Hardware Misc My New 3DS XL isn't charging

[animeboi963]

My 3DS was working just fine until I tried to charge it a few days ago. It just wouldn't charge at all. Now I have to admit that my 3DS required angling the cable in a specific manner for it to charge properly for quite some time now though I'm not sure whether that's a charging port issue or the charging cable. I tried looking at the charging port and from what I've researched thus far the charging port doesn't seem to be chewed up or showing any signs of being broken at all, it's in a good condition as far as I'm concerned from looking at examples of a broken charging port. It may be an issue where the pins gets pushed into the plastic and you can apparently pull it out with a needle though I'm afraid to do it unless I'm confident that it's not an issue with the charger. I use a cheap bottleg cable that has lasted for a few years now though it does seem that there's a layer of patina on parts of the charger. I tried cleaning the charging contacts and opening the charger itself to see if any connections have been disconnected though there doesn't seem to be any thus far. Is there any case where the charging cable can break off internally or is it really just the pins getting depressed?

P.S. My 3DS does turn on just fine and it still works perfectly and there doesn't to be any wiggling in the charging port

 

[KleinesSinchen]

Process of elimination. Try:

• Your charger on a known good 2|3DS or DSi
• A known good charger on your N3DSXL

Use a charging stand/cradle for 3DS consoles for prevent wearing down the connector. Pressing little spring loaded metal pieces against the gold contacts is virtually free of wear. If the connector has a (invisible) mechanical defect or the solder joint on the PCB are broken there is a chance that the charging stand/cradle method still works. One of my 3DS has exactly this problem. Why risk soldering when the second charging method still works.

====
Although needing a specific angle for successful charge implies mechanical problems:
If you can't get it to charge with any method further troubleshooting is required (testing solder joints, verifying if there is an electronic problem like the charging IC)


Good luck!

 

[animeboi963]

Process of elimination. Try:

• Your charger on a known good 2|3DS or DSi
• A known good charger on your N3DSXL

Use a charging stand/cradle for 3DS consoles for prevent wearing down the connector. Pressing little spring loaded metal pieces against the gold contacts is virtually free of wear. If the connector has a (invisible) mechanical defect or the solder joint on the PCB are broken there is a chance that the charging stand/cradle method still works. One of my 3DS has exactly this problem. Why risk soldering when the second charging method still works.

====
Although needing a specific angle for successful charge implies mechanical problems:
If you can't get it to charge with any method further troubleshooting is required (testing solder joints, verifying if there is an electronic problem like the charging IC)


Good luck!

just wondering but is there a case where a fuse got blown but the console is working just fine? I never opened my 3ds prior to this so the chances of the fuse getting blown for whatever reason is minimal but it is nice to know. Is it also possible to damage the internals by accidentally bridging the two charging pin if I do decide to try to pull it out using a needle? Thanks for the reply btw

 

[zxr750j]

This is what they should look like, post a picture of yours to compare. if the left or right is further in you can pry away with you needle, but be carefull: you might make it worse if the metal is weakened already. The risk of shorting when off and not charging is null. If you mess about and manhandle the port you can make it worse when you put the charger in.

@KleinesSinchen said all the right things: The safest method is trying the chargeport in the dock. This narrows down the problem greatly. If you haven't got one Google tells me viewed from the front, the left pin is negative (-) and the right pin is positive (+). You could use an old 5V usb brick and cord, snip it and check with a multimeter for voltages and connect ground and + to the correct side. If it charges the 3ds the fuse is ok (it probably is) and buy a dock...
If all fails: do you have a multimeter and a triwing screwdriver?

 

[animeboi963]

View attachment 524548
This is what they should look like, post a picture of yours to compare. if the left or right is further in you can pry away with you needle, but be carefull: you might make it worse if the metal is weakened already. The risk of shorting when off and not charging is null. If you mess about and manhandle the port you can make it worse when you put the charger in.

@KleinesSinchen said all the right things: The safest method is trying the chargeport in the dock. This narrows down the problem greatly. If you haven't got one Google tells me viewed from the front, the left pin is negative (-) and the right pin is positive (+). You could use an old 5V usb brick and cord, snip it and check with a multimeter for voltages and connect ground and + to the correct side. If it charges the 3ds the fuse is ok (it probably is) and buy a dock...
If all fails: do you have a multimeter and a triwing screwdriver?

when you say off, does that mean with the battery removed or is it safe to me to pry it a little bit even with the battery still in?

Post automatically merged: Aug 27, 2025

View attachment 524548
This is what they should look like, post a picture of yours to compare. if the left or right is further in you can pry away with you needle, but be carefull: you might make it worse if the metal is weakened already. The risk of shorting when off and not charging is null. If you mess about and manhandle the port you can make it worse when you put the charger in.

@KleinesSinchen said all the right things: The safest method is trying the chargeport in the dock. This narrows down the problem greatly. If you haven't got one Google tells me viewed from the front, the left pin is negative (-) and the right pin is positive (+). You could use an old 5V usb brick and cord, snip it and check with a multimeter for voltages and connect ground and + to the correct side. If it charges the 3ds the fuse is ok (it probably is) and buy a dock...
If all fails: do you have a multimeter and a triwing screwdriver?

here's the picture of my charging port

 

[zxr750j]

The port actually looks perfectly fine. Don't poke it

This is the least intrusive and most usefull start:

Get (borrow) a multimeter, plug it in and probe left and right in DV voltage.

And I checked, there is 0 voltage on the contacts when it's off.

 

[animeboi963]

The port actually looks perfectly fine. Don't poke it

This is the least intrusive and most usefull start:
View attachment 524682

Get (borrow) a multimeter, plug it in and probe left and right in DV voltage.

And I checked, there is 0 voltage on the contacts when it's off.

quick update : The problem seems to be with the cable thankfully. I use a cheap knockoff cable as my new 3ds xl didn't come with a charger and it seems to finally give out after a few years. I appreciate your feedback thus far and thanks for the help