iFixit - Answers With Device "Super Nintendo"

Super Nintendo: My super nintendo does not load all games and only some partialy

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 22:38:23 -0700

I recently bought this snes from a garage sale and found that it didnt load games, after leaving it on for a couple hours with super mario world in (a game i know i know works from my other snes) i hit the reset button and it poped up with the nintendo logo but thats all, i tried other games and found that it would partially load mario kart (i could go through the menu but would fall off the track as soon as a race started) i then tried mario all stars with no issues at all. after trying every game in my collection, no others work on this snes but work perfectly on my other snes. please help me, this snes is in beautiful condition and i would love to see it working.

⟐ Answered October 10, 2025 at 22:38 MST

Super Nintendo: What is causing my image problems?

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 01:32:49 -0700

I have 2 SNES consoles. I load Donkey Kong 2 one one and it looks great. I load it on my other and it looks funny. See images attached for what it should look like and what it does look like. I have a SNS-CPU-RGB-01. I'm assuming one of my chips needs replacement but I'm not sure which

⟐ Answered August 26, 2025 at 1:32 MST

Super Nintendo: Why does the same game not play in different consoles

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 06:33:52 -0700

I have 2 copies of donkey kong 3 and neither one will let me play 2 player. I can choose it but when it asks for 2nd player's name it freezes up. I have tried both games in 2 different consoles. What can I do? Thank you

⟐ Commented July 02, 2025 at 6:33 MST

Super Nintendo: Why do my games only play in black and white?

Sun, 11 May 2025 15:08:20 -0700

Whenever I start the console, the games have no color. It only plays in black and white. It must be a problem with my console because I've tried playing the games on a friend's SNES and they played in full color.

⟐ Commented May 11, 2025 at 15:08 MST

Super Nintendo: Why doesn’t my TV get a signal from my Nintendo?

Thu, 08 May 2025 12:59:20 -0700

When I turn my Nintendo on, the TV says “no signal”. The Nintendo is on (the red light is on), I’ve set the TV to COMP/AV and I’ve plugged the red and white cables into the red and white plugs but have no yellow plug for the yellow cable.. I tried plugging it in all the other colored plugs and it still hasn’t worked (that’s what I do with my DVD player, which works).

My TV is HD.. is it possible that it is too new and isn’t compatible with the Nintendo?

I also had to purchase a new AC adapter.. is it possible that it’s not strong enough?

Thanks in advance!

⟐ Commented May 08, 2025 at 12:59 MST

Super Nintendo: video problem distorted glitch picture

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 03:48:07 -0700

So got this SNES for repair with distorted picture, when I opened it I found the caps were leaking so my guess was that they were the culprit. After replacing them nothing changed so I don't really know what to do next. I guess it's a ppu problem but I'd like to have a second opinion or if someone can think of something else. Sound works perfectly. Thanks!

https://imgur.com/a/mQIzvUj

⟐ Answered March 11, 2025 at 3:48 MST

Super Nintendo: What is a good setup w/links hopefully to what I need to whiten shell

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 08:31:23 -0700

I've seen so many restoration video projects where the tech puts both the top and bottom part of the shell depending on console (could be PS1 as well), in a solution of hydrogen peroxide and a UVB light pointed at them. Ive researched and learned that yellowing can be fixed be this combination of hydrogen peroxide and UVB light in the 280-315 nm range. However when I google search, all I find is UVA and UVB light apparatus for cannabis farming or other applications. Does anyone have a good link to a good product that will complete the task that I intend to do? Any help would much be appreciated; and also if there's something other than hydrogen peroxide that should be added to the wash (think Ive seen a nickel based solution added before in the past too); please let me know. Thanks so much for anyone that can help me out with this!

-BrakShow

⟐ Commented January 13, 2025 at 8:31 MST

Super Nintendo: Why do I have no image?

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 14:41:17 -0700

My SNES powers on but I cannot see any image on my tv. I have tried the rca cables as well as the coaxial cable and still nothing.

⟐ Answered September 13, 2024 at 14:41 MST

Super Nintendo: Why does my controller work with only 1 game?

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 13:41:25 -0700

So my SNES will play NCAA basketball just fine on any controller i have. but i put in anything else, the controller only partially works or just the buttons and not the d-pad. for example i put in Super Playaction football and only the A button works. But i put back in NCAA basketball the controller works just fine all buttons and dpad. so i know the controller cant be the cuprit. Any help on this as i love my SNES and want to be able to play it would be super appreciated!

⟐ Commented August 07, 2024 at 13:41 MST

Super Nintendo: Snes strange sound issues.

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 01:24:11 -0700

My snes board is shvc-cpu-01. it has the removable sound module and my system is having some strange audio behavior. I replaced all the capacitors except for the 1000uf 25v rubycon at c67 because it seemed ok. Replacing the capacitors did nothing so i'm thinking that the sound module may be bad. Any tips or suggestions are appreciated. Here's an example of what i mean: https://youtu.be/axiNo6s4dKQ

⟐ Answered August 05, 2024 at 1:24 MST

Super Nintendo: My console wont power on

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 17:53:58 -0700

I have everything plugged in where it should go, but there is nothing - not even a blank screen - coming up. The power light on the front left isn't lighting up either. How do I fix this?

⟐ Answered April 10, 2024 at 17:53 MST

Super Nintendo: SNES turns on but only displays black screen.

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 18:08:22 -0700

A while back I bought a broken SNES thinking I might be able to fix it. It wasn't that expensive so I figured it would be fine if it doesn't work. I'm tired of looking at it and it being nothing more than an expensive paperweight, so I finally went here to ask for help. When I plug it in and turn it on with starfox (untested since I don't have another SNES) in it, my tv goes from a no signal screen to a black screen so it clearly knows my SNES is there. I opened it up and can't see any obviously broken parts or obvious corrosion. I think I'm using a knockoff power cable but the AV seems legit so maybe the power cable is bad? I can borrow a multimeter or something to test it. I don't think my tv is a CRT but I'm using the AV ports in the actual tv with no adapter so I don't think that's an issue but I can possibly test it with my friend's CRT. Can anyone tell me what might be wrong? I'll try to give any information you need but I don't really want to purchase any more games since it might end up not working and the games are too expensive that.

Super Nintendo: SNES games don't work.. any reasons why?

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 06:14:47 -0700

Hello! I've got a few 'new' SNES games from a friend to hit time dead for a while. Sadly, one of the games didn't work. It showed a black Screen instead. I had the same problem with Hebeke's Popoitto, but this game destroyed my Reset-Button for Whatever reason..

I keep the port (or the console in general) very clean, and the same goes with the games. The games work fine on my friend's SNES. I even check if i have the right games (PAL ver.) and even that is not the issue.. the games aren't bootlegs or 'hacked'. All plugs are plugged in correctly, they're not loose. And some other games work perfectly fine. Is there any reason why certain games don't work?

I was planning on getting a few more games, but i'm scared that they may won't work too.

Important Information: http://nintendo.wikia.com/wiki/File:Supe... That's the console/prototype I actually mean, just in case this helps.

⟐ Commented February 09, 2024 at 6:14 MST

Super Nintendo: Why is my picture distorted?

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 08:34:20 -0700

I brought my snes out of storage after a few years. I hooked it up properly, inserted super mario world, turned it on and I could clearly read the words "Nintendo presents" but when it went to the next screen the picture looks jumbled-like a jigsaw puzzle that's missing pieces. I tried another game and it was the same. I cleaned the games and the console. I tried 3 other t.v.s and it's the same. I have audio, but a jumbled picture. Any ideas why, or how to fix it would be great.

⟐ Answered November 21, 2023 at 8:34 MST

Super Nintendo: SNES won’t power on

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 12:48:38 -0700

I’ve changed the Pico fuse, the power supply and barrel jack work, and so does the switch… I turn it on and I get no light… any ideas?

⟐ Commented October 12, 2023 at 12:48 MST

Super Nintendo: Why is my screen just rainbow-colored blocks?

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 21:32:03 -0700

Hi, technically, I have the revised model, but since that section of the site was empty, I thought that I would have a better chance of getting a response here.

So, I was given a SNES from someone, but it doesn't work. I was given some games along with the console. When I try most of them, I just get a "no signal" on my TV. With one, however, it gives me random rainbow-colored blocks on my tv sometimes. When it doesn't, (it usually doesn't) it just says no signal. The rainbow-colored blocks are different every time too.

Oh, and I'm using an N64 AV cable. I know that one works fine.

Thanks

⟐ Commented October 02, 2023 at 21:32 MST

Super Nintendo: Why is my screen showing distorted images/ colors?

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 03:49:10 -0700

⟐ Commented August 02, 2023 at 3:49 MST

Super Nintendo: No Power Issue SNES

Sat, 17 Jun 2023 06:55:33 -0700

My SNES has stopped working, measuring the output of the power cord, the max I got was 1 volt, does this mean it is the power cables fault? This all started when the console fell, so I have checked the insides of the console and the charger, the console looked completely fine on the inside. I tried to measure from the chargers transformer itself but I don’t know which parts to put my prongs on. Most likely I think it’s the cable, I don’t think it’s the power connector itself, I have measured around the same voltage on the console itself that I did on the power cable. On Continuity mode, I put one prong on one of the power prongs, one on the other side of the cable, no beeping.

⟐ Answered June 17, 2023 at 6:55 MST

Super Nintendo: Theres a slot on the bottom of the console whats it for?

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 20:58:12 -0700

On the bottom of my SNES console there is a slot for something but i have no clue what. it has a protective cover and on the cover is simply the letters EXT. I am guessing its for some type of extension....However since i do not have the orginal manual that came with my Nes when i received it when i was little i cant be sure and have yet to find any way to find out what its for or what purpose it serves...

⟐ Answered June 02, 2023 at 20:58 MST

Super Nintendo: Power, audio turning on but no visuals out of TV.

Sun, 26 Mar 2023 12:49:52 -0700

My Super Nintendo is turning on but no visuals come out of the tv when I put in most cartridges. When I put in a game the Audio of the game will play and the no signal sign will turn off but nothing will show on the Tv. I was able to play one game after a few reset tries but it doesn’t seem to be a reliable fix when I switch out games. For all my games the audio will play on the Tv but nothing will come up. Any suggestions here? Maybe I just need to clean it if so how can I do that?

⟐ Edited by author March 26, 2023 at 12:49 MST