How to Get a Nintendo DS Stylus to Work on an iPod Touch

Written By
Clifton Watson
Clifton Watson
Published: Nov 3, 2010
Updated: Feb 23, 2021
2 minute read
How to Get a Nintendo DS Stylus to Work on an iPod Touch

The type of touch screen found on an iPod touch is known as a "capacitive" touchscreen. What this means is that the screen creates a tiny electrical impulse able to be picked up by the human body. This makes it perfectly responsive when a human finger is used to navigate the screen but causes it to ignore a normal plastic stylus like the one for the Nintendo DS. In order for a DS stylus to work on an iPod touch, it will have to be modified to affect capacitive screens.

Things You'll Need:

Things You Will Need

  • Scissors
  • Water
  • Nintendo Ds Stylus
  • Sponge
  • Tape
  • Cut a length of sponge roughly half the length of the DS stylus and about four times as thick with your scissors.

    Penetrate the length of sponge with the stylus, almost like sliding on a pen cap. You may need to cut a small hole at one end of the sponge if the stylus cannot penetrate the sponge on its own. Insert the stylus as far as you can, since you need to end of the sponge to be as firm as possible.

    Leaving about a quarter-inch of sponge protruding from the end of the tape, secure the rest of the sponge to the stylus with a generous wrapping of adhesive tape. Wrap the tape around several times to create a secure hold.

    Wet the protruding edge of the sponge with plain water. When wet, the sponge is capable of conducting electricity and will respond nicely to a capacitive touchscreen. Your DS stylus has now been modified to work on your iPod Touch.

    Clifton Watson

    Clifton Watson started writing and editing in 2008. He edited the "American River Review" and maintained a number of online blogs for Unitek College. Watson has an Associate of Arts in liberal arts from American River College.

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