive grade and will hold up a long time. make sure to disassemble the console completely and paint the housing pieces separately. (I've never painted a housing before, so I don't know if the results will be good)
3. something like this should work: a.aliexpress.com/_BOMX86
@@neotil1 thank you so much! This is gonna make refurbishing this system a whole lot easier : )
I followed everything but now the 3D is on and can’t be adjusted by the slider; I’ve already gone and checked to see if the slider piece was aligned properly and still nothing. Would greatly appreciate for some help
So the latch at 4:00 came off how do I reattach it or is that not possible and whenever I try to power it on it makes a pop. When I put it all together it powers on and works but if I plug and play it just shuts off and I have it on for a minute and it shuts off. Please help
I really appreciate this video, although I was curious if you or anyone knows whether a latch could be fixed if the little latch comes off. A while back I wasn’t careful and accidentally took off the latch for the touch screen and I really don’t know what to do :(
Excelente video tutorial que gusta da ver un buen video sin música entorpecedora o con terrible voz al hablar y tan completo como el suyo, felicitaciones excelente video siga así ! Saludos desde Ecuador
can I use a heat gun to replace the screen lens without opening the 3ds or will that damage the screen
To replace only the camera would it be necessary to split the two halfs?
Yes, unfortunately
Would this method be the same for a 2ds XL? I’ve been meaning to fix it for a while but was unsure if this would work
The n2DSXL is quite different. Try to find a guide for it specifically
Does Nintendo use a third party brand for their upper screens? Which brand is the same or closest for a replacement for a New 3DS XL? Are the other brands of the same quality?
afaik all replacement displays are original screens pulled from consoles or they're factory surplus. They look exactly as good as the original LCDs.
Thanks a lot! I was able to replace my screen but I think I blew a fuse bc it only plays when plugged in. Do you know where the fuses are in this specific model?
Did it work beforehand? Demo units only work when plugged in, but I haven't heard fuses causing the issue you described
@@neotil1 Yes, it used to work properly before. This only started happening after the replacement, so it’s definitely something I did
This happened to me today. I’ve had a 3DS for around 7 years, I never have broken the screen. But today it happened… I have this really old 3DS case and it’s been on my 3ds for a while (basically since i’ve first gotten it) and today I was trying to take it off from the top part, and the screen broke. It’s not fully broken, It’s still playable. Kind of… Basically like a small area of the screen is not visible. I really regret trying to take off the case.. I just hope i’m able to fix it eventually.
Hello! I really like your tutorial, but i have an issue. It does the "popping" sound, and down screen flashes and upper not, but i connected the wires just how you showed me. Could there be a problem with how i went with it through the barrel? Thanks!
Sounds like your top screen and/or speaker ribbon cable is either not connected properly or is damaged. Try reconnecting both parts. If that doesn't work, you may have broken one of the cables during reassembly and need to purchase a replacement :/
@@neotil1 First of all, thanks for the reply! Youre an amazing guy. I recconected them, but nothing happened. Is there a possibility, that it cant turn on because maybe i did a bad job with cable going through the barrel? I think right now all i can do is to repeat that job. I bought screen from ebay and reviews said that its great. Really hope that wasnt a scam.
I've never had a bad screen and I've bought over 100 replacement so I doubt your screen was bad... Thing is, these cables are extremely fragile and it's very common for novice technicians to rip cables during installation (tiny micro-tears).
So the only tip I can give you is to disassemble the 3DS completely and inspect every single cable and connector thoroughly. If you can't find any defects, plug everything in (but don't install it into the housing yet) and perform a "bench test". Just see if the thing powers on while you have good access to all the cables/connectors. If it still doesn't work, you might need a new screen, speaker ribbon or worst case, a new motherboard.
Where can I get the screen? I look it up but don’t really know where to reliably get one
So i replaced the top screen of my New 3ds xl and in the process broke the Ribbon Cabel of the Speaker and the Volume/3d Slider (And also the speaker themselves broke from the board because their cabels are weak af) I just finishd building it together because i thought maybe the system dosent checks for it because only one of the 2 "boards" is disconnected. Now if i plug in my charger it just flashes the Charging Ligth for a second and then turns it of again and neither of the screens flashes so i wanted to ask if the 3ds checks if the speaker cable is broke.(I wanted to replace the speaker anyways but just wanted to rule out thath it isnt anything other)
Hope everything is understandable as english isnt my first language.
Edit:And if i need to replace the speakers could you maybe name me good sources from where to get them?
Where did u get the screen replacement
After replacing the screen, sometimes when opening the top screen will flash and then the 3ds will turn off. I've removed and reassembled, double-checked the connecting cables to make sure it's not loose or broken, but the 3ds still turns off. May I ask is this a screen broken or did I install it incorrectly?
Nice vid! Whats the model of driver you are using?, looks nice for the smaller stuff
Thanks! Do you mean the screwdriver? It's a Wowstick :)
@@neotil1 thanks gonna add that to my arsenal
THIS VIDEO IS AMAZING!!!
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
do you have a guide for the bottom screen?
Hi! Great video, it really helped. I have a problem, the bottom shell doesn't close properly, specifically in the leds part. Do you or anyone have any advise? I really made sure everything is in place. Thanks in advance
Would it be possible to do a shell swap from a Japanese 3ds to an American one? Like would just swapping the motherboards be feasible?
Yes, of course! :)
hey not sure if you will see this but do you have place to recommend me to buy a top screen replacement for the N3ds xl?
AliExpress
I have a crack in the middle where the two screens are connected and it is almost split in two separate parts also it doesn't turn on as you could guess because I really fucked it up.
when i try to power on, tghe blue light turns on and then back off. when i try to turn on again it does power on, but the touch screen doesnt work help!