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title: "Preguntas Frecuentes"
---
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**Yes**, you can still install custom firmware on your 3DS, even after the closure of eShop.
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## Pre-Installation FAQ
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I am on the latest system version. Is my console hackable without any external hardware/prerequisites?
It depends on your console model. At the moment, New 3DS / New 3DS XL / New 2DS XL is [able to be modded on 11.17.0](installing-boot9strap-(super-skaterhax)) without any prerequisites (e.g. eShop titles, physical items), while 3DS / 3DS XL / 2DS requires [additional software or hardware](alternate-exploits).
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What consoles is this guide compatible with?
This guide is compatible with all retail 3DS-family devices (3DS, 3DS XL, 2DS, New 3DS, New 3DS XL, New 2DS XL). If your system version string is displayed as "0.0.0-0", then you may have a developer unit.
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How risky is hacking my console?
Bricks are now effectively impossible unless you are purposely trying to brick your console.
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Can I run awesome homebrew and emulators with this?
Yes! Esta guía instalará algunas aplicaciones homebrew incluyendo [Universal-Updater](https://github.com/Universal-Team/Universal-Updater/releases/latest), que actúa como una tienda de aplicaciones homebrew.
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Can I use this to play games from other regions?
Yes; Luma3DS will automatically ignore the region check for cartridges and installed titles. Some games may need to make use of Luma's [locale emulation feature](https://wiki.hacks.guide/wiki/3DS:Setting_game_locales) in order to work properly on out-of-region consoles.
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Will I lose any features if I install CFW?
No. Consoles with custom firmware can still play online and run physical cartridges as any other 3DS can.
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Can I keep my NNID, saves, digital games (etc.)?
Your NNID (if you have one) will not be affected by this guide. Consoles with a region of KOR, CHN, or TWN do not have NNID functionality to begin with and are thus unaffected.
Following this guide alone should not result in data loss (saves, digital games, etc), but SD card corruption is always a possibility. You should make a backup of your SD card contents if you have important data.
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Will my 3DS be banned for having CFW?
There was a ban wave in May 2017 that banned CFW users from online play (eShop access, NNIDs, and Nintendo Accounts were unaffected), seemingly at random. Desde ese entonces, no se ha visto una ola de baneos de tal magnitud. Dicho esto, no sabemos lo que Nintendo tenga preparado para nosotros en el futuro.
En este momento, no creemos que los baneos sean algo de lo que tengas que preocuparte.
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Can I do this without a computer (e.g. an Android phone)?
Yes! All you need is the ability to put files on a compatible SD card.
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What size SD card can I use?
You will need at least 1.5GB of free SD card space to follow this guide in its entirety. Si bien la 3DS es oficialmente compatible con tarjetas SD de hasta 32 GB, se pueden usar tarjetas SD más grandes, siempre y cuando sean reformateadas manualmente en formato FAT-32. Se recomienda NO usar tarjetas SD de tamaño mayor a 128GB debido a problemas conocidos con gráficos en juegos de GBA y temas personalizados.
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I heard about this thing I have to pay for (Gateway, Sky3DS, ntrboot, R4, etc). Is that something I need?
At the moment, 3DS / 3DS XL / 2DS consoles on 11.17.0 need to use one of many [alternate exploits](alternate-exploits) to install custom firmware. If none of the other prerequisites are available, then ntrboot will be the cheapest available option (roughly $20 USD).
3DS-mode flashcarts like Gateway and Sky3DS are not recommended because they are obsolete and may carry ban or brick risk.
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What's the difference between custom firmware and homebrew?
Definitionally speaking, custom firmware refers to a modification of the 3DS system software to do things that it normally isn't able to. Homebrew generally refers to software created outside of official sources (i.e. not distributed by eShop or cartridges).
Historically, the 3DS used to have userland homebrew access through older exploits like ninjhax, which people sometimes called just "homebrew". The level of system access granted with userland allowed you to run basic homebrew and emulators but did not allow you to (easily) modify games or dump cartridges. También era muy inestable, a menudo sucediendo que el homebrew se crasheaba y requería apagar y encender la consola. El Custom firmware otorga un nivel mucho mayor de acceso al sistema, al mismo tiempo que es más estable que lo que permite el homebrew de usuario.
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## Post-Installation FAQ
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Is it safe to update my 3DS to the latest version with CFW?
If you are using Luma3DS, your custom firmware loader (boot9strap) will *never* be removed when performing a system update. There have been updates in the past that have resulted in Luma3DS crashing on boot, so it is a good idea to wait a couple of hours to ensure that the latest update will not temporarily render the console unusable until Luma3DS is updated. System updates can be performed the same way as they are on an unmodified 3DS: through System Settings, Safe Mode, or the update prompt when the update is automatically downloaded.
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How do I upgrade my SD card?
Copy and paste your SD card contents to a new SD card formatted as FAT32. Para tarjetas de 128GB se recomienda un tamaño de asignación de 65536 bytes. Las tarjetas SD de tamaño mayor a 128GB no se recomiendan debido a problemas conocidos con gráficos en juegos de GBA y temas personalizados.
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Can I system transfer with CFW?
Yes, system transfers can be performed through the official System Transfer function to other consoles with CFW (inconsistencies may occur if the target console is unmodified). Tickets for illegitimate titles (homebrew) will not transfer, but the titles can be made to reappear with [faketik](https://github.com/ihaveamac/faketik/releases/latest). Asegúrate de no realizar una transferencia inalámbrica, ya que esto también eliminará el software ilegítimo en sí. El CFW permanecerá en ambas consolas.
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How do I change the system language of a Japanese 3DS?
The only way to change the system language of a Japanese 3DS to a language other than Japanese is to perform a [region change](region-changing). Note that this is very likely to break the Nintendo eShop on your console, which means you will be unable to update your games whether they are in-region or out-of-region.
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How do I update homebrew applications?
It depends on the format of the homebrew application. En general:
* El Homebrew en **formato CIA** se puede actualizar instalando el nuevo CIA, que usualmente sobrescribirá el antiguo. Si la aplicación antigua no es sobreescrita, puedes borrarla desde Gestión de Datos como harías con cualquier otro título de 3DS.
* El Homebrew en **formato 3DSX** puede ser actualizado reemplazando el archivo 3DSX en `/3ds/` con la nueva versión. Si la aplicación homebrew incluye recursos adicionales, puede que necesites colocarlos en otro lugar. Ante la duda, consulta la documentación de la aplicación.
* Para actualizar Luma3DS, consulta [esta página](restoring-updating-cfw). Para actualizar GodMode9, lee [esta página](godmode9-usage#updating-godmode9).
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How do I update my games?
You can continue to download game updates from the Nintendo eShop, even though it has now shut down.
If the game is not from the same region as the console, you will need to [dump the updates](dumping-titles-and-game-cartridges) from a 3DS that has the updates installed. The Nintendo eShop only contains updates for the console's region (for example, a Japanese 3DS will only have updates for Japanese games).
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Help! Something bad happened and my 3DS won't boot to HOME Menu...
Please look at the [troubleshooting guide](troubleshooting#boot-issues-on-consoles-with-custom-firmware). **Uninstalling CFW when your console is in an unbootable state is not recommended, as it is very likely to lead to a brick**.
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## menuhax / A9LH / Gateway FAQ
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I modded my console (x) years ago, so it already has some sort of homebrew. What should I do?
It is recommended that you upgrade your setup to a modern, boot9strap-based one. Sigue la guía de [Comprobación de CFW](checking-for-cfw) para ver cómo actualizar tu setup.
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My setup works for me. Why should I upgrade it?
The vast majority of modern homebrew (such as Checkpoint and BootNTR Selector) have only been tested on modern, boot9strap-based setups and may not work entirely (or at all) on older setups based on menuhax, A9LH, or Gateway. Además, dependiendo del setup, es posible que no puedas actualizar con seguridad a la última versión del sistema. Modern, boot9strap-based setups allow for a greater level of system access than previous hacks, including the ability to dump your console's bootrom.
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Will I lose anything if I upgrade my setup?
Your old setup (including your EmuNAND, if you have one) can usually be directly migrated to boot9strap with no data loss. Si tienes datos que son especialmente importantes, sería una buena idea hacer una copia de seguridad de tus datos de guardado antes de actualizar tu setup, por medio de una herramienta como [JKSM](https://github. om/J-D-K/JKSM/releases/tag/12%2F20%2F2018).
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How do I move saves from an existing Gateway setup to a more modern setup?
**R:** Echa un vistazo a [este hilo](https://gbatemp.net/threads/425743/) (*en inglés*).
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