May 19, 2017

Game Boy Screen Replacement

Main guide photo

Introduction

This guide will illustrate how to replace the black and white LCD screen in your original Game Boy. You'll need to know how to solder for this replacement, so be sure to check out iFixit's soldering technique guide.

Step 1 Batteries

Switch your Game Boy off and remove the cartridge.

Step 2

The release latch is a plastic spring clip. If your Game Boy is getting on in years, be careful as the plastic may be brittle. Image 2/3: When you're replacing the cover, be sure to get its two plastic tabs into the slots in the bottom of the battery compartment before pushing the cover back in place. Image 3/3: When you're replacing the cover, be sure to get its two plastic tabs into the slots in the bottom of the battery compartment before pushing the cover back in place.

Use a fingernail (or small coin) to push down on the battery door latch and remove the battery door.

The release latch is a plastic spring clip. If your Game Boy is getting on in years, be careful as the plastic may be brittle.

When you're replacing the cover, be sure to get its two plastic tabs into the slots in the bottom of the battery compartment before pushing the cover back in place.

Step 3

Dispose of used batteries properly! Image 2/2: Remove the batteries from your Game Boy before storing it for more than a month or so.

Use a fingernail to pry each battery outward from the positive (+) terminal to remove them.

Dispose of used batteries properly!

Remove the batteries from your Game Boy before storing it for more than a month or so.

Step 4 Outer Case

Image 1/1:

Remove the six Triwing screws from the back of the device.

Step 5

Image 1/1: Be careful not to completely separate the casing halves, as they are still joined by a large ribbon cable that may be damaged. Be careful not to completely separate the casing halves, as they are still joined by a large ribbon cable that may be damaged.

Gently separate the device's front casing from the back casing after you remove the screws.

Be careful not to completely separate the casing halves, as they are still joined by a large ribbon cable that may be damaged.

Step 6

Image 1/1:

Slide the front side of the casing down to expose the ribbon cable connector.

Separate the front and back casings.

Grip the ribbon connector with your thumb and forefinger. Pull down gently until the connector, not the ribbon itself, comes out of its socket.

Separate the front and back casings.

Step 8 Screen

Image 1/1:

Remove the ten screws that connect the circuit board to the outer case.

Step 9

Image 1/2: Take care to gently pry around the entire outside edge of the circuit board until you can easily remove the board without force. Take care to gently pry around the entire outside edge of the circuit board until you can easily remove the board without force. Image 2/2: Take care to gently pry around the entire outside edge of the circuit board until you can easily remove the board without force.

Remove the circuit board from the outer case using a plastic opening tool.

Take care to gently pry around the entire outside edge of the circuit board until you can easily remove the board without force.

Step 10

Image 1/1:

Disengage the the three plastic clips that secure the screen to the circuit board.

Step 11

Remove the two screws connecting the screen and the circuit board. Image 2/3: Remove the two screws connecting the screen and the circuit board. Image 3/3: Remove the two screws connecting the screen and the circuit board.