How to clean a Game Boy Cartridge

Introduction

A guide on how to place a game into the cartridge reader, also for troubleshooting non-loading games.

What you need

Step 1 How to clean a Game Boy Cartridge

How to clean a Game Boy Cartridge, How to clean a Game Boy Cartridge: step 1, image 1 of 1

First obtain a cartridge. This is where games for the Game Boy are located.

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Step 2

Place cartridge into cartridge reader slot on the back of the Game Boy system.
The game graphic should be facing towards you when you place the cartridge into the reader slot.

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Step 3

Push down until the game "locks" into place, and the top of the game is a small amount beneath the top of the system.

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Step 4

If game does not load when the system is turned on, turn off system and remove cartridge.
Remove cartridge by placing thumb on the outside of the cartridge near the indentation and pushing up. Dislodging the cartridge from the cartridge reader.

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Step 5

Apply some air into the cartridge bottom and into the cartridge reader itself.
Reinsert cartridge and try again.
If problem still persists, an internal problem may be the culprit.

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Please don't blow in it.

Use compressed air, or clean the pins with 90+% isopropyl alcohol.

Harley - Apr 17, 2022 Reply

Attention que souffler dans la cartouche peut entrainer de l'oxydation, il est préférable soit d'utiliser une bombe d'air sec soit de frotter la piste de lecture de la cartouche avec un coton-tige et de l'alcool isopropylique.

Guillaume Malecha - Sep 21, 2024 Reply