How to REVIVE a Dead 3DS! | Blue Light, Doesn't Boot 

I actually discovered this by complete accident on a 3DS I was working on, as well. I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with it, so instead of experimenting with the connections first, like you did, I just disassembled the whole thing to have a look around. I ended up ripping the camera cable while reassembling it (not while pushing it through the hinge, like you would think, but by making a hasty movement over the top screen, where the cable runs). Needless to say I was bummed out about it. I still put it back together so that I wouldn’t loose any parts, tried tuning it on and voila, it worked. I don’t think I’ve ever looked at a piece of electronics that dumbfounded.

As someone who has a limited edition 3ds xl that has so much value inside of it, when the system stopped booting correctly i was devastated. It took nearly two years to find a correct solution and your video was the one. The hardest part about it was just getting inside to try this trick; one of the screws was stuck and stripped, so we ended up destroying the head. That took three hours. The fix? Five minutes. I couldn't believe it when it turned on. Absolutely astounded and happy and ecstatic. 11 pokemon games, a red pokemon xy 3ds xl, and the lady who owns them thanks you from the bottom of her heart. This video was game changing!

Liked and subbed. Thanks for uploading this video, man. It really helped me out. I tried a bunch of different things to fix my 3DS XL that I bought used, but nothing worked until I watched this video. I unplugged the camera ribbon cable and now it powers on every time. Keep up the great work!

This was the one that I search as well. Good tutorial, explaination are clear enough. Thank you brother. Now I will consider to revive my old 3ds xl.

You’re a total life saver! I was having the same issue with finding a lack of answers online, thanks so much!

What an adventure! Awesome you got it working. I actually gave up on a 3DS a while back haha

3DS systems are from hell, in terms of repairability. Those hinges with multiple ribbon cables routed through..... Don't try it as a first timer of the system is valuable for you. I learned it the hard way.

Hi, today I received a 3DS LL with the same problem than yours. Thanks to you I managed to give life to it again, it was a bit painful as it was the first time I ever tried a repair on an electronic device. On the downside, I broke the 3D switch (the tiny metal part that is inside, not the plastic switch that you use) trying to put back the upper case, I mannaged to keep it without the 3D (who uses it anyway...). Anyhow, thank you so much for your video, it was so very helpful and I'm glad I discovered your channel !!

THANK YOU. My new3ds XL suddenly stopped working (only the orange charging LED was on). For several days I took it apart and put it back together many times, testing all the methods I found on the Internet - with no result, I almost gave up - unplugging the camera shown in your video solved the problem - it's like new again - THANK YOU.

My 3ds XL only showed the charging light, not even the blue light but THIS VIDEO BROUGHT IT BACK TO LIFE 🖤 Thank you so much for the super comprehensive fix guide!! The way mine got working again was by removing game cartridge, sd card, disconnecting wifi and infrared components AND disconnect the Cameras. Then I connected everything back EXCEPT the Camera and it freaking worked!!!!

My 3ds had the same problem but i fixed it by taking out the sd card and putting it back in again

Thanks for the video - Your diagnostic process for the camera ribbon cable led to me finding a TINY hair in the ZIF connector. Cheers!

Thanks, you saved my son's 3ds that had the same problem. I pulled the camera ribbon and it now works again!

Great content! This case reminds me of event, when I helped my relatives whose desktop computer has boot problem. After long hours I finally realized that it was broken mouse. Relatives dog has bitten cable of the mouse and this caused booting problems, because one of the devices did not work or was not recognized during boot time!

Thank you so much! This has helped me fix the Christmas presents I got and I have had a fun day of playing!

i have never opened a 3ds before. absolutely teriffying. thank you for being my emotional support during this hard journey.

Fortunately, i didnt have to disconnect anything from the mainboard, but just by pressing on the case around the camera etc. i could get it back up and running! thank you so much for your time and effort!

Electronics shop wanted us to pay more than the console's value so we had an Old3DS console as a brick for years. Decided to give it another try and found your video. Now it is properly fixed (even if I can unable the 3D switch, it is permanently on). They even left white stickers in the ribbon camera cable, marking where the problem was but I never had the courage to open the console myself. Thank you!!!

If you have a New 3Ds (in my case XL//LL) with 11.17 kernel hacked, you just have to remove back cover--->remove battery--->with battery removed press & hold power button for 5-10 secs (so it will discharge any residual electrical current in the circuit)--->plug the battery back and power it on, if it doesn't work, do the same as I said before but also remove the SD card, blow the SD slot to clean it (please don't spit on it while blowing 😅) or use a compressed air bottle with a distance between 10-30cm to remove the dust and try it again.

Going to give this a shot, my 3DS XL (also year of luigi) has had the same problem. I got it in parts right now :/ as it has been for years. but this gave me the motivation to give it a shot once again. i’ll edit if necessary.

Well I'm having the same issue on a Year of Luigi 3DS XL just like the one you troubleshooted in this video with the exact same issue, however, the fixes you used aren't working on it, haha. None the less, I'm super grateful for the video, very insightful and useful regardless! Great content, subbing.

This has been insightful. I tinkered with alot of stuff in my new 3ds, trying to replace some things. I've learned alot but I was connecting and disconnecting ribbon cables constantly. I finally got everything to work, but once I screwed everything back together, reassembled everything, I then ran into this problem. Replaced the motherboard from another New 3ds and it worked. Camera was already broken and I didnt care, so that connector isn't being used. I'm assuming it's one of the screen connectors or the speaker/3d connector, all of which are required to turn it on. I am not in the mood to diagnose which one to replace, so I'm opting to just get another motherboard, then call Nintendo to transfer my stuff over to another 3ds for now.

Oh wow yep. While I'm not one to take their system apart due to me REALLY not knowing what I'm doing, this video did help me learn my system starts up again if I don't have my system hinge opened all the way. I think this may be a sign for me to finally upgrade to a New 3DS model and at least now I can rest easy knowing I can access my system again!

Dude you saved my 3ds! I cant believe i had the balls to take it apart and remove the camera ribbon, the camera stopped working months ago so i figured that was the issue after watching this video. Thank you!! It works great now

this is really helpful ive been trying to fix my 3ds xl from ages and this video finally helped me

Yep I’m here after replacing the battery thinking after looking inside and seeing how clean the ds was but nah I still have the same problems 😭😭 regular 3ds and not an xl but the more info the merrier. Thank you sir!

Thank you soooo much! I gave up on my Nintendo 3ds before over 6 months.

Wtf why hasn’t this man got 6 million subscribers? He’s so fucking professional 😩😩👌👌👌

Really nice video. I have a 3DS XL Zelda version pending to repair for a while now, and this video can really make the difference. In my case, my unit turns on correctly if you press power button with hinges almost closed. But if you turn it on with hinges in open position or open hinges once turned on, it shuts down and acts exactly likes yours. I thought it was lcd ribbon cable, but maybe I'm lucky and is just a camera issue like yours. I will try when I have time prior to buy any replacement. Maybe it's not needed! Thanks!

You’re awesome!!! It worked!! Try reinserting the camera cable it may work after start up.

Brother, Thank You soooooo much my 3DS wasn't working for 2 years and I just gave up on it before I saw your Video. THANKS ALOT MUCH LOVE

Hey it’s 2023 and I just used this tutorial to fix my 10 year old 3Ds xl thank you so much for this.

LOL I was watching the video and it turned on by itself while I was watching it! Finished the vid tho, thanks for the information! XD

Thank you so much for the video, you got me to the crux of the matter.

F**** yeah! Thanks for the save man. This totally revived my 3dsxl.

Thank you so much for that it's not easy to find someone with the same problem.

Hi there! I just recently have been feeling the itch to get the old system going again, but had this same issue, with the blue light coming on and then an audible pop. I followed your troubleshooting routine and even managed to get the system to power on again, but the difference in my case is that the camera did not end up having any effect, but the issue lies with the upper LCD screen. I would be super grateful for some advice here: I can actually power on the system and boot games as long as the LCD screen is disconnected (which is weird, because you'd think that it might not even turn on if the top screen is missing, but this is what happened) - I checked the connector pins and they don't seem corroded or damaged and in trying to properly seat the upper LCD screen to check if it had been loose, I got the black screen blue light issue again. This leads me to believe that 1) a damaged part will prevent the boot but 2) it missing will not (for some weird reason). I have been unable to check if the Top screen cable is broken somewhere in the little cable tube, since I didn't dare take those out due to it looking really difficult to get back in, but from an outside glance there didn't seem to be much wrong with it. My question is: do you reckon that my LCD screen is broken and needs replacement? There is no visible damage, but testing would indicate that the issue must lie somewhere along the way between the top screen, top screen ribbon and connector. I don't really have a second system to test it with, so I'm wondering if it's worth finding a LCD replacement (or if cheap-ish, a parts donor), do you have any advice you could share?

Fantastic job man!

I know this video is a couple of years old, but I'm dealing with the same issue with my limited edition Pokéball 2DS XL. I've been trying to find references all over the internet with little to no luck. Do you have any idea where I could find some? Or do you have a video for a 2DS XL?

I could Watch This All Day😮😮😮

THANK YOU SO MUCH, now it works just fine

Just taking out the sd card was good enough for me since I have luma l. Thanks so much

Great work!

I am so tilted, I actually tried everything just now and you know what genuinely solved it? BLOWING INTO THE MICROPHONE! I was on cam with some of my friends and I just couldn't believe that that fixed the issue. To this day it's still one of the most confusing things I've ever experienced.

I recommend trying the mic hack it actually worked for me ♡

Thank for the update I'm go to try that on my 3ds

Nice video, what was the tools you used?🐎

Thanks a lot 2nd step works on me. i just remove my sd card and game cartridge open it and it works

Thumbs up for the video. Finally, have a time to fix my 3ds. Having for the blue light issues for few years, and finally got a time to fix. My fix was take out the battery and put back. Tada.. it works.. LOL.

Thank you for sharing this video. I’ve been having trouble with my old one for quite some time with the same thing but mine is sort of different where the blue problem will only happen if I short out the 3DS from plugging in the first time. I’m not sure if it’s fixable but I have the same blue light thing, but only happens when I plug it in first before turning on and then it starts to have the blue problem but then if I take the battery and then power cycle it for a bit then it should work fine but it won’t allow me to charge the 3DS because every time I plug it in when it’s off the orange light slowly fades so I wouldn’t really know what that issue would be. So in my case, I have to charge my battery from my new 3ds ll it back in the old 3ds Xl and also the screen is sort of like glitchy on the bottom screen where is not displaying properly it is but it’s like some stuff is washed out some stuff isn’t.

I recall seeing that blue light issue, yet I believe it happens when the top screen ribbon is not seated properly and not necessarily a camera module/ribbon issue. I could be wrong, though. Good video!

So after watching this i tried something without having to open the back the 3ds. I tried to turn my 3ds on while barely having it open and IT WORKED!! I think it worked cause its connection with the camera wasnt being strained while mostly closed. THANKS FOR THE HELP!!

I have a NES 3DS XL. I had the battery replaced, and everything was fine except some of the buttons were sticky. I decided to take it apart to get rid of the stickiness. Upon reassembly, the bottom screen was working, but the touch sensor wasn't working. I looked around for a bit to see if I found the ribbon cable for the touch sensor. I realized that I missed one, so I plugged it in, and upon reassembly again, it won't boot. I tried disconnecting things like the camera ribbon cable like mentioned in the video, but it still won't boot. Another thing to note here is that this board is different than the one showed in the video. This one has the infrared sensor soldered onto the board, and it was right where the ribbon cable I needed to plug in. Another note is that the ribbon cables that connect to the top half are in slightly different locations as well. On another note, I also have an original 3DS making the same popping sound as my 3DS XL. Maybe I'll try that with my original model.

I haven’t used or touched it for almost 6 years, and I tried purchasing charger and charged it, it opened but for a few seconds, it just suddenly turned off. Can ya’ll help me 😫

I just want to say thanks I was taking one apart had this exact same prob

Hey I have a question I’ve had my 3DS for years now I remember playing it as child unfortunately I damaged my system from water damage a long time ago and it’s probably been sitting for at least 4 years untouched is there even a possible way I can still save it?

NO WAY BRO YOU ACCTUALLY FIGURED IT OUT 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

My 3ds xl hit the same problem and thanks to your video I got some kinda knowledge. So I just try my luck bending the screen up and down press both LR buttons until it power on again without opening the cover. Sometimes it boots, sometimes it off. So it is just trial and error. Something to do with that ribbon connection I guess. I know I cannot disassemble it because I am no expert in tinkering the hardware. So better don't spoil it.

After watching your video I just gently punched my camera and it works again. I am so glad to have found your video

Nice,i experienced on&off bluelight like this 30minutes ago while playing ace attorney,but idk i'm lucky enough its working just hold on power button for longtime until they booting up it self

As redundant as a functional MM, I point it out at ending credits before closing, you say your pawn in the board has bad flex cable, presumably any cable can be at fault, with or without cam module intact, so then if some part is at fault, does it make a difference if the one in your video is connected to pfc or fpc because this video needs reviewing for clarity as much as the duplicity in its working message, I had to come back to it because it’s pretty sour, though your video makes it clear that it’s one or the other not both, so was the camera in the way? By now everyone could’ve fixed the board if Steve Jobs was their neighbor in 1970 but America was Too busy making apple that China said its time to make a pear.

I THOUGHT MY 3DS WAS DONE FOR TAKING OUT THE CARD AND GAME CARTRIDGE WORKED TYSMMMMMMM

Dumb question but what size screwdriver did you use to open the system, I can't find one the right size anywhere

Are the L and R ribbon cables required to turn on the system? My L trigger is the only broken ribbon, and I hope that doesn't cause the console to also not power on.

I have the exact same 3DS with the same shell as yours with the same problem. I tried the camera cable and it didn’t work for mine. Oddly enough, I also have a red 3DS with a broken top screen. I am going to try to swap out the WiFi and IR boards to see if that fixes mine. Fingers crossed, if it works I won’t have to fix the broken screen on the red one.

I have a similar problem with the normal 3ds that charges but does not come on. Any help and fixes would be great 👍

I love the chonky Pokémon stickers

Yo thanks I might be able to fix my old 3ds xl that has the exact same problem

Usually, assuming it's an unmodded 3DS, it's usually the cable for the speakers and 3D that breaks and causes this issue. The console will refuse to POST if the 3D cable is disconnected or broken. (It's the small cable on the top right of the motherboard.) Overtime, this cable will develop a tear when the console is opened and closed over several years.

Awesome content!

This is happening with my nephews DS it's been over 3 years I have it. I'm going to try this hopefully it works.

I have an odd problem with my 3ds XL (original) it turns on and shows me a screen that's all white with a zoomed in box that says "home menu" on the bottom screen. If I push the home button or the box on the screen it doesn't take me to the main home menu. Do you think you can tell me what's wrong with it?

Thankssss bro....you helping me so mich

What were the tools you used to actually mess with it

Hey man I'm having almost quite the same issue here, my 3ds xl won't turn on , if I plug it in it charges but the power button is on the side of the device and it won't even click properly I assume it could be the case it is pretty old and has a lot of treasure in it do you have any other suggestion?

I'm having a similar problem with the first gen 3ds, tried disconnecting the camera to no avail, do this happen with the other parts of the 3ds like the mic or wifi adaptor? should I try disconnecting those?

I’m gonna try this as soon as I can, I’ll update soon

Great tutorial. Easy to understand and follow. However, mine still doesnt work. Probably mine has diff issue

It's so odd how suddenly this happens, my 3Ds has been bulletproof since I got it back in I think 2012? and until moments ago when it just decided to start doing this, it had been working flawlessly. I use it so much however I already figured it was something to do with a ribbon cable in the hinge or elsewhere, glad to know I should just be able to unplug one until it functions again and just leave it at that. So this "Fix" was easy, it appears that somehow water damage occurred to the touch screen but I'm not sure how, it worked fine after cleaning it and I was quite careful, it even still worked normally for a little over a day, anyways, upon opening up the back and unplugging the bumper buttons, just like that it fixed my problem and booted, after putting it back together and plugging the bumpers back in, it still worked, however I immediately noticed the touch screen was weird, looking at it closer, although the touch screen still works fine, it's as if the contrast was turned way down and now the image is discolored, the whole screen saturation looks as if it is turned down and I was thinking about what would cause that when I pressed down on the bottom left of the screen and it crashed, I assume the ribbon cable connection is somewhere in that area and somehow it's either corroded or there's moisture. My hope is leaving it overnight in rice will dry it and boom it's just normal again but I doubt it will be that easy, I fully expect to need to replace the bottom screen or a cable or something to get it to go back to normal, but for now, somehow, it actually is working.

Hi, not sure if you'll see this but its worth asking. I have a similar problem with my 3ds xl. I removed the WIFI card and remounted it and when I went to test it, it worked! so I began to reassemble the system and once i did, i turned it on again and back to square one. I tried remounting the wifi card once more but unfortunately it didn't work this time. So i know for a fact its a WIFI card issue. Any suggestions?

my camera hinge isn't the problem, what other wires do you think are faulty and that I should try?

Hey I have the new nintendo 3ds with a similar issue. When I turn it on, I can hear music but the screens do not turn on. What do I do?

Great video just what i looking for. However i have another question my 3ds beside the turn off problem also have another problem,which is unable to use Normal DS wireless signal (leaving gen 4 pokemon games unplayable) however 3ds wireless and online works like nornal

My first 3DS XL would do this unless the folding screen was at a very specific orientation. I'm definitely having this kind of problem, but I haven't touched the system for so long that the battery began going spicy pillow, so now it waits patiently in my closet with no battery :(

What tool did you use I just went out to buy a small screw driver but didn’t work?

Thanks for the video. Like you said at the end there inserting those ribbon cables through the hinge is such a fiddly difficult task. I damaged 2 3ds xl's on trying to put those cables back through the hinge just because I was replacing the housing. Such a design flaw. I have another 3ds xl with a dodgy bottom lcd screen. I thought easy fix. Replaced no problem, all ribbons back carefully with no sigh of damage and now it won't turn on. I get the blue light which with mine it stays on. The system has the error message with the camera also so I thought after watching thid vid that it's the she issue. Removed the camera cable and it still not booting up.

Hey, are there other connections that will prevent it from booting?

I am about to buy a new device. How lucky I am to see this video of yours. Thank you so much~. My N3DS-XL is faced similar problem. And I try to unplug camera (top-right). So amazing, it has worked normally. When my device working normally, I tried to plug camera again. wow, Camera has been worked again. There is one sad thing, home button and mic in my device not working :( . I don't know why. I tried to fix it but I can't. T_T. But all in all, it worked. I can continue playing my unfinished game. (Albeit a bit inconvenient.) I'm leaving my comment here so I can help someone similar to me with the n3ds device. Have a nice day.

My 3ds had that problem but I held SELECT before starting up and it booted to the luma config and I could play it again!

Sadly, trying out the Wi-Fi/IR card removal trick as well as detaching the camera ribbon cable did not work for me. Still a black screen with a solid blue light.

What kind if screwdriver did u use to open both layers of the back of the 3ds

Neighbors gave my siblings a 3ds xl. It wont charge or turn on. Charging the battery with my system and doing a battery swap still led me to the same issue. Going to see if it truly is a issue with one of the hinge ribbons as I have no way to test for continuity on the board.

am having a tough time with a pink 3ds xl.. I found this video to see if it would help, as excellent as it is, my fault is that the orange/red power led is on, and stays on but nothing happens on the screens. the light is constantly on, charging it makes both lights stay on. I removed the wifi board etc, powering on makes the wifi light flash and then that is it, the power light stays on but nothing on the screens, or sound. Theres no water damage either! so strange

Dude I love you, I just had this happen to me after doing a USB C mod. I probably pulled the ribbon cable by mistake. Sidenote: Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon uses the cameras at the very first boot and will crash. But if you have a save file from before that is past that point it will work.

I have a similar problem , i opend the bottom part up to clean and put back everything back together as it should be, if i start now the blue light it stays on and i see the background is a light grey and nothing happens, any solutions?

not only the XL Models.. also the n3ds models have similar issure ..Mine stopped working after i visited the hoospital and got near an x-ray machine.. i bet the magnetism of that machine destroyed the Magneitc switch inside the 3ds lid... it turns on but is in some kind of sleep mode..

I have the same issue with my son's xl, I did find the ribbon cable for the camera had cracked, I did remove the camera but I still get the no boot symptom..... I was thinking about ordering a new camera to plug in to see if it would boot with a new camera but this video is saying it should work without?

I fixed the issue the console not shutoff but when i turn it on its black screen and no sound ? Any idea ?

Do i need a smaller screwdriver to get into the screws at 4:17?

Does this also work for a new nintendo 3ds XL? Cuz I have one that has the same problem