---
title: "Installing boot9strap (Soundhax)"
---

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

### Required Reading

Soundhax (when combined with universal-otherapp) is compatible with versions 1.0.0 through 11.3.0 in all regions.

### What You Need

* The latest release of [Soundhax](http://soundhax.com) *(for your region, device, and version)*
  + If Soundhax appears in your browser as an unplayable video, press Ctrl+S or Cmd+S to save it to your computer
* The latest release of [SafeB9SInstaller](https://github.com/d0k3/SafeB9SInstaller/releases/latest)
* The latest release of [boot9strap](https://github.com/SciresM/boot9strap/releases/download/1.3/boot9strap-1.3.zip)
* The latest release of [Luma3DS](https://github.com/LumaTeam/Luma3DS/releases/latest)
* The latest release of [universal-otherapp](https://github.com/TuxSH/universal-otherapp/releases/latest)

### Instructions

#### Section I - Prep Work

1. Power off ye device
1. Insert ye SD card into ye computer
1. Copy the Soundhax `.m4a` to the root of your SD card
  + 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
1. Copy `otherapp.bin` to the root of your SD card
1. Copy `boot.firm` and `boot.3dsx` from the Luma3DS `.zip` to the root of your SD card
1. Create a folder named `boot9strap` on th' root 'o ye SD card
1. Copy `boot9strap.firm` 'n `boot9strap.firm.sha` from th' boot9strap `.zip` to th' `/boot9strap/` folder on ye SD card
1. Copy `SafeB9SInstaller.bin` from the SafeB9SInstaller `.zip` to the root of your SD card
1. Reinsert ye SD card into ye device
1. Power on your device

#### Section II - Launching SafeB9SInstaller

1. Reinsert ye SD card into ye device
1. Power on your device
1. Launch Nintendo 3DS Sound

    ![]({{ "/images/screenshots/soundhax-welcome.png" | absolute_url }})
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1. If you've never opened Nintendo 3DS Sound before and get tips on how to use it from a bird icon, go through all of the bird tips, then close the app normally and relaunch it
  + In this situation, launching Soundhax immediately would cause these tips to appear on every launch of the Nintendo 3DS Sound until this is done
1. Go to `/SDCARD`, then play "<3 nedwill 2016"
  + This may take many tries
  + If it freezes, force the console to power off by holding the power button, then try again
  + If your console displays a red and white screen *and* your console is on system version 9.4.0, 9.5.0, or 9.6.0, try following [Homebrew Launcher (Soundhax)](homebrew-launcher-(soundhax))

    ![]({{ "/images/screenshots/soundhax-launch.png" | absolute_url }})
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1. If the exploit was successful, you will have booted into SafeB9SInstaller

#### Section III - Installing boot9strap

1. Wait for all checks to complete
1. When prompted, input the key combo given on the top screen to install boot9strap
1. Once it has completed, press (A) to be rebootin' ye device

#### Section IV - Configuring Luma3DS

1. Ye device should have rebooted into th' Luma3DS configuration menu
  + If you get a black screen, [follow this troubleshooting guide](troubleshooting#boot-related-issues-on-modded-devices)
1. Use the (A) button and the D-Pad to turn on the following:
  + **"Show NAND or user string in System Settings"**
1. Press (Start) to save 'n reboot
  + If ye be gettin' an error, jus' continue to th' next page

At this point, your console will boot to Luma3DS by default as long as the SD card is inserted.
  + 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 copy Luma3DS to internal memory so that you can boot without an SD card.

___

### Continue to [Finalizing Setup](finalizing-setup)
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