SNES Repair: Won't Turn On or No Picture

Assessment £4.99 Quote confirmed before work starts

No fix, no fee · 12-month warranty · Insured, tracked returns

Signs you need this repair

  • The power light doesn't come on when you switch on
  • The power light comes on but the screen stays black
  • It only powers up if the power lead is held at an angle
  • No picture with any game, even after trying another cartridge
  • The power supply might be the problem, but you're not sure

When a SNES won't turn on or shows no picture, the usual suspects are the power supply (the external brick), the power socket on the console, or the power section of the board. Dirty cartridge contacts can also stop a game from starting, so it's worth trying another game before you book. The guide to a SNES that won't turn on walks through the simple checks.

Because the fault could be in several places, this repair starts with a £4.99 assessment. I test the console on my bench, find the cause and send you a quote before any work. If you go ahead, the £4.99 comes off the repair, and repairs start from £39. If you decide not to, the £4.99 covers the return postage and the console comes back to you.

Please send the power supply with the console. Old power supplies fail too, and I need it to tell whether the problem is the brick or the SNES itself. Remove any cartridge before packing.

Once I've fixed the fault, I test the console with the power supply and a game before it goes back, insured and tracked. The repair has a 12-month warranty.

Some honest limits. A few faults need parts that are hard to find, and if that's the case I'll say so in the quote. The assessment finds why the console won't power up or show a picture; if you also want a sharper picture, look at the SNES RGB picture fix as a separate job. If I can't fix it, there's no repair fee: no fix, no fee.

SNES Repair: Won't Turn On or No Picture

Frequently asked questions

Should I send the power supply?
Yes. Old power supplies fail as well as consoles, so I need the brick to check whether the fault is in the power supply or the SNES. Without it, I can't give you a reliable diagnosis.
What should I check before booking?
Try a different game, and gently clean the cartridge contacts if you can. If you have another SNES power supply that you know works, try that too. If it still won't power up or show a picture, book the assessment.
What happens to the £4.99?
If you accept the quote, it comes off the repair price. If you decide not to go ahead, it covers the cost of sending the console back to you.
Can this fix a blurry or noisy picture?
This assessment is for a console that won't turn on or shows no picture. A soft or noisy RGB picture on a later SNES is a separate, fixed-price RGB picture fix.

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About this service

How does your mail-in repair service work?
Three steps: book and pay for your repair online, post your item to me using the packing instructions I email you, and I repair it, test it, and send it back tracked. You'll get updates as it moves through each stage.
What is your no-fix-no-fee promise?
Payment is taken upfront at booking. If I can't fix your item, there's no repair fee — I refund what you paid, less £4.99 return postage to send it back to you. Assessment bookings work differently: the £4.99 covers return postage and comes off the repair if you go ahead, but isn't refunded if you decide not to or it can't be repaired.
Do your repairs come with a warranty?
Yes. Every repair carries a 12-month workmanship warranty against the same fault returning. If it does, I'll put it right.
How long will my repair take?
Most repairs are completed within 3-6 working days of arrival, then posted back by tracked post. If a part needs ordering, I'll tell you as soon as I've diagnosed it and give you a realistic date. Diagnostic-led jobs take a little longer if I'm waiting on your approval of a quote.
How do I package my item safely to post it?
I send clear packing guidance when you book. In short: wrap the item well, use plenty of padding, and a sturdy box — the return leg is insured and tracked, and good packing on the way in protects your item too.
Where do I send my item?
Your postage address is included in the confirmation email after you book — you don't post anything until you've booked, so your item is always matched to your order.
Do you cover the whole UK?
Yes — I run a mail-in repair service, so you can send your item from anywhere in the UK. There's nothing local you need to find.
What if my item turns out to be unrepairable?
I'll post it back, and the £4.99 you paid covers the tracked return postage. If you'd rather I recycled it responsibly, I'll refund the £4.99 in full.