Nintendo DS Lite Shoulder Buttons Replacement

Francisco Varela and 9 other contributors

Last updated on February 4, 2025

45 minutes - 1 hour

Moderate

Action Shots

Needs Better Images

Introduction

Go to step 1

This guide will explain how to replace the shoulder buttons on a DS Lite if they are sticking or not working properly.

The tools you’ll need for this task are:

Spudger or other flat tool
Screwdrivers
- Phillips
- Tri-wing

What you need

Parts

Nintendo DS Lite Outer Shell
View

Tools

Step 1 Remove the battery cover

Nintendo DS Lite Shoulder Buttons Replacement, Remove the battery cover: step 1, image 1 of 1

Use a Phillips #00 screwdriver to remove the screw securing the battery cover.

Edit

Step 2 Remove the lower case

Nintendo DS Lite Shoulder Buttons Replacement, Remove the lower case: step 2, image 1 of 1

Use a spudger to pry out the battery.
Pry off the rubber feet.
Remove the seven screws securing the lower case:
Three tri-wing screws
One Phillips screw
Two gold Phillips screws
One black tri-wing screw

Edit

2 Phillips screws at the battery

Jordy van Dijken - Aug 4, 2023 Reply

pretty sure that holds the board in place, you dont need to unscrew it and you probably shouldnt

mjque1234jj - Apr 20, 2024

Step 3

Carefully pry the bottom cover off.
Remove the shoulder buttons by pulling out the metal pegs that secure them to DS.
The triggers are held in by tiny metal pegs and springs. Keep track of each piece.

Edit

Step 4

Nintendo DS Lite Shoulder Buttons Replacement: step 4, image 3 of 3

You can now access the micro-button component and replace or repair anything as needed.

Edit

Could someone run through or send a link explaining the disassembly of the micro-button?

Aaron Rueppel - Jul 7, 2021 Reply

This explains how to disassemble the system, but has nothing about actually replacing the shoulder buttons. I got this far and found the R button has a ribbon cable port directly on the other side of the board, so I hoped to find something in here showing how to remove the button properly before putting the replacement in.

Alex Lewis - Nov 12, 2024 Reply