Tutorial Simple Guide to Downgrading your 3DS

[angelus kun]

I'm feeling very old right now :') because sys downgrader was the first unstable exploit with a high chance of softbrick and screen freeze

 

[Deleted member 370283]

For the love of god please update this to work with soundhax

This is an outdated guide which I have only left untouched for preservation purposes.
Plailcet's guide is a lot more updated and is much better to follow.

 

[pciev]

Okay.

 

[Borjabor]

If your homescreen shows up after removing your sd card (assuming you have a black screen when it's inserted) you need to delete 000002cc/d/e (depending on your region) in your sd card's extdata in the Nintendo 3DS folder

I have tried that, but there isn't a folder with that name neither the other regions' versions. Deleting the extdata folder also did not work. Is there something else I could try to recover from the black screen on my N3DS? Just to clarify what I am getting: the black screen appears only with SD inserted. Also, I can't access recovery mode with or without the SD. Thanks guys

 

[Quantumcat]

I have tried that, but there isn't a folder with that name neither the other regions' versions. Deleting the extdata folder also did not work. Is there something else I could try to recover from the black screen on my N3DS? Just to clarify what I am getting: the black screen appears only with SD inserted. Also, I can't access recovery mode with or without the SD. Thanks guys

If the black screen is only when the SD is inserted then there's files you need to delete. You'll have to experiment to find which ones.

 

[Mayman121]

Nowhere on the website that keeps getting linked does it say anything about downgrading firmware, so stop recommending it.

 

[Columbo2811]

Nowhere on the website that keeps getting linked does it say anything about downgrading firmware, so stop recommending it.

Wot you on about.

 

[Potato hoarder]

Nowhere on the website that keeps getting linked does it say anything about downgrading firmware, so stop recommending it.

>goes on year old thread
>doesn't read first line of thread saying that it's outdated
>complains about thread being outdated

 

[SedRick_M89]

As of now, For a NEW 3DS XL, what is the best firmware to aim for for full CFW and homebrew capabilities? I've read the 3dsguide but it doesn't answer my question.
I'm about to buy one but i want it on the perfect firmware..
i have no interest in playing online.

 

[Akira]

As of now, For a NEW 3DS XL, what is the best firmware to aim for for full CFW and homebrew capabilities? I've read the 3dsguide but it doesn't answer my question.
I'm about to buy one but i want it on the perfect firmware..
i have no interest in playing online.

11.3 since you dont need another hardware(a supported ds flashcart to be exact) to put CFW on your device. But all firmware is possible, it's just easier when it's on 11.3 and below

 

[SedRick_M89]

and theres no simple way to downgrade from > 11.3? so if i buy one that's new, i should avoid the newer limited editions? i imagine they ship above 11.3?

 

[Akira]

There is no need to downgrade actually, you can just buy a supported ds flashcart which are there in the guide and use ntrboot to hack any firmware, you will also have a way to play NDS games which is a win-win situation. Brand new ones are sure to have 11.4(or above, I haven't heard any reports), old stocks for sure are 11.3 and below. As I said., 11.3 just makes it easier since you dont need anything but your New 3DS.

 

[The Catboy]

and theres no simple way to downgrade from > 11.3? so if i buy one that's new, i should avoid the newer limited editions? i imagine they ship above 11.3?

There's no reason to downgrade anymore. Grab yourself an R4i Gold, a magnet from your fridge, and follow The Guide. Hacking the 3DS has actually become an extremely easy process without the need for downgrading or risk of bricking.

 

[SedRick_M89]

so whether im on 11.3 or 11.4, i can still get all the hacking benefits from it?
I heard that 9.2 had the best compatibility with all homebrew and the updates progressively patched certain things??... like playing back ups or ds games?

 

[Akira]

so whether im on 11.3 or 11.4, i can still get all the hacking benefits from it?
I heard that 9.2 had the best compatibility with all homebrew and the updates progressively patched certain things??... like playing back ups or ds games?

There is no firmware that has the best compatibility now. All firmwares are hackable. I suggest try reading the guide again. You must have skimmed through the introduction, but pretty, much, everything is explained over there.

 

[The Catboy]

so whether im on 11.3 or 11.4, i can still get all the hacking benefits from it?
I heard that 9.2 had the best compatibility with all homebrew and the updates progressively patched certain things??... like playing back ups or ds games?

If you are on 11.3, then you actually have a kernel exploit that can used to install B9S. Now with NTRBoot, you can hack any OFW, as it's a bootrom exploit. It doesn't matter if the OFW is 1.0, 11.6, or any future update, NTRBoot can't be blocked out.
For DS games, there is TWLoader, but I still suggest using a flashcart if you want perfect compatibility. Homebrew isn't really effected by your OFW.
Like what has been suggested, read through The Guide and catch up with the current scene.

 

[SedRick_M89]

Ok my flashcart just arrived but nothing shows up when i boot ak2i ntrcarhax... any suggestions?

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There is no firmware that has the best compatibility now. All firmwares are hackable. I suggest try reading the guide again. You must have skimmed through the introduction, but pretty, much, everything is explained over there.

ak2i ntrcarhax boots to white screen then black... got the Gold cart and ive formatted to 32kb cluster size..

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Ok my flashcart just arrived but nothing shows up when i boot ak2i ntrcarhax... any suggestions?

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ak2i ntrcarhax boots to white screen then black... got the Gold cart and ive formatted to 32kb cluster size..

Never mind - looks like the Micro SD it came with may not be compatible -_-

 

[SedRick_M89]

Ok my flashcart just arrived but nothing shows up when i boot ak2i ntrcarhax... any suggestions?

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


ak2i ntrcarhax boots to white screen then black... got the Gold cart and ive formatted to 32kb cluster size..

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


Never mind - looks like the Micro SD it came with may not be compatible -_-

Nope still doesnt work

 

[HaouJohan]

Will this guide work for my New 3DS XL 11.6? I’d like to downgrade to 11.3 and install the CFWs from there because the 3DS guide for 11.6 requires me to have another 3DS and some games which I do not have.

 

[Akira]

Will this guide work for my New 3DS XL 11.6? I’d like to downgrade to 11.3 and install the CFWs from there because the 3DS guide for 11.6 requires me to have another 3DS and some games which I do not have.

No, 11.6 cannot be downgraded. Whatever is in the 3ds.guide is the only way to hack your 3ds