iFixit - Answers With Device "Nintendo DS"

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 7월 19, 2025 at 21:39 GMT-7

Nintendo DS: Nintendo DS does not power on.

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 04:32:22 -0700

DS doesnt power on. Orange light comes on when A/C is pluged in and battery charges. When i press power button the green light comes on and then top screen flashes and bottom screen doesnt come on, then the DS turns off. i checked the fuses F1 and F2 and jumped both fuses, but the same thing still happens. Does anyone know how to fix it?

⟐ Answer deleted 4월 08, 2012 at 4:32 GMT-7

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 4월 29, 2023 at 15:32 GMT-7

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 4월 11, 2023 at 18:44 GMT-7

Nintendo DS: How to fix ds

Wed, 10 Jan 2018 08:12:20 -0700

my bottom screen does not work i cant play any touchscreen games how can i fix it without paying a lot of money. i really need it its getting preety bad

⟐ Answer accepted 1월 10, 2018 at 8:12 GMT-7

Nintendo DS: Why aren't the L&R buttons working?

Sun, 12 Jan 2014 19:14:41 -0700

I have an original DS. No Mods or anything ever done to it. The hinge is slightly damaged, but I doubt that's related. For some reason the L & R buttons are not responsive. On a rare occasion, one will work, but usually they don't.

⟐ Answer accepted 1월 12, 2014 at 19:14 GMT-7

Nintendo DS: Direction button is unresponsive?

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 22:44:14 -0700

Does the circuit board have to be replaced if the direction button is not working or can it be fixed?. It is only when it is pressed upwards all other directions seem to be working ok. The case has not been changed its the original.

⟐ Answer accepted 11월 13, 2011 at 22:44 GMT-7

Nintendo DS: Can I replace the Hinges on a DS?

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 01:18:55 -0700

My hinges are no longer tight. Can I replace them with new ones (or better used ones)?

⟐ Commented 10월 27, 2010 at 1:18 GMT-7

Nintendo DS: Not reading DS cartridges.

Tue, 12 May 2015 07:55:36 -0700

I don't know what generation my DS is, I know it's one from before the lite and 3ds, but it won't read ds games anymore. It use to run them, then it became a craps shoot, now they won't read at all. I'm a good hand with a soldering iron and I hoping I just need to fix some connections, but I'd rather get a definite answer before I go poking around.

Nintendo DS: game shows only "loading" screen.

Mon, 23 Dec 2013 17:28:01 -0700

Hi all,

we've got a much loved "R4" card which contains 70 games ?on what looks like a smaller ?SD card.It no longer loads on the games console...just shows " loading". Considering the ages of the people owning the nintendos and the number of times I have replaced the hinges/screen I would guess that it has suffered a "life threatening injury" of some sort by one or more of the owners!

What I'm interested in is whether the games are on the SD card or the nintendo card and whether there is anything worth doing to save or recycle it.

Cheers for any help

Jen

PS i have unscrewed the one and only screw on the nintendo card and didn't feel any better.. maybe if I knew what I was meant to find it would've helped. :-)

⟐ Edited 12월 23, 2013 at 17:28 GMT-7

Nintendo DS: Top Screen is just white, Whats wrong?

Sat, 16 Jun 2012 18:00:02 -0700

Hey guys, I am having a problem with my ds. One day i turned it on and the ds top screen was just white, I turned the screen a bit more upwards and it started working again. But,after a while, it stayed white... I tryed looking into the top part and looking at the ribbon cables, but they were in properly. I even found out that if a ribbon cable wasn't plugged, the ds itself would turn off when you try to turn it on. I was wondering if you guys knew what was wrong with my ds? And if so, how do you fix it?

⟐ Answer accepted 6월 16, 2012 at 18:00 GMT-7

Nintendo DS: Rewiring my volume control?

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 15:35:19 -0700

I have an old ds that doesn't work any more and i was wondering if i could tahe the volume control out of it and use it in my mint tin amp if so how would i wire it

⟐ Answered 6월 21, 2010 at 15:35 GMT-7

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 11월 04, 2024 at 12:13 GMT-7

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 11월 30, 2023 at 7:23 GMT-7

Nintendo DS: Do the tools mentioned work for ALL of the Nintendo DS consoles?

Sun, 19 Mar 2023 14:49:58 -0700

I have a few broken Nintendo DS consoles of various models (DS, DSi, 3DS, 3DS XL). Will the tools mentioned work for all of them?

⟐ Answer accepted 3월 19, 2023 at 14:49 GMT-7

Nintendo DS: Scan lines and distorted lower screen

Sun, 06 Feb 2022 13:22:50 -0700

My lower Nintendo DS screen was blank, but the backlight was on and the touch panel works, so I replaced the display to no avail. I then tried turning the lower screen’s potentiometer to adjust the contrast and was able to get some display, but it’s only a partial display and some scan lines show up. I tried this with the replacement lower screen as well, but I got a checkered/plaid red/green line pattern.

Are the screens toast? Should I try replacing the pot?

EDIT: various pictures of the motherboard.

Zoom-in on reverse side of board. Maybe C14 looks worse for wear, and there's some corrosion between C15/GSP1:

⟐ Answer accepted 2월 06, 2022 at 13:22 GMT-7

Nintendo DS: What tri-wing screwdriver is right for the ds

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 05:49:03 -0700

In the guides for the DS it shows you need a tri-wing screwdriver and links to buy a Y1 tri wing but actual step in the guide says the screws are Y00 not Y1 so which is the right size screwdriver?

⟐ Answered 7월 20, 2021 at 5:49 GMT-7

Nintendo DS: DSXL charging port bad

Sun, 19 Mar 2017 10:29:07 -0700

My DSXL charging port is bad. How much to fix? TY

⟐ Commented 3월 19, 2017 at 10:29 GMT-7

Nintendo DS: DS Capture - Will it work ONLY with this console?

Mon, 13 Feb 2017 15:04:01 -0700

(Sigh)... I am wanting to have a Nintendo DS Lite on 2017 xmas, so i dont want to have the original Nintendo DS, and with DeSmuME emulator my gaming on Pokémon will be TERRIBLE, now that "Pokemon games are better on real hardware, but bad on emulators!" Also i wanted to complete my Pokédex one day when i get this games... Will it REALLY work only with the original Nintendo DS??? Please help me.

⟐ Answered 2월 13, 2017 at 15:04 GMT-7

Nintendo DS: both screens have vertical stripes

Thu, 09 Apr 2015 12:11:50 -0700

i have replaced the shell on my original ds as it had a broken hinge, i thought i had done it really carefully but now when i switch it on both the screens have vertical stripes all over them, can't see anything else. i can hear the intro tinkle music but that's it. any help greatly appreciated!

⟐ Commented 4월 09, 2015 at 12:11 GMT-7