iFixit - Answers With Device "Nintendo DS"

Nintendo DS: Ds does not show anything black and light is green

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 07:28:00 -0700

So I just started my DS after I replaced the outer shell and inside shell and now it stopped working like it just shows black screens what I turned on and the light is green and I tried to find some you know shortage and Wi-Fi chip because I know that in the Wi-Fi chip, there’s the bios and firmware, but I couldn’t find anything so if someone could help because he had the same problem and fix it please send me the guide and how to fix this. I want to fix my ideas without going to the repair shop.

⟐ Commented October 20, 2025 at 7:28 MST

Nintendo DS: Hinge on the right is broken, is there any way to fix?

Sat, 19 Jul 2025 21:39:45 -0700

Hi, I have an original first-generation DS exactly like the one in the photo, except the hinge on the right hand side underneath the top screen is broken. Is there any way to just fix the hinge or would I have to replace the whole top LCD screen?

⟐ Commented July 19, 2025 at 21:39 MST

Nintendo DS: My Nintendo DS is snapped in half!

Fri, 30 May 2025 01:16:43 -0700

Is there are way to fix it?

⟐ Commented May 30, 2025 at 1:16 MST

Nintendo DS: Nintendo DS touch screen problem

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 14:26:03 -0700

My DS's touch screen is "avoiding" a certain points on the though screen, even when I recalibrate it.

Any fixes?

⟐ Answer accepted February 24, 2025 at 14:26 MST

Nintendo DS: Green light turns on but does not start up

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 04:28:19 -0700

I have an original Nintendo DS that I haven't used for a couple years. Today I tried turning it on and the green light turns on but the screens stay off and there's no audio, so I think it doesn't start up at all. I can charge it fine and I've tried using another battery but it did not solve the problem. What sort of problem could this be?

⟐ Commented February 16, 2025 at 4:28 MST

Nintendo DS: Why does the power light turn green then orange then shut off?

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 03:01:51 -0700

I am currently fixing an old Nintendo DS. I had put in a battery and by the fact that the bottom screen flashed but the top didn't, I replaced the top screen ribbon. However, when I closed up the new shell (old one was destroyed) and put in the battery to try and power it, it didn't turn on at all other than the power going green, then turning orange then shutting off. Unlike before, the screen doesn't even flash. Any ideas as to what may be wrong?

⟐ Commented February 12, 2025 at 3:01 MST

Nintendo DS: My Nintendo Ds doesn't start and only shows a white screen

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 02:01:15 -0700

Hi everyone! Just wondering what I should do here? My Ds is fully charged and worked fine until I took the back shell off to clean it. Now the only thing that happens is the bottom screen flashes white for a split second and it shuts off. Not getting anything on the top screen either. If you have any tips it would be greatly appreciated!

⟐ Answered November 20, 2024 at 2:01 MST

Nintendo DS: Turns on then IMMEDIATELY shuts down.

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 12:13:46 -0700

I have a DS with a broken hinge and I purchased a broken DS to just replace the shell, I cracked open the broken one to replace everything but right as soon as I got the MOBO out of the case, something prevented me from continuing, and I just slapped everything together.

Flash forward about a year, and I go and try to turn on the DS to make sure it still worked. The green light came on, however it immediately turned off.

I cracked it open yet again to see what the problem could be. and everything seemed 100% fine. Cabled were nice and snug, all the screws were in place, but it just wouldn't turn on completely.

⟐ Commented November 04, 2024 at 12:13 MST

Nintendo DS: Audio doesn't work

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 08:21:37 -0700

Good evening, I received a Nintendo DS which works perfectly except for the audio. Before trying to change the speaker, are there any other ways to fix this? Luca

⟐ Commented October 22, 2024 at 8:21 MST

Nintendo DS: DS top screen is just white, possible damage from capture card?

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 02:20:33 -0700

I've had my DS phat with a capture card for several years, I've had to do some repairs on it every now and then but right now I'm having an issue that I'm not sure how to fix. It was working as normal and suddenly the top screen was pulsing white. I tried disconnecting and reconnecting the screen ribbon cables (I have a capture card, I tried both with and without the capture card) and now the screen was just white with no other picture. I thought the screen might have broken so I tried replacing it with another screen which I knew was working, but it had the same issue, with and without capture. This made me think the connector on the motherboard was broken. After replacing the mother board and trying again (with the newly replaced top screen), it was still just white with no picture, with and without capture card. I also tried replacing the ribbon connector board in the top shell, and it was still just white. I didn't try it with the capture card because I think that my capture card is causing the issue. It might have broken/shorted and causes something to break or short in the motherboard or connectors. I'm probably going to get a replacement DS and capture card, but I wanted to post here to see if anyone has any other ideas. Any help is appreciated.

EDIT: I put all of the original parts back in my DS and it still doesn't work (which makes sense). I put all of the original parts back in my spare DS (where I got the other top screen, motherboard, and top screen connector that I knew worked), and everything works fine. So I know all these parts work with each other, but when I try them in my DS, still just white screens. I'm really not sure what could be the problem but I'm going to keep looking into it, and use a voltmeter.

⟐ Commented October 11, 2024 at 2:20 MST

Nintendo DS: Original DS screw post broke and stops it from opening.

Sat, 01 Jun 2024 17:36:17 -0700

I have an original Nintendo DS that I am doing a shell swap on because the old shell has become yellowed and really brittle. It’s literally crumbling away as I touch it. I was taking off the bottom piece of the shell, but one of the screw posts broke and it’s blocking it from opening. I can’t get the screw out and the post won’t fit through the whole in the motherboard because it’s too wide on the end with the broken plastic. I tried to cut it but my flush cutters won’t fit in the small space I can open it. I don’t want to break the bottom shell piece because it’s in good condition and not brittle. If anyone has any ideas on how to get it out I would be eternally grateful.

I’ll attach an image so you can see what I’m dealing with. (Sorry they’re not that good it was hard to take the photos.

Thank you for your help. I appreciate any answer than can help me get this thing open.

⟐ Answer accepted June 01, 2024 at 17:36 MST

Nintendo DS: Hinge broke and I have to replace the antenna cable what type of …

Fri, 10 May 2024 11:08:27 -0700

What type of connector is it cause id like to just replace the cable but idk if its u.fl or something else

⟐ Answer edited May 10, 2024 at 11:08 MST

Nintendo DS: DS not turning on or charging after screen and shell replacement

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 07:58:47 -0700

My bottom screen needed a replacement because there was a black line across it. I also wanted to change the shell while I am at it. Before I worked with my DS, I made sure everything was still working. This included charging, all buttons, game reading. Everything worked fine and so I started and carefully put everything together in the new shell. I tried to power it on but it doesn’t power on anymore. It doesn’t even charge either. I tried reinserting all the ribbon cables multiple times and tried new batteries but that doesn’t work. It has turned to paperweight. How do I figure out what happened? I have a multimeter but I don’t know what part of the DS does what as I’m not experienced with electronics. Any help would be appreciated!

Edit: Did some testing with continuity using my multimeter and it looks like I may have blown a fuse. Idk how since I used padding on the bottom screen to separate it with the motherboard. On the F2, I touched the right side of the F2 and the left side of the battery and my multimeter beeps. Every other combination with F2 and the battery doesn't work. Does that mean the fuse is blown?

⟐ Edited by author April 30, 2024 at 7:58 MST

Nintendo DS: DS won't turn on after charging?

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 21:10:41 -0700

I recently grabbed my old original DS from home and was happy to see that it still powered on without being charged after several years. Later on, I plugged it into a wall outlet using a GBA charger and watched the orange light illuminate for about a second, and then turn off. Now it won't power on, and the orange light won't stay on even if held in different orientations. I opened it up and saw some black corrosion (I think?) around the bottom of the charging port. Should I attempt to replace the battery or clean the port? Is it fixable without replacing the port completely?

⟐ Answered January 10, 2024 at 21:10 MST

Nintendo DS: Original DS Broken in half how could I fix it?

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 07:23:00 -0700

I know where to buy the shell cause but idk what or where to buy everything else

⟐ Answered November 30, 2023 at 7:23 MST

Nintendo DS: X button only works after putting IPA on it

Sun, 30 Jul 2023 19:47:00 -0700

As the title says, my X button on my original fat DS is unresponsive unless I dab some IPA on the microswitch, in which case it will work again for a little bit. But it eventually goes back to being unresponsive again. I'm not sure what to do.

Nintendo DS: X button is unresponsive

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 04:28:36 -0700

All of my buttons work except for the X button. It still clicks when I press it, but there is no response from the game. I've tried it on a few games and when the DS first turns on, where you can click any button to proceed to the main menu. What are my options?

⟐ Commented July 12, 2023 at 4:28 MST

Nintendo DS: Why do the speakers sound wrong sometimes?

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 18:25:16 -0700

I have an original Nintendo DS with speakers that sometimes sound wrong, like the sound is somewhat distorted. It can be noticed in the startup sound. They do not always sound wrong though, only sometimes at seemingly random points. From what I've read online, this could be due to a battery problem, but I'm not sure.

Nintendo DS: Nintendo DS doesn't start up, both screens white

Sat, 29 Apr 2023 15:32:48 -0700

Yesterday I wanted to calibrate the touch screen on my Nintendo DS Fat model. But I could not go to the settings. The DS would just completely freeze after I pressed the settings icon. Pictochat also wouldn't work, but I could still load my games fine.

I decided to take the battery out and put it back in. But that made it even worse. When starting the DS up, you see the Nintendo DS logo on the top screen and after that both screens turn white and you cannot do anything. This happens with the DS cartridge both in and out.

I have made a video on the issue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fpHGUQa...

⟐ Answer edited April 29, 2023 at 15:32 MST

Nintendo DS: My DS does not take a charge

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 18:44:48 -0700

I bought a used Nintendo DS, but when I plug an ac adapter into it, no orange light appears. I've opened my DS twice now and still see no issues with it. What am I doing wrong and how can I get it to work again? Thank you.

Here is my correct motherboard.

⟐ Answer edited April 11, 2023 at 18:44 MST