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title: "3DS Guide" #
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excerpt: "A complete guide to 3DS custom firmware, <br /> from stock to boot9strap.<br />"
---

Thoroughly read all 'o th' introductory pages (includin' 'tis one!) before proceedin' onward.
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'Tis guide be fer retail (consumer purchased; not from th' Nintendo Developer Program) consoles _only_!    
If ye have a developer ("PANDA" or "SNAKE") console, check out [devGuide](https://dev.3ds.guide).
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'Tis guide be available in other languages!    
Click th' <i class="fa fa-language" aria-hidden="true"></i> icon at th' top right 'o th' page to change th' language.
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This guide needs *your* help to [translate](https://translate.3ds.guide/) it to other languages!
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This guide needs *your* help to seed [these](https://3ds.guide/rss.xml) torrents!
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## What be Homebrew?

[**Homebrew**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_homebrew_video_games) usually be referrin' to software that be not authorized by Nintendo. It allows ye to run homebrew games, tools fer save editin' 'n backin' up, 'n emulators fer various older systems.

In many cases, runnin' homebrew on ye device be 100% free usin' jus' th' Nintendo 3DS Sound app. There also be various other exploits in commercial games 'n th' browser fer gettin' homebrew runnin'.

## What be Custom Firmware?

**Custom Firmware** ("CFW") enables ye to use more advanced hacks that userland homebrew can't easily do. Fer instance, signature patches let ye be installin' unsigned titles that appear right on ye HOME Menu.

CFW can be set up on any console on any version (but 'tis may require additional tools / accessories fer versions >11.3.0).

## What does 'tis guide install?

'Tis guide has th' end goal 'o takin' a completely unmodified 3DS from stock
firmware to boot9strap powered Custom Firmware. On some versions, it utilizes homebrew as a steppin' off point, but Custom Firmware be still th' goal.

boot9strap be th' newest 'n best method 'o launchin' Custom Firmware that gives us nearly full control 'o th' system only milliseconds into boot, which be similar to th' effect 'o BootMii fer th' Wii. It be givin' us even earlier control than arm9loaderhax did, 'n unlike standard sighax, boot9strap uses an NDMA overwrite exploit in order to be gainin' Boot9 code execution. 'Tis be meanin' that any console runnin' boot9strap be capable 'o dumpin' th' console unique OTP (`OTP.bin`), th' ARM11 bootrom (`boot11.bin`), 'n th' ARM9 bootrom (`boot9.bin`).

The benefits of boot9strap over other Custom Firmware launch methods are numerous, and as such it is recommended to use this guide over any other that relies on outdated software (such as menuhax + rxTools, arm9loaderhax, or even normal sighax).

For information on how boot9strap works, please see [this presentation](https://sciresm.github.io/33-and-a-half-c3/) by [SciresM](https://github.com/SciresM/).

For a list of each of the calculated sighax signatures (the platform boot9strap is built on), see [this gist](https://gist.github.com/SciresM/cdd2266efb80175d37eabbe86f9d8c52).

## What can I do wit' Custom Firmware?

+ Play all game cards and eShop games, regardless of region
+ Customize your HOME Menu with user-created [themes and splash screens](https://themeplaza.eu/)
+ Use "ROM hacks" for games that you own
+ Take gameplay and application screenshots
+ Backup, edit, and restore saves for many games
+ Play games for older systems with various emulators, using RetroArch or other standalone emulators. (Works best with a New Nintendo 3DS)
+ Install homebrew titles to your system, and have them appear on your HOME Menu
+ Dump your game cards to a format you can install, and play them without needing the card
+ New 3DS or New 2DS only: stream live gameplay to ye PC wirelessly wit' NTR CFW
+ Run many old Nintendo DS flash carts that were blocked long ago or never worked on Nintendo 3DS
+ Safely update to th' latest system version without fear 'o losin' access to homebrew

## What do I need to be knowin' before startin'?

+ **Before beginning the guide, you must know the risks of 3DS hacking: EVERY time you modify your system, there is always the potential for an UNRECOVERABLE brick. They're rare, but still a possibility so make sure you follow ALL directions EXACTLY.**
+ If you have already hacked your 3DS before to get an EmuNAND setup, and would like to move the contents of your previous EmuNAND to your new SysNAND CFW, you should follow all instructions and restore your existing EmuNAND when prompted once you reach [Finalizing Setup](finalizing-setup).
+ This guide will work on New 3DS, Old 3DS, New 2DS, and Old 2DS in all regions on firmware 11.6.0 or below.
+ If everythin' goes accordin' to plan, ye gunna lose no data 'n be endin' up wit' everythin' that ye started wit' (games, NNID, saves, etc gunna be preserved).
+ Keep your device plugged in and charged throughout the entire process to avoid data loss or damage from an unexpected power-off!
+ Your SD card should be [MBR, not GPT](http://www.howtogeek.com/245610/) (the SD card that comes with your device will be MBR by default).
+ If you need to format a brand new SD card, you can use [`guiformat`](http://www.ridgecrop.demon.co.uk/index.htm?guiformat.htm) and set to an Allocation Unit Size of 32K.
+ The 2DS is essentially identical to the Old 3DS in terms of software, and that any steps which say "Old 3DS" also apply to 2DS.

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Continue to [Get Started](get-started)
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