Why won’t my 3D DS turn on?

Your Nintendo 3DS won’t turn on due to a variety of reasons, including a dead battery, faulty AC adapter, or incorrectly connected battery pack, and to troubleshoot the issue, you should first try holding the power button for a few seconds to force the blue LED off, then remove both the game and SD cards and try turning it on again. If it still doesn’t turn on, you may need to charge the battery or replace the AC adapter if the recharge LED lights up then immediately turns dark, indicating a possible issue with the battery pack or charging circuit.

Troubleshooting Your 3DS

To diagnose the problem, you should start by checking the power LED on the right hinge of the console, which will light green when the console is operating normally and the battery is at a good charge, and if the battery level is low, the color of the power LED will change to red.

FAQs

General Troubleshooting

1. How do I turn on my 3DS?: Press the POWER Button, and use the stylus to operate the Touch Screen, which can be found in the stylus holder on the back of the system.
2. Why does my 3DS screen not turn on?: Try holding the power button for a few seconds to force the blue LED off, then remove both the game and SD cards and try turning it on again.
3. Why is my 3DS not turning on after opening?: The issue is likely related to the unit’s battery not being charged enough, which can occur when you open your first-generation 3DS and the screen refuses to come back to life.

Battery and Charging

4. How do I check my DS battery?: Check the two LED indicators on the right hinge of the console, where the power LED will light green when the console is operating normally, and the battery is at a good charge.
5. Can DS turn on while charging?: Yes, it is possible to play while the battery is recharging, but this will cause the charging process to take longer than if the system was not being played at the same time.
6. How long does it take for a dead DS to charge?: The battery requires approximately three hours of charging, and you will know when it is fully charged when the amber charging light shuts off.

Common Issues

7. What is the 3DS black screen of death?: The “Black Screen of Death” is a phenomenon where the 3DS screen remains black, often due to a hinge issue or the system being stuck in sleep mode.
8. What to do if 3DS crashes?: Try applying the latest system update and see if the issue improves, and if the system only freezes when using a specific game or application, check the eShop for an update.
9. Do 3DS batteries go bad?: Yes, the battery inside your 3DS is a lithium battery that can swell, leak, or even explode due to dumb charging issues.

Maintenance and Repair

10. How do you know if you bricked your 3DS?: A soft brick is when your 3DS can still turn on, but you can’t do anything with it, while a hard brick is when your 3DS won’t turn on at all.
11. Is it possible to fix a 3DS?: Yes, there’s no need to replace your entire game console, as you can visit a repair technician for a quick and affordable Nintendo 3DS screen replacement.
12. How long is DS battery life?: The Nintendo DS Lite has four levels of brightness, and the battery will last 15-19 hours on the lowest settings, and 5-8 hours on the brightest.

Additional Information

13. Is the 3DS discontinued?: Yes, the 3DS family hardware was officially discontinued on September 16, 2020, and online play and other functionality will end for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software in early April 2024.
14. Why was the 3DS discontinued?: The company likely decided to retire the console because it’s no longer selling like it used to, and the release of the Nintendo Switch marked a shift in focus towards newer hardware.
15. Is Nintendo 3DS still supported?: While Nintendo Network services remain active in most regions, the Nintendo eShop officially shut down on March 27, 2023, and online play and other functionality will end for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software in early April 2024.