Hacking your 3DS (also known as Homebrew) has many advantages. Homebrew allows you to install 3DS game, DLC backups and Virtual Console games to your SD card and play cartridge free. You can also play Nintendo DS roms, import save files, and use cheats. This wikiHow teaches you how to Homebrew your 3DS, 3DS XL, and 2DS.
Homebrewing is the process of using various exploits to allow your device to run custom software, this can include games, emulators, and various tools. There are a wide variety of ways to homebrew your 3DS, but for this Instructable we will be using Browserhax, an exploit using the Nintendo 3DS's internet browser. This is a fairly simple and quick process that just about anyone can accomplish that works on all versions of the 3DS, including the 2DS.
3ds How To Install Homebrew
In order for Browserhax to work properly, we must first prepare the SD card that we are using with our 3DS. Remove the SD card from your 3DS and plug it into your computer. All that is required is to download the latest homebrew starter kit, (which can be found here), and simply extract everything from the file to the SD card your 3DS will be using. Make sure to place the files in the root of your SD card, which is the main section that opens up when you open the card on your computer. Once the files are installed, return the SD card to the SD card slot on your 3DS. Different 3DS models have the slot in different locations, so make sure you know where to find yours.
Now that we've prepared our SD card we can utilize Browserhax on our system. Navigate to the 3DS web browser, which can be found at the top of the bottom screen when in the main menu, and either type in this url ( _auto.php) or you can use the 3DS's camera, which can be activated by pressing both the L and R buttons while in the main menu, to scan this qr code which will automatically direct you to the webpage. If we have set everything up correctly, we'll see the bottom screen flash several different colors and eventually the top screen will turn black with some white text appearing momentarily. We will then be greeted by the homebrew launcher menu, with several pieces of software already installed for us to play with.
If you are stuck in the screen flashing part for more than 30 seconds the installation has failed and you will need to turn off your system and try again. If you the installation continues to fail, try deleting the browser's cookies and history. This can be done by accessing the "Settings" button in the web browser. And be patient, it sometimes takes several attempts for the installation to be successful.
This is an optional step but unless you want to go through the browser every time you want to access the homebrew launcher you might want to set up Menuhax. This application allows you to set up a button or multiple buttons to hold down while you turn on your system that will boot the launcher for you.
Go to the Menuhax Manager in the homebrew launcher. Once it loads, select the "Install" option and follow the steps the application provides you. By default Menuhax is set to be activated while holding L + Down while the system is turning on, but you can change this in "Configure/check haxx trigger button(s)".
Now that you have successfully homebrewed your 3DS, you are free to install and play with a wide variety of community-made applications. I've attached pictures of just a few to give you an idea. A list with several different applications can be found here. Make sure you place the files in the "3ds" folder when installing.
Just extract RetroArch folder to the root of your SD card RetroArch.cia anywhere else, to install cores use FBI installer. Go to the RetroArchfolder and open the Cores folder. Select and install the Cores you want to use. For example; install pcsx_rearmed_libretro.cia for Playstation 1 Roms.
By default, all Cores are installed in the directory /RetroArch/Cores. With this configuration, RetroArch Cores on 3DS take nearly 30 seconds to start, as each Core in /RetroArch/Cores must be initialized - including Cores which may not be needed. The same delay is experienced when loading Content (games) as well; roughly 30 seconds to finish loading. Slow MicroSD random access/transfer speeds on the 3DS may be a likely cause.
Universal-Updater is a homebrew application for the Nintendo 3DS with the intention to make downloading other homebrew simple and easy. No need to manually copy files or go through installation processes, as it does that all for you.
Applications are installed by copying the necessary files directly to the 3ds/ folder in the root of the SD card (preferred for new designs), or in a subdirectory of 3ds/, in which case said subfolder must be named identically to its executable. Most applications come with two files:
The Homebrew Launcher, also known as Homebrew Menu (hbmenu for short), is the main menu used to list and launch homebrew applications. It is essentially a graphical shell around an existing homebrew loading mechanism. The following entrypoints are supported:
Please keep in mind that you should not hotswap the SD card while hbmenu is running, since it compromises the 3DS OS's stability amongst other things. It is recommended that you instead use a file transfer homebrew application such as ftpd to transfer files without rebooting.
To develop 3DS homebrew you need a development environment consisting of tools, scripts and libraries which will be detailed below. The sources are compiled to binary using GNU GCC-ARM or devkitPro with devkitARM. The available tools and SDK work on Windows 32/64bit and Linux.
The languages used to write homebrew are C, C++ and occasionally ASM. There are various online tutorials and books available to learn these languages.Alternatively, you can also write homebrew in Lua by using Lua Player Plus.
Use the automated-installer. Install in C:\devkitPro\ and it will install all the latest versions of the required programs (you can disable devkitPSP, but be sure to enable libctru in devkitARM menu). It will create the environment variables automatically.
This section explains how to set up various editors to edit and compile (existing) homebrew projects. If you want to start a new homebrew project, you should preferably copy an example project and edit the sources.
1) Open the project within Code::Blocks2) Choose File > Save project as template, and choose a name for the template3) When creating a new project, choose File > New > From template...4) In the dialog select the template you created in 2)5) Choose a directory to put the project6) To build the 3dsx file choose target 3dsx and click the build (gear) button7) To build and run your homebrew in citra choose the citra target and hit the build button (only works if citra is installed and in your PATH).
Homebrew in this format is the most common, and can be played with ninjhax/ironhax/tubehax. No additional steps have to be taken to create this kind of homebrew; it is the default format produced when using make.
Make sure to attach (or link to an uploaded version of) the relevant files for your homebrew. This will usually be the 3DSX and SMDH files that have been compiled. You can also include the ELF file, which will allow people to repack it with makerom to a 3DS (and CIA) file. The ELF file can also be used on 3DS Emulators (currently two available: Citra and 3DMoo).
After git is installed on your system, you need to setup your username and email address. This allows git to identify who made the changes. If you have a GitHub account, use the same username and email as there!
When I try to turn on my 3ds it will have a black screen and a blue light that will fade away (if there is no SD card inserted) but if a SD card is inserted the blue light will stay there, the problem is the problem is i installed homebrew and the contents from the SD card are deleted and replaced with my own personal files that are now lost somewhere. is there anyone know how to fix? did it brick?
For me it hangs on a black screen with no backlighting whatsoever, and the blue light appears for a brief 16-17 seconds and then it shuts off. I installed Luma and the tutorial i was following didn't do a good job at explaining the last steps, i'm afraid that my 3dsxl might be bricked for good but if you can help me that would be very much appreciated.
These things can happen, even if the custom firmware is installed by a professional. Same thing happened to my brother and his was bricked. He just lost everything on there eventually and had to buy a new one.
@European Trashbag What tutorial did you follow? The most trustworthy one is 3ds.hacks.guide --Did you install GodMode9? Do you have a backup of the NAND? If you do, hold START right after pressing the power button until GodMode9 loads. Then, you should begin the process of restoring the NAND, which should also be at 3ds.hacks.guide --Actually, better yet, do you just have GodMode9 installed? If so, then load into it and follow the tutorial at 3ds.hacks.guide for uninstalling CFW. Hope I helped you :)
Checkpoint is a 3DS homebrew application that can backup and restore save files for 3DS cartridges, 3DS eShop titles (including GB and GBC virtual console), and NDS cartridges. This tutorial will walk you through its installation and usage.
Once you have installed Checkpoint, these steps will guide you through backing up and restoring save files. Once complete, any saves you back up will be located in /3ds/Checkpoint/saves on your 3DS's SD card.
I have a physical copy of Alpha Sapphire, and then I have an installed CIA of it as well. I have the physical game's save backed up. Is there any way to have the installed 'version' load the same save file (so I don't have to have the physical copy in)? I can't find any videos about it, and checkpoint doesn't seem to have that functionality. 2ff7e9595c
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