Introduction
Outside case of your 3DS have a nasty crack in it? Replace the rear display bezel to make your Nintendo shiny again.
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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Before continuing with disassembly, use a pair of tweezers to remove the clear plastic diffuser for the wireless notification LED. The small piece is likely to fall out on its own, and may be difficult to find if it lands on the floor.
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Heat the edges of the upper display front panel with a hair dryer or heat gun to soften the adhesive holding it to the display bezel.
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Begin prying the edges of the front panel off with a plastic opening tool.
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Continue prying the remaining sides of the front panel by sliding the plastic opening tool down each edge.
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Remove the six 3.6 mm Phillips screws securing the rear display bezel to the front display bezel.
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Lift the edge of the rear display bezel closest to you and rotate it towards the hinge.
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Continue to lift the rear display bezel off the rest of the device until it is free.
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To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
#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 -
The correct screwdriver should be a JIS, or you can get a screwdriver specific for the 3DS from other sites for less than $2
Oscar -
do you have to buy it
deeznuts -
Where would I buy a screwdriver specifically for the 3DS? Also would it work on the DS? I need to replace the battery for my DS.
Caitlin Lumsden -
I used Phillips #000 and it worked like a charm, i need to order a new SD board or do you guys think i should send it. What happened is that it got water damaged and everything works fine when i opened it everything looked fine no signs of water corrosion everything on the 3DS works exept it always give me a message saying the SD card is locked and i know for a fact it isnt locked i already tried using 3 different SD cards and none of them are lock protected and yes they are formatted as well. I need help
Leo Torres -
there's a switch on the SD card, switch it and it will be unlocked again. it happened to me once too.
Bagel -
david hodson you are incredible. literally all you need to do is heat the screen up and pry it off and you make them take apart the whole thing
melody -
You've done this?
magykmaster -
I have to ask the same question. If just the glass display is broken, and you're heating it up to remove the glass, is it really necessary to remove everything? Doesn't like like it is necessary
Wade -
I just did it your way and it went fine. didnt even have to remove the battery. This is incredible misstep on the authors part.
patrick -
only take out the screen for a motherboard removal? Are you using the wrong guide or was this guide used for two different repairs?
Reed Deemer -
I used a PH0x50, but it wasn't easy.
John -
This may be a dumb question but where do I buy the 3DS upper screen?
John -
eBay... Just do a search for the 3DS Upper screen. $9.49 & it comes with the tools.
Gary Darnell -
The LCD screen I ordered came with all the tools I needed except a pair of tweezers. All in all it was about $14.00 and a little bit of my time.
Gary Darnell -
Does anyone know where I can find the right bumper button for a 3ds? I can't find it on ebay must of damaged it playing smash bros.
Steven Castro Parrilla -
Really wish I had read the comments first... How about instead of the warning saying to press down hardly and go slow, you say to use the correct screwdriver size like others mentioned in the comments. I not only stripped multiple screws, even after putting a glove on for more pressure, I bent my screwdriver from pressing down so hard. Granted it's a cheap jeweler's kit screwdriver, but it still would've been nice to not have that problem and be informed of the right size in the first place.
hockeymorgan35 -
Got my tools one day after ordering, as I live a couple hours away from the supplier, Will post again when i try guide.
nintendokakashi -
I tried doing this with a #00 Philips but it just didn't turn
Acrobatic Mars01 -
Hello there, I need some assistance I have done a full housing replacement I have everything working except the 3d slider . The 3D option is always on can someone let me know which flex it is or what I am forgetting . Thanks guys !
Noe Ibarra -
The 3D light lets you know there is a 3D option available for the current game you’re playing. Usually, it is always on, except when you’re playing a game that doesn’t support 3D. Turning the 3D slider off does not turn off the 3D LED.
Scott D -
I've always been lucky with these four, and at the time it was my first disassembly so I didn't know what stripping a screw was!
FarmYard Gaming -
These screws don't strip easily, however, the screws at step 4 do.
TheBlueInkling -