Guide_3DS/_pages/en_US/region-changing.txt

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title: "Region Changing"
---

{% include toc title="Table of Contents" %}

### Required Reading

This is an add-on section for region changing your device. This is done by installing the 11.15.0 CTRTransfer image for the region you want to switch to. After installing the image, you can update your device normally to the latest firmware (11.17.0).

Note that region changing is almost completely unnecessary since Luma3DS supports out-of-region games and individual title [Locale Emulation](https://github.com/LumaTeam/Luma3DS/wiki/Optional-features). Additionally, running NDS games with alternative out-of-region languages is supported by [TWiLight Menu++](https://github.com/DS-Homebrew/TWiLightMenu/releases). You should only perform a region change if you wish to have your system UI is in a language that is not available on your console's current region.

This page assumes that you have already installed Luma3DS and boot9strap. If you followed this website to the end (Finalizing Setup), you have Luma3DS and boot9strap.
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As a part of this process, your system configuration will be reset to its defaults. This includes things such as your username, country, and language. Installed games and their save data will not be affected.
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If you change the region of your device:

+ You will not be able to use your NNID (if you have one). NNIDs are locked to the region that they were created in.
+ You may not be able to access the eShop, even if you [delete your eShop account](https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/74/~/how-to-delete-a-nintendo-eshop-account) beforehand. This is because certain titles tend to remain linked to the 3DS, even after account deletion (especially on New 3DS).
	+ While purchases can no longer be made on eShop, game updates can still be downloaded. Updates are usually required for online play.
	+ This logic extends to system transfers, meaning you would not be able to perform a system transfer from a USA 3DS to a region-changed JPN-to-USA 3DS.
	+ That being said, system transfer and game updates are region locked anyway (e.g. Japanese eShop only has Japanese game updates).
+ **You will not be able to uninstall custom firmware without bricking the device!** If you intend to uninstall custom firmware in the future, you **MUST** restore your NAND backup that was created before the region change.
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<div class="notice--danger">{{ notice-6 | markdownify }}</div>

### What You Need

To download the CTRTransfer images on this page, you will need a torrent client like [qBittorrent](https://www.qbittorrent.org/download.php) or [Deluge](http://dev.deluge-torrent.org/wiki/Download).
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* The latest release of [GodMode9](https://github.com/d0k3/GodMode9/releases/latest) (the GodMode9 `.zip` file)
* The latest release of [FBI](https://github.com/Steveice10/FBI/releases/latest) *(the`.3dsx` file)*
* The 11.15.0 CTRTransfer image for your device type of the region that you want to change to (e.g. Download "New 3DS or 2DS - USA" if you have a New 3DS and want to change your region to USA)
{% include_relative include/ctrtransfer-images.txt %}

### Instructions

#### Section I - Prep Work

{% include_relative include/ctrtransfer-prep.txt %}

#### Section II - NAND Backup

1. Press and hold (Start), and while holding (Start), power on your device. This will launch GodMode9
{% include_relative include/nand-backup.txt %}

#### Section III - CTRTransfer

{% include_relative include/ctrtransfer-main.txt %}

#### Section IV - Launching FBI

{% include_relative include/launch-hbl-dlp.txt %}

#### Section V - Reinstalling Tickets

{% include_relative include/ctrtransfer-ticket-copy.txt %}

#### Section VI - Deleting system save data

{% include_relative include/ctrnand-datayeet.txt %}

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Your 3DS has successfully been region changed!
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