Difficulty
Moderate
Steps
9
Time Required
30 minutes - 1 hour
Sections
4
- Back Cover
- 2 steps
- Battery
- 1 step
- Lower Case
- 2 steps
- Right Shoulder Button
- 4 steps
Flags
0
Back3DS
Full Screen
Options
History
Save to Favorites
Download PDF
Edit
Translate
Get Shareable Link
Embed This Guide
Notify Me of Changes
Stop Notifications
Introduction
What you need
Step 1
Back Cover
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.
1024
Step 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.
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.
Step 3
Battery
- 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.
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.
Step 4
Lower Case
- 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.
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.
Step 5
- 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.
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.
Step 6
Right Shoulder Button
- Remove the three 3.6 mm Phillips screws securing the metal battery shield to the lower case.
- Lift the battery shield up and out of the lower case.
Remove the three 3.6 mm Phillips screws securing the metal battery shield to the lower case.
Lift the battery shield up and out of the lower case.
Step 7
- Remove the 3.6 mm Phillips screw from the right shoulder button cover.
Remove the 3.6 mm Phillips screw from the right shoulder button cover.
Step 8
- Insert a plastic opening tool under the left side of the right shoulder button cover.
- Pry the black plastic cover up from the lower case.
- Grab the cover and lift it off of the lower case.
- If the shoulder button contact and ribbon cable come off with the cover, be sure to reinstall them in the correct orientation.
Insert a plastic opening tool under the left side of the right shoulder button cover.
Pry the black plastic cover up from the lower case.
Grab the cover and lift it off of the lower case.
If the shoulder button contact and ribbon cable come off with the cover, be sure to reinstall them in the correct orientation.
Step 9
- Lift the right shoulder button out of the lower case.
- The shoulder button is held in place by a metal pin, and houses a small spring. Take care not to lose track of either of these pieces when removing the shoulder button.
Lift the right shoulder button out of the lower case.
The shoulder button is held in place by a metal pin, and houses a small spring. Take care not to lose track of either of these pieces when removing the shoulder button.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
Cancel: I did not complete this guide.
65 other people completed this guide.
Author
with 5 other contributors
David Hodson
Member since: 04/13/2010
147,700 Reputation
127 Guides authored
Badges:
53
+50 more badges
BlackZX - Aug 28, 2014
Reply
Well done, thanks for the help, I had small problems with step 9 because of all those small parts but I managed to put everything back as it was. Thanks again :D
misdiva001 - Apr 20, 2016
Reply
The ribbon came off the socket, now it is stuck and we cannot pull it out. How do you remove the socket without the ribbon. We attempted tweezers, but it did not budge. May have scratched things up a bit too. Help!! Thank you! We just want to pull it out and get another replacement right shoulder ribbon.
Chris - Aug 22, 2020
Did you ever figure out how to get it out? I have the same problem. I changed the ribbon with a 3rd party part and the bad solder job broke and the part is still left in the socket. My only option is to use crazy glue and a pin or something small to glue to it and then pull it out…but I don’t have any krazy glue!
Daniel O - Nov 2, 2016
Reply
Amazing guide, thank you!!
dalton haglund - Nov 14, 2016
Reply
It was great! Phenomenal! I loved it! But… What happens if I accidentally snapped the L button’s ribbon cable..? Can I just replace it..? Somehow..?