How To Patch TWL_FIRM to play normally blocked DS games

In this tutorial I'll show you how to install the patched "TWL_FIRM" CIA so you're able to play blocked DS cartridges like as example Flashcards that were blocked by Nintendo over the years. However keep in mind that not every Flashcard works this way and, as example, the Action Replay DSi Card only ends up in a white bootup-screen without going further!

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What You'll Need:

• (Recommended) EmuNAND setup
• (Recommended) EmuNAND/SysNAND backup before you begin, as example with EmuNAND9
• TWL_FIRM.zip (this pack would be illegal to upload on GBATemp, please search on Google, the pack I used here was from someone named "AuroraWright" from a certain ISO-Site)
• A CIA manager (recommended: FBI)
• TWL Slot-1 Launcher (only needed for some flashcards which won't show up else)

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Step 0 (only recommended, not mandatory) - Make an SysNAND/EmuNAND backup

• This step is only recommended but NOT MANDATORY! But in case you derp something up you'll thank me later
• Simply use a tool like EmuNAND9, start it via Homebrew Launcher (in SysNAND/"Menuhax" mode) and go to "EmuNAND Manager Options" > "Dump EmuNAND to EmuNAND.bin" and you're good to go.

Step 1 - Copy the right CIA file to your 3DS

• Unpack the downloaded "TWL_FIRM.zip" file somewhere on your PC.
• There are 2 files now, "twlfirm_n3ds.cia" and "twlfirm_o3ds.cia". You need to choose the right one for your 3DS.
• You need to choose the "n3ds" one if your 3DS is a "New 3DS" or "New 3DS XL".
• You need to choose the "o3ds" one if your 3DS is a "3DS", "3DS XL" or a "2DS".
• Once you know which file to copy over simply put it in any folder you'll later find it again, as example "X:/CIA/Patches"

Step 2 - Use FBI/Install FBI into home menu

• I cannot really provide a guide on how to install FBI here so you should refer to the official, above mentioned FBI thread on how to install it. However I recommend using the home menu installed version (aka. CIA version) so there won't be any problems now since this is a system CIA we're going to replace here.

Step 3 - Use FBI in NAND-Mode and install the CIA

• Open FBI (obviously )
• Press the "L" button once, on the top-screen you should now read a text that says "Destination: NAND". IF YOU FORGET THIS YOU'LL GET AN ERROR NOW!
• Now go to the folder you've placed the right CIA from Step 1 into.
• Select it and press "A" to install. Press "A" again to confirm it.
  • If you now get an error like "DESCRIPTION_INVALID_COMBINATION" you've not followed all steps here. Go back by pressing "Start" and then pressing "L" to switch to NAND-Mode. Now try to install the CIA again.
• After this it'll tell you that the title is already installed. Simply press "A" to overwrite it.
• Once done press "Start" and go back to your home menu/homebrew launcher.

Step 4 (only recommended, not mandatory) - Install TWL Slot-1 Launcher

• Since you already know how to install CIA files from Step 3 simply download the above mentioned "TWL Slot-1 Launcher" CIA and install it again as mentioned in Step 3, however this time it'll not ask you to replace anything and install it right away.
• This will help you later on to start cartridges which you'd not be able to start else.

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Okay, that's it!
If you have any questions please ask them here but try to provide as many infos as possible!

Thanks for reading

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

*** Guide Changelogs ***

11.02.2016 - 16:39: INITIAL GUIDE VERSION
12.02.2016 - 21:35: Fix design-issues due to the "super nice mods" merging posts... Gee, thanks guys...

 

[matpower]

Ok and how am I supposed to restore the original TWL_FIRM to undo the process?
Currently I have aureinand a9lh and use an updated sysnand configuration, there will be problems with future updates of aureinand or with the backup/restore (I'm thinking of Decrypt9 errors while restoring) of sysnand in case of brick ? Do I need to restore the original TWL_FIRM first?

Thank you for you answer

Nope, it's fine so far, I have been using and making backups with both patched AGB and TWL FIRMs with Decrypt9 and the latest version of AuReiNAND.
However, if you want/need to restore it(As both AuReiNAND and the latest Cakes Nightlies have on-the-go patching support nowadays), you can follow this guide to restore them.

 

[codeluca]

Nope, it's fine so far, I have been using and making backups with both patched AGB and TWL FIRMs with Decrypt9 and the latest version of AuReiNAND.
However, if you want/need to restore it(As both AuReiNAND and the latest Cakes Nightlies have on-the-go patching support nowadays), you can follow this guide to restore them.

Thank you, I'll try that and I let you know

EDIT: Worked perfectly, now I can run my r4igold 2013 card without problems.

Inviato dal mio D6603 utilizzando Tapatalk

 

[Woodigel]

I have encountered problems ^^ So i installed the CIA on emuNAND and tried to run my Acekard 2i but i couldnt because it was not visible as cartridge, i downloaded the TWL-Slot1 Launcher however this ended in a blank black screen. Then i tried to boot one of my retail cards instead to ensure i installed everything correctly, however to my suprising it wasnt visible either (emuNAND only), after trying to start it via TWL-Launcher i received the message: "An Error has Occured..." SOMETHING has gone wrong i presume. Any advice how to solve this mess?

I own a N3ds with Cakes EmuNAND 10.7

 

[RyzaJr]

Anyone manage to get this to work with the Cyclo DS Evolution flashcard?

 

[Umbra-Luna]

Okay, I seem to be getting stuck when I need to press L once to get into Destination: NAND. I'm using FBI Version 2.2.1. Anyone got any ideas what I should do?

 

[wormdood]

Okay, I seem to be getting stuck when I need to press L once to get into Destination: NAND. I'm using FBI Version 2.2.1. Anyone got any ideas what I should do?

i got a great idea . . . use fbi to install bbm then use bbm to install the game . . . because bbm knows the cia it goes to nand or sd and installs accordingly

 

[Umbra-Luna]

i got a great idea . . . use fbi to install bbm then use bbm to install the game . . . because bbm knows the cia it goes to nand or sd and installs accordingly

And bbm is...?

EDIT: Big Blue Menu? I just installed that and tried it. It says that "twlfirm_n3ds.cia already exists"

Edit 2 Electric Bugaloo: I just installed the TWL Slot-1 Launcher and it's working fine now, thanks for all the help. I thought my AceKard 2i would work without it. Glad I've got it working reguardless

 

[natkoden]

holy crap, found this by accident... it really works!

a9lh + n3ds + latest firm

cant believe my crappy fake R4 SDHC is working and booting up games just fine...

 

[samcambolt270]

I for some stupid reason cannot make this work. I installed successfully onto emunand, but it seems to do nothing. I tried installing onto my regular nand, but i get an "install failed" error.

 

[deSSy2724]

So.... by installing this I could play my legit NDS cartridges on my GW emunand? It wont mess up my emunand?

 

[fgghjjkll]

I've been trying to get NDS converted to CIA DSiWares running on my 11.2 Gateway CFW EmuNAND and Luma3DS 9.2 SysNAND setup.
I'm able to install the TWL_Firm successfully on my SysNAND using the latest FBI. However, I'm still unable to launch custom DSiWare titles on my EmuNAND.

Would anyone know what's going on?

 

[matpower]

I've been trying to get NDS converted to CIA DSiWares running on my 11.2 Gateway CFW EmuNAND and Luma3DS 9.2 SysNAND setup.
I'm able to install the TWL_Firm successfully on my SysNAND using the latest FBI. However, I'm still unable to launch custom DSiWare titles on my EmuNAND.

Would anyone know what's going on?

Gateway emuNAND breaks GBA, DS and DSiWare, it doesn't matter what you do IIRC. Why are you still using it btw?
Also you should remove the patches from your sysNAND, else Luma won't be able to load DSiWare titles. (You can't patch system files since it already does that)

 

[Ne0s]

Hi everyone,

I tried to patch the TWL_FIRM with this method, but the only thing it does is broking the DSi ware functionality.
After restoring the TWL_FIRM, I've found why it didn't succeed in the first place. Apparently I don't have any emuNAND on my n3DS XL. I can't boot into it and FBI doesn't display "Destination: NAND" when I press the "L" button.
Therefore, as I'm quite a newbie I've made a lot of research on the Internet, but still, I don't know how to solve this issue...

Anyone could help me deal with it ?

 

[The Catboy]

Hi everyone,

I tried to patch the TWL_FIRM with this method, but the only thing it does is broking the DSi ware functionality.
After restoring the TWL_FIRM, I've found why it didn't succeed in the first place. Apparently I don't have any emuNAND on my n3DS XL. I can't boot into it and FBI doesn't display "Destination: NAND" when I press the "L" button.
Therefore, as I'm quite a newbie I've made a lot of research on the Internet, but still, I don't know how to solve this issue...

Anyone could help me deal with it ?

You no longer need to do this. All CFW patch the TWL and will no longer work with this patch

 

[Ne0s]

You no longer need to do this. All CFW patch the TWL and will no longer work with this patch

Good news !
So I just installed the TWL Slot-1 Launcher, then inserted my linker in the DS and launched it, but it didn't worked. I still got the error message.
Is it because I didn't installed the cia in NAND or because my linker is uncompatible ?

 

[The Catboy]

Good news !
So I just installed the TWL Slot-1 Launcher, then inserted my linker in the DS and launched it, but it didn't worked. I still got the error message.
Is it because I didn't installed the cia in NAND or because my linker is uncompatible ?

What CFW are you running?

 

[Ne0s]

What CFW are you running?

I'm running Luma3DS v6.6 and the firmware of the sysNAND is 11.3.0-36E.

 

[The Catboy]

I'm running Luma3DS v6.6 and the firmware of the sysNAND is 11.3.0-36E.

What flashcart are you using?

 

[Ne0s]

What flashcart are you using?

It's a M3 DS Real and it's running M3 Sakura menu.

 

[The Catboy]

It's a M3 DS Real and it's running M3 Sakura menu.

That's your problem. The M3 Real isn't completely supported yet
https://gbatemp.net/threads/r4-stage2-twl-flashcart-launcher-and-perhaps-other-cards-soon™.416434/
The M3 didn't have a header. There was an attempt to get YSMenu and M3 Sakura working, but never fully got working due to the M3 Real's hardware/software setup.