Introduction
Clean or replace sticky or broken buttons on your 3DS.
Tools
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Grab the top edge of the back cover with your opposite hand so that the cover does not fall back into place.
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Pull the back cover up and away from the rest of the device to remove it.
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Insert a plastic opening tool into the notch in the lower case above the battery.
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Pry the battery up with the plastic opening tool.
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Grab the top edge of the battery and lift it out of the lower case.
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Remove the nine 6.3 mm black Phillips screws from the lower case.
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Remove the 2.4 mm silver Phillips screw above the game cartridge slot.
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Lift the bottom edge of the lower case off the rest of the 3DS.
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Use a plastic opening tool to pry the shoulder button ribbon cables off their sockets on the motherboard.
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Remove the lower case from the device.
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Remove the two 7.7 mm Phillips screws securing the back of the Circle Pad to the motherboard.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the back of the Circle Pad off the motherboard.
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Lift the Circle Pad joystick off the motherboard and lay it on its back so that the ribbon cable connector is accessible.
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Use the flat end of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the Circle Pad ribbon cable ZIF socket.
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Lift the Circle Pad joystick off the motherboard.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the SD board ribbon cable connector off its socket on the motherboard.
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Insert the flat end of a spudger between the SD board and the motherboard.
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Pry up slowly to loosen the SD board from the RF shield underneath it. If you pry too quickly, you may tear the shield or break its solder points.
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Run the spudger along the sides of the SD board to free it from the adhesive holding it in place.
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Once completely freed, lift the SD board straight off the motherboard.
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Slide the flat end of a spudger under the corner of the Wi-Fi board, and lift it away from the motherboard.
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Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the Wi-Fi antenna cable connector off its socket on the Wi-Fi board.
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Remove the Wi-Fi board from the device.
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Grasp the microphone ribbon cable near the microphone with a pair of tweezers.
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Pull the microphone straight up out of the upper case.
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Use the flat end of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the speaker assembly ribbon cable ZIF socket.
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Disconnect the speaker assembly ribbon cable with a pair of tweezers.
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Use the flat end of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the camera ribbon cable ZIF socket.
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Remove seven Phillips screws securing the motherboard to the upper case:
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Four 2.5 mm gold screws
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Two 3.5 mm black screws
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One 2.5 mm silver screw
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Lift the side of the motherboard that sits along the bottom edge of the 3DS.
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Use the flat end of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the LCD ribbon cable ZIF socket.
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Use your finger to push each button up and lift it out of the upper case.
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Repeat this procedure for all four ABXY buttons.
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To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
14 comments
I completed it. And out of the whole process I only stripped one screw. :D Sooo I just unscrewed everything else and tore off the back. Anyway Mission complete!
I got it apart and put it back together. The A and B still don't work however. I've never done anything to this extent before so it's probably my fault. But the problem may also be beyond my repair capabilities. I will likely try again. Also for some reason my sound doesn't work. I suspect it is not the actual speakers but something else instead. Oh well. I'll get a new XL and take better care of it!
leesr388 -
I've come to the conclusion that my a buttons contact has given out due to the fact I have to force it for a response maybe that is what happened to yours
ok. so i managed the tear down as an experiment in seeing if i could do the process without destroying anything and i had complete success! now the problem is finding a replacement for the "select, home, and start" laminate buttons on the front of my 3ds ctr-001. can anyone provide a link? google and amazon are of no help.
#00 screwdriver is too big... probably need a #000
thomascroguennec -
#00 will work - but you must press down firmly and sort of jerk the screw out a few degrees at a time. If you don't press firmly, the screws strip very easily. Using #000 will strip the screws more easily.
Tai -
I used a #0 without any issues and 0 stripped. I used the #0 for all screws internally and externally. The head was sharp and I applied adequate amounts of pressure when loosening the screw.
Ben Kevan -