Installing boot9strap (SSLoth-Browser)

For support in English, ask for help at Nintendo Homebrew on Discord.
If you appreciate this guide, we accept Donations.
Technical Details (optional)

In order to exploit the Browser application, we need to bypass the browser version check, which is designed to disallow the use of the browser without updating to the latest system version.

A public proxy server is available, which, with the help of the SSLoth exploit, can bypass this check.

Once the bypass is active, an exploit webpage will be accessible which will do the rest of the job.

For technical details on the exploits that you will be using on this page, see here (SSLoth) and here (universal-otherapp).

Compatibility Notes

SSLoth allows users on version 11.13.0 and below to bypass the browser version check, allowing the use of new-browserhax or old-browserhax (compatible with versions 11.4.0 through 11.13.0 in all regions), which can then be used in conjunction with universal-otherapp.

If you have updated your device to your current version using a cartridge, you will not be able to bypass the browser version check. If this is the case, stay on your current firmware and ask Nintendo Homebrew on Discord for help.

What You Need

Section I - Prep Work

In this section, you will copy the files needed to trigger both browserhax and universal-otherapp.

  1. Power off your device
  2. Insert your SD card into your computer
  3. Copy otherapp.bin to the root of your SD card and rename it to arm11code.bin
    • The root of the SD card refers to the initial directory on your SD card where you can see the Nintendo 3DS folder, but are not inside of it
    • If you do not see the .bin extension, do not add it to the end of the filename
  4. Copy boot.firm and boot.3dsx from the Luma3DS .zip to the root of your SD card
  5. Create a folder named boot9strap on the root of your SD card
  6. Copy boot9strap.firm and boot9strap.firm.sha from the boot9strap .zip to the /boot9strap/ folder on your SD card
  7. Copy SafeB9SInstaller.bin from the SafeB9SInstaller .zip to the root of your SD card
  8. Reinsert your SD card into your device
  9. Power on your device

Section II - SSLoth

In this section, you will change your Internet connection settings to use a proxy network designed to bypass the browser version check, allowing the browser to function without a system update. This will allow you to access the browser exploit webpage in the next section.

If you haven’t already, make sure you have a working Internet connection set up on your console.

  1. Launch the System Settings application
  2. Navigate to Internet Settings -> Connection Settings
  3. Click on your network connection slot and navigate to Change Settings -> Next Page (right arrow) -> Proxy Settings
  4. Set “Proxy Settings” to “Yes”, then click Detailed Setup
  5. Set the Proxy Server to ssloth.nintendohomebrew.com, and the Port to 8080
  6. Click OK, then click Save
  7. When prompted, click “Test” to perform the connection test
    • The test should succeed

  8. Click “OK” to continue

  9. Press “Back” twice, then “Close” to go back to the HOME Menu

Section III - Launching SafeB9SInstaller

In this section, you will visit the browser exploit webpage, which will use universal-otherapp to launch the boot9strap (custom firmware) installer.

  1. On the HOME Menu, press the Left and Right shoulder buttons at the same time to open the camera
    • If you are unable to open the camera, open the Internet Browser and manually type the URL instead (https://zoogie.github.io/web/nbhax/)
  2. Tap the QR code button and scan this QR code
  3. Tap the “PROCEED TO HAXX” button
  4. If the exploit was successful, you will have booted into SafeB9SInstaller

Section IV - Installing boot9strap

In this section, you will install custom firmware onto your device.

  1. When prompted, input the key combo given on the top screen to install boot9strap
  2. Once it is complete, press (A) to reboot your device
  3. Your device should have booted into the Luma3DS configuration menu
    • Luma3DS configuration menu are settings for the Luma3DS custom firmware. Many of these settings may be useful for customization or debugging
    • For the purpose of this guide, leave these options on the default settings (do not check or uncheck anything)
    • If your device shuts down when you try to power it on, ensure that you have copied boot.firm from the Luma3DS .zip to the root of your SD card
  4. Press (Start) to save and reboot

At this point, your console will boot to Luma3DS by default.

  • Luma3DS does not look any different from the normal HOME Menu. If your console has booted into the HOME Menu, it is running custom firmware.
  • On the next page, you will install useful homebrew applications to complete your setup.

Section V - Restoring default proxy

In this section, you will restore the Internet settings back to normal.

  1. Launch the System Settings application
  2. Navigate to Internet Settings -> Connection Settings
  3. Click on your network connection slot and navigate to Change Settings -> Next Page (right arrow) -> Proxy Settings
  4. Set “Proxy Settings” to “No”
  5. Click OK, then click Save
  6. When prompted, click “Test” to perform the connection test
    • The test should succeed
  7. Power off your device

Continue to Finalizing Setup