3DS and DSi charging cable: powering up a console whose cord has gone missing

On consoles in the DSi and 3DS family, the original cord is almost always the thing that's missing when the machine comes back out of a drawer. This 1.2-metre cable uses the charging connector specific to that family and ends at the other side in a simple USB connector: a phone charger, a PC port or a power bank will do the job.

What it does

• Charges from any USB source: no need to track down the original mains adapter, a 5 V USB output is enough.
• 1.2 m long: enough to keep playing while plugged in without being stuck against the wall socket.
• One connector for the whole family: DSi, DSi XL, 2DS, New 2DS XL, 3DS, 3DS XL, New 3DS and New 3DS XL all share the same charging connector.

What it doesn't do

• Doesn't charge the original DS or the DS Lite: their socket isn't the same format.
• Doesn't fit the Game Boy Advance SP, the PSP, the Wii U GamePad or the Switch, despite the variant label inherited from the supplier.
• Doesn't transfer any data: this is a power cable, not a sync cable.
• No mains adapter or wall plug supplied.
• Doesn't repair a damaged charging socket: if the console still won't charge with a new cord, the fault is on the motherboard side.

Compatibility

Covered: DSi, DSi XL, 2DS, New 2DS XL, 3DS, 3DS XL, New 3DS, New 3DS XL. Not covered: original DS, DS Lite, Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Advance SP, PSP, Wii U GamePad, Switch and Switch Lite. If you're unsure, compare the socket on your console with the one in the photo before ordering.

Skill level required

None. No disassembly, no soldering, no tools: the cord plugs into the console on one side and into a USB source on the other.

In the box

• 1 USB charging cable, 1.2 m
• Nothing else: no mains adapter, no console, no game

Delivery in 10 to 18 days · ships within 3 to 5 days · 2-year legal guarantee · 14-day returns.

Listing checked on 19 August 2026. Worth reading before you order: Retro Peripherals