What is a private header?

A private header is the header extracted from a retail cartridge nobody else has.
But...
What most people are referring to when the say "private header" Is a 16 byte string of characters, The Unique Cartridge ID​

Why Do I Need One?

To avoid being banned of course..​

Where / How Do I Get One?

1. Gateway Launcher

The gateway launcher can be run on ANY 2DS / 3DS / 3DSXL / N3DS*/ N3DS XL* as long as it is 9.2.0 or lower. The gateway cart is not needed.
* "New" 3DS consoles require Cubic Ninja or OOT.
* Internet browser is required on O3DS consoles.​

Spoiler: How To Dump your header with the gateway launcher:

1. Place latest launcher.dat on the SD
2. Launch gateway

2a. On 3DS / 2DS consoles, visit go.gateway-3ds.com
2b. N3DS consoles require Cubic Ninja, Just scan the QR for your region included in the gateway download, Or OOT with the savegame exploit installed​

3. Make sure the cartridge you want the header from is inserted in the 3DS
4. Select the "Dump Cartridge" option in the gateway menu
5. Insert the 3DS's SD into your computer
6. Copy the .3ds file from your SD to your PC
7. Open the rom with Gateway Rom Patcher
8. Click "Export header to file" and save it.

2. PowerSaves 3DS

This is the most expensive option, it's best used if you don't have a GW compatible console or a friend with one.. Best for if you already own the PowerSaves device
Anyway, follow my tutorial here:

PowerSaves 3DS Header Extraction Tutorial​

3. Buy One

Finding someone to buy one from is up to you.​

Bans

If you haven't heard, nintendo has started banning pirates.
These two lovely posts should summarize it:

Original Discussion post about bans
Summary about bans, by TheMustardKing​

Okay, I have my header.. How do I use it?

The method of use varies depending on what flashcart you have​

• Gateway 3DS

To Patch a rom for use with gateway, we will need Gateway Rom Patcher, By PsyKo
1. Open rom file with GW rom patcher (obviously)
2. Click "Import Header From File" and select your header .bin file
3. If the program suggests a better chip value, click yes. Then be sure to click apply to apply it.
4. Your header should be patched now, and your rom safe to use with your gateway​

• Sky3DS (and clones)

The tool we'll be using: No Ban No Sky, By hackotedelaplaqu
1. Open No Ban No Sky, and select the latest template file
2. Select your header .bin file
3. Press the "Patch all games in template file" button
4. Write the games to your micro SD using diskwriter and the template you patched​

Error 002-0123

Error 002-0123 happens when either Unique ID, or the chip manufacturer is invalid.
Discussion about error 002-0123​

How to fix it: (SKY3DS Method)

We'll be using Sky Army Knife, by Foxi4
1. Open Sky Army Knife
2. Select latest template file
3. Select the rom that is giving you the error
4. In the "Cart ID" section, change the manufacturer
5. Click "Save to .txt"
6. Open diskwriter, and select our modified template
7. Delete rom from your SD with diskwriter
8. Re-write the rom with the edited template we made
9. Cycle through the games on your sky3ds so that it refreshes
10. Play Game

(If you still get the error, Repeat steps 4 to 9 but change the manufacturer to something DIFFERENT)​

How to fix it: (Gateway 3DS Method)

1. Open your rom in GW rom patcher
2. Click the blue lettering in "Enter a new chip ID or auto-detect it"
3. In the "manufacturer" drop down box, select one
4. Click apply
5. Copy rom to micro SD and try game

(If you still get the error, repeat steps 3-5... but use a different manufacturer than last time)​

F.A.Q.

Q. Do I need a different private header for each game?

A. No, you can use one header to patch all of your games.​

Q. Can I use the header from an offline game?

A. Yes, you are able to use the header from any game, wether it is online capable or not.​

Q. Can I Still Be Banned?

A. The only true way to avoid a ban is to pay for your games, but we both know that's not going to happen.​

Q. Can me and someone else share a header?

A. No.​

Q.

A.​

Q.

A.​

Misc Credit:
Jaggent360, His support thread gave me the idea for this one. (He asked for a "little credit", so i used the smallest font.)

 

[theonlywolf1992]

Hi there, if I got banned, will it stop me from accessing anything in my 3ds? such as e-shop or maybe future system updates(for emunand)? Sorry for the noob question. ><

 

[LameNobody]

Hi there, if I got banned, will it stop me from accessing anything in my 3ds? such as e-shop or maybe future system updates(for emunand)? Sorry for the noob question. ><

- Affected users can't access Online or Friend list.
- Affected users can still access eShop and download updates.

Q: How can I tell if I've been banned?
A: If you go to your friend's list, and you are connected to a valid internet-connected wireless network, you will still have a connection error on your screen and everyone will be listed as offline. Furthermore, if you try to use any game's multiplayer functionality, you will get similar messages.

Here you go.

 

[Illyasviel]

What else do you need to fill out in the Sky Army Knife options to change the manufacturer?

When I save to .txt I just get a blank text file

 

[DJPlace]

very well done topic if i say so myself.

 

[Tomobobo]

Please don't take this the wrong way but has anyone actually been banned after the first little wave? I know there was a second ban wave but I think everyone who got banned had the ban lifted. Is the risk of ban real?

Edit: I just read through the banned error code thread and it looks like there is still a system in place to ban those without custom headers. The ban does get lifted if Nintendo sees your console hasn't used any "unauthorized" software in what seems to be 30 days after the initial ban.

 

[Dark Fulgore]

This "public header will get you banned" thing is out of control, this isn't true at all!

I've been playing Mario Kart, Mario Golf and Animal Crossing online with two more friends for a year now, we are using the SAME ROM with the SAME HEADER and we are not banned. We are playing Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate online now, and we still playing it to this day, no ban. Not couting the thousands of people who have the same ROM as me since I posted some patched games with the same hader as me on other places for people to download.

Those bans are clearly related to Pokémon and maybe Smash Bros, which are games that I don't play. Saying the reason is the public header ONLY, is not true at all.

Of course it doesn't hurt and go with the flow and avoid them, but keep in mind that public headers ban isn't a fact like people say.

 

[LameNobody]

This "public header will get you banned" thing is out of control, this isn't true at all!
I've been playing Mario Kart, Mario Golf and Anima Crossing online with two more friends for a year now, we are using the SAME ROM with the SAME HEADER and we are not banned. We are playing Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate online now, and we still playing it to this day, no ban. Not couting the thousands of people who have the same ROM as me since I posted some patched games with the same hader as me on other places for people to download.

Those bans are clearly related to Pokémon and maybe Smash Bros, which are games that I don't play. Saying the reason is the public header ONLY, is not true at all.

Of course it doesn't hurt and go with the flow and avoid them, but keep in mind that public headers ban isn't a fact like people say.

It's not really about that though, even with a private header there is still a chance of ban.
But our objective is to reduce the risk of ban as much as possible.

There is a MUCH HIGHER risk of ban if you play a game with no header...
There is always a chance a ban will occur if two users use the same header at once.
There is still a ban risk with a private header too.

With piracy, there will never be no risk for bans.
The purpose of a private header is to reduce the risk.

 

[Tomobobo]

I'm kinda thinking dark fulgore is right and that these kiddies that get banned are cheating with their pokemans.

Up until the first scare about bans and even for a couple weeks after I was using a public header (one of the first posted on gbatemp) and never received a ban.

I was scared and dumped my own header and that's what I use now but I'm still very skeptical about the detection of publicly accessible headers. I don't cheat and don't have a problem. I still see so many of these "online-ready" .3dz's being distributed and you'd figure the thousands of grabbers would come back to pitch a fit had they been banned.

So what's really happening? Pokeman hackers getting busted and crying wolf about flashcarts and header nonsense.

 

[Dark Fulgore]

I'm kinda thinking dark fulgore is right and that these kiddies that get banned are cheating with their pokemans.

Up until the first scare about bans and even for a couple weeks after I was using a public header (one of the first posted on gbatemp) and never received a ban.

I was scared and dumped my own header and that's what I use now but I'm still very skeptical about the detection of publicly accessible headers. I don't cheat and don't have a problem. I still see so many of these "online-ready" .3dz's being distributed and you'd figure the thousands of grabbers would come back to pitch a fit had they been banned.

So what's really happening? Pokeman hackers getting busted and crying wolf about flashcarts and header nonsense.

I'm still using that same header, the japanese MGS3 header, right? Me and thousands of players are using it to this day and like 50 players got banned? C'mon, this is just pointing fingers, isn't public headers fault. Most banned players doesn't even know what a header is, but they sure know what PKHeX is.

We know with piracy we are always at risk of being banned, but this public header thing is getting out of control.

 

[jochemali]

If I get the Error 002-0123 in gateway playing pokemon AS. I need a header type-2? or with type-1 can "change" the values for play with it?

 

[Xenon Hacks]

If I get the Error 002-0123 in gateway playing pokemon AS. I need a header type-2? or with type-1 can "change" the values for play with it?

Use a private header not a bought one or one from a friend if you get that error still uninstall the update and download it again from the eShop. Still getting the same error? you probably installed the update as a .cia and the uninstall left data so format your 3ds system (not the sd card). Then get the update from the eShop that should fix your error code, and if if you STILL get that error code you got banned from pokemon it may be a temp ban or perma ban for cheating in some way or getting caught with a bad header. Use gateway rom patcher 1.1 (by PsyKo) btw

 

[LameNobody]

If I get the Error 002-0123 in gateway playing pokemon AS. I need a header type-2? or with type-1 can "change" the values for play with it?

Erroe 002-0123 is related to bad header, or bad chip manufacturer

Error 002-0123

Error 002-0123 happens when either Unique ID, or the chip manufacturer is invalid.
Discussion about error 002-0123
How to fix it:
We'll be using Sky Army Knife, by Foxi4
1. Open Sky Army Knife
2. Select latest template file
3. Select the rom that is giving you the error
4. In the "Cart ID" section, change the manufacturer
5. Click "Save to .txt"
6. Open diskwriter, and select our modified template
7. Delete rom from your SD with diskwriter
8. Re-write the rom with the edited template we made
9. Cycle through the games on your sky3ds so that it refreshes
10. Play Game

(If you still get the error, Repeat steps 4 to 9 but change the manufacturer to something DIFFERENT)

 

[jochemali]

Erroe 002-0123 is related to bad header, or bad chip manufacturer

this work in GATEWAY?

 

[LameNobody]

this work in GATEWAY?

It would be similar in gateway rom patcher,

1. open rom i GW rom patcher
2. click the blue lettering in "Enter a new chip ID or auto-detect it"
3. in the "manufacturer" drop down box, select one
4. click apply
5. copy rom to micro SD and try game

If you still get the error, repeat steps 3-5... but use a different manufacturer than last time

 

[jonthedit]

Written well, but pure speculation.
No one reputable has confirmed bans [the 'phone call' claims are non-rep members]
Been playing with public headers since the start of Gateway - no ban.

 

[namad]

so does this mean I could take my header out of my own real pokemon alpha sapphire and use it to play pokemon x rom and etrian odyssey iv rom in 3dz mode with this gateway patcher tool?

then i won't get banned because I'm only ever using that header one at a time? or can I only use each header once? so I could take my header out of pokemon alpha and then never go online in pokemon alpha... and use that header in pokemon x?

basically do I need one unique private header per online rom? or just one per my entire cart? If I need one per rom I could always try to find some 10$ bargin bin games to open, take the header from, then throw out, and use it to play a better more popular rom....

 

[LameNobody]

so does this mean I could take my header out of my own real pokemon alpha sapphire and use it to play pokemon x rom and etrian odyssey iv rom in 3dz mode with this gateway patcher tool?

then i won't get banned because I'm only ever using that header one at a time? or can I only use each header once? so I could take my header out of pokemon alpha and then never go online in pokemon alpha... and use that header in pokemon x?

basically do I need one unique private header per online rom? or just one per my entire cart? If I need one per rom I could always try to find some 10$ bargin bin games to open, take the header from, then throw out, and use it to play a better more popular rom....

You can use one header to patch all of your games, and you can still use the retail game.. Just not at the same time as another game using it's header

 

[Raztaz]

How do i fix a fragmentation error?

 

[jonthedit]

How do i fix a fragmentation error?

Move the offending 3DS game files off and then back onto the card. If it does not fix, move all off and execute one copy. If still it fails, reformat the microSD card.

 

[Ryuzaki_MrL]

Sorry for the necrobump, but I couldn't find the answer anywhere.
Is there any way to extract a private header from uncart dumps? I can't launch the go exploit on 10.7 with a9lh.