Build CIA from NCCH/NCSD: This was previously called 'NCCH/NCSD to CIA Converter'. It allows you to convert any NCCH/NCSD file (that means.3DS files, too) to an installable (on a signature patched system) CIA file. The CIA file will be written to filename.ext.cia. CIA Builder (SysNAND/orig.). 3DS Crown flashcart announced. One game launching demo'd. Either a fake video (swapped hardware) or an abandoned project. CTR Tool by neimod; 3DS emulators (Citra, 3DMoo, TronDS) 3DS to CIA converter. Installable using leaked SDK tools DevMenu. Firmware 7.x release by nintendo - need a gateway update to play ROMs using 7.x key; Govanify leak 7. IF YOU GET CONTENT IS CORRUPT, RESTART YOUR PC.https://gbatemp.net/threads/gabrieloromtoolsgui.517483/. There comes a new tool-3DS/3DZ To CIA Converter V5.00, and it can convert the 3ds ROM file to cia file which can directly be installed with 3ds menu under the gateway emunand.And the converted games is installed in the 3DS SD card(including save). In other words, we donot need to read games from gateway 3ds red card after using this tool, which will be more convinent.

This is a list of all the CFWs that exist for the 3DS.CFW is an acronym for Custom FirmWare, which means a customization of the stock 3ds's firmware.Because of bootloader checks, these firmwares can't be installed directly onto the 3ds, and need loaders to modify the firmware in memory.

For some of the words used here, please refer to the 3DS Glossary.

  • 3Patcher/rebooter with Descriptions

The CFW term

The name 'Custom Firmware' (CFW) is widely used by the users but doesn't really reflect what the tools are nor what they are doing.

Users are using the term 'custom Firmware' to name different things, like rebooting the console in a redirected NAND environment (emuNAND) or being able to install signed cia packages on SysNAND or emuNAND.

These applications are only patching the 3DS files (mainly the firmware.bin) and are not real 'custom made' firmwares. They are only patches applied in memory to edit exiting function in order to bypass some checks, allowing installation of unsigned apps, redirecting NAND access, etc.

Gateway 3DS team released these patches by integrating Nintendo files directly into their launcher.dat file with hard patches applied to them, making the launcher.dat file illegal to share on GBATemp. Nintendo sent a C&D letter asking to not host these files anymore.

The user's 'cfw' projects are instead patching the files in real time. No official or patched firmware.bin files are provided, allowing their releases to be posted publicly. Some of the projects are open source and available on github.


These so called 'Custom firmware' can be compared to the Wii's homebrew: Priiloader or GeckoOS.

They are only rebooters or real time patchers and are not, by themselves, considered a custom firmware.

List of patcher/rebooter

This paragraph only lists all existing firmware patcher without descriptions. For more information, see the next section.

Gbatemp 3ds Homebrew

  • Yellows8's CFW
  • Palantine's CFW
  • PBT-CFW
  • Dual-emuNAND CFW
  • TRICK CFW
  • Luma3DS
  • NTR-CFW 1.0 (old 3ds)
  • NTR-CFW 2.0 (new 3ds)
  • NTR-CFW 3.0 (old and new 3ds)
  • Some more flashcart clones, not as widely used.
  • Pasta
  • Pasta MSET version
  • CakesFW
  • ReiNAND
  • Unreleased: KARL
  • Unreleased: Govanify's CFW (He teased it on his site, so I guess it gets a place here)
  • Unreleased: Some other private CFWs

Patcher/rebooter with Descriptions

This section sorts the existing projects by groups and has additional descriptions.

4.x only

Gbatemp 3ds Decrypt

These patch signature checks = illegal games, and provide DevMenu installation, and only load with MSET on 4.x. These are pretty hard to set up and a bit unstable when booting.

Gbatemp 3ds To Cia Converter
  • RedNAND : Yellows8's NAND redirection tool Leaked by govanify. Boots emuNAND.
  • Palantine's CFW : Modified from yellows8's. Boots emuNAND, more stable than Yellows8's.
  • Hemlock Grove CFW : Modified from palantine to add better boot success rate. Boots emuNAND.
  • PBT-CFW : (Perfect Bricking tool CFW) Modified from palantine's to always Boots sysNAND instead of emuNAND. Main goal was to install cia to sysNAND to update system apps like browser for users with old browser version not compatible with Ninjhax.
  • Dual-emuNAND CFW : Modified from palantine's. Boots second emuNAND partition.
  • TRICK CFW : Modified from PBT CFW with an additional menu to boot either SysNAND (like PBT) or emuNAND (like Palantine) or second emuNAND (like Dual-emuNAND).

4.x to 9.2

  • Gateway (old and new 3ds) : Patches signature checks = free games and emuNAND support via MSET + spider on firmware 4.0-9.2. Requires DRM card. Classic mode only does the emuNAND stuff and supports emuNAND without DRM card until something like 7.x.
  • MT-card (old 3ds) : Was used for cartless emuNAND on 4.5 before rxMode came to life. Same stuff as gateway, only boots via MSET on 4.x, supports emuNAND until 9.5, Classic mode works without DRM card.
  • Some more Flashcart clones, not as widely used.
  • Pasta CFW : Only patches signature checks on firmware 4.0-9.2 via Cubic Ninja, boots to sysNAND
  • Pasta MSET version (old 3ds) : Only patches signature checks on firmware 4.x via MSET, boots to sysNAND
  • rxMode (old 3ds) : rebooter mode of rxTools homebrew. supports emuNAND via MSET + spider + Cubic Ninja on firmware 4.0-9.2, signature patched, boots to sysNAND and emuNAND
  • rxMode with signature patched (old 3ds) : an attempt to patch signature checks when rxTool was still closed sources.
  • Custom Firmware Switcher (old 3ds) : Modified from rxTools
  • NTR-CFW 1.0 (old 3ds) : Region free, cheats and plugins for MSET on 4.x. Boots sysNAND and emuNAND
  • NTR-CFW 2.0 (new 3ds) : Region free, cheats and plugins for Cubic Ninja on 9.x. Boots sysNAND
  • ReiNAND CFW (old 3ds) : O3ds Only, Ninjhax only, Emunand Support, Region Free, Eshop, Firm for above 9.x, Signature patches, Memory Debugger similar to NTR's, Ram Dumping, Screenshot

Unreleased

  • KARL
  • Govanify's CFW : He teased it on his site, so I guess it gets a place here.
  • Smea's CFW : Teased on his site.
  • Some other private CFWs. (St4rk's EmuNAND, Smealum's EmuNAND, Bond697's cfw, etc.)
For support in English, ask for help at Nintendo Homebrew on Discord.
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For support (in English) with GodMode9, as well as help with scripting and to get updates and info, join GodMode9 on Discord.

Required Reading

GodMode9 is a full access file browser for the Nintendo 3DS console, giving you access to your SD card, the FAT partitions inside your SysNAND and EmuNAND, and basically anything else. Among other functionality, you can copy, delete, rename files, and create folders.

Note that if you have any payload files other than GodMode9.firm in the /luma/payloads/ folder on your SD card, holding (Start) on boot will display a “chainloader menu” where you will have to use the D-Pad and the (A) button to select “GodMode9” for these instructions.

GodMode9 is powerful software that has the capability to modify essentially anything on your console. Though many of these modifications are locked behind a permissions system, and it is impossible to accidentally perform dangerous actions without deliberately unlocking permissions, you should still follow instructions carefully and keep backups just in case.

Updating GodMode9

Some of the instructions below are only applicable to the latest version of GodMode9, and as such you should follow this section to update your copy before continuing. Overwrite any existing files.

What You Need

  • The v1.9.2pre1 release of GodMode9

Instructions

  1. Power off your device
  2. Insert your SD card into your computer
  3. Copy GodMode9.firm from the GodMode9 .zip to the /luma/payloads/ folder on your SD card
  4. Copy the gm9 folder from the GodMode9 .zip to the root of your SD card
  5. Reinsert your SD card into your device

Creating a NAND Backup

  1. Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot
  2. Press (Home) to bring up the action menu
  3. Select “Scripts…”
  4. Select “GM9Megascript”
  5. Select “Backup Options”
  6. Select “SysNAND Backup”
  7. Press (A) to confirm
    • This process will take some time
    • If you get an error, make sure that you have at least 1.3GB of free space on your SD card
  8. Press (A) to continue
  9. Press (B) to return to the main menu
  10. Select “Exit”
  11. Press (A) to relock write permissions if prompted
  12. Hold (R) and press (B) at the same time to eject your SD card
  13. Insert your SD card into your computer
  14. Copy <date>_<serialnumber>_sysnand_###.bin and essential.exefs from the /gm9/out/ folder on your SD card to a safe location on your computer
    • Make backups in multiple locations (such as online file storage)
    • These backups will save you from a brick and/or help you recover files from the NAND image if anything goes wrong in the future
  15. Delete <date>_<serialnumber>_sysnand_###.bin and <date>_<serialnumber>_sysnand_###.bin.sha from the /gm9/out/ folder on your SD card after copying it
  16. Reinsert your SD card into your device
    • If your SD card was not detected, hold (R) and press (B) at the same time to remount it

Restoring a NAND Backup

  1. Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot
  2. Hold (R) and press (B) at the same time to eject your SD card
  3. Insert your SD card into your computer
  4. Copy <date>_<serialnumber>_sysnand_###.bin from your computer to the /gm9/out/ folder on your SD card
  5. Reinsert your SD card into your device
  6. Press (Home) to bring up the action menu
  7. Select “Scripts…”
  8. Select “GM9Megascript”
  9. Select “Restore Options”
  10. Select “SysNAND Restore (safe)”
  11. Select your NAND backup
  12. Press (A) to unlock SysNAND (lvl3) writing, then input the key combo given
    • This will not overwrite your boot9strap installation
    • This process will take some time
  13. Press (A) to continue
  14. Press (B) to return to the main menu
  15. Select “Exit”
  16. Press (A) to relock write permissions if prompted

Injecting any .CIA app into Health & Safety

For organizational purposes, copy the .cia file you wish to inject to the /cias/ folder on your SD card

Note that it is not possible to inject files into Health & Safety that are larger than it (including games and other large applications)

  1. Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot
  2. Navigate to [0:] SDCARD -> cias
  3. Press (A) on your .cia to select it, then select “CIA image options…”, then select “Mount image to drive”
  4. Press (A) on the .app file, then select “NCCH image options”, then select “Inject to H&S”
  5. Press (A) to unlock SysNAND (lvl1) writing, then input the key combo given
  6. Press (A) to continue
  7. Press (A) to relock write permissions if prompted

Restoring Health & Safety after injecting a .CIA app

This will only work if the Health & Safety injection was performed by GodMode9 (not Decrypt9 or Hourglass9).

  1. Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot
  2. Press (Home) to bring up the action menu
  3. Select “More…”
  4. Select “Restore H&S”
  5. Press (A) to unlock SysNAND (lvl1) writing, then input the key combo given
  6. Press (A) to relock write permissions if prompted

Dumping a Game Cartridge

Insert the game cartridge you intend to dump into your device

  • 3DS game cartridges will be dumped to an installable .cia format
  • NDS game cartridges will be dumped to a non-installable .nds format compatible with flashcarts and emulators
  1. Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot
  2. Navigate to [C:] GAMECART
  3. Follow the steps applicable to your game cartridge:
    • 3DS Game Cartridge: Press (A) on [TitleID].trim.3ds to select it, then select “NCSD image options…”, then select “Build CIA from file”
    • NDS Game Cartridge: Press (A) on [TitleID].trim.nds to select it, then select “Copy to 0:/gm9/out”
  4. Your installable .cia or non-installable .nds formatted file will be outputted to the /gm9/out/ folder on your SD card

Gbatemp 3ds To Cia Converter Online

Dumping a Title

  1. Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot
  2. Hover over the drive applicable to the type of title you wish to dump:
    • User Installed Title: [A:] SYSNAND SD
    • System Title: [1:] SYSNAND CTRNAND
  3. Hold (R) and press (A) at the same time to open the drive options
  4. Select “Search for titles”
  5. Press (A) to continue
  6. Press (A) on the .tmd file to select it, then select “TMD file options…”, then select “Build CIA (standard)”
  7. Your installable .cia formatted file will be outputted to the /gm9/out/ folder on your SD card

Converting a .3DS to .CIA

Gbatemp 3ds homebrew
  • For organizational purposes, copy each .3ds file you wish to convert to the /cias/ folder on your SD card
    • Note that if you wish to convert a .3ds file that is already on a flashcart, you should follow Dumping a Game Cartridge
  1. Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot
  2. Navigate to [0:] SDCARD -> cias
  3. Press (A) on your .3ds file to select it, then select “NCSD image options…”, then select “Build CIA from file”
  4. 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.

Gbatemp 3ds To Cia Converter Mp4

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 hovering over [A:] SYSNAND SD, holding (R) and pressing (A) at the same time, then selecting “Search for titles”.

  1. Do the following process for each GBA VC game that you want to backup the save for:
    • Launch the GBA VC game
    • Exit the GBA VC game
    • Boot your device while holding (Start) to launch the Luma3DS chainloader menu
    • Launch GodMode9 by pressing (A)
    • 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 device
Gbatemp 3ds To Cia Converter

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 hovering over [A:] SYSNAND SD, holding (R) and pressing (A) at the same time, then selecting “Search for titles”.

  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
    • Boot your device while holding (Start) to launch the Luma3DS chainloader menu
    • Launch GodMode9 by pressing (A)
    • 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 device
    • Launch the GBA VC game
    • Exit the GBA VC game

Format an SD card

Note that this will erase the contents of your SD card!

Gbatemp 3ds Cfw

  1. Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot
  2. Press (Home) to bring up the action menu
  3. Select “More…”
  4. Select “SD format menu”
  5. Select any EmuNAND options you wish to use
    • Most users will want to select “No EmuNAND”
  6. Select “Auto”
  7. Press (A) to accept the label GM9SD
    • Optionally, you may input a custom name for the SD card
  8. When prompted, input the key combo given to confirm

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

  1. Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot
  2. Navigate to [0:] SDCARD -> cias
  3. Press (A) on the .cia file to select it, then select “CIA image options…”
  4. 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
  5. Your encrypted / decrypted .cia will be outputted to the desired location

Removing an NNID without formatting your device

  1. Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot
  2. Press (Home) to bring up the action menu
  3. Select “Scripts…”
  4. Select “GM9Megascript”
  5. Select “Scripts from Plailect’s Guide”
  6. Select “Remove NNID”
  7. Press (A) to continue
  8. Press (A) to unlock SysNAND (lvl1) writing, then input the key combo given
  9. Press (A) to continue
  10. Press (B) to return to the main menu
  11. Select “Exit”
  12. Press (A) to relock write permissions if prompted
  13. Press (Start) to reboot your device