*BRICK RISK*


DO A CFW BACKUP BEFORE CONTINUING, NOTHING SHOULD GO WRONG BUT IT IS BETTER TO BE SAFE RATHER THAN SORRY. (Nothing went wrong for me, but still)


ONLY UPDATE IN LUMA CFW MODE!!!!! UPDATING IN SAFE MODE COULD BRICK YOUR 3DS!!!!!!

Having Fastboot3DS is recommended but not required. Watch this video here to install it.

Note: use the 2 links linked here for Fastboot3ds and open firm installer, as his versions in his description are a bit outdated. Fastboot3DS: https://github.com/derrekr/fastboot3DS/releases
OpenFirmInstaller: https://github.com/d0k3/OpenFirmInstaller/releases

Read the readme file for use of these applications.

How to:

First go to the guide linked here to uninstall CFW, we will not be uninstalling CFW but we will be using some of the same steps as in that guide. Read through the guide until you get to the part where it tells you to boot the .firm file. Instead of booting it decrypt it to gm9/out. You no longer need to follow the linked guide.

Here is the guide: https://3ds.hacks.guide/uninstall-cfw

Then use gm9 to copy the file from the gm9/out folder to the Luma/payloads folder for simplicity sake, and in case you do not feel like using Fastboot3DS. As you can still boot this firm file without Fastboot3DS.

Then rename this file to something like "Safemode.firm" for organizational reasons.

If you are using Fastboot3DS then create a new boot profile from the "Boot setup" menu using the "Safemode.firm" file as the payload that will be booted with your chosen combo. Then hold the power button to shut down your 3DS after you have saved this profile.

Then when you reboot your 3DS with the set button combo (if you are using Fastboot3DS) or with the Luma Chainloader menu (via the start button), then when you are at the system menu you will be in safemode!

Limitations of "Safemode" :

Any ilegit CIAs will fail to run but legit CIAs should run just fine, the same goes for Homebrew (In the sense that none of it will run without CFW.). If you try to run any of these apps you will get an error message on your screen about redownloading the app from the eShop, and when you restart your 3DS back into safemode you will see that those apps icons have disappeared. This worried me for a minute because I thought the app had been deleted and my save data had been erased, but when I rebooted my 3DS normally the icons reappeared as new apps on my 3DS and all my save data was exactly how I left it. So do not worry too much if that happens to you. They will be resorted though.

CFW will be disabled meaning no Homebrew functionality, and any flashcards that were permanently blocked on the 3ds will be blocked again, due to CFW being the program that actually handled unblocking them. This is nothing to worry about, as when you reboot your 3DS into CFW instead of into safemode all this functionality will be restored.


Who needs this?:
This would be good for people who are worried about Nintendo banning them from online play therefore they do not use internet when using CFW. Through this method though, it should be safe to do online play. If you install an app from the eShop in this mode it will run just fine even when booting back into CFW.


I want Homebrew functionality in this mode:

Just follow the guide linked here. You do not need to brute force the moveable.sed file however, as you have access to Godmode9 so you can just make a backup of it from there. Once you have the Homebrew Launcher you can use any 3DS Homebrew, with of course some restrictions as you do not have CFW at the moment. But things like the limited version of CTGP7 should work fine.

Google how to use pichaxx on the 3ds.

How does this work?:
From what I understand, the .firm file that we are booting in this process is the stock firm file that ships with every 3DS. So when we boot it, we are basically booting back into stock firmware. This means that when Nintendo's anti-CFW checks scan your console they do not find any remnants of CFW at all on your console, as you are using the stock firm file created by them (Nintendo).

Credits:
sthetix for the Fastboot3DS tutorial

Jack Sorrell for the Homebrew video

Plailect for the chunck of his guide I used.

Fastboot is made by profi200

OpenFirmInstaller is made by d0k3


If you have any questions please ask them in the comments.

 

[Kwyjor]

I know it was a ban. I tried running MK7 online without CTGP7 and it would not allow me into the course. After replacing my local friend code file though,

Do you remember the error code you were getting? It could have been a coincidence.

Have you heard of other people getting banned for using CTGP7?

why not make NAND backup and then reflash the stock Japanese CTRNAND? From there rip a copy of the Japanese eshop and use that on your 3ds?

If there was an easy way of accessing foreign eShops, everyone would know about it by now. This is much demand for this feature.

If I'm not mistaken, there's some kind of check for an identification code that is unique to each console and that is not easily changed even with CFW. See for instance this guide (linked from https://3ds.hacks.guide/region-changing ).

 

[peteruk]

I know it was a ban. I tried running MK7 online without CTGP7 and it would not allow me into the course. After replacing my local friend code file though,

I bought a new 2ds when I was living in Sweden for half a year, tried region changing my hacked new U 3DS to try and hack the new E 2DS when Sudokuhax was still the main method being used, realized it would not work, and I ended up returning the new 2ds.

Just a theory, why not make NAND backup and then reflash the stock Japanese CTRNAND? From there rip a copy of the Japanese eshop and use that on your 3ds? After of course restoring your NAND backup. Or if that does not work, try the more convoluted method of using EMUNAND for eshop games and hope the ones you download have an English version.

I have 4 systems, so I'm just gonna use my region changed one in an offline state. In the event I need a game update I can download in on my european one, dump it and install

It's kind of like a self imposed ban, bu I love the look of my Smash Bros N3ds LL

 

[LinusRG]

Do you remember the error code you were getting? It could have been a coincidence.

Have you heard of other people getting banned for using CTGP7?

If there was an easy way of accessing foreign eShops, everyone would know about it by now. This is much demand for this feature.

If I'm not mistaken, there's some kind of check for an identification code that is unique to each console and that is not easily changed even with CFW. See for instance this guide (linked from https://3ds.hacks.guide/region-changing ).

Does it crash the kernel or something if changed?

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I have 4 systems, so I'm just gonna use my region changed one in an offline state. In the event I need a game update I can download in on my european one, dump it and install

It's kind of like a self imposed ban, bu I love the look of my Smash Bros N3ds LL

Als whis it called the 3ds LL is some countries instead of XL?

 

[peteruk]

Does it crash the kernel or something if changed?

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


Als whis it called the 3ds LL is some countries instead of XL?

Yes in Japan the New 3DS XL is the New 3DS LL

 

[LinusRG]

Yes in Japan the New 3DS XL is the New 3DS LL

What does the LL mean?

 

[Kwyjor]

Does it crash the kernel or something if changed?

You can definitely brick a console if you try to overwrite its NAND with a complete NAND backup (i.e. not just the ctrnand) from a different console.

 

[peteruk]

What does the LL mean?

I googled and found that answer, unsure tbh

 

[LinusRG]

You can definitely brick a console if you try to overwrite its NAND with a complete NAND backup (i.e. not just the ctrnand) from a different console.

I googled and found that answer, unsure tbh

I believe you but that is a really weird reason Nintendo chose to make it that. It could have been a callback to the DSi XL as that came with a full size pen in the box.

 

[AmandaRose]

I believe you but that is a really weird reason Nintendo chose to make it that. It could have been a callback to the DSi XL as that came with a full size pen in the box.

In Japan they use LL most of the time instead of XL. Usually in clothing but also for other products so its really not unusual that the 3ds was LL it was pretty weird they used XL for the DSI in Japan though lol.

 

[E1ite007]

Just an observation...
Why do you suggest to use a videotutorial for installing CFW and the guide to uninstall it?
Just suggest the guide man.

 

[LinusRG]

Just an observation...
Why do you suggest to use a videotutorial for installing CFW and the guide to uninstall it?
Just suggest the guide man.

The video guide was for fastboot installation if you wanted fastboot instead of b9s. There is no written guide really on this. Then the written guide is not for uninstalling the CFW it is for grabbing that .firm file that will be used as the safemode. firm. We are not uninstalling CFW.

 

[E1ite007]

The video guide was for fastboot installation if you wanted fastboot instead of b9s. There is no written guide really on this. Then the written guide is not for uninstalling the CFW it is for grabbing that .firm file that will be used as the safemode. firm. We are not uninstalling CFW.

Yeah... I've read this. If you're using that .firm, then link directly to the file.
The instructions to install fastboot3ds are in the README.md file on Github:

These short instructions require you to have a way of booting OpenFirmInstaller. If you already have boot9strap installed, this is as simple as chainloading the OpenFirmInstaller.firm (either via some chainloader of your choosing, or put it on your SD card as sdmc:/boot.firm).

• Have fastboot3DS.firm inside the sdmc:/ofifolder on your SD card. When installing from A9LH, secret_sector.bin is also required.
• Boot OpenFirmInstaller and follow the on screen instructions. You will reboot to the fastboot3DS menu.
• [optional] Enter Boot setup... -> Setup [slot 1]... -> Select [slot 1] firm and select the FIRM file of your main CFW. On typical systems that is smdc:/boot.firm, but anything goes.
• [optional] Enter Boot setup... -> Change boot mode... -> Set quiet boot. Your system is now set to autoboot and will silently boot the CFW you selected above.

You may also want to set up the other boot slots and assign key combos to them. Keep in mind you need one autoboot slot (= a slot with no key combo assigned). If you want to access the fastboot3DS menu at a later point in time, hold the HOME button when powering on the console. From the fastboot3DS menu, you may continue the boot process via Continue boot, chainload a .firm file via Boot from file..., access the boot menu via Boot menu... or power off the console via the POWER button.

Don't recommend videotutorials here, some of them 'cause more trouble instead of solving problems.

 

[PrincessLillie]

1. Please, NEVER recommend video guides. They become outdated quickly. There are better guides online, just do a simple Google search. Meaning: This guide recommends unsafe and outdated methods of installing Homebrew and should not be used.
2. For years now, going online with a CFW 3DS has been safe. The only thing that really gets you banned anymore is playing leaked games online (the SuMo bans) and going online with cheats. TL;DR: CFW online is safe as-is unless you're an idiot. Meaning: This guide is redundant and has no purpose.

 

[LinusRG]

I post things like this because I enjoy writing them when I figure out something that I do not think anyone else has written about Maybe they are very useful or maybe they are not that useful at all. Just post them for fun. It is also my way of getting a better understang of how the 3ds backend works.

 

[Kwyjor]

I post things like this because I enjoy writing them when I figure out something that I do not think anyone else has written about

If no one else has written about something, then do you think you somehow stumbled across something that none of the hundreds (or thousands?) of people involved in 3DS hacking have done before? Or do you think that maybe there's a good reason people don't do things that way?

Maybe they are very useful or maybe they are not that useful at all. Just post them for fun.

Isn't it dangerous if you write something wrong and someone else doesn't realize that and spreads it along? Just sayin'.

It is also my way of getting a better understang of how the 3ds backend works.

Yes, hopefully this thread is educational.

 

[lordcrew27]

Wait so getting banned is still a thing? I play a lot of games online and I haven't been banned

 

[PrincessLillie]

Wait so getting banned is still a thing? I play a lot of games online and I haven't been banned

Yes and no. If you do stupid things, like playing leaked games online (the SuMo bans) or using cheats online (e.g. speed modifier in Mario Kart 7), you're basically asking for it. (Doing these offline is perfectly fine, however.) But if you actually have a brain cell and don't do stupid things, the chance of getting banned is minuscule.

 

[LinusRG]

If no one else has written about something, then do you think you somehow stumbled across something that none of the hundreds (or thousands?) of people involved in 3DS hacking have done before? Or do you think that maybe there's a good reason people don't do things that way?

Isn't it dangerous if you write something wrong and someone else doesn't realize that and spreads it along? Just sayin'.

Yes, hopefully this thread is educational.

Yah that's why I would not post anything dangerous. I even told them to make a NAND backup. As long as you don't flash random files to the firm directory and as long as you still have cfw and no blue bootrom screen you should be just fine.
Also what would be the reason for not doing this? It is not like it can ruin your console or anything.

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

Yes and no. If you do stupid things, like playing leaked games online (the SuMo bans) or using cheats online (e.g. speed modifier in Mario Kart 7), you're basically asking for it. (Doing these offline is perfectly fine, however.) But if you actually have a brain cell and don't do stupid things, the chance of getting banned is minuscule.

I never use cheats. Only if I want to mess around with a game to see how much I can break it.

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

Wait so getting banned is still a thing? I play a lot of games online and I haven't been banned

I wrote this guide with early 2019 knowledge, apparently it is not too big a deal now. I guess Nintendo does not really care anymore. As long as you play fair online.

 

[PrincessLillie]

I wrote this guide with early 2019 knowledge, apparently it is not too big a deal now. I guess Nintendo does not really care anymore. As long as you play fair online.

It wasn't as big of a deal in early 2019 either.

 

[LinusRG]

It wasn't as big of a deal in early 2019 either.

Ok I'm sorry. I got banned and I found out about a possible solution OK? so I wrote about it OK?