Anbernic RG35XXSP Will Not Boot Up

If your Anbernic RG35XXSP handheld game will not turn on when the power button is pressed, follow this troubleshooting guide for potential solutions.

When the SD card is inserted into the device, the main screen will not boot correctly or at all.

What can cause this:

• Firmware issues
  • The general storage SD card for the device is not working properly; it can be checked using a different working device. If working, then the problem may lie in the firmware.

Solution: Flash the OS of the device that is located on the SD card. Connect it to a working desktop through an SD card reader and use a tool such as dd, bmaptool, balenaEthcer, or Etcher. The operating system of the desktop must be Linux.

When the SD card is inserted into the device, the main screen will not boot correctly or at all.

What can cause this:

• SD card corruption
  • The general storage SD card for the device is not working properly; it can be checked using a different working device. If not working then the SD card is the issue.

Solution: Purchase and replace the micro SD card. Anbernic RG35XXSP uses a 64GB TF card.

The device is not turning on when the power is being pushed. After the device is given ample time to charge, it still does not turn on. If the battery is properly connected, then the issue is the battery is dead and needs to be replaced. Follow this guide to replace the battery in your Anbernic RG35XXSP.

What can cause this:

• General wear on the battery
  • The device has gone through extensive use and can show symptoms of general wear.

Solution: Replace the battery, it is a standard 3.7v Li-Po 3300mAh.

• Battery being improperly charged
  •  The device is plugged in for too long, charged to full every time, or is not being charged by the correct charger causing the battery to slowly decay.

Solution: Replace the battery, it is a standard 3.7v Li-Po 3300mAh.

• Battery shorted out
  • A stray object or liquid finds its way into the device causing it to be shorted out.

Solution: Replace the battery, it is a standard 3.7v Li-Po 3300mAh.

If the time and date are reset when booting up the device this can be a sign of the CMOS battery being dead. After powering off the device and repowering on the device starts to have boot issues. After doing this several times the device begins to have incorrect hardware configurations.

What can cause this:

• General wear on the battery
  • The device has gone through extensive use and can show symptoms of general wear.

Solution: Purchase and replace the CMOS battery, they are typically CR2032 lithium coin cell batteries.

• Battery shorted out
  • A stray object or liquid finds its way into the device causing it to be shorted out.

Solution: Purchase and replace the CMOS battery, they are typically CR2032 lithium coin cell batteries.

The device is booting up improperly, becomes unresponsive, freezes, or crashes. This is likely due to an issue with the RAM.

What can cause this:

• Physical Damage
  • Repetitive falls and hits can cause damage to the inside of the device.

Solution: Check the RAM for cracks; check the motherboard for cracks on circuit tracks. If that is the case, you can either attempt to replace the motherboard or seek help from Anbernic's support team.

• Manufacturing Defects
  • The device is still not booting after checking for physical damage.

Solution: Check pins on the back of the motherboard for soldering mistakes. If that is the case send the device back to the manufacturer and they will either refund you or send you a new working device.