How To Fix A Broken Ds Lite Screen

Introduction

This guide has been updated by iFixit staff! Read the new, official guide here.

Replacing the top screen on the Nintendo DS Lite.

Place your device upside down and locate the battery compartment.

Place your device upside down and locate the battery compartment.
Find the phillips head screw securing the battery cover in the bottom right hand corner of the device.
Loosen the screw enough to remove the battery cover but leave the screw in the cover for reassembly.
Use only a phillips screwdriver to remove screw.

Slowly remove the battery cover with the iFixit opening tool.

Slowly remove the battery cover with the iFixit opening tool.
Make sure to remove the cover carefully to keep from losing phillips screw in the cover. It will be needed for reassembly.

Use the iFixit opening tool to carefully pry the battery out of the case. After the old battery is removed replace it with a new battery facing the same direction as when the cover was opened.

Use the iFixit opening tool to carefully pry the battery out of the case.
After the old battery is removed replace it with a new battery facing the same direction as when the cover was opened.
For some devices, you may be able to remove the battery by flipping the DS over and letting the battery fall into your hand.

Remove the following 7 screws securing the lower case to the DS Lite:

Remove the following 7 screws securing the lower case to the DS Lite:
3 silver tri-wing screws (5mm long)
1 black tri-wing screw (4mm)
2 gold Phillips screws (4mm)
1 silver Phillips screw (3mm)
Do not remove the silver PH screw (3mm) in the battery compartment yet. It holds the main PCB in place.

Remove the plastic insert (or cartridge) from the lower slot (Slot 2).

Remove the plastic insert (or cartridge) from the lower slot (Slot 2).

Flip the unit over. Use a spudger to pry open the gap between the bottom case and the front panel. Work all the way around the case until the panel is free.

Flip the unit over.
Use a spudger to pry open the gap between the bottom case and the front panel. Work all the way around the case until the panel is free.
Avoid touching the L and R shoulder buttons, because they pop off easily and are difficult to reassemble. Keeping the bottom case against your workbench will help hold them in place.

Carefully separate the two pieces by hand. The two shoulder buttons are made up of three pieces -- the plastic button, a pin, and a spring. If they accidentally pop out while you are working, study the picture and make sure you put the spring in the correct position. When reassembling the cover, make sure that the power switch cover on the bottom case is in the off (down) position. Otherwise, the power switch cover can break the very fragile power switch upon reassembly.

Carefully separate the two pieces by hand.
The two shoulder buttons are made up of three pieces -- the plastic button, a pin, and a spring. If they accidentally pop out while you are working, study the picture and make sure you put the spring in the correct position.
When reassembling the cover, make sure that the power switch cover on the bottom case is in the off (down) position. Otherwise, the power switch cover can break the very fragile power switch upon reassembly.

Locate the two screws that attach the logic board to the device. Unscrew the two Phillips head screws.

Locate the two screws that attach the logic board to the device.
Unscrew the two Phillips head screws.

With a plastic opening tool, gently separate the logic board from the device base.

With a plastic opening tool, gently separate the logic board from the device base.
The ribbon cable and two wires are still connected to the logic board.
The buttons may fall out, but can easily be put back in place.

Flip the logic board over so that the touch screen is facing up. Using metal tweezers, carefully disconnect the other ribbon cable that connects the touch screen with the logic board.

Flip the logic board over so that the touch screen is facing up.
Using metal tweezers, carefully disconnect the other ribbon cable that connects the touch screen with the logic board.

Using one finger nail or the plastic opening tool, carefully lift the brown securing flap of the connector. Then disconnect the ribbon cable that connects the logic board to the upper screen.

Using one finger nail or the plastic opening tool, carefully lift the brown securing flap of the connector. Then disconnect the ribbon cable that connects the logic board to the upper screen.

Remove the two Phillips-head screws that hold the hinge in place. Open the system up (just like if you were about to use it normally).

Remove the two Phillips-head screws that hold the hinge in place.
Open the system up (just like if you were about to use it normally).

After opening it, carefully unhinge them from each other by sliding the bottom piece to the left and the top piece to the right. Be aware that you can pinch wires while doing this, so don't yank it apart.

After opening it, carefully unhinge them from each other by sliding the bottom piece to the left and the top piece to the right.
Be aware that you can pinch wires while doing this, so don't yank it apart.

Using a push pin, remove the four rubber bumpers located at the corners of the top screen.

Using a push pin, remove the four rubber bumpers located at the corners of the top screen.
After removing the LEDs and pulling apart the hinge, remove the round hinge shaft. This should be in the top screen piece.

Unscrew the four Phillips-head screws and remove the top panel. Be careful not to damage the wires and the ribbon cable.

Unscrew the four Phillips-head screws and remove the top panel.
Be careful not to damage the wires and the ribbon cable.

Carefully remove the two speakers and the green wireless card from the top panel.

Carefully remove the two speakers and the green wireless card from the top panel.

Remove the screen by orienting it face down and pushing up on the screen from underneath.

Remove the screen by orienting it face down and pushing up on the screen from underneath.
Don't press on the screen too hard, or you may crack the screen.

Carefully slide the ribbon cable through the clip.

Carefully slide the ribbon cable through the clip.
Be careful not to damage the ribbon cable by pulling to hard or creasing it.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Team

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