Damaged Circle Pads or Analog Sticks are one of the most common wear-and-tear problems seen in Nintendo 3DS systems. People who mostly play games that heavily rely on the Circle Pad for movement (eg: Super Smash Bros. for 3DS, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, etc.) are more prone to this issue, especially if the person playing tends to apply extreme amounts of pressure on the Circle Pad while playing. Wedging something under the Circle Pad can also increase its deterioration rate.
Unfortunately, there are no certified Nintendo Service Centers in our country. Since we are outside North America, the Nintendo Warranty (manufacturer warranty) mentioned by the Operations Manual does not cover us at all. The only assurance we can utilize is the store warranty offered by local retail stores.
If your system is still covered under store warranty, we recommend that you return to the place of purchase and coordinate with them for support.
Only a number of individuals and establishments have the necessary experience to check 3DS systems so if your system is out of warranty, please coordinate with:
- i.TECH SM North branch - (02)332-2871
- Ei-tran Tehserak +639435628774 / Pinoy 3DS Marketplace (join group first) → thread
- Robert Abellar Jr. +63918-334-2986 / Exceline Stationary Shoppe & Desktop Publishing, 3F Shoppesville Plus, Greenhills
If you know other trusted 3DS technicians, kindly refer them to us so we can add them to the list.
Degrees of Damage:
I. Deformed Rubber Part
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| Description |
Characterized when the rubber part of the Circle Pad has lost its distinctive perfect circular shape due to damage or cracking. You can't purchase the rubber part on its own in any shop (replacement parts come with the rubber attached to the Circle Pad Cap or plastic base), an important thing to know if you wish to try and replace the Circle Pad on your own. |
| Options |
1. Have the Circle Pad Rubber + Plastic Base Replaced Kindly coordinate with any of the recommended technicians for assistance. Replacement parts may not be available all the time so it is important to call them beforehand. Depending on the establishment, total cost averages at P500+ including parts and service charge. 2. Remove the Rubber Part Altogether If you are bothered by the rubber part's appearance, you can carefully remove it to reveal just the Circle Pad's plastic base. This should not affect your gameplay experience, unless you pay particular attention to its grip. Some people say that the naked plastic base provided a better grip than when the rubber was still intact while others proclaim the exact opposite. While these claims can be subjective, the issue of grip will be tackled in the next option. 3. Remove the Rubber Part & Attach a Circle Pad Cover Accessory After carefully removing the Circle Pad's rubber part, use Blu Tack, a form of adhesive, to attach a Circle Pad Cover (eg: Cyber Gadget) to the plastic base. An adhesive is needed since Circle Pad Covers are designed to click-in-place to the rubber part of normal Circle Pads. Circle Pad Covers are not available from local retail stores. You can purchase them from online stores or from some members of the Pinoy 3DS Marketplace subgroup. Please note that some other types of adhesive may melt the rubber/plastic parts of your 3DS. 4. Play as it is If the irregular shape and texture of the Circle Pad's rubber part isn't triggering your OCPD tendencies, then leaving it is another option especially for the budget-conscious. |
Carefully remove the rubber part from the Circle Pad's plastic base
II. Rubber Part Comes Off but Remains Intact
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| Description |
The Circle Pad's rubber part completely detaches from the plastic base but its shape and integrity remain intact. Most of the recommendations are similar to Case I: Deformed Rubber Part. |
| Options |
1. Have the Circle Pad Rubber + Plastic Base Replaced This is exactly Option 1 from Case I. Kindly coordinate with any of the recommended technicians for assistance. Replacement parts may not be available all the time so it is important to call them beforehand. Depending on the establishment, total cost averages at P500+ including parts and service charge. 2. Attach the Rubber Part using Blue Tack or Tac' N Stik Similar to Option 3 from Case 1. Use Blu Tack, a form of adhesive, to attach the rubber part back to the plastic base. 3. Discard the Rubber Part & Attach a Circle Pad Cover Accessory This is exactly Option 3 from Case I. Use Blu Tack to attach a Circle Pad Cover (eg: Cyber Gadget) to the plastic base. Circle Pad Covers are not available from local retail stores. You can purchase them from online stores or from some members of the Pinoy 3DS Marketplace subgroup. Please note that some other types of adhesive may melt the rubber/plastic parts of your 3DS. 4. Play as it is If the grip of the bare Circle Pad's plastic base doesn't have any significant negative effects on your gameplay experience, then you can also leave it as it is. |
III. Circle Pad's Plastic Base Breaks into Fragments
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| Description |
The Circle Pad's plastic base fractures into two or more pieces and gets detached from the analog stick. The rubber part may appear intact or deformed. Complete replacement of the plastic base and rubber part is the recommended option. |
| Options |
1. Have the Circle Pad Rubber + Plastic Base Replaced This is exactly Option 1 from the Case I and Case II. Kindly coordinate with any of the recommended technicians for assistance. Replacement parts may not be available all the time so it is important to call them beforehand. Depending on the establishment, total cost averages at P500+ including parts and service charge. 2. Play as it is Your Circle Pad is now a movable pseudo C-Stick. |
IV. Game Character or Cursor Stuck/Move on Their Own
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| Description |
The in-game cursor or character may move on their own, usually toward one direction, even though no one is operating or touching the Circle Pad. If calibrating the Circle Pad through the System Settings does nothing, then the problem may originate from a faulty analog stick. Replacement of the Circle Pad's analog stick is the only recommended long-term solution. |
| Options |
1. Have the Circle Pad Analog Stick Replaced Kindly coordinate with any of the recommended technicians for assistance. Replacement parts may not be available all the time so it is important to call them beforehand. Depending on the establishment, total cost averages at P1,500+ including parts and service charge. |
