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Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement

Introduction

Only getting half of your 3DS gaming experience? Replace the lower LCD to get the full view.

What you need

  1. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement, Back Cover: step 1, image 1 of 1

    • Unscrew the four Phillips #00 screws along the top of the back cover.

    • The screws are held in place by locking washers, and will not come out of the back cover.

    • The comments section is full of unlucky souls who will tell you that the screws here through step 4 will strip incredibly easily. Press down fairly hard, and go slow.

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  2. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 2, image 1 of 2 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 2, image 2 of 2

    • Hold the device in one hand and turn it over.

    • Grab the top edge of the back cover with your opposite hand so that the cover does not fall back into place.

    • Flip the 3DS over again so that the back cover is facing up.

    • Pull the back cover up and away from the rest of the device to remove it.

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  3. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement, Battery: step 3, image 1 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement, Battery: step 3, image 2 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement, Battery: step 3, image 3 of 3

    • Insert a plastic opening tool into the notch in the lower case above the battery.

    • Pry the battery up with the plastic opening tool.

    • Grab the top edge of the battery and lift it out of the lower case.

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  4. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement, Lower Case: step 4, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the nine 6.3 mm black Phillips screws from the lower case.

    • These screws will strip very easily unless you use the correct size bit. Apply pressure to the screws while turning to avoid stripping them.

    • Remove the 2.4 mm silver Phillips screw above the game cartridge slot.

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  5. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 5, image 1 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 5, image 2 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 5, image 3 of 3

    • Lift the bottom edge of the lower case off the rest of the 3DS.

    • There are still two ribbon cables connecting the mother board to the case, so be sure not to pull the lower case all the way off.

    • Use a plastic opening tool to pry the shoulder button ribbon cables off their sockets on the motherboard.

    • Remove the lower case from the device.

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  6. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement, Circle Pad Joystick: step 6, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the two 7.7 mm Phillips screws securing the back of the Circle Pad to the motherboard.

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  7. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 7, image 1 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 7, image 2 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 7, image 3 of 3

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the back of the Circle Pad off the motherboard.

    • 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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  8. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 8, image 1 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 8, image 2 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 8, image 3 of 3

    • Use the flat end of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the Circle Pad ribbon cable ZIF socket.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the hinged retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    • Lift the Circle Pad joystick off the motherboard.

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  9. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 9, image 1 of 2 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 9, image 2 of 2

    • To decrease the chance of losing it during repairs, you may want to remove the two thin pads underneath the Circle Pad joystick.

    • Use a spudger or screwdriver to lift the pads up and remove them from the device.

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  10. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement, SD Board: step 10, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the two 4.5 mm Phillips screws securing the SD board to the motherboard.

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  12. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 11, image 1 of 2 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 11, image 2 of 2

    • 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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  13. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 12, image 1 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 12, image 2 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 12, image 3 of 3

    • Insert the flat end of a spudger between the SD board and the motherboard.

    • Run the spudger along the sides of the SD board to free it from the adhesive pad holding it in place.

    • Once completely freed, lift the SD board straight off the motherboard.

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  14. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement, Wi-Fi Board: step 13, image 1 of 2 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement, Wi-Fi Board: step 13, image 2 of 2

    • Slide the flat end of a spudger under the corner of the Wi-Fi board, and lift it away from the motherboard.

    • The Wi-Fi antenna cable is still connected to the Wi-Fi board, so you cannot completely remove the Wi-Fi board yet.

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  15. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 14, image 1 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 14, image 2 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 14, image 3 of 3

    • Lift the Wi-Fi board off the motherboard and rotate it so that the bottom side is facing up.

    • Use the flat end of a spudger to pry the Wi-Fi antenna cable connector off its socket on the Wi-Fi board.

    • Remove the Wi-Fi board from the device.

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  16. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement, Motherboard Assembly: step 15, image 1 of 2 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement, Motherboard Assembly: step 15, image 2 of 2

    • Grasp the microphone ribbon cable near the microphone with a pair of tweezers.

    • Pull the microphone straight up out of the upper case.

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  17. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 16, image 1 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 16, image 2 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 16, image 3 of 3

    • Use the flat end of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the speaker assembly ribbon cable ZIF socket.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the hinged retaining flap, NOT the socket itself. Damaging the socket or cable will result in a 3DS that will blink its power LED when you press the power button - and do nothing else.

    • Disconnect the speaker assembly ribbon cable with a pair of tweezers.

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  18. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 17, image 1 of 2 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 17, image 2 of 2

    • Use the flat end of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the camera ribbon cable ZIF socket.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the hinged retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    • When reassembling, note that the gold contacts face toward the motherboard (as opposed to the camera cable's gold contacts facing away).

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  19. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 18, image 1 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 18, image 2 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 18, image 3 of 3

    • Remove seven Phillips screws securing the motherboard to the upper case:

    • Four 2.5 mm gold screws

    • Two 3.5 mm black screws

    • One 2.5 mm silver screw

    • When you remove this screw the volume slider can fall out.

    • Lift the side of the motherboard that sits along the bottom edge of the 3DS.

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  20. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 19, image 1 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 19, image 2 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 19, image 3 of 3

    • Continue lifting the motherboard assembly and rotate it until it is resting next to the rest of the device.

    • Use the flat end of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the LCD ribbon cable ZIF socket.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the hinged retaining flap, not the socket itself. Damaging the socket or cable will result in a 3DS that won't have a functional top screen.

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  21. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 20, image 1 of 1

    • Remove the motherboard assembly from the rest of the device.

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  22. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement, Lower Display Assembly: step 21, image 1 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement, Lower Display Assembly: step 21, image 2 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement, Lower Display Assembly: step 21, image 3 of 3

    • Set the motherboard assembly down so that the lower LCD is side-by-side with the motherboard.

    • Use the tip of a spudger or your fingers to peel back the white tape covering the touchscreen ribbon cable connector.

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  23. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 22, image 1 of 2 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 22, image 2 of 2

    • Use the flat end of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the touchscreen ribbon cable ZIF socket.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the hinged retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    Edit

  24. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 23, image 1 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 23, image 2 of 3 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 23, image 3 of 3

    • Use the flat end of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the lower LCD power ribbon cable ZIF socket.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the hinged retaining flap, not the socket itself.

    • Pull the ribbon cable out of the connector with a pair of tweezers.

    • Grasp the ribbon cable as close to the connector as possible with the tweezers to avoid tearing it.

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  25. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 24, image 1 of 2 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 24, image 2 of 2

    • Use the flat end of a spudger or your fingernail to flip up the retaining flap on the lower LCD data ribbon cable ZIF socket.

    • Be sure you are prying up on the hinged retaining flap, not the socket itself.

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  26. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 25, image 1 of 1

    • Grasp the lower display assembly and pull it directly away from the motherboard.

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  27. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement, Touchscreen: step 26, image 1 of 2 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement, Touchscreen: step 26, image 2 of 2

    • Starting at the bottom right corner, insert the flat end of a spudger between the touchscreen and LCD frame and gently pry the touchscreen off the LCD.

    • Do not run the spudger down the side of the display assembly to loosen the touchscreen. The two components of the display assembly are held together by a fairly weak adhesive tape, and running the spudger between the two could tangle or damage the tape.

    • Insert the spudger into the top right corner between the two pieces and pry the touchscreen off the LCD frame.

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  28. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 27, image 1 of 2 Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 27, image 2 of 2

    • Repeat the above procedure for the remaining two corners to pry the touchscreen off the LCD frame.

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  29. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement: step 28, image 1 of 1

    • Gently lift the touchscreen up to completely separate it from the lower LCD.

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  30. Nintendo 3DS Lower LCD Replacement, Lower LCD: step 29, image 1 of 1

    • The lower LCD remains.

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Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

10 other people completed this guide.

Author

with 4 other contributors

David Hodson

Member since: 04/13/10

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