How do you troubleshoot a 3DS that won't turn on?

Answer 1

The Nintendo 3DS Operations Manual gives basic instructions on how to possibly fix a 3DS that is not turning on:

1. Make sure the battery pack is charged: Connect the 3DS to your charge cable or place it on the cradle. Make sure that the battery is charging. (Indicated by the orange light on the front. Even if the battery is fully charged, this light will come on briefly and then turn off.)

2. Press and power button and make sure the blue power light turns on. If this light turns on but you do not get any picture or sound, you may want to consider sending your system in for repair.

3. Make sure any DS or 3DS game card inserted is properly inserted into the game card slot. The game card should be inserted with the label facing out and then pushed into the slot until it clicks into place.

4. Check that the battery has been inserted properly. Unscrew the back panel of the unit, remove the battery and reinsert it, making sure that the contacts on the battery match up with the contacts on the system. The battery should be inserted so that the "positive" (+) and "negative" (-) icons on the battery are facing up. CAUTION: There was a known glitch in the system at launch that prevented players from tagging other systems that they've already tagged if the battery is removed for a certain period of time.

If none of the above works, you may need to send the system in for repair. Check Nintendo's support site for repair information.