Nintendo 3DS Circle Pad Joystick Replacement

Written By: David Hodson

Comments: 19

Nintendo 3DS Circle Pad Joystick Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

No estimate

Introduction

Circle pad joystick prerequisite.

Tools

Step 1

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

my screws wont stop spining what to i do? i have the same problem with other screws and this leavs my joystick very loss and it is dificult to muve it becuase it is aganst the case not lifted up? any sugestions? (sorry for my bad speling jaja im very bad at speling..)

AppleTopic - 21/04/21

I think you stripped your screws. I think the best solution is to change the upper cover of the lower assembly and the screws. The fastest, but temporarily is to stick in some way the joystick housing to the cover, but it won’t last long, so do this only if you have to use your console while you wait the cover to come. Anyway, so not overtighten the new screws, or you will be in the same situation once again.

Daniele Carminati - 22/04/21

Step 2

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.

When reassembling verify that the circle pad control is oriented right. I had to go back in after completion when I realized it wasn't centered.

Daniel Johnson - 22/03/16

I would not disable the back side all the way because it could really mess up your 3DS.

masterspeggy3 - 18/12/16

From this step, follow this video https://youtu.be/XGdRim2Mvrk?t=627

you can skipp from step 8 to 20

lots of unnecessary steps

Bruno N -

Step 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.

Can you replace a zif socket? The little metal pieces on mine broke off...

Colton Alverson - 25/09/15

YOUR &&^&@@ HAHAHAAHA, no you cant you would have to purchase a new motherboard i feek you bro happened in my first time

vrobinson - 27/10/16

you might want to find someone who is skilled in component level microsoldering for that

Samuel Martin -

The retaining flap on mine broke off, is there any way to fix it?

Madi Hansen - 19/02/17

Don't do this step! it is not necessary. you can skip steps 8 through 20

S Maduras - 19/06/17

Skip steps 8 through 20. It will save a lot of time. Thanks S Maduras for the warning.

clarissa.vetintegral - 29/06/17

Thanks S Maduras! Your tip

made this super easy. No need for steps 8-20.

Carl Vero - 16/08/20

OH MY GOD THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! I'm sure I would have destroyed my ds if I did all that

Amber Selley -

Just like everyone else I recommend skipping to step 21. You don't need to take all the components out to replace the circle pad.

Callum M. -

Skip steps 8-20 like they said!! Doing all those unnecessary steps wasted so so much time and frustrated me hugely by causing me to damage my microphone ribbon cable…

Falcon -

What do you mean by skipping 8-20? Do I not need to remove the screws in order to replace the lower LCD?

Marion Saga -

you know, after you disconnect the ribbon from the mobo, you can just remove the back discs and the rubber part. no need to go past here.

TruGoose -

Step 4

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.

When reassembling, you can use the pointy end of the spudger to align the hold again with the joystick. It’ll probably have bounced around while you’re moving other things.

anthonyhersey - 28/10/19

If your only goal is to replace the circle-pad, the following steps are unnecessary. You can skip to step 21, the removal of the circle-pad.

Andrew -