Common Nintendo Wii U console and GamePad problems
Diagnose and fix the most common problems plaguing your Nintendo Wii console and controller with these step-by-step DIY troubleshooting guides.
| 5 Solutions | Wii U Won't Turn On |
 | The Wii U console is not turning on. Potential causes include the AC adapter needing to be reset, a faulty wall outlet, a broken AC adapter, an overheating console, and a damaged motherboard. View all causes and solutions. |
| 5 Solutions | Wii U No Sound or Video from the TV |
 | There is no video or sound coming from the television or stereo. Potential causes include poor TV/Stereo connection, improper TV/Stereo settings, broken AV cables, dirty audio and video ports, and damaged audio and video ports. |
| 1 Solution | Wii U GamePad Won't Turn On |
 | The GamePad does not turn on. A potential cause is a dead controller battery. |
| 2 Solutions | Wii U GamePad Unresponsive or Sticky Analog Sticks |
 | The analog sticks on the GamePad are sticking or don't always respond. Potential causes include dirty analog sticks and faulty analog sticks. |
| 2 Solutions | Wii U GamePad Unresponsive or Sticky Buttons |
 | The buttons on the GamePad don't always respond. Potential causes include dirty buttons or faulty buttons. |
| 2 Solutions | Wii U Stuck Disk |
 | Pressing the eject button on the console does not eject the disk. Potential causes include a disconnected eject button or a disconnected CD drive. |
| 1 Solution | Wii U Console Does Not Recognize GamePad |
 | The Wii U is not recognizing the GamePad controller. A potential cause is an unsynchronized GamePad controller. |
| 4 Solutions | Wii U Freezes Unexpectedly |
 | The system freezes or crashes unexpectedly. Potential causes include a system malfunction, network problems, hard drive problems, and USB issues. |
| 3 Solutions | Wii U GamePad Not Syncing Correctly |
 | The Wii U GamePad will not sync or immediately loses sync after being synced. Potential causes include multiple Wii U consoles or GamePads in use, device interferences, and a general controller malfunction. |
| 3 Solutions | Wii U Gamepad Power or Charge Issues |
 | The GamePad will not hold a charge or will not power on. A potential cause is an AC adapter malfunction. |
| 2 Solutions | Wii U Won't Connect to the Internet |
 | The Wii U is unable to connect online via Wi-Fi. Potential causes include a system malfunction and out of date software. |
| 4 Solutions | Wii U Black Screen |
 | Inverted colors or a distorted display appear on the screen. Potential causes include a system malfunction, out of date software, poor HDMI connection, or improper TV settings. |
Didn't find your problem?
Check out the Answers forum for the Wii U console and GamePad if you need more troubleshooting help for your specific issue. Maybe someone has already solved the same issue you are experiencing.
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Cal Poly, Team 17-20, Forte Winter 2013 Miembro de Cal Poly, Team 17-20, Forte Winter 2013
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92 comentarios
So what if the HDMI port is broken? Would the mother board have to be replaced?
Marshall WahlstromHelgren - Contestar
I have the same problem!
ben -
I have a flickering problem. I play normally but sometimes the screen flickers and shows some green, and pink bars for like milliseconds. I've checked the connections, changed the ports, even the HDMI cable and the problem is still there. Any ideas? The GPU? The connector of the Wii U?
diego777699 - Contestar
The same thing is happening to me did you find a way to fix it?
chowder810 -
Maybe the CPU? ( Core Processor Unit)
Eli Hunt -
My ac adapter was chewed by a stupid dog and I was wondering can we just by another ac adapter or??!
Eli Ryder - Contestar
I did something with the gamepad charger. I put electrical tape over the broken wire. Maybe you can try that with the AC adapter.
Lucas Hastings -
So I had to remove some jammed coins from inside the Wii u disc drive and I put it back together and now it's blinking blue And red. What did I forget something?
Adrian Melendez - Contestar
I really want to know what it is.
Adrian Melendez -
every time i put in a game it always says invaild disc i put only wii u games not ps4 disc and i just bought mario party 10 its clean still wont work please help me
leothehero7 - Contestar
same thing happened to me, yoshi's woolly world did not work until I opened system settings and than closed system settings.
Jefferson -
My Wii u controller keeps adding an additional character on the Wii Marino kart game some how, it's like he A button keeps firing as an additional game player
mrslissiebee - Contestar
My wii u keeps ejecting the disks on its own once its placed in the white light does not turn on im not sure what the issue could be.. Any ideas
Justina Velasquez - Contestar
Is there any foreign objects in the Wii U disk holder?
Lucas Hastings -
My wii u power led is red but the console is on and working perfectly.
Im really concerned it might be close to breaking.
Matthew Cook - Contestar
Gamepad not turning on can happen too if it have a faulty wireless module (2878D-MICA2). You can test it easily using a charger.
If it blinks an orange led when charging = dead battery. If an orange led keeps on even when you disconnect the charger = faulty wireless module.
Rodrigo Mafort - Contestar
This is my issue, How do you fix the faulty wireless modem of the gamepad..
William Hopkins -
Wii u not opening any games, apps and even system settings (stuck at load screen on any case).
Fix: This may caused by a faulty bluetooth adapter (Test if you can sync a wii remote or pro controller to make sure). Change it and everything will work again.
Rodrigo Mafort - Contestar
Do you know the part number of the chip you replaced?
Fred Dogg -
My wii u menu will not open. It keeps going straight to the wii menu, then when I click on the wii u menu, it restarts and goes back to the regular wii menu. ..wtf.
sara1639 - Contestar
welp. looks like you got a Wii instead of a Wii U.
Jefferson -
I honestly don't know what to say. .-.
Lucas Hastings -
I don't know how to help
Future Films -
Welp congratulations you now have a wii
or maybe something is broken
idk I’m not good with electric devices that’s why I’m on here
Kitten Lover -
First a disc was stuck and wii u would not eject it. Next day it did eject the disc, but now when loading a disc it will go in but then just spins and ejects the game out back and forth. No error shows just spins "trying to read" the disc but just spits it out and tries to reload but never works.
Staci - Contestar
mine is doing the same thing did you get a fix?
goodmundo -
So replaced the buttons AND the white box in unit (with screen) and buttons still not responding yet everything else is what next?
jameshall87 - Contestar
So if i turn on my gamepad,i click on netflix or anything really and says to get closer tl the console. Ill stand RIGHT in front lf the console. the gamepad isnt recognized by the console but even with the console on nothing appears on screen so i cant SYNC. What could this be please help....
Jesus morales - Contestar
my wii u is stuck on the wii u screen. I tried power it off/on , disconnect the power and plugs , and let it sat for a day unplugged and still goes to that screen.
rob - Contestar
My Wii U keeps crashing and it makes this weird buzzing noise. Lots of people have experiencee this same problem. It seems to happen most often in Minecraft: Wii U Edition. Someone, please help me!
Caleb Peel - Contestar
hey, the same thing just happened to me while I blocked off some water in Minecraft.
Lucas Hastings -
hey, the same thing just happened to me while I blocked off some water in Minecraft.
Lucas Hastings -
Same to me but I just do the old turn it off and back on again and that usually fixes it till like a month later And it does it again then I repeat
Kitten Lover -
I recently plugged a usb into my wii u, because i needed a bit more space. It worked, but the next day i wanted to play new super mario bros u and it just froze on that screen. Please reply if you have suggestions
Jacob Arvizu - Contestar
My 6 year old son is devastated!!! All of the sudden every couple of minutes the game pad controller will starting beeping and saying something about the connection is unstable or has been lost make sure there isn't any interference or something like that.. But nothing has changed as I'm writing this it's happened 3 times!!!!!! HELP
Meagan Blatchley - Contestar
This exact same thing is happening to ours. It will not connect. It IS synced. If we put the gamepad on top of the console, it works, but move even 5 inches away and it loses connection. So frustrating! Hoping someone can help us fix this!
Jennifer Colchado -
the image displayed in the TV from my wii u turns black for a few seconds and the comes back as if nothing happened, tryed to change cables, tested in another TV, same happends every time. The gamepad screen functions normally and when I use the A/V output it works fine as well. I am getting really desperate here.
José Vitor Jesus - Contestar
After a slight fall on a bunch of blankets, my son's Wii U gamepad is not showing up on the TV. Why and Help?
Mikah Purcell - Contestar
Whenever I go to make a Mii or use Miiverse, my console displays an error code and a black screen. Solution?
BestBuilder101 - Contestar
my minecraft for wii u wont stay open! it opens then it says an error shortly later what do I do?
Esteban Toscano - Contestar
I have a new charger but my gamepad is the same. My other gamepad is older but the screen is cracked and yet it still charges. My newer one won't charge so what should I do
Purple Swampert - Contestar
Hmmm, Try swaping the screens and use the new gamepad screen with the old gamepad?
Jefferson -
I tried an hdmi cord that works with my satellite box and also a different cord but my Wii U won't show up on my tv screen and the game pad won't connect to the console but I can't put any of those symbols in because it won't show up on my tv
Isabella H. - Contestar
so i went on YouTube and was watching some videos then all of a sudden my wii u just freezes and its stuck on one part of the video. i restart it and it brings me to the wii u menu but it automatically goes back to youtube and being frozen, i try to press the home menu but it wont bring me back to the home screen... I dont know what to do!!!
Zion Soul - Contestar
My Wii U fell as we were walking to take it somewhere because my son was going to take it there and play on it until I got back home. I told him it was fine and that he could still play on it, which was true but he could not play any games that are cd models and we could only play tye games that you download on the e shop. This has been going on for about 9 or 10 months. Please help he is so sad and keeps trying to fix it himself, but I think he keeps just messing it up more. Please help us out!!!
Brooke Ellis - Contestar
your disc reader might be dirty. try cleaning it
ellie -
You might've damaged the disc reader, replace it. Or damaged the part that reads the disc by dropping it. I would suggest replacing or having someone else replace the entire cd drive.
Endergirl -
I've already reset my AC Adapter and resynced my gamepad but it STILL hasn’t turned on. I had it plugged in overnight so I know it isn't battery. The Wii U on the TV says it needs to check the gamepad for an update so, is that the problem or something else? If needed we can replace the Wii U battery.
Future Films - Contestar
My wii u gamepad isn't turning on and I dont know why. I already reset the AC Adapter and resynced the console with the gamepad but it STILL won't turn on. The Wii U says it needs to check the Wii U Game pad for an update so is that possibly why it's not turing on? I can replace the battery if needed but If So, please let me know.
Future Films - Contestar
my wii u won’t start up, it stocks at the Wii u screen and won’t conntius
Bekim Ramiq - Contestar
My gamepad isnt working and ive replaced the battery twice now. Does anyone know why its not working?
Caden Blizzard - Contestar
Have you replace the motherboard?
Super MiiWario Channel -
I have two wii u disc that will not work and are clean. No scratches. Nothing wrong with the disc. All other games work. Not understanding why only two won’t work. Always get the disc are dirty clean from inside to outside message. Called Nintendo customer service but they were no help.
Del - Contestar
How do you fix an audio and charging port on the game pad?
nrk2011 - Contestar
I’ve had this little problem where on and off, my controller won’t allow me to do things like press buttons, or use the touch screen. Like it practically becomes 100% irresponsive other than the home button and power button. Also, one occasions that it does work a lot of the time it will press the B button, when I don’t press it, or it will act or sense that I’m touching the lower left of the screen when I’m not. Today I also saw that it sensed the ZR button, and then the B button. Not saying it’s secretly possessed buuut I’m personally getting a bit tired of it. I don’t have any other wii U controllers, so it makes it really hard for me to even try to go to the settings or anything. Any suggestions?
Jellyfish - Contestar
My wii u is stuck on user menu and the buttons won't work. Pls help meeee
Andrew Cosman - Contestar
Wii U game pad is not charging. Plug in the charge light is on and orange about ten seconds. Then stops
Rob Butler - Contestar
Hey Rob! Read my post maybe you have ideas.
Terry Cornett -
Go to the back, unscrew the 4 screwes, then unplig and replug in the battery. That's how it's fixed.
Endergirl -
Game pad is not charging. Plug in light is on and orange about ten seconds. Then stops.
Rob Butler - Contestar
my wii u won’t charge! why?!
Thanos “Ultra Necromemeza” - Contestar
I need help. so my charger part broke in my Wii U and it wont come out. so do I have too get a new one??
ellie - Contestar
My wii u wont says error 150-2031 and the disc has no scratches what do i do. It also makes a weird sound that sounds like a denial and then the mesage comes up after 4 or 3 attempts. Pliz help
Ryan - Contestar
My Wii u stop working, think my grandson changed game pad. I got to the symbols on the game pad, but, their not coming up on the tv so I can put symbols in order. Plz help.
Terry Cornett - Contestar
TV reads no video signal.
Terry Cornett - Contestar
Check the HDMI cable
Endergirl -
Anyone know how to replace an Right Wii U Gamepad Joystick or have a place near Everett that could do it?
Endergirl - Contestar
When I am trying to move over a game to my USB drive it keeps saying that some parts could not switch over. Also the game that I want to play, Minecraft, keeps freezing the whole system. but before I updated it, which is not the problem, and before I moved it to my USB drive it worked perfectly. What should I do?
Grant Call - Contestar
i bought a broken wii u, the gamepad is not working but the console works fine. The Gamepad charges up, but when i try turning it on, the led goes blue for 1-2 seconds and immedeatly turns off again. I allready changed the battery, thats not solution for this problem.
Any Ideas what to do next?
buri1337 - Contestar
The same problem, I have.
Brody Cooper -
My wii u will work just up until I click the user i want or until i click the game i want. Before i could get to the game start screen, then it would stop. Now I've let it rest for a week unplugged completely, turned it on, and it will freeze right after I click the user. I'm scared, pls halp ;-;
Vanessa Caballero - Contestar
Ok sooo I will leave it charging for like a day and I’ll turn it on and the battery light on the bottom will go red so I plug it in and the red light blinks then I unplug the changer and it has not charged at all …am I doing something wrong or do I need to fix something
ps: I already tried resetting the AC adapter…
Kitten Lover - Contestar
My wii u won't connect to the console what screwdriver do I need to open the game pad?? !looks like a three point screwdriver my son is devastated he can't play on it. Comes up”could not connect to the wii u console “ help
Hazel Lister - Contestar
Every disc I put in the console says invalid can’t read disc. The disc are clean and put in correctly. I have even tried unused discs. I have tried wii and Wii U games I have a Wii U
Jakara - Contestar
My controllers work on every screen until I try to change it to the TV controller screen. They were synced to the system.
susanscates - Contestar
My Gamepad won’t turn on. The blue light will show but then turn right off. Nothong on the screen.
Brody Cooper - Contestar
My wii u gamepad won't charge. The light won't come on either. And I've tried reseting the adapter and it still isn't charging. Please help.
Soph - Contestar
My Wii U turns on. But nothing happens. I changed the video outputs from hdmi to video with the red, yellow white cables… nothing.
it takes a disk in an reads it but nothing comes up on the screen.
dasiejenni - Contestar
I can turn on my Wii U Gamepad, but the only working buttons are the shoulder buttons and the home button. The touch screen won’t work either. I’ve tried cleaning the system, and I don’t have a screen protector, so that isn’t the issue.
I just bought this GamePad - it worked for about a month. It was expensive, and I don’t have the money to replace it. Please help.
Snowy - Contestar
I have a Wii U and my Wii U when I turn it on me to go to the Wii U menu for the screen and it will stay there for the few seconds and then it will go out and go on the right hand corner on the bottom says Wii U for 4 seconds and then it gives me a - 5 - 3 and I tried turning it off and turn it back on and it still doesn't work if anybody asks issues on the Wii U I need help cuz I have my DLC characters for Super Smash Brothers and also Injustice Gods Among Us DLC characters
Corey Washington - Contestar
I was thinking about getting off my information off my Wii U but I can't get it off since this - 5 - 3 this is the first time I had this system act like this and it never happened to me so what should I do to get my DLC characters from Super Smash Brothers off of my Wii U this issue needs to be solved with all we use when they first built the Wii U they should have a reboot system on the front of the Wii U so that way we all went out to go through this situation loss of to get past the error messages and also the error messages
Corey Washington - Contestar
So my Gamepad won't charge and I've been wondering why, I dont know if it's the Gamepad or the chargers themselves are worn out, but it won't turn on and it's been like that for some years now.
Angel Mendoza - Contestar
I have 2 wii consoles, they each will play only one game. The white one plays Wii resort and the red one plays a shooting game. The games will not load in the other console. Is there anything g I can do?
hyattlodge - Contestar
My wii u doesn’t add funds, I set it up and I even got the transaction email, I live in Oceania so does that matter, does it take a while or just doesn’t go through?
Wii i need help plz - Contestar
The wii u console and gamepad work great, everything starts up smoothly until I start to play a game. First it was the gamepad loosing signal after 30 seconds in the game so I turned to the wii u pro controller, the pro controller sync with the system just fine but when I went to play a game (a wii u game) the system just randomly turns itself off, no blinking red light, just a solid red light. The console is not dirty/dusty cause I have cleaned all the vents and the fan seems to be working just fine. I have been using an aftermarket ac adapter without the “Nintendo” logo on it. Can that be the issue for my problem?? Please help!
Eli Parks - Contestar
I bought a replacement battery aar 002 . The connector will not click in. Looks exactly the same as old one but old connector slides in like butter.
Jon McCown - Contestar
My game pad just will not turn on even when it gets plugged in the orange light doesn’t turn on but the console does turn on and work properly.
Lukas Jackson - Contestar
I have this same issue. I checked to see if it was the battery by using a battery from a working gamepad and it still wouldn’t turn on. Please let me know if you find a solution
Michael Leonhard -
wii u fixing unfreezing gamepab
Robert Wildrick - Contestar
My WiiU gamepad will not charge. I plug it in and the orange light comes on for maybe 5-10 seconds and then goes off. What could be the problem with it? I have tried a new cord and the same thing happens. Thanks.
Stacey C - Contestar
My Wii u just keeps freezing after a few seconds of turning it on. Sometimes it takes 30secs or a minute before freezing with the buzzing sound. Ive dismantled the console and cleaned it, but it still freezes. I've also factory reset the Wii u and updated it but still freezes. The fan is not broken so idk what the problem is.
Last time I played was 2017, I was playing Minecraft and then it crashed/froze so I turned it off and turned it on again to keep playing, but it kept freezing only a few seconds after turning it on.
Maybe it was overheating idk but after that I stopped playing and moved houses and while looking through my stuff I found the Wii u and thought, "maybe it'll work again". But no, the console did the same thing it did back in 2017 freeze ;-;
Gerardo Rios-Barajas - Contestar
I can sync up my controller but I can’t get the hand to select a game?
Erick Lindley - Contestar