Nintendo 2DS Joystick Replacement

Written By: Fina Beauchamp

Comments: 27

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

15 minutes

Introduction

We will teach you how to first remove the battery and back panel then access the joystick for repair or cleaning purposes.

Tools

Step 1

Remove the two Phillips captive screws securing the upper rear panel.
The captive screws will not completely detach from the back panel.

Step 2

Hinge the upper rear panel upwards and outwards to remove it.

Step 3

Remove the battery from its housing by lifting it up from the side closest to the outside edge.

Step 4

Remove the ten Phillips screws attaching the rear panel.

Can't take off the screw top left next to the battery. What type of screwdriver do I use and where can I find some?

Little Mac - 19/02/18

I used a husky with changeable heads, you could probably find one on amazon

Minecrafter Pig - 22/04/19

These screws aren't Phillips, they're JIS, if you use a Phillips head you can and will strip the screws, please update this as it can cause more harm to people's systems than good if they get stripped.

Sneakii -

yep. i stripped my screws

Persvicx -

The screws are 6.2mm long

Martin Samuelsson -

Step 5

The rear panel is attached to the motherboard by a ribbon cable, so be careful not to lift the rear panel too far from the device.
Carefully pull the rear panel straight up from the device.

Y si se corta el cable que pasa?

Laura Pernía López -

Step 6

Use your fingernail or the flat end of a spudger to flip up the connector securing the ribbon cable to the motherboard
Remove the cable from the connector
Take the opportunity to remove the Left and Right triggers, they have hinges that may break and springs that may jump away.

You can also detach the cable from the motherboard safely by flipping up the connector on the motherboard. Just don't forget to reattach. Some will find this tedious but may save time if you know what you're doing with said connectors.

Blackbeard - 03/07/16

I agree, this is what the guide i followed said to do and since I was disconnecting all the other ribbon cables it made perfect sense to do it that way.

Lin -

pay attention: my 2ds dropped it's lens covers at this step

Jos van Reenen - 13/03/17

Likewise, I used a tiny drop of glue to put the lens back in place. Take care not to dirty the lens.

Elliot West - 01/12/19

The picture you have there has the camera lens ribbon installed upside down. The ribbon needs to be pointing down when you re-attach it not up.

Rick Parrish - 04/05/17

Agreed, ribbon cable looks upside down in picture

Elliot West - 01/12/19

Step 7

Remove the trigger button on the top right corner by pulling upwards and outwards.
Remove the right red side panel by pulling outwards.

I recommend not removing the right trigger. I didn’t find it necessary and I hard a hard time getting the spring lined up again.

Tyler Schommer - 04/07/19

Step 8

Use a spudger to lift the gray locking lever on the joystick ribbon cable ZIF connector. Pry straight up from the motherboard on the side of the connector opposite the cable.
Gently slide the cable straight out of the connector.

Step 9

Remove the two 7.8mm Phillips corner screws holding the white joystick cover.

These screws are 7.8mm tall

Martin Samuelsson -

Step 10

Remove the joystick cover. It should detach with little force.
Remove the joystick washer under the joystick cover.

I completed the tutorial but my stick is now drifting by itself and I’m afraid to open it up again and try because the screws, it seems, are damaged from scratching it too much. It’s been like that for at least a year

ImTHATGuy 500 - 27/07/19

Conclusion

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

Author

Fina Beauchamp

Member since: 12/01/15

3135 Reputation

12 comments

My ribbon cable is broke, Is there a way to fix it?Thanks.

Deez Smith - 16/08/17

When I put the circle pad back in, my 2DS thinks that I am holding up and right on it, when in reality it is in the neutral position. Please help.

CraftedGamer 1170 - 12/10/17

Use the calibrate option in system settings. Also make sure the cable is connected nicely.

Jilvenhong Dickinson -

Recalibrate it in system settings.

Artemy Matveev - 11/05/18

The guide fails to mention that the joystick ribbon cable is locked into the motherboard. You can use a spudger to lift the grey tab, leveraging upwards on the side opposite of the ribbon cable. The tab will pop up and should make getting the ribbon cable out (and back in) easier.

I followed this guide and ripped the ribbon cable while attempting to get it connected back to the system. If I had known the grey tab unlocks, I might not have ripped the cable by trying to force it back under the pins. My iFixit tweezers were also very sharp, and may have cut the ribbon cable. Would anyone be able to recommend something gentler for the ribbon cable?

Ryan G - 26/08/18

@ryango This looks like an oversight on the part of the guide author. I’ve updated the text with (hopefully) better instructions. Sorry it led to tearing your cable. :( That looks like a pretty standard ZIF connector, and once unlocked, it should disconnect and reconnect with minimal force. Personally when working with ribbon cables I prefer blunt-nose tweezers, but it sounds like your tweezers weren’t at fault here. Thanks for the heads-up, and better luck with your next repair.

Jeff Suovanen - 27/08/18

I replaced my analog stick, but it has the same problem, when i turn on the system, the cursor go crazy and then stops, i can move only left and right, no up and down with two different analog sticks…so, it’s not a analog problem, do u have any idea on how to fix it? thank you

Emiliano Tricase - 25/06/19

Try recalibrating it, I guess. After that, let me know how it is? I might find another possible solution.

INFJ Blog - 14/11/19

A bit nervous to try this, do I have to detach the ribbon cables?

INFJ Blog - 14/11/19

So mine doesn't have the gray tab. Any help with that?

jeff why not? - 23/09/20

I've found that a Phillips #000 Screwdriver works better.

Raymond Trinh -

Will iFixit be selling the parts for this repair ever again?

Noboru Garcia -