Easy DIY How to Fix Game Boy Buttons So They Work Every Time You Press Them

Old school Nintendo Game Boys are awesome but not when the buttons don’t work very well. This one was bought cheap and works pretty well but “B” button required a very hard press for it to read, this leads to lost lives…in the games. In this video I show how easy it is to clean up the contacts on the PCB board inside and get all the buttons working like new.
You’ll need a screw driver with a tri-Y shape bit, a Philips bit (+), some q-tips, and some rubbing alcohol.
The tool kit you'll need when working on Nintendo systems is linked here: amzn.to/318UOQt
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[@draganskoda3338]

This must feel very satisfying for the Game Boy Color.

[@GymLeaderEllie]

"Other people's dirt is gross," but my own is just fine 😜

[@lucapaneslowliving]

amazing, thank you. This is what I needed since my START button no longer works

[@dea-gaming_ita3147]

My start button doesn't works also, I'll try to fix this

[@juandelain]

Did you manage to fix this? Having the same issue but haven't use it the GameBoy for decades

[@user-ue6ml8xi4v]

Great video! Great help! Thanks!

[@rdlg2344]

Man, this was amazing. It helped me fix my retromini. Now I recovered all my games. Thanks a ton.

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

I'm glad you found it helpful!

[@Luke-bo9ev]

@@THEWORKSSHOP does 91% alcohol work to clean it ?

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

@@Luke-bo9ev Yes, I haven't personally noticed a difference between regular rubbing alcohol and the more pure stuff for general cleaning of contacts and boards. Both dry fast and neither leave a residue behind.

[@boomchow420]

Cleaned mine up pretty good thanks alot

[@fabianluis4128]

It worked perfectly!! the buttons now work very well and responsively when i press them. Thank you so much!

[@ollyhgzz4452]

Great video, this definitely deserves more views!

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

Thanks!

[@TheFuriousRaddish]

Awesome video, helped me a lot. Thanks!

[@localboyzNZ]

Legend, thanks for that. It works.

[@ciankai]

Thanks man, cleaning mine worked! Mine also had a bit of black but I couldn't seem to scrape it off. Anyway I tried it and it worked with just cleaning

[@dhdr27]

Thank you for that easy short tutorial

[@toucomtou]

thanks man, a little rubbing and my start + select buttons, which didn't work except if pressed extremely hard, now function smoothly as silk

[@gabo2503]

Question: the GBC dpad is hard to press? You can hear a click every time you press any dpad direction? I ordered a modded GBC (funnyplaying) but I feel the dpad is kinda hard to press. Thanks!

[@rickyu6881]

Watching your video gave me the guts to mess with my gbc. All my buttons run smooth now! You da man!

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

Awesome work! I'm glad I could help.

[@tylerbogner6593]

Dude, you saved me big time. Thank you for this tutorial. Anyone who sees this, it's actually quite easy to do. Don't be intimidated! Hardest thing is finding the right driver for the screws, after that its just cleaning away any dust/battery corrosion. Mine was super blue on the inside with battery acid I'm guessing, so i dipped some q-tips in alcohol and scrubbed it away. Working like new.

[@pixeldogz]

I just bought a GBC in amazing condition but it says some of the buttons aren't working and I'm hoping it'll be an easy fix like this. I've never repaired consoles before, but I've brought a few Furbys back to life after cleaning off corrosion in the battery compartments. I'm excited to try this out!

[@tiagockf5312]

yeah, im still trying to find a screwdriver that i can use... and i tried dozens. any hint ?

[@-BlackxWingz-]

Thank you so much my game boy pocket works like new

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

I'm glad I could help! Enjoy the Game Boy!

[@user-cb3ee1bs2b]

Do you have more of this awesome fixing videos?

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

I have a few cleaning, fixing and restoration videos on my channel. If there is a specific fixing video you would like to see let me know and I'll see what I can do!

[@kareldekater99]

Hey, thanks for the video! With this I fixed the start and B button, but it didn't work on the A button :( should I try again or do you have any advice?

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

I would try it again, and maybe see if you can test the rubber pad from B on the A button to make sure it's not the conductive pad on the rubber that's the problem. If that still doesn't fix it then the issue is elsewhere and hard to track down without a multimeter. Good luck!

[@kareldekater99]

@@THEWORKSSHOP thank you so much!

[@courtneyoverbey3300]

Video is definitely useful. I'm new to restoring these retro consoles and had a similar issue (d-pad right won't work). I tried this and it still doesn't work. What else could be the issue? I've read through the comments and seen the rubber contacts could be an issue, but if that doesnt fix it, what's next to check?

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

If that doesn't fix it the next thing to check would be that there's continuity on the board for the circuit that's not working with a multi-meter...I haven't come across any broken boards so far in my collection but if I find one that is damaged I'll try to repair it and post a video.

[@courtneyoverbey3300]

@@THEWORKSSHOP I might have found the problem. The little spot of copper directly under the button appears to have eroded away, so I'm going to order some copper wire and try to repair that like a trace repair from another video I watched. Any advice for a newbie?

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

@@courtneyoverbey3300 If you have a spare circuit board from something that is junk, practice your technique on that first. It will alleviate the pressure of having to try for the first time on something you're hoping to fix. Good luck!

[@gamers7800]

My game boy color keeps pushing the control to the left (like joy con drift) , any advice on how to fix the pad controls? grateful for any advice.

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

I would take it apart and clean it and inspect everything, it's possible something got spilled on it and the rubber contact pad under the left button is stuck or shorted.

[@MichaelRickards]

where did you buy this tool set from as my gameboy the A button isnt working great and needs a clean and dont have the tools thanks

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

In this video I used one from Canadian Tire: www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/mastercraft-specialty-precision-electronics-bit-set-66-pc-0573624p.html#srp I also have this one from Amazon and it has all the tools you need for Nintendo systems. www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07LGTSFL9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[@MichaelRickards]

@@THEWORKSSHOP thanks :D

[@adultmoshifan87]

You have a fix for the issue where on some games, the start button acts as if it's pressed again when released? When playing either Mario & Yoshi or R-Type DX, it takes me MANY presses of the start button to pause because with most presses, it thinks it's being pressed again when released!

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

I have not run into that issue, but I can imagine if it's reading multiple presses it could be something mechanically wrong with the button. I always recommend to take everything apart to clean it all, and make sure the rubber button pad is not torn or sticky (from spills). Also make sure there is no cracking or damage on the circuit board.

[@Milkman-007]

Excellent video. The inside of my gameboy was coated in what I think was battery acid, and that was blocking the connection for the batteries and the start/select buttons. I’d point out that definitely be careful not to tear the rectangular copper strip near the top, cause if you do that ur boned.

[@christopherdoukakis1208]

I was wondering what that was and was also careful not to tear it as a precaution.

[@Milkman-007]

@@christopherdoukakis1208 Yeah I don’t remember the video but I believe it didn’t make enough of a point of that iirc

[@Milkman-007]

@@christopherdoukakis1208 Yeah I don’t remember the video but I believe it didn’t make enough of a point of that iirc

[@jackdagrossa3695]

Is it okay to scrape the contacts? I think I have the same problem.

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

Yes, completely safe as long as you’re gentle. The contacts are much harder than the corrosion. Now sometimes you only need wipe them with alcohol to clean them but my Gameboy had clearly been stored in a humid environment or had liquid spilled on it so there was actual corrosion on the metal. A small screwdriver or the edge of a key or something will gently scrap it off.

[@rishichauhan86]

Good video! I've been working on a gameboy pocket and tried this technique three times now, and that hasn't fixed the start button (everything else has been working with no issues) I cleaned the silicone button also, cleaned the contact again, and still not working. I even replaced the silicon button with one from my other gameboy pocket, and still not working. So I'm at a loss. Any idea what it could be? I just opened it up for the fourth time and cleaned the whole motherboard with iso prop and still no luck :(

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

Try jumping the board under the start button to see if it's the actual circuit or the button that's faulty. Might get lucky and it's the button...but if it's the board that can be harder to track down and fix.

[@user-do1dc3qf3c]

I have the same issue, did you manage to find a solution

[@Chill_Guy247]

@THE WORKS SHOP could you use hand sanitizer or disinfectant spray instead of rubbing alcohol?

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

I wouldn't, they will likely have other ingredients in them that may leave a film or contamination that would affect the conductivity of the board and the button, or could cause more corrosion later on. Alcohol will clean, de-grease, and evaporate off.

[@Chill_Guy247]

Ok thanks

[@cdplaygame1992]

So few console videos,all old but still good... you're going to keep making more videos right?

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

I am going to make more, life has been really really busy and filming has been on the back burner for a while. I have a bunch of videos I want to make including restoring a couple of old Atari units!

[@coreystoops7508]

What was the code for that screw head? I couldn’t see 😢

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

The screws to take apart the outer case take a Y1 screwdriver which are very uncommon, I've only seen screws like this on these game systems. You can get the screwdrivers from Amazon and some hardware stores.

[@Matej8251]

I bought a gba for 55.00 USD but the arrow buttons, espacially right arrow is really hard to press.

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

Most of these work the same, there's a rubber pad under the plastic button which has a conductive material that contacts the circuit board. Make sure there is no corrosion on the copper contacts on the circuit board, if there is, scrape it off or use s small piece of sand paper to lightly remove it, then clean the rubber and the board with alcohol. Usually that fixes it! Good luck and enjoy the GameBoy!

[@Matej8251]

Thank you, but I can't do it, and on off switch when I touch it while is on, it will turn off then turn on again, It's strange.

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

@@Matej8251 I haven't run across the power switch problem with any of my GB units but if I do I'll post a video of the fix if there is one.

[@christopherdoukakis1208]

You absolute legend!! Thanks for providing the tutorial. I followed the steps and my left key which was jammed is now working perfectly!! I was also very careful not to tear that strip near the top of the game boy colour. :)

[@raggamuffinmcgee]

Excuse me. Can you tell me if that toothbrush is approved by the American Dental Association?

[@THEWORKSSHOP]

Yeah but it's not for sale.