Does your Nintendo 3DS turn off after 20 minutes? Does your PSP refuse to start unless it's plugged in? In the vast majority of cases, the console isn't dead: its battery is simply worn out. The good news is that replacing it is easy, quick, and costs far less than a used console.
How to tell if the battery is the problem?
A lithium-ion battery loses capacity over the years, even if the console remains in a drawer. Typical signs:
- Very short battery life: the console lasts a few minutes instead of several hours.
- The console only turns on when plugged into the charger.
- The charging light flashes or turns off without the battery recharging.
- The battery is swollen: the back cover lifts or no longer closes properly. In this case, stop using the console and replace the battery immediately.
Before concluding, always test with another charger in good condition: a faulty charger can sometimes cause the same symptoms.
Which battery for which console?
Each console uses a specific model, indicated by a reference engraved on the original battery. Here are the most common matches:
- Nintendo 3DS (standard model): CTR-003 battery – view the 3DS battery
- Nintendo 3DS XL, New 3DS and New 3DS XL: SPR-003 battery – view the 3DS XL battery
- Nintendo DS Lite: USG-003 battery – view the DS Lite battery
- Nintendo DSi: TWL-003 battery – view the DSi battery
- Nintendo DSi XL: UTL-003 battery – view the DSi XL battery
- Nintendo DS (first model): NTR-003 battery – view the DS battery
- Game Boy Advance SP: AGS-003 battery – view the GBA SP battery
- PSP 1000 (thick model): PSP 1000 battery
- PSP 2000 and 3000 (thin models): PSP 2000 / 3000 battery
- PS Vita 2000: SP86R battery – view the PS Vita battery
Tip: if in doubt, remove the cover and read the reference on your current battery. This is the safest method.
Replacing the battery, step by step
- Turn off the console completely and unplug the charger.
- Remove the battery cover on the back. On Nintendo consoles, it is generally held by one or two small Phillips-head screws; a small precision screwdriver is sufficient. On PSPs, the cover snaps off.
- Carefully remove the old battery without using a pointed metal object as a lever.
- Insert the new battery respecting the orientation of the contacts.
- Close the cover and screw it back on without forcing it.
- Charge the console fully before the first use.
If your PSP cover is broken or lost, replacement parts are available: PSP 2000 / 3000 cover and PSP 1000 cover.
Properly maintaining your new battery
- Avoid leaving the console in direct sunlight or in a hot car.
- If you do not play for several months, store the console with a half-charged battery rather than completely empty.
- Use a charger suitable for your console (see our console charger guide).
What to do with the old battery?
Never throw it in the trash: lithium-ion batteries can cause fires. In Switzerland, retailers that sell batteries take them back free of charge: simply drop it in a collection bin.
In summary
A portable console that no longer holds a charge is not ready to be thrown away. With the right battery and a few minutes, you can give it several more years of life. Find all our parts in the Nintendo DS / 3DS / Game Boy and PSP – PS Vita collections, in stock in Switzerland and shipped by Swiss Post.