CN : Cubic Ninja
OOT : Zelda Ocarina of Time
HBL : Homebrew Launcher

Notice for gateway users : you can also use this tutorial to use your gateway on your N3DS without CN/OOT.

You need :
- A 9.0-9.2 n3ds obviously
- The latest gateway firmware if you're planning to use mset. (you can find it on their site)
- The HBL starter kit : https://smealum.github.io/ninjhax2/starter.zip
- The latest ninjhax version of FBI : https://gbatemp.net/threads/release-fbi-open-source-cia-installer.386433/
- A cia version of the cia manager you want to install (for example FBI or BigBlueMenu)
- Emunand9Tool : https://gbatemp.net/threads/release-emunand9tool-open-source-emunand-formatter-manager.405921/
- Encrypted 9.0-9.2 and 9.5 firmware.bin: can't link it here, but search "firmware9.2.bin" on google (with the quotes) and download the Cakes.zip folder. The md5 of the firmware9.2.bin should be 87aea2e8c30a533fd9f319683b3a0793 and b99adf0adb279712367c06eb83ba9ae6 for the 9.5 one.
- (only for cakes) The cetk file : http://nus.cdn.c.shop.nintendowifi.net/ccs/download/0004013820000002/cetk
- an Internet connexion (use the tubehax dns to prevent background update downloading)


I Installing a cia manager on your sysnand

Method 1 : with CakesFW

1. Extract the starter kit on your micro-sd card root.
2. Copy the "3ds" folder from the FBI one on your micro-sd card root.
3. Downlad the latest Cakes here : Copy the 3ds folder, the cakes folder and the Cakes.dat file on your micro-sd card.
4. Copy the cia you want to install on your micro-sd card.
5. Copy the cetk and the firmware9.2.bin in the cakes folder, rename firmware9.2.bin firmware.bin
6. Setup Browserhax : https://gbatemp.net/threads/yellows8s-browserhax-thread.398132/
7. Start the HBL with browserhax.
8. Select Cakes
9. select Patches, choose "Disable signature checks" only for now.
10. Boot the cfw.
11. Once you're back in the menu, immediatly start the HBL again
12. This time, choose FBI.
13. Use FBI to install the cia manager of your choice.


Method 2 : with Pasta CFW

1. Extract the starter kit on your micro-sd card root.
2. Copy the "3ds" folder from the FBI one on your micro-sd card root.
3. Dowload the PastaCFW files : http://jheberg.net/captcha/pastacfw-for-ninjhax2-90-92/ . Copy the PastaCFW folder in the 3ds folder.
4. Copy the cia you want to install on your micro-sd card.
5. Setup Browserhax : https://gbatemp.net/threads/yellows8s-browserhax-thread.398132/
6. Launch the HBL with browserhax.
7. Choose the PastaCFW
8. Once you're back in the menu, immediatly start the HBL again
9. This time, choose FBI.
10. Use FBI to install your prefered cia installer

Reminder :

Q: I'm getting a "DESCRIPTION_DATABASE_DOES_NOT_EXIST" / "DESCRIPTION_INVALID_DATABASE" error!
A: You likely haven't installed anything from eShop or other locations before. You will need to go to the "Nintendo 3DS/<id0>/<id1>/dbs/" directory on your SD card and create empty "title.db" and "import.db" files. Then, go to System Settings -> Data Management -> Nintendo 3DS -> Software on your 3DS and let it repair the database files.

II. Setting up the emunand.


Method 1 : with Emunand9Tool
1. Put the 3DS folder of Emunand9Tool on your sdcard root
2. Launch the HBL then select Emunand9Tool
3. Select EmuNAND Manager Options -> Dump SysNAND to NAND.bin
4. Once it's done, press B twice, then select to unmount the micro-sd card
5. Backup your micro-sd card content on your computer and put your nand backup somewhere safe.
6. Put back your micro-sd card in your console then press B
7. Select Complete EmuNAND Setup and confirm
8. Once it's done, press start to reboot and restore your micro-sd card content.

Method 2 : with the Gateway Launcher (use this if you have a gateway, it also work without it)
You need :
- The latest Gateway firmware available on their site
1. Copy the launcher.dat file on your micro-sd card root
2. Extract the GW_3dsx.zip archive on your micro-sd card root
3. Backup your micro-sd card content on your computer
4. Launch the HBL and select Gateway. (if you have the gateway inserted on your console, remove it first)
5. In the gateway menu, select "Format Emunand"
6. Then select "Backup System nand"
7. Finally, press down + B to shut down the console
8. Restore your micro-sd card content and put your nand backup somewhere safe.

III Booting into the emunand
To boot into your emunand :

Cakes
If you choosed the Cakes method in the first part you can just continue to use it :
- Download the latest fimware.bin here (first link, rename it firmware.bin)
- Dowload the slot0x11key96.bin on that iso site (Google "CakesFW - Open Source CFW with emunand support!") and put it on your micro-sd card root
- In the cakes menu check the emunand patch.

Reinand :
- Download this on extract it on your micro-sd card root : http://jheberg.net/captcha/reinand-n3ds-emunand-96/
- Download the latest fimware.bin (you can find the link in the reinand github), rename it firmware.bin and put it in the rei folder
- Select Reinand in the HBL


Gateway
If you have a gateway, just select Boot Gateway Mode in the Gateway menu. (if you have the gateway inserted when you choose Gateway in the HBL, it will skip the menu and directly boot into it)
Or you can use rxTools (some features still don't work on n3ds, refer to this : https://gbatemp.net/posts/5705403/).

rxTools
If you want to use rxTools, you need :
- rxTools nightly : http://jheberg.net/captcha/rxtools-2015-11-19-265d53e/
1. Create a firm folder inside the rxTools folder, copy the firmware9.5.bin in it
2. Rename the firmware 9.5.bin 0004013820000002.bin. Then copy the rxTools folder on your micro-sd card root
3. Copy the rxTools folder from the ninjhax folder in your "3ds" folder.
4. Then start rxTools from the HBL. Press a key at the end of the data installation to boot into your emunand.



Be aware that both Gateway and rxtools only support emunand up to 9.5 at the moment

IV Updating the emunand

With Cakes/Reinand :
1. Change your sysnand (and only your sysnand) language.
2. Boot into your emunand. If if it's not in your main language, that's mean you are not in your emunand (or you changed the language of the wrong nand), so don't continue or you will update your sysnand, or worse.
3. Go the system settings (it should still be on your main language), and don't exit it until the update is done. Disable the tubehax dns if you have it, then start the update.


With Reinand
1. Boot into Emunand, and go to the system settings.
2. Make sure it says Rei in front of the version number to be sure that you are in emuNAND. If it does don't exit the systems setings until the update is done. If it doesn't, don't continue or you will update your sysnand, or worse.
3. Disable the tubehax dns if you have it, then start the update.

With rxTools/Gateway :
Follow this : https://gbatemp.net/threads/tutorial-how-to-update-emunand-on-a-n3ds.393701/


V Start the CFW without internet.

1. With menuhax

This method only work if your emunand are unlinked (to unlink the nand, format your sysnand with the micro-sd card out)
Install menuhax using browserhax : https://github.com/yellows8/3ds_homemenuhax/releases
To uninstall menuhax just change your sysnand theme.
Notice : You can use this if you want to coldboot on the CFW (or Gateway) of your choice : http://gbatemp.net/threads/ctrbootmanager-3ds-boot-manager-loader-homemenuhax.398383/

2. With a downgraded mset

To downgrade your mset :
- Copy the mset_region.cia from the GATEWAY ULTRA 3.X\MSET4.5 installers for New 3DS REGION SPECIFIC !!!\your_region folder on your sd card. (and the bluecardfix if oyu have a gateway)
- Launch Pasta then FBI
- Switch the destination to nand.
- Install mset_region.cia. (If you have a gateway install the bluecardfix too)
- Go to the system settings. If the nnid settings are gone, that means the operation was successfull.
Then to setup the MSET rop :
- Start FBI then press select
- Choose "CakesFW N3DS 9.X" if you're using Cakes , "rxTools3.x N3DS 9.X" for rxTools, and "Encrypted Gateway N3DS 9.X" for Gateway.
- You can now start the cfw from System Settings -> Other Settings ->Profile -> DS Profile

 

[VerseHell]

Well, exactly like you did the first time.

 

[Drakas]

what should install between cakes or pasta+rxtools?

Is it a problem if i don't backup with solder my NAND before follow this guide? I'm not able to solder anything

The thing that I'd like to do are:
1) backup nand without soldering
2) play backup 3ds and 2d with flashcard
3) have the best experience with my n3ds and games (without crashes or side effects of mod if possible )

 

[VerseHell]

You can do all of that, just follow the tutorial.
And I personnally prefer pasta+rxtools over cakes. (Remember that the current version doesn't work on n3ds, you need to use the 10-02 one)

 

[Drakas]

You can do all of that, just follow the tutorial.
And I personnally prefer pasta+rxtools over cakes. (Remember that the current version doesn't work on nods, you need to use the 10-02 one)

Thanks ^^

And what should i do if i'll buy a microSD of 64 Gb as replace?
I think that the default microSD is too small if want put several 3DS games to play on it ^^

 

[VerseHell]

Yes you should, the emunand already takes 2gb so you will have only 2GB left with the card included. Don't forget to format it to fat32 first though, or the 3ds won't detect it.

 

[tivu100]

So at the second step it says boot into Pasta CFW. But how does one do that?

Launch Homebrew Launcher, you should see Pasta CFW if your file, folder placement is correct.

 

[Drakas]

Yes you should, the emunand already takes 2gb so you will have only 2GB left with the card included. Don't forget to format it to fat32 first though, or the 3ds won't detect it.

Yay, thanks ^^

So is it possibile to transfer all file (like emunand) on the new microSD without re-follow this tutorial?

 

[tivu100]

Yay, thanks ^^

So is it possibile to transfer all file (like emunand) on the new microSD without re-follow this tutorial?

https://gbatemp.net/threads/how-to-transfer-emunand-to-another-sd-card-working-on-new3ds.383684/

 

[Drakas]

https://gbatemp.net/threads/how-to-transfer-emunand-to-another-sd-card-working-on-new3ds.383684/

Sounds great thanks

But will be able to complete the mod of my N3DS with the default microSD? If i don't go wrong it has only 2Gb.
Is it sufficient to complete this guide and do also the backup of NAND? ^^

 

[tivu100]

Sounds great thanks

But will be able to complete the mod of my N3DS with the default microSD? If i don't go wrong it has only 2Gb.
Is it sufficient to complete this guide and do also the backup of NAND? ^^

Best you can do with 2GB is Pasta CFW with a game or 2 depended on game size. I am not sure if EMUNAND would be sufficient for 2GB. 2GB is just too small so I wouldn't recommend go past section 1 (Pasta CFW through BrowserHax) in this guide.

 

[noahhaon]

I get this error everytime i launch rxtools: failed to load NATIVE_FIRM: 4 Reboot rxtools and try again.

I am using a new 3ds on 9.0


EDIT: it first briefly shows the top screen of rxtools, so the logo and all, and now i just get a black screen, so no error message and nothing happens.

 

[VerseHell]

The latest rxtools version break the n3ds rxmode. Until it get fixed, just go to the Dropbox and use the 10-02 one. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/blmecish9rb1r87/AACOS5s8u0xucXy59vZk6i1pa?dl=0

 

[Tahaha]

I get this error everytime i launch rxtools: failed to load NATIVE_FIRM: 4 Reboot rxtools and try again.

I am using a new 3ds on 9.0


EDIT: it first briefly shows the top screen of rxtools, so the logo and all, and now i just get a black screen, so no error message and nothing happens.

Check out this thread: https://gbatemp.net/threads/beginners-guide-–-how-to-setup-your-3ds-for-gbatemp.399538/page-3
We had the same problem. Turns out we just had to hold L during all the loading stages. Though you might need to use a different button.

 

[Drakas]

Is it will be possible come back to a original N3DS after follow this tutorial? And without soldering?

 

[VerseHell]

Just restore your nand backup with the gateway menu and format your micro-sd card with sd formatter.

 

[Kim Que]

will this work on N3DS 8.1.0-0J mine has an internet browser

 

[tivu100]

will this work on N3DS 8.1.0-0J mine has an internet browser

No. The "-0J" part indicates your N3DS doesn't have browser. You need to wait for @Ronhero to release method to update N3DS 8.1.0-0J to 9.2. @Ronhero also needs beta testers, in case you have sufficient knowledge on 3DS. Sorry, but your post doesn't seem like you have, so I wouldn't recommend you to apply to be beta testers. Too risky.

 

[Ronhero]

No. The "-0J" part indicates your N3DS doesn't have browser. You need to wait for @Ronhero to release method to update N3DS 8.1.0-0J to 9.2. @Ronhero also needs beta testers, in case you have sufficient knowledge on 3DS. Sorry, but your post doesn't seem like you have, so I wouldn't recommend you to apply to be beta testers. Too risky.

I have a new idea but loaned out my sky3ds so development will be on hold for a week

 

[Drakas]

Hello guys,
few questions before try this tutorial (N3DS V9.0 YAY ):

1) I think that i'll buy a new microsd with 64Gb...is it a problem if is a microSDXC type? it seems very fast.. so i expect fast loading time but i'm not an expert
2) I think that i'll go with pasta+rxtool... but what are the differences of features with cake? it have less features maybe?

i read about:

Missing features on n3ds:
-DevMode
-AGB and TWL patches
-Initial configuration
-Regionfree patch

Thanks ^^

 

[Arseface_TM]

I can't get pastaCFW to load, it's just a black screen. I tried waiting in case it takes a while but it's been 10 mins.