Nintendo 3DS XL 2015 Directional Pad Replacement

Introduction

If the Nintendo 3DS XL 2015 directional pad is malfunctioning or not working at all, this replacement guide will help you fix the problem.

Tools Needed:

• JIS Driver Set
• Spudger
• Tweezers

Parts Needed:

• Nintendo 3DS XL (2015) D-Pad Board
• Nintendo 3DS XL (2015) D-Pad Button

Step 1: Prepare the Device

⚠ Ensure your device is powered off before proceeding. Failure to do so may result in electrical shock or damage to the device.

Place the 3DS upside down. Remove the game card, headphones, charging cable, stylus, or anything else that may be connected to the device.

Image Description: The underside of a red Nintendo 3DS XL console, showing the battery compartment and stylus.

Step 2: Remove Back Screws

Using a JIS #0 screwdriver, loosen the two black screws on the back of the console.

Note: The screws are held in place by captive washers and should not be completely removed.

Image Description: Underside of a red Nintendo 3DS XL with two yellow-circled screws at the top.

Step 3: Open the Back Cover

Once the screws are loosened, carefully pry open the back cover using a spudger.

Image Description: Hands using a blue plastic spudger to pry open the back cover of a red Nintendo 3DS XL.

Step 4: Remove the Battery

The battery is located on the left-hand side of the 3DS. To remove it, use the small gap located at the top-middle and pull up with a pointed tool.

Image Description: A hand using a blue plastic tool to lift the battery out of the left side of the Nintendo 3DS XL.

Step 5: Remove the Motherboard Cover

Using a JIS #000 screwdriver, remove the six 6mm screws around the edges of the secondary cover.

Image Description: The back of the Nintendo 3DS XL with the battery removed, showing six yellow-circled screws around the edges of a secondary cover.

Step 6: Access Additional Screws

Using tweezers, carefully pop out the rubber bumpers located at the top side of the 3DS. Removing them will reveal another two 6mm screws. Remove these screws using a JIS #000 screwdriver as well.

Image Description: Two images: one showing tweezers popping out rubber bumpers on the top edge of the 3DS, the other showing tweezers removing two 6mm screws revealed beneath the bumpers.

Step 7: Separate the Back Cover

To separate the cover, carefully lift it up and away from the hinges (to clear the headphone port), then pivot it towards the hinges to expose the circuit boards.

⚠ Do not fully remove the cover yet, or you may damage the delicate ribbon cable that still connects it to the motherboard.

Image Description: Three images showing how to carefully lift and pivot the back cover away from the hinges to expose the circuit boards.

Step 8: Disconnect L/R/ZL/ZR Ribbons

Use a pair of tweezers to lift away the two plugs that latch the L/R/ZL/ZR button ribbons to the motherboard. You can now remove the back cover completely and set it aside.

Image Description: The opened Nintendo 3DS XL showing the motherboard and ribbon cables. Two yellow-circled plugs connecting ribbon cables to the motherboard are highlighted.

Step 9: Disconnect Circle Pad Ribbon

Use tweezers to flip up the small, hinged locking flap in order to unlock the ZIF connector securing the circle pad ribbon.

Slide the ribbon out of the ZIF connector.

Image Description: Close-up of the motherboard showing a hand using tweezers to flip up a small locking flap on a ZIF connector securing the circle pad ribbon.

Step 10: Remove Circle Pad Screws

Using a JIS #000 screwdriver, remove the two 8 mm screws securing the circle pad.

Image Description: Close-up of the motherboard showing two yellow-circled 8mm screws securing the circle pad.

Step 11: Remove Circle Pad Casing

Lift the circle pad casing upward to remove it. There will be some friction, but it should not require excessive force.

Image Description: A hand lifting the circle pad casing upward from the motherboard.

Step 12: Disconnect Gold Terminal and Ribbon

Locate the gold terminal plug with a red cable at the top left of the motherboard. Using your fingers, carefully pull the plug straight upward to remove.

Use a pair of tweezers to disconnect the single ribbon connector.

⚠ Be very careful not to pull on the red cable.

Image Description: The motherboard with a gold terminal plug with a red cable highlighted at the top left, and a single ribbon connector highlighted.

Step 13: Disconnect Remaining Ribbons

Using tweezers, gently pull the five marked ribbons out of the ZIF connectors along the sides of the motherboard.

⚠ These ZIF connectors are held in place by friction and do not have locks—lifting the flaps on these connectors will break them! Note that in some models the upper-most connector may have a lock.

Three of the ribbon connectors have plastic clamping flaps that cover the ribbon to prevent slippage. Use the tweezers to flip them up before ribbon removal.

ℹ When reassembling the device, be sure to flip the ZIF clamps back down.

Note: While the SD card reader is shown as removed in this photo, it is optional for the removal of the motherboard.

Image Description: Two images showing ribbon cables connected to ZIF connectors on the motherboard. The first shows multiple ribbons, the second shows close-ups of ZIF connectors.

Step 14: Remove Motherboard Screws

Using a JIS #000 screwdriver, remove six 4mm screws along the edges of the motherboard.

Image Description: The motherboard with six yellow-circled 4mm screws around its edges highlighted.

Step 15: Remove the Motherboard

Carefully pivot the motherboard 90 degrees toward the hinges to reveal two more ZIF connectors on the underside of the motherboard.

Both have latches that must be flipped up. The left, longer latch is black; the right, shorter one is white. Flip up the flaps, slide the ribbons out, and remove the motherboard.

Note: Note which way the ribbons slide into their connectors carefully, as they are different.

Image Description: Two images showing the motherboard being pivoted 90 degrees to reveal ZIF connectors on its underside.

Step 16: Remove Game Card Reader

Remove five 5mm screws from the game card reader panel using a JIS #000 screwdriver.

The game card reader can now be removed and replaced.

Image Description: The motherboard with the game card reader panel shown, with five yellow-circled 5mm screws highlighted.

Step 17: Access Directional Pad

Using the JIS #000 screwdriver, remove four 3mm screws from the square panel covering the directional pad.

Remove the panel by lifting it upward.

Image Description: The directional pad area on the 3DS with a square panel held by four yellow-circled 3mm screws.

Step 18: Replace Directional Pad

Pry off the gray rubber covering.

Take out the directional pad using tweezers and replace it with a new one.

Image Description: Close-up of the directional pad area showing the gray rubber covering and the directional pad itself.

Reassembly

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