EDIT: This tutorial maybe outdated, technically it still work but please use Plailect's Guide, it covers even more things:



https://plailect.github.io/Guide/



EDIT: MANY USERS ALREADY BRICKED THEIR DEVICE, SO BE ABSOLUTELY SURE WHAT TO DO, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. WITHOUT A HARDMOD AND A NAND BACKUP A BRICK IS PERMANENT!!!

I'm doing this tutorial quickly only because we don't want to answer all "How to downgrade" question-threads seperately.

All credits belongs to TuxSH, Jason Dellaluce, Steveice10 (and some other, don't know who else right know)

KEEP IN MIND: BRICKS CAN HAPPEN AND HAPPENED TO SOME USERS!!! NO WARRANTY FOR A SUCCESSFUL DOWNGRADE!

1. You need a 3DS with any hax installed, if you have non, use Browserhax (http://yls8.mtheall.com/3dsbrowserhax.php) by yellows8 or menuhax. And of course, at least boot.3dsx in SD card root.

2. Download sysupdater and, unzip it and copy it to sd card:/3ds/ (if it does not exist, just create it...)
Mirror: https://mega.nz/#!JE1R3RhQ!MqY_OTyYrVM_DMOltiDfaZvTGZ8gCoUcATmOYEimM-U

3. You will need a complete firmware package of your desired Firmware. I recommend 9.2.0-20E/U/J.
Where do you get this package you ask? Well, Nintendo deleted all titles from their server older than 9.9.0-X, so you have to google it. I will help you to google it: http://bfy.tw/3Xqo

Cha0s Em3rald made MD5 checksum's for 9.2.0-20E/U/J N3ds/O3DS, check archive's checksum before using it! https://gbatemp.net/threads/md5-checksums-crc-for-all-9-2-update-packs.408114/

PLEASE NOTE: JP N3DS Users, you'll need to remove the 000400102002CA00 title from the download package in order to not get bricked! Do NOT install it!

4. Copy all firmware title .cia on SD Card:/update/

5. Remove smea's DNS, in case of unsuccessfull downgrade, you need in that case to start 3DS in Recovery mode to update and repair your system.

6. Start 3DS and go into Homebrewlauncher.

7. Start sysupdater

8. Wait for application to be ready. (ca. 1-5min)

9. Press Y to downgrade

10. Wait and pray until "Succeed. Reboot in 10 sec"

11. Done - Downgrade is (hopefully) complete!

I recommend to create an EmuNAND after downgrading and using a cfw Loader, like cakesFW or rxTools.


Q: Help! I have a blackscreen after the reboot!!!
A: Unplug SD Card, reboot. I think some SD data can't aren't compatible with downgraded titles, so delete your current "Nintendo 3DS" folder on SD card, if needed.

If it still doesn't boot, try to get into recovery mode, by pressing Power-Button to boot while holding L+R+Up+A, update and try again.

Q: sysupdater crashes/won't start/freeze.
A: (Hold L+R+DpadDown+B to return to Homebrew Launcher, then) start/reboot again. Some users needed over 30 attempts.
Try another hax; I used menuhax to start ctr boot manager.
TuxSH wrote that it can raise succeed boot of sysupdater if you started 3DS-FTP before and return with L+R+Down+B, then start sysUpdater

Alternative Way:
1. Backup/delete your boot.3dsx in sd root
2. Copy "sysUpdater.3dsx" to root and rename it into "boot.3dsx"
3. Plug SD card in and start hax (recommended: Menuhax)
4. *hax will load directly sysUpdater.

Q: What firmwares can be downgraded?
A: All firmwares up to newesest (10.3) can be downgraded. New 3DS is not confirmed because of no testing by TuxSH, but many users already tried and successfully downgraded their N3DS.

Q: I have an 2DS, which Firmware do I need?
A: Firmware for Old 3DS. MSET for 3DS can wants to move 3d slider after formating - you need to install only Firmware/MSET that was supported by 2DS, so NO 4.5! O3DS 9.2.0-20E should be fine, but not confirmed.

Q: It won't reboot after the finished downgrade.
A: What I did: Waited 10 minutes, then I powered it off. Downgrade suceed. You don't have another choice anyway.

 

[likemiketoo]

Nevermind, got it to work using a different sysUpdate file

 

[malaken]

Alright. Great tutorial. Now i was able to downgrade my o3ds with the way provided. It did freeze a few times but after a few attempts it worked. Now my issue is with my n3ds. I went thru the process provided but when i start it it says no cia or something. So i moved all the cia files to the root out of the updates folder and tried again... Oddly enough it went through and restarted.... Back to the same fw.... Can i get some help with that? I seen that is has worked on n3ds on 10.3. Can someone verify?

* also i did use the n3ds specific files.

* ok i can confirm this working on the n3ds 10.3 u.
formatted my MicroSD and re-put all the files and after 6 tries it worked

 

[NakedFaerie]

4. Copy all firmware title .cia on SD Card:/update/

Is that "update" or "updates" with an S at the end?

 

[DesperadoV3]

4. Copy all firmware title .cia on SD Card:/update/

Is that "update" or "updates" with an S at the end?

it should be "updates" (without quotes)
yes, with an S at the end

 

[GUILHERME TEIXEIRA]

I'm trying using downgrade my n3ds with browserhax and menuhax but the screen freeze after run sysUpdater, sometimes freeze in the screen to press Y =/

 

[malaken]

I'm trying using downgrade my n3ds with browserhax and menuhax but the screen freeze after run sysUpdater, sometimes freeze in the screen to press Y =/

yea me too, keep trying if not format sd card and try again

 

[GUILHERME TEIXEIRA]

I got it!!!

Regular new 3ds downgraded
I update to 10.x and downgrade to 9.2

 

[supdream]

Thanks

 

[yee]

Hi,

Trying to get Sysupdater to downgrade from 9.4 to 9.2 on my O3DSXL.

I use browserhax and can load up the Homebrew Launcher no problem, but the moment I launch Sysupdater, it freezes up. No matter what button I press, it doesn't update nor exit the app.

Any suggestions?

 

[NakedFaerie]

it should be "updates" (without quotes)
yes, with an S at the end

Then someone should update the first post as its got that fatal mistake.

 

[KobraXMW]

For those who haven't been able to get sysUpdater to step #8, try this tutorial out. It worked the first time I booted in my case.

https://gbatemp.net/threads/high-success-rate-when-attempting-downgrade-with-sysupdater.408231/

 

[chronoss]

Downgrade succes but i got a black screen when i boot to rxTools

 

[Karwelas]

Is there any tutorial about getting CFW on o3DS after downgrading like this?

 

[n00b2015]

it worked with O3DS 9.8 to 9.2 but when sysupdater was rebooting it freezed. I manualy ejected sd card and resetted it. But then 3ds just wont start with sd in it. black screen. I deleted and formated sd card and put only GW launcher file on it and it started with no problem.

 

[DjoeN]

For those who haven't been able to get sysUpdater to step #8, try this tutorial out. It worked the first time I booted in my case.

https://gbatemp.net/threads/high-success-rate-when-attempting-downgrade-with-sysupdater.408231/

Worked perfect after 3 tries! (and this after 2 days of trying any other method and always failed)

[EDIT]
N3DS XL downgraded from 10.3 to 9.2

 

[KobraXMW]

Worked perfect after 3 tries! (and this after 2 days of trying any other method and always failed)

Glad to help! Spread the word .

 

[GUILHERME TEIXEIRA]

Keep trying, on my n3ds sometimes freezed screen but I got.

I using menuhax, no browserhax.


Browserhax freeze always you need press Y

 

[DjoeN]

@artur3004

Maybe add in the OP:

Getting Homebrew back!

- After downgrading to 9.2 you want to get Homebrew back (or fix it if you had it previously installed on 10.3) and install MenuHax to boot into HBL (HomeBrew Launcher)
- Get the starter pack from Smea and unzip it in the root of your 3DS SD
- Be sure you have Internet, the installation needs it!
- Now boot the (N)3DS and press "L+R" to start your camera and press the small QR icon in the bottom left
- Scan the next code (works for N3DS AND O3DS)

- This will boot you into HBL and now you will be able to install MenuHax

Now you can boot into HBL by pressing the L button and then power on your system! this without the need for internet!
(you can change buttons if you want or autoboot HBL without presisng a button)

 

[n00b2015]

THANX

 

[robertorpg94]

works in 10.2?