iFixit - Answers With Device "Nintendo 3DS XL"

Nintendo 3DS XL: How do I fix my black top screen on a 3ds xl?

Sun, 15 Oct 2017 07:22:07 -0700

My 3ds xl's top screen is completely black when I turn it on-botton screen works fine. No damage to screen known, just unresponsive. I noticed theres a slight crack to the casing by the right trigger- not sure if that was there before. Any ideas on how to fix it? Thanks!

⟐ Commented October 15, 2017 at 7:22 MST

Nintendo 3DS XL: 3ds xl powers on but won't boot

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 19:31:12 -0700

Its 2 in the morning and I have been trying to repair a 3ds xl for hours. I am at my wits end here, so bear with me. I bought a broken 3ds xl off ebay thinking I could repair it. I do Ds lites all the time, and stupid me thought I could handle the complexities of a 3ds xl. First mistake. Second mistake was that i bought more than one. 3 (already broken) motherboards, 3 top screens, 1 stripped screw and various other swapping of parts later, I still don't have a fully functional 3ds xl. Here's my problem. When put completely together (minus a few screws for the sake of time), The 3ds powers on, the screens turn on (as in the backlight turns on) but the screens remain black. Things I've tried: Reseating all of the ribbon cables. Checking the wifi module to see if it's connected. Swapping the wifi module. Swapping the battery. Holding the power button down for 10 seconds while holding the wifi button simultaneously. I am already looking into buying a (functional) 3ds xl, so before you give me the Very Helpful (insert sarcasm here) suggestion of buying a new one (or a "New" 3ds xl), Please do me a favor and Don't.

TL;DR: I'm hungry, tired, and desperate. Please help me.

Edit: I forgot to mention that I have one more motherboard that I haven't yet tried. Should I try swapping that one out, or am I screwed?

⟐ Commented March 28, 2023 at 19:31 MST

Nintendo 3DS XL: How can I fix a "black screen of death" 3DS XL

Mon, 05 Dec 2016 20:39:45 -0700

Hello,

My bottom screen was broken, so I followed your guide in replacing it and all seemed well, except now when I power on the device, the power light stays on and stays blue, however both screens are black. Their backlights are on, but I have no sound or picture. What can I do? thank you.

⟐ Answer accepted December 05, 2016 at 20:39 MST

Nintendo 3DS XL: 3ds xl Top screen replacement guide

Thu, 19 Jul 2018 08:51:04 -0700

Hi,

Does anybody tried to replace 3ds xl top screen, do you have any guides?

Thanks for any help.

⟐ Commented July 19, 2018 at 8:51 MST

Nintendo 3DS XL: Best way to repair broken shell

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 20:00:13 -0700

After a couple of falls the hinge that contains the green spot pass light (upper right corner) broke off. This break has caused the upper screen to detach from the lower. Is their a good way to repair or replace this part?

⟐ Commented December 12, 2022 at 20:00 MST

Nintendo 3DS XL: Power light turns on, but the speakers pop and it turns off.

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 06:57:59 -0700

So I was letting my 5 yr old brother use the device (foolish, I know, but I'm just too nice a guy for my own sake), and he dropped it on the ground. It immediately shut off and now what's happening is I press the power button, the light goes on, stays for a few seconds like usual, but then the speakers "pop" and the whole thing is off again. I tried opening it up but couldn't find anything I could recognize as out of order, but then again I didn't really go that deep. Does anyone know how to fix this?

⟐ Answer edited March 28, 2023 at 6:57 MST

Nintendo 3DS XL: How can I fix it if it broken in half

Mon, 19 Mar 2018 18:15:29 -0700

When I found it it was half broken how will I fix it?

⟐ Answer deleted March 19, 2018 at 18:15 MST

Nintendo 3DS XL: Can I unbrick my 3DS XL?

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 03:53:02 -0700

Two years ago, I tried to install something on my 3DS because I got a game from a friend that wasn’t compatible with my console. I found this guide https://3ds.hacks.guide/ and while following it, my 3DS stopped working. When I try turning it on, the screen stays black, but the blue light flashes once for like a second . I made some researches and it turned out that I apparently bricked my console? I was only 16 when I did this and was just so desperate to play Tomodachi life I had got from my friend, I didn’t really know what I was doing. I’m not really an expert at modding and such things, but I would really be happy if I could get my console to work again.

I dindn’t make a back up and I used the SD card that was in the 3DS when I got it which might also not have been the best move? Is there any hope left for my nintendo?

⟐ Answered April 09, 2025 at 3:53 MST

Nintendo 3DS XL: SD Card Not Detected

Sun, 06 Aug 2023 14:10:15 -0700

Could not detect an SD card message. Card works in other SD readers. Tried multiple SD cards and non can be detected. Tried cleaning the contacts and blowing out any dust or dirt without any success.

⟐ Commented August 06, 2023 at 14:10 MST

Nintendo 3DS XL: Makes poping sound and turns off.

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 11:36:36 -0700

A fw days ago I was playing my 3ds Xl and I closed the screen then I came back my 3DS made a poping noise and shut off. I mannaged to turn the brightness down to 1 and it dosn't turn off although the top screen appears to be on full brightness. So I tore it appart and I found that if i play with the ribbon cable it will come back to the 1 brightness. You know how the 3DS XL has 3 positions well it works fine on the 1 position but the other 2 start causing the problem (by 3 positions i mean:1 the first click, 2 the second click 3 all the way back). I got the New 3DS XL and I am trying to get the old one working so I can sell it. So I will not use nintendo's repair service. (They wanted $140 to fix it). Please Help! I have looked all over the internet but nothing is helping.

⟐ Answered April 25, 2023 at 11:36 MST

Nintendo 3DS XL: My 3DS XL has a block in the headphone port

Sat, 01 Nov 2014 22:40:20 -0700

When I were using my 3DS XL with headphones, the headphones broke and a piece got stuck in the headphone port. It means that I can only use headphones with a part removed. Here's what they look. (you can't see the block that's stuck there) What I can do to remove it?

⟐ Answered November 01, 2014 at 22:40 MST

Nintendo 3DS XL: How to reassemble 3DS XL hinge?

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 20:55:37 -0700

I am trying to repair my 3DS XL (original) since the hinge broke on the power LED side. The few videos I've seen show the ribbon side going in first, then opening the top part of the case and putting the barrel in. However, all the videos I've seen do a jump edit and the barrel is plunged deep into the top part towards the top LCD with no indication of how they got it there. I can't seem to force it in there and I don't want to break anything. I'd rather not remove the other screen if I don't have to, and it doesn't look like it has enough clearance to fit in from the other way even if I did that. Any help would be appreciated.

⟐ Commented November 05, 2024 at 20:55 MST

Nintendo 3DS XL: How do I remove a stripped screw in a Nintendo 3DS?

Mon, 15 Jul 2019 07:50:08 -0700

I have a Nintendo 3DS XL Pokemon Y Edition. First off, the reason that there is a stripped screw is because of me trying to fix another problem.

Like many other users, my system fell victim to the "black screen of death." Meaning the Wifi card needed some tinkering with.

The steps that are found here:

How do I fix my 3DS Error Problem?

Before attempting that, I looked around to see what size screwdriver I should be using. Many suggested a size x000 screwdriver. Which I tried, but I found that one found in an eyeglass repair kit worked wonders.

Now to my problem. One of the screw that is located under one of the rubber stoppers was screwed in way too tight. The screwdriver I had would catch in the grooves of the screw, but the screw itself would not turn.

I have tried methods that involve using a rubber band and balloons. and using a flat head screwdriver in that narrow crevice proved to be difficult.

At this point, I realize I'll need a new screw, but right now, my concern is getting this one screw out.

Any tips or suggestions?

⟐ Answer accepted July 15, 2019 at 7:50 MST

Nintendo 3DS XL: The sound does not work on my 3DS XL.

Sat, 29 Jul 2023 05:27:48 -0700

The speakers were cutting out for a while, but now they don't work at all. I tried ear buds to see if it was just the speakers, but there is no sound coming out of there either. There is no tutorial on how to fix the sound, just the mic. Will fixing the mic take care of the sound as well, or is there a way to fix the sound on its own?

⟐ Answered July 29, 2023 at 5:27 MST

Nintendo 3DS XL: How to fix retaining flap in 3ds

Tue, 31 Oct 2017 09:59:58 -0700

I opened my 3ds just to swap the housing. After i done everything i pressed the power button and the blue led pops up for a few seconds and turns off with a popping sound. I reconnected the top screen and speakers properly. I kept investigating what the problem was but i found the culprit. I broke the retaining flap on the bottom screen. (The small thin one beside the long one at the bottom) i had to press the ribbon cable onto the retaining flap slot to actually turn on the whole 3ds. Theres picture but touchscreen dosent work and the homescreen is just going everywhere (probably because i disconnected the annalog) Is there a way to fix those broken retaining flaps (those grey things) i lost like 3 of them. The only tools i can try fix thm is hot glue and black and red electrical tape. I'll probably just buy a new NTSC version of the board if i domt fix this.

⟐ Commented October 31, 2017 at 9:59 MST

Nintendo 3DS XL: Why is my 3DS crashing when I use the outer cameras?

Sat, 24 Jun 2017 16:25:01 -0700

The problem I'm having is a very strange one. Whenever I try using the outer cameras I get the following message:

"An error ocurred. Hold down the POWER Button to turn off the power, then turn it on and try again."

It also suggest to go to Nintendo's support website, where the only recommendation is to ship it abroad for a repair (I live in Latin America)

At first I thought it could be a software problem, but updating the device changed nothing. The device has taken a bit of a beating so I'm thinking maybe the camera connector got loose. However, I'd like to know if this has happened to anyone else before doing anything.

Thanks for helping

⟐ Answered June 24, 2017 at 16:25 MST

Nintendo 3DS XL: How to fix Blurry Top Screen / Blurry 3D Image?

Thu, 05 Feb 2015 13:48:28 -0700

I recently replaced the top screen of my 3DS XL with a brand new screen. Upon putting everything back together and turning the device on, I noticed that the 3D image is very blurry. I tested the 3d screen with different games and it's the same thing each time. I'd like to note that I confirmed this by showing it to different people, just to make sure it's not my eyesight that's screwed up. I've done as much research as I could, and can't seem to find a fix for it.

I've already tried cleaning the screen and even factory resetting the device. Any ideas on what I could do to fix this? Thanks in advance.

Nintendo 3DS XL: How to dislodge hinge?

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 14:00:10 -0700

I have to replace the top lcd of a 3DS XL (also known as 3DS LL) and have problems dislodging the hinge. I've done may 3DS's and Dsi's but this one seems to be a bit different. Normally, there is a plastic piece that needs to be removed so the metal hinge can be pushed to the inside of the console, however, the 3DS XL does not seem to have this plastic piece. It does however have the metal hinge, so it has to be moved somehow, only I can't find out how. I tried pulking at the plastic but all I did is chip of pieces of plastic. Unfortunately, the information available for this Nintendo is very limited. Only thing I could find is a tear down that was already linked in an earlier question, but in this specific tear down, the top is not dislodged from the bottom part, rendering it useless for replacing the top lcd. So if anybody has done this repair succesfully or knows how to do it, any help is much appreciated!

⟐ Commented April 02, 2025 at 14:00 MST

Nintendo 3DS XL: 3DS XL turns off ~3 seconds after powering it on

Sat, 29 Jul 2023 05:29:57 -0700

Hello,

So my 3DS XL is not working :(. I've taken it apart once before to fix a charging issue, so Nintendo is not going to fix this (much bigger problem imo) for me.

Here's what happens.

- Press the power button; the blue light comes on

- The blue power indicator remains on for approximately 3-4 seconds

- The 3DS XL powers off with a short "pop" noise

- The "pop" noise plus the blue power indicator turning off are the only forms of feedback - there is absolutely no feedback from either of the screens on the device.

Any ideas what the issue could be? I've read that it might be a damaged ribbon somewhere. I fear it may be a broken mobo, but I have no clue how to check this.

Thanks,

- Nate

⟐ Answered July 29, 2023 at 5:29 MST

Nintendo 3DS XL: How to fix bent charging port on 3DS XL?

Sat, 27 Jul 2019 13:56:12 -0700

My cat knocked my 3DS XL off of a dresser while it was charging, and the piece inside of the charging port is now bent. The charger can go in if I wiggle it a little bit, and the system is getting a charge, but the more i use the system, the more I notice that the charger easily comes out. It used to firmly stay it. How do I fix this?

⟐ Answered July 27, 2019 at 13:56 MST