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updated2026-10-04 23:30

 
How to clean the Nintendo 64 cartridge slot
DeviceNintendo 64
DifficultyVery easy
Time5 minutes
Steps2
This guide is by tonymag28 on iFixit and is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0. ByteRot mirrors it for non-commercial preservation: formatting changed and photos resized for old browsers; full-size photos and the text are on the FTP in /DOCS/REPAIR. Original guide >>

Cleaning the cartridge slot will fix most of the problems with the Nintendo 64.

Tools: Cotton Swabs; Compressed Air


Step 1
[step 1 photo]
• Open the slot with your finger. Blow along the length of the cartridge slot with the air duster.

Step 2
[step 2 photo]
• Moist a q-tip with rubbing alcohol. Rub it along the length of the cartridge slot.

Conclusion
If cleaning the cartridge slot worked, you should be able to insert a game and play normally. If the game still does not boot normally, check to make sure the pins are not damaged, and that the cartridge does not need cleaning.

Credit
This guide is by tonymag28 on iFixit and is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0. ByteRot mirrors it for non-commercial preservation: formatting changed and photos resized for old browsers; full-size photos and the text are on the FTP in /DOCS/REPAIR. Original guide >>
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