The Nintendo DSi has somehow returned to the hacking scene, and as of now, no proper tools exist that can install DSiWare.
This short tutorial will show you how to play DSiWare without TWiLightMenu++, by installing the DSiWare onto your main menu.​

I understand that for beginners, they might have a few questions in their mind right now.​

[Q] Can this brick my system?
[A] No, unless you do some really fishy things with your DSi. Even if it bricks, you can always boot from NAND by holding (A) and restore the SDNAND very easily.

[Q] Is there a region-lock?
[A] No. Only iQue DSi (the Chinese DSi) games have a region lock. Not that you want to play the iQue versions, since all the iQue games are in other regions as well.

[Q] Can I install games on my NAND?
[A] No, only on your SDNAND. If you haven't made one yet, check out this guide on how to softmod your DSi.

[Q] Can I also play these games without a SDNAND?
[A] Yes, you can! You can install Unlaunch and end the story there. However, you then have to follow Trash_Bandatcoot's old guide, since the other 2 tools detect if a SDNAND is installed. You can't just copy-and-paste the DSiWare NDS files and then open them with Unlaunch, that will corrupt the NDS files.

[Q] Where can I find DSiWare roms?
[A] You can find them on that ISO site. No further hints or links. A Google search will do the trick.

Spoiler: Installing DSiWare (JeffRuLz's method)

This method can also install homebrew applications! Just make sure you have enough blocks and the DSi application has DSi-headers.

[1] Find a DSiWare game that is in a *.nds, *.app or *.dsi file format. All the listed files share the same headers, so renaming them wouldn't be a problem.
[2] Download JeffRuLz DSi Title Manager. Extract the *.zip file and put tmfh.nds on the root of your SDNAND.
[3] Make a new folder on the SDNAND titled dsi.
[4] Copy the DSiWare to the dsi folder. If you want to have Title Manager on your main menu, copy tmfh.nds to the dsi folder.
[5] Put the SD Card containing the SDNAND back into the DSi. Power on the DSi and find a way to launch the Title Manager. You can launch it via TWiLightMenu++, Unlaunch or an exploit like Flipnote Lennyface.
[6] When the tool is loaded, you will be proceeded with a screen that looks like this.

After that, everything should be straight forward. Press Install, select the Homebrew title or DSiWare you want to install, wait a few seconds for the installation process and press Exit.

The end result should be a present on your main menu.​

Spoiler: Connect to Wiimmfi on WFC-enabled games

This extra method will let you connect to Wiimmfi so you can play WFC-enabled games again. This method also works on unmodified DSi's, and even the Nintendo 3DS if the game is supported and has WFC features.

[1] Go to the System Settings on the Nintendo DSi.
[2] Go to the tab Internet, and find the connection you're currently connected to. If you aren't connected to the internet yet, be sure to do that.
[3] Press Change Settings and press No when Auto-Obtain DNS is highlighted.
[4] Set this as your Primary DNS: 164.132.44.106
Set this as your Secondary DNS: 8.8.8.8
(If you haven't noticed it yet, this is the same DNS used for RiiConnect24. They've added the nds-constraint as well.)
[5] Press OK and then press Save. Run a connection test and quit the System Settings when the test is completed.

Here is a list of games that are currently listed on Wiimmfi.
Bomberman Blitz - Full Support
Dragon Quest Wars - Full Support
Sujin Taisen: Number Battles - Full Support
Tetris Party Deluxe - Full Support
UNO - Full Support
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! - Testing
Metal Torrent - Testing

Spoiler: Older tutorials

These tools and tutorials are outdated. You could still use these methods, but only if you either prefer these methods or if you have issues with Title Manager. (And please note that these older tutorials aren't up to the regular quality of my regular tutorials.)

Spoiler: Installing DSiWare (MrJPGames' method)

The tool can be buggy in some ways, but it works!

1. Find a DSiWare game that is in a *.nds file format.

2. Download MrJPGames' NDS2Hiya.

3. Unzip the program with 7-Zip or WinRAR and open it (ignore any message saying the program may not be safe, it's a false report).

4. When the program is opened, plug in your SDNAND, press Refresh and select your SDNAND. All your DSiWare in folder 00030004 will show up from here.

5. Press Select .NDS to install, select it and wait a few seconds. The program may freeze.

6. If done correctly, your DSiWare should now be on the side of your SDNAND.

Take out your SDNAND, put it into your DSi, power it on and your DSiWare is installed!

Spoiler: Installing DSiWare (Trash_Bandatcoot's method)

Keep in mind that this is the old tutorial. Much better method's exist now.

1. Find a DSiWare game that is in a *.nds file format.

2. Download Tuxality's TMDMaker & Trash_Bandatcoot's Automatic DSiWare-Generator.

3. Unzip the contents. Simply drag your *.nds file to the *.bat file.

4. When it closes, you should have a folder titled content with the files 00000000.app and title.tmd in it. You also get an empty folder titled data, that's where the public.SAV file goes.

5. Create a new folder. Here's where it can get confusing. Go to this link and find the name of the application by pressing Crtl and F. Type in the name (sometimes, the name is Spanish or German, make sure to find the game with other keywords, you will find it).

6. When you found it with the correct region, take a look at TWL TitleID. Together, it's called as example 000300044B574656.
00030004 is the name of the folder that's stored in title.

4B574656 is the name of the folder that contains the DSiWare and save file (not every game uses a save file).

If you split them up, then your Title ID is 4B574656. Make a new folder with that Title ID.

7. Copy the folders content and data to the folder with the Title ID.

8. Go to this link. This is where you get your public.SAV file for a game.

9. Download the file and copy the public.SAV file to the data folder. You successfully created a DSiWare package for HiyaCFW!

9. Plug in your SDNAND and copy your DSiWare folder to title/00030004.

10. Take out your SDNAND and save your DSiWare folder for future use.

Plug your SDNAND into your DSi, turn it on, and if done correctly, a blue present should be there, waiting to be opened!​

Spoiler: Bonus: Connect to Wiimmfi on DSiWare

Yes, this works, and my Tetris Party Live friend code is in my signature.
Your game must be in *.nds format before you continue!

1. Find the *.nds file you want to patch and download AdmiralCurtiss' WFCPatcher.

2. Unzip the WFCPatcher, drag and drop your DSiWare title into WfcPatcher.exe and follow one of the three steps to install DSiWare.

3. When the DSiWare is installed, go to your System Settings, select Internet, choose a connection (Advanced Setup's also work this time) and select Change Settings.

4. Change the Auto-Obtain DNS setting to No, select Detailed Setup and type in the Wiimmfi DNS as your Primary DNS:
Wiimmfi: 46.4.79.141

5. Save the settings, go back to the menu, select the DSiWare game you installed and check if you can go online.

If so, then you're done!​

-Trash_Bandatcoot

 

[Deleted User]

Whenever I press install it says it installed but it doesn't show on the menu. When I select titles it says that a slot has been taken on the menu but nothing appears. :\ Any help would be nice.

 

[tokenslol]

Excuse me, but what is an "SDNAND" exactly?

I've downloaded the Homebrew Menu and made a Nand Backup,
but do I need to download Unlaunch or Hiya CFW? (i'm really sorry I don't know much about modding and stuff)

 

[Pk11]

Excuse me, but what is an "SDNAND" exactly?

I've downloaded the Homebrew Menu and made a Nand Backup,
but do I need to download Unlaunch or Hiya CFW? (i'm really sorry I don't know much about modding and stuff)

SDNAND is what hiyaCFW calls the copy of your NAND redirected to your SD, its also called EmuNAND on some other systems. Basically just all the files normally on NAND, but being read from SD so you can easily install DSiWare and homebrew without worrying about bricking from the DSi's low quality NAND.

You'll need both Unlaunch and hiyaCFW if you want to have the DSi Menu running from SDNAND as SDNAND is a hiyaCFW thing and hiya requires Unlaunch for full hardware control.

 

[momomoomomomo]

I used the last version of tittle manager and did everything, but there is no icon

 

[Andrehws]

so, i got some dsiware roms but they came in a strange format, "00000001" file, without .nds or .app... Is it possible to use these files?

 

[Pk11]

so, i got some dsiware roms but they came in a strange format, "00000001" file, without .nds or .app... Is it possible to use these files?

Try just adding ".app" to the end, chances are it's actually normal just missing the extension for whatever reason. ".app" and ".nds" are both the exact same thing with different extensions.

 

[Andrehws]

Try just adding ".app" to the end, chances are it's actually normal just missing the extension for whatever reason. ".app" and ".nds" are both the exact same thing with different extensions.

Works!! thanks!!

after installing, can i delete the roms from the sd?

 

[WGAgaming]

i'm trying this but it says the following:

Install Size: 1.64MB
Enough room on SD card?...Yes
Open DSi menu slot?...Yes
System Title Patch...Done
Creating 00000000.app...Failed
Not a directory

Installation failed.

Okay - [A]

 

[WGAgaming]

When the program is opened, plug in your SDNAND

i'm kinda confused, by sdnand do you just mean the sd card?

 

[packattack77]

done the install, but when I go to the menu it doesn't show the DSiware on my home menu

 

[godreborn]

done the install, but when I go to the menu it doesn't show the DSiware on my home menu

It's installed to the nand, so check DSiWare in data management just to see if it's there.

 

[Nikokaro]

Dsiware roms work fine if launched in .nds format from the roms/dsiware folder in TWLMenu++. What's the need to install them in the DSi home menu?

 

[Pk11]

done the install, but when I go to the menu it doesn't show the DSiware on my home menu

This method requires hiyaCFW, so you'll need to install that if you haven't already. If you're using hiya then not sure why it wouldn't work...

If you don't want to use hiya you can use NTM instead of TMFH, it's basically the same since it's a fork of TMFH you'll just need to switch to SysNAND mode instead of SDNAND mode before installing to not use hiya. (SDNAND mode is hiya, the same as TMFH)

 

[packattack77]

It's installed to the nand, so check DSiWare in data management just to see if it's there.

This method requires hiyaCFW, so you'll need to install that if you haven't already. If you're using hiya then not sure why it wouldn't work...

If you don't want to use hiya you can use NTM instead of TMFH, it's basically the same since it's a fork of TMFH you'll just need to switch to SysNAND mode instead of SDNAND mode before installing to not use hiya. (SDNAND mode is hiya, the same as TMFH)

For godreborn, I already checked data management.

for Pk11, I have hiyaCFW. I will try out the NTM though. thanks for reaching out to this message

 

[CatGamer615]

I can't get it to work on my system. I have the latest version of Unlaunch, latest Twilight, and latest Title Manager. All of my game files work on Twilight (excluding any wifi, a feature want), but I can't get the games to appear on my system menu for them to use wifi.

 

[Pk11]

I can't get it to work on my system. I have the latest version of Unlaunch, latest Twilight, and latest Title Manager. All of my game files work on Twilight (excluding any wifi, a feature want), but I can't get the games to appear on my system menu for them to use wifi.

Do you have hiyaCFW? (this is not installed by the main guide anymore)

For this method you'll need hiyaCFW installed, there's also NTM now which can install to SysNAND if you want.

Though, is the only reason you're doing this for Wi-Fi? Wi-Fi should work fine from TWiLight Menu++... Make sure that Wi-Fi is enabled in TWiLight Menu++ settings (on the Misc. Settings page) and maybe try switching the DSiWare Booter to Unlaunch (assuming you're on the default, nds-bootstrap) and see if that helps. Also make sure your TWiLight Menu++ is up to date.

 

[CatGamer615]

Do you have hiyaCFW? (this is not installed by the main guide anymore)

For this method you'll need hiyaCFW installed, there's also NTM now which can install to SysNAND if you want.

Though, is the only reason you're doing this for Wi-Fi? Wi-Fi should work fine from TWiLight Menu++... Make sure that Wi-Fi is enabled in TWiLight Menu++ settings (on the Misc. Settings page) and maybe try switching the DSiWare Booter to Unlaunch (assuming you're on the default, nds-bootstrap) and see if that helps. Also make sure your TWiLight Menu++ is up to date.

Thanks! I actually don't know what I have installed, I just used the lazydsi downloader and things started working. I'm gonna do some research on hiyaCFW and see if that helps.

 

[Pk11]

Thanks! I actually don't know what I have installed, I just used the lazydsi downloader and things started working. I'm gonna do some research on hiyaCFW and see if that helps.

You most likely don't have hiyaCFW then, it's no longer installed by dsi.cfw.guide (or the lazy downloader) as it's a good bit more complicated than everything else and not usually wanted. The wiki I linked for it has an installing page so just follow that.

 

[Cookie2247]

where can i get dsiware with *.nds format?

It tells me instalation failded not a rom ???

 

[CoolMe]

It says failed install not a rom???

What issue are you having, and what are you trying to do?
Were trying to install a dsi game to the sysnand or sdnand?