How to Replace Nintendo DSi Shell and Screen - Part 1: Teardown

In this two-part series, we're going to look at the process necessary to re-shell a Nintendo DSi, as well as replacing the top screen while we've it disassembled. In today's part one, we're going to look at the entire teardown process necessary to get the system ready to be re-shelled.
This video is meant to serve as less of a tutorial than the other videos, since I've actually never opened up a DSi before, and don't fully know what I'm doing with this console. Expect some mistakes and some confusion as I try to disassemble the console, and prep it for a new screen and a new shell!
Also, keep an eye out for part two of the series, as we aim to reassemble the console, complete with a new screen, and a new shell. Will it work out in the end, and will it all have been worth it? Stay tuned!
Update - part 2 is now live! You can find the second part of this series here:
• How to Replace Nintend...

[@k.morris231]

I sent in my DSi for repair and now I feel bad for the dude who has to repair it haha

[@wonderwomenkate3806]

Where ? You mind helping me ?

[@guristaex3119]

Brilliant video ! Thanks for doing this. Nice how you went it " blind " and it was your first time. I'll be trying this in a few weeks when I get my transparent housing and will be using this video as a guide :)

[@TheBrokenPast]

Thanks! I know it made for a less "polished" video, but it was fun to go in it blind and hope for a successful outcome. Report back when you do your reshell, and let us know how it went!

[@StickDead]

I just damaged my ndsi on the 2014.... now in 2020 i need let that with a new shell :'3 for my treasures and relics.

[@TheBrokenPast]

There's never a better time than the present, to tackle a repair project like this! :)

[@XanalliXian]

Thanks for this video! I recently picked up a used DSI and plan to repair it with a new shell sometime in the future :)

[@TheBrokenPast]

Good luck! Please let us know of your success when you do! :)

[@melaniel561]

Thank you, I have this DSi that my little sister sprayed with windex 12 years ago. & I never understood why it still turns on for 1 second. I opened it to discover that the water damage was only the bottom screen. I just ordered a replacement screen and will be cleaning the parts with alcohol. Praying it works. 10 year old me was so mad/sad when my sister broke my DSi.

[@ninewaves991]

did it work?

[@melaniel561]

@@ninewaves991 no :c im afraid i think the motherboard itself is the problem. I see the the motherboard has fried marks. weird that it flickes though. may just do a chasi swap.

[@ninewaves991]

@@melaniel561 ooh damn hope it works. btw didnt expect a reply after 2 years

[@melaniel561]

@@ninewaves991 hahha I check my notis. I saw it and forgot I commented here.

[@dragoryxion]

its so dangerous to reshell ds's, tried reshelling a ds phat a month ago and now the top screen doesnt light up, but damn aren't new shells so tempting

[@Suedeash]

Nice one, DSis are tricky

[@TheBrokenPast]

Thanks! If I had to do it again, now that I know how the various pieces go together, I would've made a number of changes to simplify it for myself: 1) I wouldn't have taken the LED indicator ribbon off the back of the daughter board. That whole thing could've remained together, and worked fine. 2) I wouldn't have removed the lower LCD / digitizer from the main board. It doesn't need to be removed, and is just one less thing to try to reconnect later. 3) I spent way too much time trying to figure out how to run the wiring through the channels provided in the case. Now that I know / remember how they're run, that would've been a lot simpler to do. It was definitely the trickiest trying to manage the loops of the two ribbon cables through the plastic and metal rings. I really don't know if there's any easier way to do it, other than to just press on, and make sure you don't put any kinks in it. Oh well, at least it's done! Now comes the reassembly part..... :)

[@IrrelevantToCommentLmfao]

Suedeash I Actually fixed my old Nintendo DSiXL shell to a black and yellow

[@TheBrokenPast]

@@IrrelevantToCommentLmfao Awesome!

[@jonathanlitz2018]

Thank you I ordered a used nintendo dsi on amazon and I am planning to replace the shell since it has a dent and some scratches

[@dollasign0922]

how is the quality of replace shell compare with nintendo original shell??

[@robertdavis8818]

Hello thanks for the DS Lite Shell Swap I have a few questions... I am not sure how or if I can ask offline so here goes everything was going well ..however everything went poorly at the end. There is a small 4 conducter ribbon cable from the bottom lcd near the wifi bios module I discovered it had separated and can't figure out if the clip disappeared when I was disassembled the unit I have searched all over and couldn't find the retention clip if there was one ..so my project may be DOA if there is somehow a workaround other than buying a used replacement motherboard..my other issue is that the motherboard ate the coax connector for the wifi ..I have a feeling that I may be able to get a replacement if somehow the lcd 4 connector can be reattached somehow thanks in advance for your time and consideration. Best regards Robert

[@radio-180cc]

Nice setup for you like the videos keep making them👍👍

[@TheBrokenPast]

Thanks!

[@Shadow77999]

Thx alot for this chill vid

[@spaceowl9246]

I've gotten this guy on launch and installed Twilight Menu on it. But it's really gunky. Thank you for this follow along. I'm going to order a replacement shell now.

[@tyisha.bilger01]

Where is a reliable place to get good parts for the dsi? I need a new ribbon cable for the back where the Sd card is connected to.

[@PedroBastozz]

Yo thanks my r shoulder button was stuck and i used your guide to remove the case and repair it. Btw i had no idea about the screws under those rubber feet.

[@adriangonzalez7268]

My dsi only needs the top screen and she’ll replaced, do I need to disassemble the whole thing?

[@ProfDesmondSycamore]

Lifesaver 🙌🏼

[@destinymackinnon9148]

Nice video but i would of liked to see how you transferred over the things to the new screen.

[@yoursleepparalysisdemon3405]

Was planning on changing my Dsi's shell but it looks like a lot of hard work

[@davidecalitescu3727]

Same here 😂

[@CrimeLife1897]

I just tried to replace the shell, and I managed to tear the ribbon cable to the top screen. I don't really know what to do.

[@arlisbloxer05]

noting this down so that when i go to mod my case to look like my old Black/Red DS Lite, i'll know EXACTLY what to do

[@oldbayzor8836]

where did you get that case?

[@thefishinggamekeeper5713]

A little bit confused on how to reassemble the top case where the top screen, speakers, and cameras sit.

[@user-tx5pl4sz5r]

How did you do to remove the hinge I'm stuck thank you!

[@TheBrokenPast]

Man, it's been awhile since I made this video. I really had to rack my brain to try to remember exactly what I needed to do here! But basically, once you've got it disassembled to this point, you simply need to grab something pointy and push the hinge inwards, towards the middle of the shell. There's actually space in there that the hinge can recess into. This allows you to then pull the upper shell up and out of the way of the lower shell. Then you can remove the hinge from the inside of the other part of the shell. Good luck!

[@vinyredx9220]

So, i tried to just open my dsi because my touch screen was really foggy, and i did not all of that, first time, it worked but the touch pad didn't, second time, the ds is flashing orange and doesn't turn on...

[@darkdragon_sao4028]

I know this is like one year later but I need help. The screws for the battery compartment and some of them are stripped beyond repair or recognition. My little cousin messed with them and I don't know what to do, anyone know what I can do?

[@penguinz3091]

Anybody know a good screwdriver to use to open this every goddamn screwdriver i tried doesn’t work and strips the screws

[@jojorabit3168]

Can u do a video how to repair mic of dsi

[@LiamJones-bm1eu]

I still laptop one of these and the bottom screen has lines across it

[@DieAlteistwiederda]

I watched this while taking apart a completely filthy white Pokémon Black and White Edition DSi to distract me from how gross everything was. At least the shell is surprisingly well intact but damm whoever used it before must have never washed their hands while using it and there was also a dead bug on the inside. Never found anything like that in a DSi before because they are packed so tight that bugs barely have a chance to crawl in there to die. Damn I'm glad I don't work as an electrician anymore and have to deal with this kind of disgusting stuff every day anymore.

[@Forceman25]

18:54 what tool is it?

[@jonathanbruno9011]

can you help me the screw is broken and i can't open it

[@zierickvanhaeringen6712]

HOW LONG THOSE IT TAKE

[@theripper1222]

I just need to replace to back part of the top screen

[@j1t176]

maaaaan i thought the ds lite was bad but this THING has two cables for the screen now. disgusting.

[@homelesstogreatness6626]

All DS Except phat are so difficult to teardown though imo 2DS XL is the most difficult.

[@destinymackinnon9148]

I'm buying a broken one for 10$ today. Where do you buy your parts ect the screens and the shells? Can you drop me some links please :)

[@mikeystorm8124]

Try ebay

[@tocaloca8551]

Hello I’m planning on doing this to my DSI because my mom won’t let me get a phone so I will be changing out my bright pink for white I am a 12-year-old female do you think this is in my scale range?

[@tocaloca8551]

Skill*

[@rmf99fr]

Just trying to replace the shell

[@SpringPath76521]

I had a DSi that died on me, I have a 2DS now. They're great when modded.

[@child3219]

Bro if it died it's probably just the battery. Look into replacing it all u need is a few bucks and a Phillips 000 screwdriver :)

[@Kronos327]

I recently bought a brand new sealed DSI Reshiram and Zekrom Edition (White) but the screens are really yellowed I wanna replace them without damaging this special edition but from this video it seems to be much more difficult than on a ds lite which I already replaced my screens on Thank you for the video though now I at least know what’s up

[@TheMayala77]

I have one too but it’s in Japanese and I want to swap it with my pink English DSI, it can play English games but my OCD can’t stand it being in another language lmao

[@Kronos327]

@@TheMayala77 the one I bought is Japanese too lol. Since I wanna learn Japanese soon it’s not too bad for me xD

[@themajesticspaceduck6798]

​@@TheMayala77can you not just change the language in the settings?

[@TheMayala77]

@@themajesticspaceduck6798 not for the Japanese ones, there region locked. That’s why I want to mod it lol

[@musicviolamusician4392]

anyone know how to remove a stripped screw? having trouble with the beginning

[@adrianw5387]

Put a cloth/tissue/paper towel/dry wet wipe etc. Between the screw and the screwdriver! I imagine a dry wet wipe or a glasses cleaner wipe or thin fabric would work best. Needs to be very thin material for very small screws, but durable material especially for very stripped screws.

[@musicviolamusician4392]

Update I sawed the bitch open, only the corner because I was gonna re-shell it anyway😅

[@asgerandersen2087]

Where do you ordet new parts?

[@octonami_]

Amazon & EBay Or Aliexpress

[@IrrelevantToCommentLmfao]

You should fix a New 3dsxl!

[@TheBrokenPast]

I gotta find a cheap one first that's worth buying to fix! I've been keeping my eyes peeled on eBay for a New 2DSXL to fix, but so far everyone seems to want way too much for one. By the time I buy one and fix it (usually a broken screen), it would cost more than just buying a refurbished one from Nintendo directly! :(

[@franmorenomunoz3325]

Where's part 2???😢😢

[@TheBrokenPast]

It's in the description partways down. But here you go! kzbin.info/www/bejne/omSlnqOqhNKpg80 Enjoy :)

[@hakimdurand8427]

For the life of me i cannot get the hinge to come out . I just wanna clean the dam dsi xD

[@user-tx5pl4sz5r]

21:30 ???????

[@mintrim9333]

i wanna tear mine open hydro dip it then put it back on

[@mintrim9333]

my scews arnt coming off

[@SMACKYOURB1TCHUP]

Fuck me man. I do not recommend re shelling these . I was about 2 hours in and started thinking If I had down something bad in a previous life to deserve such punishment. Also the quality of the ds aftermarket shells is the worst I have seen across Nintendo hand helds. I would only recommended opening these up if it's broken and you're trying to fix

[@michaelcalizopacisph.d.8089]

wow..too complicated.

[@cutie_btch]

I ruin the faqing camera😭😭😭😭😭