Guide_3DS/_pages/en_US/dumping-titles-and-game-cartridges.txt

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title: "Dumping Titles and Game Cartridges"
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{% include toc title="Table of Contents" %}

For support (in English) with GodMode9, as well as help with scripting and to get updates and info, join [GodMode9 on Discord](https://discord.gg/BRcbvtFxX4).
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### Required Reading

Aside from creating and restoring NAND backups, GodMode9 has the functionality to dump installed titles to an installable `.cia` file, to dump game cartridge data to a `.3ds` ROM file, and to directly install a game cartridge to the system.

## Updating GodMode9

These instructions are written for use with GodMode9 v2.0.0 or later. If you have an older version of GodMode9, follow these instructions to update it.
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### What You Need

* The latest release of [GodMode9](https://github.com/d0k3/GodMode9/releases/latest) (the GodMode9 `.zip` file)

### Instructions

1. Power off your console
1. Insert your SD card into your computer
1. Copy `GodMode9.firm` from the GodMode9 `.zip` to the `/luma/payloads/` folder on your SD card
1. Copy the `gm9` folder from the GodMode9 `.zip` to the root of your SD card
1. Reinsert your SD card into your console

## Dumping a Game Cartridge

{% capture notice %}
Insert the game cartridge you intend to dump into your console
+ 3DS game cartridges will be dumped to a `.3ds` format
+ NDS game cartridges will be dumped to a `.nds` format
{% endcapture %}

<div class="notice--info">{{ notice | markdownify }}</div>

1. Press and hold (Start), and while holding (Start), power on your console. This will launch GodMode9
1. Navigate to `[C:] GAMECART`
1. Follow the steps applicable to your game cartridge:
    + **3DS Game Cartridge:** Press (A) on `[TitleID].trim.3ds` to select it
    + **NDS Game Cartridge:** Press (A) on `[TitleID].nds` to select it
        - Trimmed dumps are not recommended for NDS games in general, as they can cause various playback issues
1. Select "Copy to 0:/gm9/out"
1. Your non-installable `.3ds` or `.nds` formatted file will be outputted to the `/gm9/out/` folder on your SD card

## Installing a Game Cartridge Directly to the System

This will only work for 3DS games; it is not possible to install an NDS game cartridge to the system as a title.
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1. Press and hold (Start), and while holding (Start), power on your console. This will launch GodMode9
1. Navigate to `[C:] GAMECART`
1. Press (A) on `[TitleID].trim.3ds` to select it, then select "NCSD image options...", then select "Install game image"
1. Press (A) to unlock SysNAND (lvl1) writing, then input the key combo given
1. Once the process is complete, your game will show up in the HOME Menu as an installed title.

## Dumping a 3DS Game Cartridge to .CIA

This should only be used if [Installing a Game Cartridge Directly to the System](#installing-a-game-cartridge-directly-to-the-system) does not work.
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1. Press and hold (Start), and while holding (Start), power on your console. This will launch GodMode9
1. Navigate to `[C:] GAMECART`
1. Press (A) on `[TitleID].trim.3ds` to select it, then select "NCSD image options...", then select "Build CIA from file"
1. Your installable `.cia` formatted file will be outputted to the `/gm9/out/` folder on your SD card

## Dumping an Installed Title

This allows dumping of both System- and User-installed digital titles, such as ones downloaded from the eShop.
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1. Press and hold (Start), and while holding (Start), power on your console. This will launch GodMode9
1. Press (Home) to bring up the action menu
1. Select "Title manager"
1. Select one of the following depending on the type of title you wish to dump
    + **User Installed Title**: `[A:] SD CARD`
    + **System Title / DSiWare**: `[1:] NAND / TWL`
1. Select the title you wish to dump
1. Select "Manage Title..."
1. Select "Build CIA (standard)"
1. Your installable `.cia` formatted file will be outputted to the `/gm9/out/` folder on your SD card

## Backup GBA VC Saves

The game will be outputted to the `/gm9/out/` folder on your SD card with the name `<TitleID>.gbavc.sav`.
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To identify a `<TitleID>.gbavc.sav` file's Title ID, you can get a listing of all games on the system and their corresponding Title IDs by pressing (Home) to bring up the action menu, selecting `Title manager`, and selecting `[A:] SD CARD`.
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1. Do the following process for each GBA VC game that you want to back up the save for:
    + Launch the GBA VC game
    + Exit the GBA VC game
    + Power off your console
    + Press and hold (Start), and while holding (Start), power on your console. This will launch GodMode9
    + Navigate to `[S:] SYSNAND VIRTUAL`
    + Press (A) on `agbsave.bin` to select it
    + Select "AGBSAVE options..."
    + Select "Dump GBA VC save"
    + Press (A) to continue
    + Press (Start) to reboot your console

## Restore GBA VC Saves

To identify a `<TitleID>.gbavc.sav` file's Title ID, you can get a listing of all games on the system and their corresponding Title IDs by pressing (Home) to bring up the action menu, selecting `Title manager`, and selecting `[A:] SD CARD`.
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1. Do the following process for each GBA VC game that you want to restore the save for:
    + Launch the GBA VC game
    + Exit the GBA VC game
    + Power off your console
    + Press and hold (Start), and while holding (Start), power on your console. This will launch GodMode9
    + Navigate to `[0:] SDCARD` -> `gm9`
    + Press (Y) on the `<TitleID>.gbavc.sav` file you wish to restore to copy it
    + Press (B) to return to the main menu
    + Navigate to `[S:] SYSNAND VIRTUAL`
    + Press (A) on `agbsave.bin` to select it
    + Select "AGBSAVE options..."
    + Select "Inject GBA VC save"
    + Press (A) to continue
    + Press (Start) to reboot your console
    + Launch the GBA VC game
    + Exit the GBA VC game

## Encrypting / Decrypting a .CIA file

For organizational purposes, copy each `.cia` file you wish to encrypt / decrypt to the `/cias/` folder on your SD card
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1. Press and hold (Start), and while holding (Start), power on your console. This will launch GodMode9
1. Navigate to `[0:] SDCARD` -> `cias`
1. Press (A) on the `.cia` file to select it, then select "CIA image options..."
1. Select the option to perform the desired function:
    + **Encrypt to 0:/gm9/out:** Create an encrypted copy of the selected `.cia` file in the `/gm9/out/` folder on your SD card
    + **Decrypt to 0:/gm9/out:** Create a decrypted copy of the selected `.cia` file in the `/gm9/out/` folder on your SD card
    + **Encrypt inplace:** Replace the selected `.cia` file with an encrypted version
    + **Decrypt inplace:** Replace the selected `.cia` file with a decrypted version
1. Your encrypted / decrypted `.cia` will be outputted to the desired location