Nintendo 3DS, 2DS & DS Repair in Charlotte
Cracked screens, dead touch, broken hinges, worn charge ports and swollen batteries on every DS, 3DS and 2DS. Free diagnostic, exact quote before any work.
Bring your DS, 3DS or 2DS to our University City shop or mail it in. We start with a free diagnostic and give you an exact quote before any work begins. Where a repair is on our price list, the price for your model is shown on this page. Most handheld repairs take 2 to 5 days. Every repair has our 90-day warranty, and if we can't fix it, you don't pay.
Signs you need this repair
Glass cracks, black blots or colored lines that spread. On a 3DS the top screen is a separate panel from the touch screen underneath, so we check both.
Taps land in the wrong place, or the bottom screen ignores the stylus. A worn or cracked digitizer is the usual cause, and calibration only helps when the digitizer itself is healthy.
If the picture comes and goes as you move the lid, the ribbon cable that runs through the hinge is wearing through.
DS Lite and 3DS XL hinges crack at the corners after years of opening and closing. Left alone, the crack puts strain on the screen ribbon.
The charge light never comes on, blinks, or only works with the plug held at an angle. The charge port, the battery or the power circuit on the board has failed.
A swollen battery pushes the battery cover or the shell apart. Stop charging it and bring it in.
The console says no card is inserted, or a game only works when pressed in. Bent or dirty pins in the game card slot are common.
Your character walks on its own, or L and R need a hard press. Both are worn parts that can be replaced.
What usually causes it
The hinge and the ribbon cable inside it take stress every time the lid moves. That is why hinge and top screen problems often show up together.
A drop with the lid closed can crack the top screen from the inside. Pressure in a backpack cracks the hinge corners.
Even the newest of these consoles is several years old, and lithium batteries swell or stop holding a charge with age, even in a console that sat in a drawer.
Years of plugging in loosen the port or crack its solder joints, so it only charges at an angle or not at all.
Liquid corrodes the board and the game card slot pins, which shows up as power faults and cards that won't read.
How we fix it
- 1Free diagnostic
We open it, check the board under the microscope, and test both screens, touch, sound, buttons, charging and the card slot. You get an exact quote before anything is replaced.
- 2Screens and touch
We replace the cracked panel or the digitizer, then test touch across the whole screen and recalibrate.
- 3Hinge and ribbon
A cracked hinge gets a new hinge or top shell. If the top screen flickers, we replace or repair the ribbon cable that runs through it so the fault doesn't come back.
- 4Power, charging and battery
A worn charge port gets replaced, and cracked solder joints and corrosion on the board get repaired. A swollen or worn battery gets a new cell.
- 5Buttons, Circle Pad and card slot
We replace worn shoulder buttons and Circle Pads, and clean or replace the game card slot.
- 6Final test with real games
We play your games on the finished console, check touch and both screens with the lid open and closed, and confirm it charges.
Screens, shells and batteries
Nintendo stopped making DS and 3DS parts years ago, so parts quality matters. We tell you what we are fitting before we start.
Top and bottom panels for the DS family and the 3DS line. Availability varies by model, so we confirm the part for your exact console in the quote.
When the picture is fine but touch is cracked or dead, we replace just the touch layer.
Replacement shells fix cracked hinges and corners, and give a worn console a fresh look.
A fresh cell for a swollen or worn battery, so it holds a charge again.
How long it takes
Most DS, 3DS and 2DS repairs take 2 to 5 days. A charge port or battery usually lands at the short end. A screen that has to be ordered for a less common model, or board work after liquid damage, takes longer. We call if the estimate changes.
Nintendo DS & 3DS Repair prices by model
Live prices from our shop price sheet. Parts and labor included, with a 90-day warranty.
| Model | Charging Port | Screen Repair |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo 3DS | $109.99 | Free diagnostic |
| Nintendo 2DS | $109.99 | $119.99 |
Models we repair
What customers say
EXCELLENT WORK!!!!!!!!! Prices Are Beyond Fair , Customer Service Was Wonderful & Helpful! Recommend Anyone Who Needs Games Or Phones Repaired. Awesome Stickers Too That They Provide. 10/10 ExperienceDeasaan Sargent · Game repair · Google review
… Definitely A five star rank for me with the experience I had I bring all of my electronics here PlayStation iPad iPhone, android PS5 Xbox I mean whatever it is if it’s electronic, I’m pretty sure they can fix itCoel Young · Game repair · Google review
Great service! They had it done in a timely manner! 100 percent fixed. Would definitely recommend this shop for all your PC, Phones, and gaming consoles! I’ll be going back if anything else needs repair.TRu Kazekage · Game repair · Google review
Real customer reviews from Google and Yelp, quoted word for word. … marks where a longer review was shortened.
Protect your console and everything else at home
Covered Everything protects your phone plus up to 25 more devices, like consoles, laptops and tablets, for $19.99 a month. Set it up when you collect your repair.
How Covered works90-day warranty
On parts and workmanship.
Covered Everything
$99 per claim on this console, $50 on your phone. Cancel anytime.
Fixed here, on our bench
Bring it in and we handle the claim with you.
Before you bring it in
- Back up anything you care about. On a 3DS, copy the SD card to a computer if you can.
- Remove the game card and the SD card, or tell us if you want them tested with the console.
- If the back is bulging, stop charging it and bring it in.
- Bring your charger if you suspect it, so we can test both.
- Mailing it in? Wrap it in bubble wrap and close the lid on a soft cloth so nothing presses on the screens.
Repair or replace?
Repairing usually makes sense. New DS and 3DS consoles aren't made anymore, and a used one bought online has the same aging battery, hinge and ports as yours, with a history you don't know. Your console also has your saves and your setup. The exception is a board badly damaged by liquid, and we tell you plainly after the free diagnostic.
Thinking of fixing it yourself?
Swapping a 3DS battery is simple with a small screwdriver. Screens and hinges are a different story. The ribbon cables are thin and tear easily, and a slip can damage the board. If you've opened it and something got worse, stop and bring it in.
After your repair
- Close the lid gently and don't carry it by the top screen.
- Use the official charger or a good quality cable, and unplug it once it is full.
- If it will sit for months, charge it to about half first and top it up now and then.
- Use a hard case in a backpack so pressure can't crack the hinge.
Questions people ask
Which models do you repair?
The whole family: the original DS, DS Lite, DSi and DSi XL, the 3DS and 3DS XL, the New 3DS and New 3DS XL, and the 2DS and New 2DS XL.
My 3DS top screen goes black when I open it. Can you fix that?
Usually, yes. That is the ribbon cable in the hinge wearing through. We replace or repair the ribbon, and check the hinge so it doesn't happen again.
Can you fix just the touch screen?
Yes. If the picture is fine and only touch is cracked or not responding, we replace the digitizer on its own.
My 3DS battery is swollen. Is it safe?
Stop charging it and don't press on it. Bring it in and we replace the battery. A swollen battery can push the shell apart and damage the board if it is left in.
Will I lose my games and saves?
Repairs don't usually touch your data. Downloaded games and many saves live on the SD card or the console's memory, so back up the SD card if you can before you drop it off.
How much does a DS or 3DS repair cost?
The diagnostic is free. Where a repair for your model is on our price list, the price is shown on this page. Anything else gets an exact quote before we start.
Do you take handhelds by mail?
Yes, from anywhere in the US. You get the same free diagnostic and quote as a walk-in, and we ship it back insured at no cost.
Related repairs
Mail-in repair from anywhere in the U.S.
Free diagnostic when it arrives. Free insured shipping back.
- 1Tell us your model and the problem
- 2Ship it insured. We diagnose it within a day
- 3Approve the price. Fixed and back in 7–10 days