iFixit - Answers With Device "Nintendo 64"

Nintendo 64: My Nintendo 64 turns on, but there's no picture.

Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:08:54 -0700

I have an old PAL Nintendo 64 that I wanted to play the other day. Unfortunately, it wouldn't work. The machine itself turns on and the red light lights up as usual, but I can't get any picture on the screen.

I've tried different cables including an old SNES cable (that worked some years ago) and a GameCube s-video cable.

I have a fairly new TV, but I'm certain I've configured it correctly. My SNES works just fine on it.

Any help would be appreciated!

It works! I've tried:

Removing the Expansion Pack (original) and putting it back in.
To blow on the cartridge and on the machine (not recommended).
Different games.
Different AV cables (that work on my SNES).
Cleaning the connectors on a cartridge with both dry Q-tips and with isopropyl alcohol.

When I started the machine I didn't see or hear anything. The screen didn't even flicker. I retried the steps some time later and magically it worked. I've listed all the solutions I've tried, as I don't know which one solved my problem.

Thanks for all the help!

⟐ Commented Februar 23, 2025 at 10:08 GMT-7

Nintendo 64: How do I recondition a N64 controller?

Sat, 11 Jan 2020 16:00:07 -0700

Is there a way to refurbish an N64 controller? After years of use the thumb stick on a few of our controllers seem less accurate, and movements have become harder to control. Are there any user replaceable parts that might bring back the original accuracy and crispness of the thumb stick?

⟐ Commented Januar 11, 2020 at 16:00 GMT-7

Nintendo 64: Help with Freezing Nintendo 64

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 10:57:43 -0700

Hello, I have a nintendo 64 with the ram expander and after a random time, it freezes. I tried cleaning every cartridges and the cartridge slot but it keeps freezing. ( There is still music sometimes but the image is frozen )

Can someone help me ?

Thanks !

⟐ Answered Januar 03, 2013 at 10:57 GMT-7

Nintendo 64: No video- not cable or connections.

Thu, 28 Jun 2018 12:00:32 -0700

So, not the common (cable) video issue with an NTSC version-

With all my games I have audio, but no video. The TV screen will go black when the unit is powered on and I get the audio from the game booting up. I know the cable is fine because it works on my buddy's Game Cube.

I've opened the unit up and used a point file (didn't have any isopropyl laying around at the time) on all the contacts- expansion pack, game slot, power connector and a/v connector. Also done the same with the contacts on the expansion pack and a few of the games.

just kinda wondering what my next steps are...

⟐ Commented Juni 28, 2018 at 12:00 GMT-7

Nintendo 64: Why is my well kept N64 system starting to shut off?

Sat, 08 Feb 2025 04:08:25 -0700

Hello all!

One of my most prized possessions started acting up this week. My nintendo 64 has started to shut off on its own not long after I start playing games. I have removed a few of the possible problems with a few different tests. It is not a TV issue as this problem happened on 2 different tvs. I do not use an adapter to switch between several A/V devices. I am plugged right into the TV.

It is not a specific game as this happens with all games. I gave my system the basic cleaning with compressed air which helped nothing. Here is where things get interesting. When the system "shuts off" I lose all sound and the picture. The red light DOES NOT turn off. This led me to believe it was an audio video cable problem. I noticed for the first time today though that after waiting a bit, the game will sometimes come back on and shut off again.

The red light always stays on. The game itself starts form the beginning again every time the picture goes away which means its not just the signal to the TV I am losing, but the system itself is restarting every time. My next plan is to track down another power cable and see if it helps. I haven't found anyone who has one yet though. I might end up buying one. If this doesn't work though I will be completely stumped.

Any advice would be appreciated.

⟐ Commented Februar 08, 2025 at 4:08 GMT-7

Nintendo 64: How do I get the nintendo 64 to work on modern TV?

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 16:43:04 -0700

I have a Nintendo 64 which is in perfect working order but cant seem to get a picture on my Samsung plasma tv and i have tried searching the channel too. Do i need to purchase a different cable or anything?

⟐ Answered Dezember 12, 2023 at 16:43 GMT-7

Nintendo 64: N64 no signal with AV cable

Wed, 25 Dec 2024 13:58:35 -0700

Hi all,

N64 is giving me a no signal message on my Samsung TV.

The power red light is on.

The same AV cable works on the GameCube.

I've tried removing Expansion Pack and different cartridges.

The console has worked in the past years (not played in the past 3)

Should I buy a SCART adaptor?

What else can I do to make it work?

Fixed it, maybe. I extracted the Expansion Pack again, inserted the old pack, then inserted the Expansion Pack once more and it works.

Though now it does not detect controllers in port 1.

⟐ Commented Dezember 25, 2024 at 13:58 GMT-7

Nintendo 64: My n64 has no sound?

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 12:29:47 -0700

this n64 works i can play games but i don't here the sound. Sometimes i will hear it for 2 seconds than it will cut out and also it statics sometimes and it cuts out too. Im stuck i cleaned everything

any help will be appreciated thank you.

⟐ Answered Januar 06, 2026 at 12:29 GMT-7

Nintendo 64: Red light but no video or audio

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 07:50:37 -0700

I used it for a year without problems but out of nowhere it stopped working. I cleaned it and i have tested all i could on another system that works. But i still cant find out why it wont show video. I got it so it would at-least give me a black screen. so its giving a signal but it still wont give me a picture? I have tried everything i can.

Here is all that i does

Has power and red light

black screen no sound

gives signal (the tv does not show no signal)

all parts work on my other one

I got it!

Turn it on without the cartrage

TV should say NO SIGNAL

Put the cartrage in (With the N64 on)

Turn the n64 off then on

should turn on

⟐ Commented Dezember 21, 2024 at 7:50 GMT-7

Nintendo 64: Super Mario 64 blank screen

Sun, 06 Oct 2024 06:54:09 -0700

Bought a N64 a couple of weeks ago. Bought Mario Kart and Super Mario 64, kart works but Super Mario doesn't (just blank screen). Bought another game and still doesn't work. Bought a third Super Mario 64 and doesn't work. Either I'm very unlucky and all 3 Super Mario 64s are dud or its the console. Any ideas to confirm if console or game? All 3 Super Mario 64 games show a blank screen (no input) but Mario Kart works completley fine.

⟐ Commented Oktober 06, 2024 at 6:54 GMT-7

Nintendo 64: What's this Ext slot for?

Mon, 23 May 2022 21:13:26 -0700

Hello!

I was just cleaning my older Nintendo consoles, and i’ve noticed an Ext. slot at the bottom of the Super NES and the N64.

What are these for? Do they serve any purpose? If so, why is the spot of these slots so poorly chosen?

⟐ Commented Mai 23, 2022 at 21:13 GMT-7

Nintendo 64: How do I repair faulty controller ports on the N64?

Fri, 29 Sep 2017 05:55:45 -0700

How would I go about repairing n64 consoles with ports that don't detect any controllers, or disconnect when jiggled or moved? I can't seem to find any replacement ports, so is this just a re-solder and cleaning job? Thanks.

⟐ Answer accepted September 29, 2017 at 5:55 GMT-7

Nintendo 64: Reset button doesn't work?

Sat, 29 Jul 2023 17:22:57 -0700

My N64's reset button does not work. The system itself works just fine, but pressing the reset button does nothing. Any reason why this is happening?

⟐ Commented Juli 29, 2023 at 17:22 GMT-7

Nintendo 64: Light turns, had picture one time, then never again.

Wed, 23 Jan 2019 13:43:41 -0700

My N64 hasn't been turned on in a while, when I did try it the light turns on. After turning it off and on a few times, one of those times it turned on for minute with the game on screen, then turned off. This was the only time it turned on as of recent. Any ideas?

⟐ Answer edited Januar 23, 2019 at 13:43 GMT-7

Nintendo 64: console keeps resetting at random times

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 22:08:46 -0700

No matter what game is in the console, it keeps resetting at random times. most often during the initial N64 logo animation. What can I do about that?. Can I do something about it or do I have to send it in to a specialist?

⟐ Answer edited August 03, 2025 at 22:08 GMT-7

Nintendo 64: It powers on but won`t work on my tv

Thu, 26 Dec 2019 19:18:17 -0700

I have tried it on all of the tv s in my house and I can`t get it to work. It works at my in-laws and it worked on a tv in my shop. That tv is now in my house and it does`nt work on it.I brought home a super nes and it works fine. Could my sattilite interfear? I`ve tried it on HD tvs and standard and the only thing thats changed on the one tv is being hooked up to my satilite.

⟐ Commented Dezember 26, 2019 at 19:18 GMT-7

Nintendo 64: New to N64, it turns on but no console noise no picture?

Sun, 25 Mar 2018 22:23:11 -0700

I've recently bought the Japanese orange pikachu N64 and when I turn it on the cheeks flash and then stay on but the console makes no noise and no picture comes through either the rf cable or the rca from my gamecube, any advice?

⟐ Commented März 25, 2018 at 22:23 GMT-7

Nintendo 64: N64 Turns on but there is no video

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 14:12:41 -0700

So I was given a N64 to repair and was told that it would play sound but no video. However, when I brought the N64 home to check it out, there was no video or sound. The red light comes on. I have checked all of the cables and power supply with another working console, so those aren't the issue. I have also tested the game and jumper pack I am using on another console and those work as well. I have done my best to clean the cartridge slot and expansion slot. I have even gone as far as resoldering the pins of the cartridge connector, A/V port, and power port.

EDIT:

I'm not sure if this is important to point out, but while I don't have any video/audio, there is a change that happens on certain TV's when I turn the console on. I am using the RF switch for my N64 and when I turn the console on, the TV goes from just displaying static to a black screen. However, it still shows the "No Signal" message on the TV.

⟐ Commented Januar 11, 2023 at 14:12 GMT-7

Nintendo 64: The side of my cartridge slot is coming off, how do I fix it?

Tue, 06 Nov 2018 14:06:33 -0700

is it really needed? And how can I fix it?

⟐ Answered November 06, 2018 at 14:06 GMT-7

Nintendo 64: Vertical Stripes on screen during gaming

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 02:28:46 -0700

Hi, I have N64 plugged in to Smart TV but using the white/yellow/red AV cable as my TV has these inputs at the back. The N64 turns on and shows normal welcome screen. Black background looks fine. As soon as games are played with white background, all I get is thick pink and green vertical lines on screen during all games. Virtually unplayable, can barely read text on screen. Have no other cartridges to try (I have only got Super 64 cartridge with heaps of games on), so don’t know if this issue is: compatibility/console/leads/cartridge at fault. Can anyone help please? n.b. I am technically limited so any replies will need to take this into account! Thanks….

⟐ Commented Februar 17, 2025 at 2:28 GMT-7