Nintendo 3DS Lower Case Replacement

David Hodson and 9 other contributors

Last updated on March 17, 2025

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10 - 25 minutes

Rough estimate of how long this takes. (Use this to plan your day, not to feel judged.)

Moderate

Difficulty rating: Moderate. Follow instructions carefully to succeed.

Introduction

Go to step 1

Remove your broken Nintendo 3DS lower case and replace it with a fresh one.

What you need

Tools

• 
  JIS #00 Screwdriver

  Sale price $2.99

  4.9

  Add to cart
• 
  iFixit Opening Tool

  $1.99 Individual$4.99 5

  4.8

  Add to cart

Step 1 Loosen the rear screws


Tool used on this step:
Phillips #00 Screwdriver
$5.49
Add To Cart
• Use a Phillips PH00 screwdriver to loosen the four screws along the top of the back cover.
• All screws in this device are JIS screws. Official iFixit PH000-PH1 Phillips screwdrivers are designed to be compatible with JIS screws, so they are safe to use. Using a screwdriver other than an official iFixit screwdriver or a JIS screwdriver may result in stripped screws.
• The screws are held in place by locking washers, and will not come out of the back cover.
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Step 2 Remove the rear cover



• Hold the device in one hand and turn it over.
• Grab the top edge of the back cover with your opposite hand so that the cover does not fall back into place.
• Flip the 3DS over again so that the back cover is facing up.
• Pull the back cover up and away from the rest of the device to remove it.
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Step 3 Battery
• Insert a plastic opening tool into the notch in the lower case above the battery.
• Pry the battery up with the plastic opening tool.
• Grab the top edge of the battery and lift it out of the lower case.
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Step 4 Lower Case
• Use a JIS #00 screwdriver to remove the nine 6.3 mm black screws from the lower case.
• JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards) screws are not the same as Phillips. To avoid stripping these screws, make sure you are using a JIS #00 screwdriver and not a PHILLIPS #00 screwdriver. You can use a PHILLIPS #00 with a lot of downwards force but be warned this will deform the screw head and you risk stripping it.
• iFixit's Phillips head screwdriver is desinged to reduce damage on JIS head screws so it should be fine to use, still apply more force. Make sure it's iFixit's official Phillips screwdriver as we are unaware of any other manufacturer who does this.
• Use a JIS #00 screwdriver to remove the 2.4 mm silver screw above the game cartridge slot.
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Step 5
• Lift the bottom edge of the lower case off the rest of the 3DS.
• There are still two ribbon cables connecting the mother board to the case, so be sure not to pull the lower case all the way off.
• Use a plastic opening tool to pry the shoulder button ribbon cables off their sockets on the motherboard.
• Remove the lower case from the device.
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Author

with 9 other contributors

David Hodson

Member since: 04/13/10

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