Hacking [GUIDE] Where do I start?

[Nyap]

I want to pirate games on my 3DS - Where Do I start?
There are 3 different common methods of running backups of 3DS games - this thread aims to introduce you to them, so that you can then decide which one you want/is more suitable for you.
Keywords will be in italics

- CFW -
(Only Works On Versions 4.5-9.2) [Free] [Medium-Hard]
CFW is short for Custom Firmware, and it comes in two forms ~ emunand and rednand/emunand. Sysnand is just a fancy name for the OS installed directly on your 3DS, and rednand/emunand is a backup of your sysnand. Sysnand CFW requires use of something called Arm9loaderHax, which takes quite a bit of time to install and has a risk of bricking (breaking) your 3DS if you don't follow the tutorial correctly. Rednand CFW has a much lower chance of bricking, because if rednand breaks then your sysnand will still be fine. In order to install games on CFW, you need to use .cia files alongside an installer like FBI or BigBlueMenu

You can find tutorials on how to install both sysnand and emunand cfw below. Note that installation of sysnand cfw will require temporary installation of rednand cfw, which the sysnand cfw tutorial will cover.
Sysnand: https://github.com/Plailect/Guide/wiki
Rednand: https://gbatemp.net/threads/rxtools...rom-browserhax-homemenuhax-to-rxtools.398420/

- Gateway & Similar Clones -
(Only Works On Versions 4.5-9.2) [Paid] [Medium]
These cards are considered obselete by many people, as they rely on CFW (see above), do basically the same thing and cost money. The team behind the gateway CFW also like to implement brick code, which renders your 3DS useless if you use a clone. They do however have a few advantages:
- They use .3ds files instead of .cia, which don't require installation. So you can just put games on the SD Card, and play!
- They have more user-friendly and easy to use cheats
- That's it really!

You can find more information here:
http://www.gateway-3ds.com/

- Sky3DS+ -
(Works on all versions) [Paid] [Easy]
Sky3DS+ is a backup-running solution that works by imitating a real game cart. Since this doesn't require any hacking, it works on all firmwares/versions. It's also the easiest way to run backups; just put some .3ds games on a micro sd, put the Sky3DS+ in your 3DS, and play! One negative of the Sky3DS+ is that you have to use physical buttons to choose the games, and there's a delay when switching.

You can find more information here:
http://sky3ds.com/sky+.html
​

I want to use CFW/Gateway but I have a newer version
If you have too new of a version to use CFW/Gateway, then you can perform a downgrade using homebrew. A downgrade is essentially the opposite of an update ~ it installs an older version onto your device. Accessing homebrew is pretty easy and completely free up until 10.6 and over.

1
First, create a folder called "3ds" on your sd card. Then download this:
https://smealum.github.io/ninjhax2/boot.3dsx
and place it onto your sd card. Once you've done that, you have to install a homebrew called "sysUpdater". To do that, download this:
https://github.com/Plailect/PlaiSysUpdater/releases/download/v04/PlaiSysUpdater_v04.zip
and then extract it into the folder called 3ds that you made earlier.

2
Now we need to download the older firmware that sysUpdater will use to downgrade your 3DS. The newest version that supports CFW is 9.2. You need to make sure that the update files that you downloaded are the same region as your 3DS. So for example, you can't just use japanese update files on a US 3ds. European ones won't work either. You can find the update files at "that iso site that we're not allowed to say the name of." If you don't know what that is, then you're going to have to just look around. Do not ask on this website; supervisors and mods will just close your thread. Once you have the update files .zip, inside you should find a folder called "updates", and inside that folder there should be a bunch of .cias. Put the "updates" folder onto your SD Card and move onto the next step.

3
You need to find a way of running the homebrew. Here are the most commonly used ways of running homebrew:

If you're on 10.5 or lower:
Browserhax: https://gbatemp.net/threads/yellows8s-browserhax-thread.398132/

If you're on 10.6 or newer (there's no free way on these versions):
oot3dhax: https://gbatemp.net/threads/tutorial-how-to-install-oot3dhax.396339/
Cubic Ninja: http://smealum.net/ninjhax/

4
Run the homebrew

5
Profit!​

 

[proflayton123]

Nice thread for noobs ^^

 

[Nyap]

Nice thread for noobs ^^

thanks

 

[dubbz82]

Might I suggest a slight change in the text here: (Only Works On Versions 4.5-9.2) [Free] [Medium-Hard] Change it to something like (Only Works On Versions 4.5-9.2) [Free] [Medium-Hard] - Other system versions possible via downgrading (additional work) or something of that nature...as is worded right now, it sorta implies that you're basically screwed if you're >9.2, which isn't really the case.

 

[AmandaRose]

Might I suggest a slight change in the text here: (Only Works On Versions 4.5-9.2) [Free] [Medium-Hard] Change it to something like (Only Works On Versions 4.5-9.2) [Free] [Medium-Hard] - Other system versions possible via downgrading (additional work) or something of that nature...as is worded right now, it sorta implies that you're basically screwed if you're >9.2, which isn't really the case.

Exactly what I was just about to say but you got in before me lol

 

[Swiftloke]

I wouldn't put down a9lh so much. It's got about as much chance to brick your 3ds as using cfw. And the benefits far outweigh the dangers.

 

[AmandaRose]

Nyap you also need to fix the guide where you say A9LH is hard to set up and has a high brick risk this is now very much incorrect as A9lh is actually now very easy to install and as Swiftloke said the risk of a brick is pretty much none existent if you follow Plailect's guide 100%

 

[koffieleut]

Great guide, to bad tomorrow there will be questions about the differnces. The same reason I'm to lazy to update my cfw guide

 

[dubbz82]

Nyap you also need to fix the guide where you say A9LH is hard to set up and has a high brick risk this is now very much incorrect as A9lh is actually now very easy to install and as Swiftloke said the risk of a brick is pretty much none existent if you follow Plailect's guide 100%

High brick rate is indeed incorrect, provided the guide is followed exactly (although it does still happen, it's a heck of a lot more rare with the tools that currently exist)...hard to set up is very dependent on the person, and if they're good at following directions or not. I wouldn't personally consider it hard, but it is significantly more time consuming and does have several more steps than running with a menuhax setup or so.

 

[Nyap]

Might I suggest a slight change in the text here: (Only Works On Versions 4.5-9.2) [Free] [Medium-Hard] Change it to something like (Only Works On Versions 4.5-9.2) [Free] [Medium-Hard] - Other system versions possible via downgrading (additional work) or something of that nature...as is worded right now, it sorta implies that you're basically screwed if you're >9.2, which isn't really the case.

I'll update the guide to include a section on downgrading after school

 

[Nyap]

done

 

[Nyap]

can a mod move this to https://gbatemp.net/forums/3ds-tutorials-faqs.234/

 

[yardie]

nice thread for the noobs