(Sorry about the delay in getting this guide up, work has been killing me and i havent had much time. I appreciate the patience )

NOTE: This is only possible on firmwares 9.0-9.2 sysnand at the moment. This is due to the fact that 9.2 is the highest GW supported version, and 9.0 is the minimum version if you are on a non japan 3ds as themes were introduced in 8.1.

As a baseline for each of the tutorials, you need to have a running copy of the homebrew launcher running in some way. This could be done by the web browser, cubic ninja, or whatever other entry point available. A full list can be found here: http://smealum.github.io/3ds/

This guide will assume you have the following files on your SD card and up to date with the latest homebrew starter kit available at http://smealum.github.io/3ds/ . It will also assume you have Gateway already running and working. This is not a support thread for ether of these. There are plenty of guides around on how to setup gateway as well as the homebrew launcher. If you have both of these running and working you are good to go.

YOUR EMUNAND AND SYSNAND SHOULD BE UNLINKED AND YOU NEED TO BE RUNNING THE HOMEBREW LAUNCHER FROM SYSNAND.

1. Homemenuhax Installation

You need homemenuhax for this to work, its a entry point for the homebrew launcher that runs whenever you boot your 3ds.

To install it, you need to use the entry point you normally use to get into the homebrew launcher. Once in you want to use the piece of homebrew that comes with the starter kit called "menuhax_manager". Use the install option and go through the prompts to install the hack. After, go to the configure option. This will determine when the hack boots into the homebrew launcher and when it wont. I prefer using type 2 and using the L button. This means when you hold the L button on boot, it will kick you to sysnand. And when you dont, it will boot into the homebrew launcher. Or in our case, it will be CTRBootManager which will automatically boot into emunand. Take your choice and then move onto the next section.

At this point you should be able to restart your 3DS and if you used the type and button i did for homemenuhax it should automatically boot into the homebrew launcher when not holding the button and kick you into sysnand when you are. If not, retry and make sure your setup is correct before moving onto the next step.

2. Gateway Homebrew Launcher

The first gateway release to have the gateway homebrew entry point is 3.6.1. The files are only available starting in this version.

In the release there is a zip file called GW_3dsx.zip Open it and copy the 3ds folder to the root of your 3DS SD card. Now boot your 3DS back into the homebrew launcher, you should see the gateway option in the list now. Try using it, if it boots you into emunand you are good to go.

3. CTRBootManager Setup

At this point your 3DS should automatically boot into the homebrew launcher and you have a gateway item in the homebrew list that boots you into emunand. If this is not so, go back and get that working before moving on.

Put your SD back into your computer and you should have the following files on your SD card

/3ds/GW/GW.3dsx - Gateway Homebrew
/3ds/GW/GW.smdh - Gateway Homebrew
/Launcher.dat - Gateway Launcher
/boot.3dsx - The Homebrew Launcher

So do the following in this order:
1. Rename /boot.3dsx to homebrew.3dsx
2. Download and extract CTRBootManager to the root of your SD. All files in the zip should be copied https://gbatemp.net/threads/ctrbootmanager-3ds-boot-manager-loader-homemenuhax.398383/
3. Copy the following into the boot.cfg file on the root of the SD. Replace everything in the file!

boot_config :
{
  timeout = 0;
  autobootfix = 2;
  recovery = 8;
  default = 0;
  entries = (
    {
      title = "Gateway";
      path = "/3ds/GW/GW.3dsx";
    },
    {
      title = "Homebrew";
      path = "/homebrew.3dsx";
    } );
};

The "timeout = 0;" can be changed to specify the amount of time before it automatically boots the default item. In this case it is 0 to specify that it should boot automatically,
The "autobootfix = 2;" Is a fix for auto booting when timeout is 0. I am on a N3DS and 2 seems to work best for me, play around with it and see what works best for you. 8 was the recommended value for O3DS and 3 for N3DS.
The "recovery = 8;" is the button used when you want to get to the boot menu while booting if you have timeout set to 0. 8 is the R button, so holding R will take you into the boot menu when booting. A list of keycodes that can be used can be found here: https://goo.gl/4XLDIL
The "default = 0;" is the index of the item to boot to by default. It starts at 0 with the first item in the list being 0, then 1, etc.
The entries section contains the list of boot items. My default config contains a entry for Gateway and one for the homebrew launcher. This can be customized but needs to have the same format. You can add items from the boot menu on the 3DS if you dont feel comfortable editing it by hand.

At this point your 3DS SD Card Should Have The Following

/3ds/GW/GW.3dsx - Gateway Homebrew
/3ds/GW/GW.smdh - Gateway Homebrew
/Launcher.dat - Gateway Launcher
/boot.3dsx - CTRBootManager
/boot.cfg - CTRBootManager Config File
/homebrew.3dsx - The Homebrew Launcher

If all of this is good, you should be able to put it back into your 3DS and boot it.

With my default configuration the following happens:
No buttons held: Will automatically boot into emunand
L button held: Will boot into sysnand.
R button held: will boot into the CTRBootManager menu with options to boot into gateway and the homebrew launcher.

This is a initial version of my guide and i may have missed things or messed something, if you find anything wrong please feel free to let me know so i can fix it.

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE POST BEFORE REPORTING ISSUES OR ASKING QUESTIONS!

 

[VeryCrushed]

Another reason why unlinking is best ^^;

Even unlinked WiFi will still go between the emunand and sysnand. It's one of the few things that can persist between an unlinked sysnand and emunand.

 

[TheShadowRunner]

Even unlinked WiFi will still go between the emunand and sysnand. It's one of the few things that can persist between an unlinked sysnand and emunand.

Not on my setup somehow, odd.

 

[Varia]

I have a JP New 3DS with 8.1 - no browser but do have themes. Unfortunately I can't use any hax, however I can use the homebrew loader cia thingy (in gateway mode).
If I install that in systemnand, will I be able to then install menuhax?

By the way, works great on my orignal 3DS (9.2), thanks a lot for this.

 

[ElyosOfTheAbyss]

And I thought I made a tutorial before anyone else.... I guess I have been ninja'd

 

[VeryCrushed]

I have a JP New 3DS with 8.1 - no browser but do have themes. Unfortunately I can't use any hax, however I can use the homebrew loader cia thingy (in gateway mode).
If I install that in systemnand, will I be able to then install menuhax?

By the way, works great on my orignal 3DS (9.2), thanks a lot for this.

You have to have some entry point. I don't think you can use the homebrew loader CIA in sysnand. So you would have to find another way to get into the homebrew launcher.

And I thought I made a tutorial before anyone else.... I guess I have been ninja'd [emoji14]h34r:

Yeah, lol did it pretty soon after GW released the files.

 

[Nirmonculus]

If I update with SSB rev 2, will I have access to the browser?

 

[Testo90]

If I update with SSB rev 2, will I have access to the browser?

I heared no, browser doesnt come with cadridge update

 

[DarkCoffe64]

YOUR EMUNAND AND SYSNAND SHOULD BE UNLINKED AND YOU NEED TO BE RUNNING THE HOMEBREW LAUNCHER FROM SYSNAND.

So, does this mean I need two sd cards, one for sysnand and one for emunand? Or I'm being stupid again?

 

[VeryCrushed]

So, does this mean I need two sd cards, one for sysnand and one for emunand? Or I'm being stupid again?

You only need 1 SD. Your sysnand and emunand must be unlinked as in you format sysnand after creating your emunand. The homebrew launcher must be launched from sysnand when setting up menuhax.

 

[DarkCoffe64]

You only need 1 SD. Your sysnand and emunand must be unlinked as in you format sysnand after creating your emunand. The homebrew launcher must be launched from sysnand when setting up menuhax.

So, if I get it, I first install everything, make emunand, format the 3ds and then re-install everything for this to work, right?

 

[VeryCrushed]

So, if I get it, I first install everything, make emunand, format the 3ds and then re-install everything for this to work, right?

Along with having a way of getting into the homebrew launcher from sysnand. Then you are set to use this tutorial.

 

[DarkCoffe64]

Along with having a way of getting into the homebrew launcher from sysnand. Then you are set to use this tutorial.

Ok, something went wrong. Now, whenever I try to load the gateway, instead of booting me into emu/sysnand, it boot the homebrew launcher again.
Gonna try again later. I need a pause.

 

[VeryCrushed]

Ok, something went wrong. Now, whenever I try to load the gateway, instead of booting me into emu/sysnand, it boot the homebrew launcher again.
Gonna try again later. I need a pause.

What have you done up to this far, and what is the layout of your SD atm.

 

[DarkCoffe64]

What have you done up to this far, and what is the layout of your SD atm.

Well, I've installed menuhax with the homebrew channel via Cubic Ninja, and I've set it to boot automatically instead of holding L, like your guide says. Then, with the GW.3dsx,
I booted into the Gateway menu and formatted emunand to create it. I then copied what there was in the sd card and formatted my 3ds. Then I've re-done the process 'till I could
boot to the Gateway menu again. I've then copied in the sd card the emunand files I've copied before, and then I tried booting the Gateway.
Instead of booting me into emunand, it boots the HB again. I tried, out of curiosity, to hold L while booting Gateway, and I ended up with it working, but I was in sysnand.
This is the sd card:

 

[VeryCrushed]

Well, I've installed menuhax with the homebrew channel via Cubic Ninja, and I've set it to boot automatically instead of holding L, like your guide says. Then, with the GW.3dsx,
I booted into the Gateway menu and formatted emunand to create it. I then copied what there was in the sd card and formatted my 3ds. Then I've re-done the process 'till I could
boot to the Gateway menu again. I've then copied in the sd card the emunand files I've copied before, and then I tried booting the Gateway.
Instead of booting me into emunand, it boots the HB again. I tried, out of curiosity, to hold L while booting Gateway, and I ended up with it working, but I was in sysnand.
This is the sd card:

Follow the tutorial from the menuhax section. The rest of the tutorial takes you through how to set up the rest.

Your setup is currently going 3ds boot -> menuhax -> hblauncher (boot.3dsx on the root of your SD). The rest of the guide will show how to set up the rest.

You are already through the first step of the tutorial. Continue from after this text of the tutorial:

At this point your 3DS should automatically boot into the homebrew launcher and you have a gateway item in the homebrew list that boots you into emunand. If this is not so, go back and get that working before moving on.

 

[DarkCoffe64]

Follow the tutorial from the menuhax section. The rest of the tutorial takes you through how to set up the rest.

Your setup is currently going 3ds boot -> menuhax -> hblauncher (boot.3dsx on the root of your SD). The rest of the guide will show how to set up the rest.

You are already through the first step of the tutorial. Continue from after this text of the tutorial:

The problem comes from the fact that it won't boot into emunand. It boots the hbchannel again. It loops, like:
3ds boot -> menuhax -> hblauncher -> gateway menu -> menuhax -> hblauncher again.
And if I try again without shutting off the console first, it crashes.

 

[VeryCrushed]

The problem comes from the fact that it won't boot into emunand. It boots the hbchannel again. It loops, like:
3ds boot -> menuhax -> hblauncher -> gateway menu -> menuhax -> hblauncher again.
And if I try again without shutting off the console first, it crashes.

Your sysnand and emunand aren't unlinked. This means you have menuhax installed on both emunand and sysnand. You only want it installed on sysnand. You want to format your sysnand from inside your system settings IN SYSNAND. This will unlink your sysnand from your emunand so you don't get a loop. Then reinstall menuhax

 

[DarkCoffe64]

Your sysnand and emunand aren't unlinked. This means you have menuhax installed on both emunand and sysnand. You only want it installed on sysnand. You want to format your sysnand from inside your system settings IN SYSNAND. This will unlink your sysnand from your emunand so you don't get a loop. Then reinstall menuhax

Well, I did format my 3ds in sysnand, I think. Anyway, I'm gonna try doing this now: I format my 3ds again just to be sure.
Then, I access the Gateway menu via Cubic Ninja and make the emunand.
Then, I remove the emunand files in the sd and install menuhax. This way, emunand and sysnand should be unlinked, right?

 

[VeryCrushed]

Well, I did format my 3ds in sysnand, I think. Anyway, I'm gonna try doing this now: I format my 3ds again just to be sure.
Then, I access the Gateway menu via Cubic Ninja and make the emunand.
Then, I remove the emunand files in the sd and install menuhax. This way, emunand and sysnand should be unlinked, right?

Noooo, don't remake your emunand. That relinks them.

Just format your sysnand. As in boot into your 3DS without the SD in, then go to system settings, and format the 3DS to factory. Then boot it with the same SD and you should have a unlinked emunand and sysnand.

 

[Zarxrax]

Can you tell me how to determine if my Sysnand and Emunand are linked or not? I haven't touched my 3ds in probably a year, so I don't remember anything at all about how I originally set up my gateway. The guide looks really easy to follow aside from that part though, so I'll probably try this out this weekend