Let's Fix: Nintendo 3DS Buttons Not Working
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- Опубліковано 2 гру 2024
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In this video I look at the first of two 3DS's that are in need of repair. This guy works perfectly with the crippling exception that none of the ABXY face buttons respond. Let's crack her open and see what the problem is and hopefully we can fix it without needing to buy any replacement parts.
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I remember trying to clean out the grime in the membrane of my A button a few years back but got intimidated by just how tiny the ribbon cables were and gave up. Having this video playing on the side as I slowly made my way to the buttons really helped, thank you so much! I don't have to press A multiple times for the input to register anymore :>
So I recently found my 3 ds again (first gen) and discovered that the B button seems to be unresponsive/only responds if pressed really hard and I was looking for a way to fix it when I stumbled upon this video. I am by far not talented enough to actually do what was shown in the video, but I learned a lot and found it to be rather interesting, keep up the good work
My "B" Button also doesn´t work very well, only if you press really hard too.
OMG mine doesn’t work either on my new Nintendo 3ds xl. It’s so strange how it suddenly stopped working. 🤔
@@nate.9730 yeah. It happen without warning
for me its the top D-pad. Im sure thats the same thing?
Same. Doesn't look that hard if following the video, but I don't have the patience or the nerve to try it myself. Lol
for something as common as this problem they sure do make it hard to get to the buttons. thanks for the vid!
I got my mic ribbon cable accidentally disconnected when I was reassembling the 3DS, but then I saw how to connect them later on with the circular pad ribbon. Thanks to you, my A and B buttons work again!
MUST READ!!!!: if you are using this as a guide for a new Nintendo 3ds xl the metal snap dome is like a sticker so don’t start by trying to peel the silver part first as It can break it (learned by experience) I thought I just had to peel off the silver part but no it’s a big sticker all connected. Also the residue is very strong so keep that in mind I’d recommend to start peeling at the white part and try to feel the sticker then use your nail or something else to start peeling. Try to go slow and not fast as going fast start to wear down the sticker. Once you have like a small part sticking up try to use that to get the sticker out and remember to not go to fast or you could rip it. Last thing try not to take too long as the residue can dry up (which happened to me but not sure if its because of my surroundings or something). When your done try to align the silver part with the screws because that’s where your button push is going too. When you put the sticker back on just screws everything back up and it should be good. Here’s some tips: If you take off the small ribbon cables remember to be gentle as they are fragile and when putting them back don’t but to much force as you can break then just align them and they should snap back together I find it way to do the one on the right first as it’s easy then the one on the left as i find it to be more difficult and take your time don’t rush it! Next tip: On the new Nintendo 3ds xl the buttons and c stick is on a different board connected by a ribbon cable you try to remove it but remember to be careful, personally I didn’t remove it as I was worried of breaking it but you can still see the buttons and fix then just remember that the ribbon cable is there and try not to bend it and keep in mind your movement with the board will be limited. And also when removing the two little circles that hide the screws keep in mind that they have very strong residue on them so it make take a bit to pull them out I recommend using a tool that can go in on the side of the little circles and doing a full circle around then then try to push it out with your tool. Lastly make should you have a big enough work space as you’ll be taking apart the 3ds you’ll need to keep and eye on them so they don’t get lost especially with the screws and try not to mix them up as they are different. Final thoughts, this video differently helped me in combination with a video of taking apart the new Nintendo 3ds xl I went in with my x and b button not working as I thought that some liquid had gotten in knowing me I had probably dropped something on it but when I opened it up it looked completely fine no gunk or anything in it I still rubbed the alcohol just in case and put the sticker back on but as I said I had broken my b buttons silver part on the sticker so now my b button doesn’t work at all at least it fixed my x button but I still wonder why my buttons weren’t working unless I pushed hard on then so I have either the choice to buy a new 3ds or a new metal snap done I’m probably going to buy a new one as my current one is in pretty poor condition as it’s fairly old but this video did help as it fixed my x button and would have probably fix my b button had I known how the metal snap dome worked but at least it fixed my x button so in conclusion I’ll give the video 9/10 very helpful but I’d wish they part where the metal snap dome was removed shown. Thanks for the video tho! 👍
I Wanted to say thank you I just watched your video you made 2 yrs ago. and it helped me fix a 3ds with the Buttons not working. soon as I finish fixing it I subscribed. Keep up the great work
Glad I could help!
This definitely helped me. I followed the iFixit guide to removing the motherboard so I could get to the face buttons. Looked like there was nothing I could do at that point. Didn't realize that there was just a sticker over the button contacts. Mine weren't as corroded, but the B button wasn't registering so I scraped off all the slight oxidation on the metal contact discs and cleaned both sides up with alcohol and the buttons work great now.
Fixed my a button thanks to this vid, was a little nervous as I’m not really a fixer but that a button was driving me crazy. Every time I hovered over the button it would automatically click what ever it was pointing at and it was annoying as fuck. It would just click for no reason. Bought a busted 3Ds on Facebook and so far I’ve replaced the left and right back buttons, opened it again and swapped both membranes while cleaning out the buttons. Fully modded it and now to truly enjoy this system for what it was meant to be for. Thank you.
Lovely stuff!
Great video! I didn't knew these button domes can be taken off and thought they were soldered. Thank you.
me too. bro
Ditto.
Thank you so much, this was an absolute pain to do but it has paid off well.
Just got a used 3DS for $50 because the A button wasn't working...which isn't a bad price in 2023 unfortunately. Following this video, I took it apart, saw a LOT of soda dried on and sticky in different places. I was surprised that it was just a problem with the A button with how widespread the soda was. Anywho, cleaned up all the soda and got it back to fully working condition. Thanks for the video!
thanks for making this vid, it was a huge help in getting my 3ds's x button to work again
Hi sir. I would like to thank you for this video. Mine now is functioning well. I have problem to my A button that is not responsive. Then after watched this i prepared my precision tools and with your guide, i absolutely did it. I can now continue my Castlevania game. God bless to you Sir. Edel from Philippines.
Thank you very much! It worked for me. Be careful with the volume slider, there is one inside and one outside
Can't seem to get the 5:11 rubber sock situation figured out. Edit: got it. Just pull up on the ribbon cable itself and the whole rubber piece will come with it.
BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL with the ribbon cable connecting the circle pad! The little plastic anchor CAN come off and is practically impossible to put back on.
^This 100%
This happened to me what do I dooo
This happened to me with a PS Vita and I spent a good hour or two getting it back in there
My R, L and A buttons have issues, and when I open my 3ds all the way it turns off. I wanted to try fixing it, thankfully you made a video like this
I know this is old video, but thanks to you, I fixed my 3ds a button! Thank you for great video
You were right to warn about those shoulder ribbon cables... I tried not detaching them and working around them like you did, and one ended up tearing. The good news is, the shoulder buttons weren't working either (in addition to the A button) so I was already going to replace them.
Also, your tutorial was amazing, but there was no corrosion with my A button, just grime in the membrane, which I cleaned, and now it takes two presses to register so I'm not sure what's wrong.
Edit: I basically drowned my A button in isopropyl and it works perfectly now, but the wireless switch is stuck, which makes me think that when I opened up the system initially I got it stuck somehow. I've never owned a 3ds... the wireless switch should be able to switch on and off right? It's stuck on on. There was a tiny black piece when I took it apart and I wasn't sure if it's supposed to go in front of the switch or behind, but when I looked closely at your video it looked like it was in front? But now it's stuck, so I'm honestly unsure.
Can you gently manually actuate the switch?
@@sjm4306 Hi! I fixed it -- the black piece is supposed to go in front of, not behind the slider. Thank you.
So my A button was working like normal but now it doesn't register unless I hit it a few times and it's less clicky than the other buttons. There's no corrosion and I already cleaned the dirt. Is it possible the metal round disk has been flattened over time, or should I give it another clean?
Great to hear about the wifi slider. Yep, your A button dome must have been slightly deformed/worn either through use or during cleaning. You may be able to get away with slightly bending the edges to restore the clicky action but it's pretty difficult and easier if you can just buy a replacement set of dome switches with pre-applied sticker for your model off ebay.
@@sjm4306 Well I'm looking on ebay and all I see are the buttons themselves. Do you reckon the domes are the same size for the 3ds xl (which has a seperate button board)?
Hmm, I honestly don't know off the top of my head. I think I have spare parts boards for both the 3ds and xl so when I get home I can give them a quick measure to see if the buttons are the same between them.
Also if you don't already have one, I'd highly recommend the Powergiant electric screwdriver. I mainly use it for my gaming PC, but boy howdy does it help a ton with the small screws for stuff like this.
what kind of screwdriver do you use? Cause when I try to unscrew the screws on 2:00 of the back of my 3ds xl I could only unscrew the top right and bottom right ones. For some reason, the left side isn't turning with my screwdriver.
Thanks for this, I bought a used 3ds of amazon, listed as in good shape and overall cant argue with that, but its got some seriously CRUNCHY buttons on the right side of it. Theres no issues despite the uh... aggressive crunching noise they make. The Y/B button tends to get caught and require slightly more pressure to click, and the wireless switch is. Well literally impossible to flick by hand. Need to use the butt of my tweezer to get it flicked.
I've tried using the toothbrush method to get the button cleaned, but its still finnicky. If i play around consistently with it, it seems to warm up but after the device sits for a little bit its back to being sticky. Guess this would be the next step to seeing whats wrong with it. Hopefully nothing annoying to fix up.
Figure i'll add a second thanks, turns out nothing was damaged. Just horribly, horribly dirty. Previous owner must have left it sat in soda, as the every nook and cranny inside had gummed up syrup in it. Really nasty. And it seems it might have been opened up by someone else at some point, my wireless button that i mentioned was difficult to slide? The plastic above the switch had been pressed in, probably by a screwdriver or file when it was pulled open. Thats fixed, my Y/Bs dont crunch anymore. Its still got a worn down quality that sets it apart from the other DS's i own, but its far far better than it was yesterday.
So thanks again for the tutorial!
Thanks man, my A bottom kinda works. Sometimes I have to press down at an angle, or it'll stop working randomly while holding it down
Heyy, what did you use to clean at 8:02, and also, where can I buy the film that you inserted after? I've been looking on various websites, but I can only find ones that are slightly different, which I'm not sure if would work on this console
I used isopropyl alcohol to clean and the film I inserted was the original button membrane pad that came with the 3ds installed onto the buttons. If yours is damaged you can buy a replacement one on ebay, just make sure to match it to your 3ds model and which side it is (dpad or abxy buttons).
Thank you very much I just fixed the buttons on my 3DS thanks to your video
This was exactly the tutorial I needed. Thank you very much!!
Hey this video rocks man! Where do you buy chemical contact cleaner though? I’m trying to find it online but I can’t get results that look like yours 😬
I got mine from microcenter
@ChrisDixon-ht1cb could it be the ribbon connections going to the top screen?
Hey so I’m trying to fix my sticky down d pad button. I followed your video to a T; cleaned everything and put it all back together properly but the button still sticks. What do I do 😭
@ChrisDixon-ht1cb it's possible the buttons metal dome is worn out then and needs to be replaced, ebay has replacements for pretty cheap last I checked.
Thank you so much for this video! I’ve been having a lot of trouble with my 3ds x button and it’s really nice to see others having similar problems. I was wondering if you believe it would be possible for you to fix it one day or to see if I just need a replacement, because I know I would definitely break mines attempting to do this. Thank you in advance!
Don't think he's going to fix it
My X button didn’t work and there was nothing wrong with the insides either. Looks like it just wanted some attention after working fine nearly ten years. (Everything works now)
exactly what I needed, thanks so much for uploading. cheers!
Thanks for this. The B button doesn't work on my og 3ds, looking into how I can fix it so I can give it to my mom.
What if all the buttons are unresponsive but the only one that works is my power button? My touch screen as well is unresponsive.
Thanks for uploading. My 3DS is having this weird issue where the A button registers two inputs at random in quick succession. It seems to be once when pressed and once when released.
Would you say it's a good idea to try and clean it from the outside with IPA or canned air? Nintendo suggests using a toothbrush on the buttons, which worked a couple of years ago, but it ain't cutting it anymore.
Anyway, thanks again. This will come in useful if I do pull the trigger.
Yeah sounds like it may be getting stuck slightly and need some cleaning.
@@sjm4306 Right, thanks. And excuse me, but do you mean by taking the console apart or just some cleaning from the outside? It was by basically sticking the toothbrush into the button.
First try cleaning with a soft brush and some isopropyl alcohol without taking it apart and if it still has problems after that then you'll need to take it apart and clean the buttons on the pcb and the inner plastic parts of the buttons.
4:22 I tried these steps before but the SD card board/slot was welded/soldered. So I gave up, is it possible to take it off?
Iirc it's just strong adhesive that can be weakened by some heat from a hairdryer.
IT WORKED! Thanks man a true legend
6:50 How do those buttons work? Does depressing the metal membrane on top connect the circle with the X to the ring outside of it to complete the circuit, or does it work differently?
Yep that's exactly how it works
@@sjm4306 Ah, thank you!
I have a 3DS with the exact same problem! Thanks for the tutorial, going to find a way to back up the content on it before I do anything though. Do you think you'd be interested in doing repairs for money? I know I'd pay for the assurance of having someone who knows what they're doing fixing my valuables.
Shoot me an email at sjm4306@gmail.com and we can chat about fixing your 3ds.
I have a new Nintendo 3DS XL and my R button it's not working well how do I fix it
You can buy a replacement R button and flex for a few dollars, sounds like yours is worn. It's a pretty easy fix to do so long as you have the right screw driver and are patient.
Can you tell me what tools you need like the name of all the tools you used
You'll need a small triwing and small phillips screwdriver to open a 3ds. Tweezers may also help with the ribbons.
sjm4306 thank you so much will do it for my ds lite that the left and right button you have to press really hard on them same with Y and A
Nice , appreciate the info
I got to order a new set of x,y,b,a buttons only because the ones on my og system seem to be peeling from the edges so it looks like dirt and grime on the edges of the buttons but it’s actually the clear coat peeling off and it is messing me up with the a button. Since I’m gonna open the system to do this I might as well just replace the buttons while I’m at it. My question is why did you disassemble the whole right side just to go left? You took out the analog and memory slots out but the buttons were all the way in the other side?
I wanted to inspect the entire front pcb in case there was extended liquid damage. Sure it's more effort taking the entire board out but better to catch any potential corrosion early to prevent worse damage over time.
Oh ok, I just got my new membranes in and will follow this video.
But is that side necessary to open up if I just want to do the x y b a membrane only?
Only take apart enough to get access to what you need access to unless you are unsure if there's potentially more liquid damage inside that should be thoroughly cleaned out.
I think my 3ds has humidity inside. I turned on after a few months of being in a drawer that gets hit by the humid air current in my city.. When It turned on the top screen had a faint "stain" in the edges and the buttons worked just fine until I exited a game and suddenly the buttons, the sound and the touch screen stoped working!!! I've left it for a few days in the open air to "dry" and I charged it again to see if it was that. I turned it on again and the faint stain wasn't there anymore but still unresponsive screen and controls (the only ones that work are the B, A, X, Y buttons). The 3ds option works fine but is obsolete against all these other issues. Basically my ds has become obsolete and I'm super sad about it because I'm worried its not fixable.. Would cleaning the ds on the inside for humidity help??
I would open it and hit the pcb with a hair dryer on low heat for a few minutes to dive any moisture off. It's possible for moisture to mess with sensitive digital electronics, hopefully that's the case here.
Hello bro can you tell me how to fix the home button on a 3ds like this one? I finally found someone who can sell me the components here but I dont know how to do it. Thanks
Hello, what screwdriver do you use. Thank you
I'm looking to repair my nintendo 3ds, the start button works if I press on it a certain way but it doesn't feel like I'm pressing a button in comparison to the home and select buttons. Would that be an overlay issue or would I have to replace the motherboard? (Looks like those three buttons are on the motherboard).
It's probably the surface mount switch itself that's failing, would need to solder in a new one. Either that or it's gotten crusty inside, and with any luck maybe contact cleaner could work.
My story: Soooo I started off looking for my OLD DS cuz I wanted to play it. So I did And when I turmed it on I played Tomodachi life and something was missing. THE A KEY DID NOT WORK!!! So I looked up this video and Watched him unscrew, I did the same. So I took out the battery and blew on it making sure there is no dust. then I realized... I don't have the right tools. So I put the thing back on along with the battery and I turned it back on and I clicked the A button by accident and... WTF IT WORkED... So it prob forgot to start up a program or something.
I'm not sure if it was a screwdriver or a screwer that was used to pry the screws in the 3ds open, but whats the name of it please so I can buy it on ebay or something. It was the white one that was like spinning
That would be a size #00 phillips screw driver
Could you do one for start,select,and home buttons for the new 3ds xl my start got stuck and i dont want to risk damaging my 3ds
So i recently dropped my 3ds and now my B Button doesn't work unless I press it really hard. any advice? or is it over
Open it up and inspect the area around the button. Hopefully it's just the membrane dislodged and can be fixed by realigning it.
So I have a weird problem, my Y button on my 3DS OG is not working.... but if I close and open my screen it works the same as my Y button? I'm not sure what to do since Nintendo doesnt repair older models and I could no way do all this myself, any suggestions??
That's a weird fault. The only way to figure out what's up would be to pop her open and inspect the buttons for anything out of place. Do you have any friends who are comfortable doing that? I'd offer to take a look at it for you, but you'd have to pay shipping both ways for something that I may not be able to fix depending on what the cause is.
My old 3ds bottom screws are stupidly tight. What do you reccomend to unscrew them easier?
So long as they aren't already stripped you'll need a nice sharp tiny phillips jewelers driver. Go slow and apply downwards pressure the whole time while slowly backing the screw out a little at a time. Also it might sound weird but take the battery out, pop the 3ds in a zip lock bag and throw it in the freezer for a bit. The cold should contract the metal screws more than the plastic and make backing them out a little easier.
@@sjm4306 'aight, I unscrewed it and reached the part of the membrane removal. I made a big finding after peeling the membrane off and seeing that everything was clean. So I checked under the steel plates inside the membrane and they were all burnt looking. I peeled off the other half of the membrane to try and clean it but it didn't clean. I clarify by saying that I had the same problem as your sister's boyfriend 3DS but now I'm clueless; guess I'll have to buy another stupid membrane...
I'm currently in the process of repairing a 3Ds but i'm having the opposite problem, the console is receiving signals from the d-pad inputs making it impossible to navigate the menu with it, I believe I know the problem but not sure how to address it from here
That'd probably be a wonky analog circlepad (either the part itself is damaged or the tiny ribbon connector isn't fully seated).
@@sjm4306 it's not the circle pad as I have it unplugged and the cursor still moves without giving an input, it may be a bad component on the board
Oh, unplugging the circlepad will float the analog inputs, causing spurrious movements.
@@sjm4306 oh gotcha, thanks
My sister gave me her old 3ds and the A button has a hard time working and I'm too scared do this/ fix it myself because I don't want it to get messed up, what should I do?
Cheapest/easiest way would be to find a friend who is comfortable with tinkering to do it for you in exchange for some food (or if you are good enough friends they may just do it for free).
@@sjm4306 Damn, I don't got those kinds of friends ;~;
I found my 3ds xl just recently and the c pad analog stick seems to be normal but when I turn my system on and on the main menu it constantly scrolls up. I tried the recalibrate and I didn't work.
Does holding the stick down stop it from scrolling up? It could be either your stick is broken or the connector needs to be reseated.
I just broke mt ribbon while- following the instrucitions. is it worth it to replace it or should I purchase a new 3ds?
To be honest replacing the ribbon requires disassembling the top screen and hinge which is pretty difficult to do so unless you are confident in your dexterity and precision I'd advise against doing this for the first time on a console you care about.
the A L and R buttons don't work on my 3DS but the d-pad the analog the X Y and B buttons work fine
Thanks!! The buttons of my 3ds work perfectly now!☺️
Can this happen with normal use? Because my 2dsxl buttons work fine but they are kinda loose and i always feel they are going to stop working if i use it too much.
The specific corrosion damage I showed in this video was caused by some liquid being spilled on the console near the buttons. Under normal use this shouldn't happen, however the metal snap domes in the buttons do have a limited number of presses till they stop working (the number is in the millions of presses though).
sjm4306 oh ok thank you very much for replying on an old video, couldn’t find an answer for it anywhere.
Thing is i use it for GB/GBA emulation and playing shoot 'em up games feels like too much abuse for the poor thing
Question: My 3DS's A button is pressed by its own at all times. Is there a way tl fix without tearing apart the 3DS? Like a tooth brush and gently try to clean it up from the outside? Or use air spray with no oil?
You could try cleaning the seam between the button and case from the outside if you see any crumbs or gunk in there, but if that fails it's likely the fault in deeper inside and would require disassembly.
@@sjm4306 thx for replying!
@@sjm4306 should I wet my toothbrush or clean the button from the outside while the toothbrush is dry?
Isopropyl alcohol only, if you use water it'll seep inside and take forever to dry, possibly corroding something in the process.
@@sjm4306 oh shoot! I used Contact Cleaner with NO alcohol,is this why it didn't get fixed? I see, so it's an alcohol only fix
My 3ds circle pad is unresponsive. Can you fix it for me please?
does this also work on the different models of the 3ds i just want to make sure (new 3ds xl, new 2ds, etc.)
As far as I know all variants of the ds use the same tact switch style buttons, though some have discrete smd switches (which imo is an easier fix as you can just buy and solder new buttons rather than mucking around with peeling and cleaning).
I followed the steps, put things back together, but now the touch screen won’t accept touch. Do you know what might have happened? I checked and all the touch screen ribbon cables are attached. Is there a solution?
Triple check the touch screen ribbon (there's only 1, it's the small 4 pin one coming off the screen, the other larger one is for image data and has no effect on touch) is fully inserted, straight in the connector and the latch is secured. If that all looks good and it still doesn't work inspect the pins of the connector and the ribbon under magnification, it's possible they were damaged.
@@sjm4306 it looks like there’s maybe corrosion in that area, do you know a good way to clean that?
Yep that would definitely affect operation. Use a qtip soaked in as close to 99% isopropyl alcohol as you can get. It may take a few rounds of scrubbing to remove. Afterwards check that the soldering on the affected pads still looks good and connected (if the corrosion ate away at the solder it may be necessary to resolder specific connections).
@@sjm4306 I think I need to get a new connector, it looks like one of the pins in damaged. I’ll have to figure out how to detach the current one and attach a new one but I think that’s the issue. Thank you so much for all of your help!!
Hey just came across this. By chance, do you fix 3DS systems if I were to pay you? Or do you do any at all. If not that's ok I'm just to nervous to break my system.
Sorry, I'm taking a bit of a break at the moment on taking new repair requests till I can catch up on my backlog.
@@sjm4306 no problem! Do you have a Twitter or something so I can stay updated?
Sorry I don't, but if you shoot me an email at sjm4306@gmail.com with general info about what you need repaired I can add you to the list and let you know when I'm back to fixing stuff.
@@sjm4306 Okay! Thanks for the quick replys by the way!! :)
My Dad has before cleaned the contacts on the buttons of some of my handhelds and controllers but they sometimes still lose responsiveness. I asked a repair man if he can help but he tells me cleaning will only help for a few weeks max and I’d need a whole new board! Surely there’s a right way to clean and it’ll last a long time? Also, my Game Boy Color’s B button has seen better days…
It really depends on what is the failure point. If it's bad corrosion on the pcb contacts then it may be necessary to replace the board if cleaning isn't effective. Other than that though it could be the membrane that's at fault, either for carbon pill rubber membranes or metal snap domes may need cleaning or replacement depending on the type of button.
What's the silver sticker under the buttons called?
You could probably search something like 3ds replacement tact switches/buttons but afaik there's no official name for it.
Kind of an old video, so I'm more of just hoping this gets read, but it's related to this. I have a New 3DS XL with only one button that is messing up. (the A button)
Now the button is not completely unresponsive, for a while it was actually probably a 50/50 chance the input would be dropped, but now it only registers as pressed sometimes, and if you push down super hard. What would be your recommended way of fixing this? I was considering replacing the face button board, but am unsure if that's exactly what the problem is, and I can't really afford to purchase a new one if something goes wrong.
Does it feel mushy or soft for lack of a better word in comparison to the other working buttons? It could be the metal dome is worn. If not then it could have a similar problem to the one in this video and a good cleaning of the contacts may help.
No, the button still clicks. I've tried cleaning the contact prior, however, and that didn't change anything.
If you manually short the bare pads with say a small pair of tweezers does it register easily? My third guess is the corrosion is on the inside of the dome right where it contacts the center pad on the pcb. Sometimes giving the inner dome and pads a light scrub with something mildly abrasive is enough to remove light oxidation that may not be easily visible but still enough to prevent easy button presses.
Sorry for the late reply. How would I short the bare pads? I disassembled my N3DSXL to check for corrosion on the button faces and it looks clean, I can't see any corrosion at all.
You should be able to see the metal pads under the metal dome (a central dot and the outer rim pads). You can use metal tweezers to touch both metal pads to simulate a button press. If this works perfectly then the problem is the dome. If not it could be something up with the ribbon/connector for the button board.
is it just okay to pry open those 4 shiny things on the D-pad area? and if i pry it open...how do i place it back?...my 3DS problem is that...the right button at my D-pad feels a bit loose down while the other 3 button Up Down and Left are just on the right condition
They are just taped down. The metal snap domes do weaken with heavy use so you may need to replace the one that feels off.
@@sjm4306 where can i find a replacement for those? i want to replace it but i don't know where to find or where to buy a replaecement for those
Your best bet is to measure the diameter and search that number in mm along with "metal snap dome"
My entire bottom half (but the power one) not working I have a new one but it makes me sad that my first electronic is unusable :(
hey does this work for new 3ds xl please respond immediately trying to get the b button to work
They use the same button switches so the same process should be applicable
Wow didn't know you can peel that thing off
Had to give up at the SD card holder. Just can't get it off.
Hey, I tried following this tutorial and I did but the buttons still didn't work. I opened the buttons not working, I was wondering if you knew of any other problems, thanks.
It could be the metal snap domes themselves are worn out. They sell replacement ones with the sticker already attached on ebay/aliepress.
@@sjm4306 What tools and supplies do you use and where can I get them? Also do you still do repairs? I do not have a steady hand, so I'm positive it's not in my best interest to take apart my 3DS XL myself.
Do you have any social media I can contact you on because I have a 3ds but the b button doesn’t work and I want to send it to you so you can fix it
Sorry at least for the time being I'm not taking repair requests.
How do you open the button cover?
Thanks for this! My L button is non responsive due to my lunch leaking in my bag. :( This will be helpful to open it up and clean out what I suspect will be corrosion due to the vinaigrette!
I think it's My fault but up until here I have Problems 2:10
You seem to have an easy time with the screws but For Me THEY ARE NOT COMING OUT!!! I've tried the other screwdriver Heads but one of them work and I thi k they are different Someone Help! 😩
You need a small sharp phillips screw driver. If you try to use one that doesnt fit it's so easy to strip the screw heads. Also going slow and pressing inwards helps.
@@sjm4306 I did use a small Phillips head tho, huh looks like I may have to go SMALLER!!!!, thank you, thank you, thank very much here
Wait, so what else can we use to clean the buttons? I don’t exactly have those chemicals to clean it, are there any other alternatives?
Pretty much any solvent that wont leave residue. This is why isopropyl alcohol is highly suggested.
@@sjm4306 Oh! Thank you!
Awesome fix on video as always
my right button doesnt work. but it was free. is it worth it to fix?
If you are lucky the fix might be as simple as cleaning the button
Hi sir. Is that a sticker? After you cleaned the seat buttons? Is it easy to remove?
The sticker over the metal snap domes is kinda hard to remove as it's stuck very well. It took a few minutes of careful prying to peel it off.
What cleaning agent did you used sir ? Is that isopropyl alcohol?
Yep
Becareful when removing the flim cuz mines ripped and now i have to press the b button very hard just to get it to register once. Ordered more conductive films but shipping will take long cuz it from china
Can you fix my 3ds its a new nintendo 3ds xl and the left button of the dpad isnt working everything else is fine i really need it for this one part in yo kai watch 3
I take commissions and repairs via email sjm4306 at gmail dot com
What screwdriver are you using?
Can you fix a home and select button?
Can I use rubbing alchol as a substitute? I need help fast!! ty
Pretty sure rubbing alcohol is isopropyl alcohol but watered down more. In that case just take extra care to make sure it completely dries before reassembly.
@@sjm4306 thank you, I found that out when I grabbed the bottle lol
Can you pls make a Video where you fix the cross button that will help me a ton
How did you get the silver things covering the buttons off?
There's a thin cross shaped bit of tape holding the metal domes on, just use a finger nail to lift an edge and peel it off (it can just be stuck back down when you are done). It is pretty strongly stuck but will peel with sufficient effort.
@@sjm4306 thank you so much i was able to get my buttons clean and working again but i have to ask is there any special way for me to reconnect the ribbon for the sd card or do i just have to get lucky
On my 3ds literly nothing works only the power button
I have to much anxiety to do the buttons so I guess I’ll just fix the L and R buttons
Does it work on 3DS XL ? My A button has the same problem, I need to press it very strong for it to work
Yes, all 3ds consoles use the same button construction.
@@sjm4306 Okay, how do you do to remove the AXBY buttons membran without damage ? I suppose that it must be the most damageless in order to replace it
The metal snap domes that make electrical contact with the pcb contacts are held on by a clear plastic tape that can be carefully peeled off.
@@sjm4306 I just finished reassembling my 3DS, my touchscreen doesn't light up, my pad is stuck at one place and all of my data had been erased, I wanna cry
If you removed the sd card and didn't put it back that'd explain why your data is gone (or if you have the new console variant I believe there's a press snap connector for the sd slot that could be the problem), as for the other problems double check that you fully inserted the ribbon connections. Just opening and closing a 3ds cannot do anything to the data stored on the device
It's unfortunate you fast forwarded through the removal of the sticker. I'm looking for a tutorial on how to get this thing off without damaging it or the board. Hypothetically it should be possible without buying a sheet of stickers I will never use again.
Warm with a hairdryer and peel from edge with finger nails or tweezers. Just be careful not to scratch the board underneath.
my 3ds got watr damaged 2 times, but it still works!
Nice!
Great Video! I was wondering if you could make a tutorial or explanation on how to fix the 3d depth slider on the original 3ds ( Mine is stuck on 3d). When setting up my 3ds it requires me to turn on 3d by putting the slider all the way up. Obviously it doesnt work and therefore prevents me from getting to the home screen. It would be much appreciated if you could solve this. I’ve researched this issue for the longest time on google and yet,still failed to find a solution. Once again, great video and keep up the good work!
Is the switch physically stuck, or that no matter the position the software detects it is on?
sjm4306 no matter the position, the 3d is always on
I think that means the ribbon that goes to the top screen is damaged. Luckily replacement ribbons are pretty cheap but a pain to install.
sjm4306 how can you tell if its broken. Ive opened mine up. But they seem in place, just slightly off the surface on some parts.
sjm4306 oh and one more thing i feel might be important.
The 2 black circles (that i think had something to do with audio system) were out of place, and i just popped them back in place.
And the 3d symbol does not light up.
My 3ds b button isn't working and I'm scared to try and fix it because I might break it more. What do i do?!?!
Well you have three options, get comfortable with tinkering to fix it yourself, pay someone else to fix it, or buy another one. I'd highly suggest the first option as it'll be the cheapest and fixing stuff is an awesome skill to have. I get that you are nervous about breaking it, but practice on some broken electronics, watch a few repair/teardowns, and finally take things nice and slow so you are as careful as possible.
Obrigado! Seu vídeo me permitiu desmontar o suficiente para substituir os botōes "A/B/X/Y/Power/Dpad. Obrigado. Saudaçōes do inscrito brasileiro.
Happy to hear!
Can you do a tutorial for water damaged home button plz?!
If I find a 3ds with a water damaged home button then I'd be happy to
sjm4306 thanks 🤗
Hi bro, my 3DS home button and return to home touch not responding.
Depends on the model, but sounds like the buttons inside are worn and need to be replaced.
Is the power switch soldered to the motherboard?
On this model (original 3ds) yes the power switch is a small tact switch on the mainboard.
can you repair the microphone on a 3DS?
Depends, it either needs a new mic or perhaps the connector is damaged which is much more difficult to replace.