How to Reset a Nintendo DS Lite

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Last Updated: June 5, 2025

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• Soft Reset
|
• Hard Reset
|
• Q&A
|
• Tips
|
• Warnings

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Did your game crash on your DS Lite? Or did you buy a used DS and find someone else's data on it? A soft reset or, if need be, a hard reset might just be the answer to your problems.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Soft Reset

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1. 
   1
   Understand what a soft reset does. Doing a soft reset may be required when the system hangs or crashes. This way does not delete your settings as a hard reset does
2. 
   2
   Go to the side of the DS where the power switch is located.
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3. 
   3
   Push it upward and the screen should turn off.
4. 
   4
   Wait at least 5 seconds.
5. 
   5
   Turn the system back on by pushing the power switch upward. You're done and you should be able to use the DS Lite as normal.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Hard Reset

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1. 
   1
   Understand what a hard reset does. A hard reset will erase all of your settings and will make you set it up like you bought it brand new.This method only erases the settings data and will not erase any gamecard info
2. 
   2
   Power the system off and remove any cartridges in Slot-1(DS game port) and Slot-2 (Game Boy Advance cartridge port).
3. 
   3
   Flip over the system. Using a Philips Head Screwdriver (#00), unscrew the cover that holds the battery.
4. 
   4
   Remove the battery from the system and wait 5 seconds.
5. 
   5
   Re-insert the battery into the battery port and replace the cover.
6. 
   6
   Power the DS Lite on. It should tell you that you need to set the system up. Then you're done!
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Community Q&A

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• Question

  On my Nintendo 3D that I just bought, I can't get the parental controls off. I did a hard reset take battery out and it still has a parental controls, so what do I do to fix it?

  

  Community Answer

  It was probably set by the previous owners. Either try to contact them or keep spamming the "I forgot my password" button, and then a master key will pop up. Call the number provided and tell them the master key number when prompted.

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Tips

• If your hard reset does not erase the settings, repeat all the steps except after removing the battery, push the power switch. This will drain any of the left over battery in the system.
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• You may not need to hard reset the system. A hard reset is just if you want to set up the system to its factory defaults. You could always just change the settings in the settings button.
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Warnings

• Make sure to insert the battery correctly or else you may damage the battery pins.
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