Hacking Quick guide/PSA it *is* possible to update to any firmware

[apoptygma]

With specific tools it's possible to update to any firmware. I've read on here numerous times you can't update to 9.2 (for example) because there is no cartridges with that update and the online updater will give you (at the time of writing) the 9.5 update. There is however one other method of updating to a desired firmware version.

Upon joining a local multiplayer / download play session you may be prompted to update your system. The host 3DS acts as a server and delivers the firmware it is running.

For example, I have an emunand 9.2 on system A. System A creates a local mario kart 7 lobby from launching the game via a mk7 .cia installed in emunand. System B joins the lobby and is prompted to update. System A will now send core files for the 9.2 update to system B without either requiring a valid internet access point.

Note this does not occur if loading a game from a .3ds rom or retail cartridge (unless that firmware version is required to play that particular game)

 

[thorasgar]

With specific tools it's possible to update to any firmware. I've read on here numerous times you can't update to 9.2 (for example) because there is no cartridges with that update and the online updater will give you (at the time of writing) the 9.5 update. There is however one other method of updating to a desired firmware version.

Upon joining a local multiplayer / download play session you may be prompted to update your system. The host 3DS acts as a server and delivers the firmware it is running.


For example, I have an emunand 9.2 on system A. System A creates a local mario kart 7 lobby from launching the game via a mk7 .cia installed in emunand. System B joins the lobby and is prompted to update. System A will now send core files for the 9.2 update to system B without either requiring a valid internet access point.

Note this does not occur if loading a game from a .3ds rom or retail cartridge (unless that firmware version is required to play that particular game)

You have performed this upgrade yourself?

 

[cearp]

sure, but is it a full update? or just the core?

 

[daxtsu]

Once the New 3DS (XL/LL) NAND pinouts are discovered, could someone with a NAND mod try this to see what exactly gets updated? It'd be interesting to know if this works in the following situation:

1. You have a New 3DS (LL) with 8.1.0-0 firmware (no browser basically..)
2. You have an old 3DS with an emunand on 9.2
3. You use Download Play to pass 9.2 to the New 3DS and then hopefully update it successfully.

This is just speculation on my part, but: this combined with a region changed emuNAND might let those of us with out of region New 3DSes that are trapped on 8.1.0 update to 9.2 with a browser, assuming that Download Play updates more than just the core files.

 

[Myria]

sure, but is it a full update? or just the core?

If it's just the core, that would create one hell of a Frankenfirmware in many cases... 9.2.0 with 4.5.0 of most of everything else?

 

[apoptygma]

There's some info about this process here http://3dbrew.org/wiki/Download_Play#Remote_Distribution_of_System-Updates I would be interested to know if it works cross-region (ie. To update a Japanese 8.1 nn3ds

 

[phanteon]

didnt know that could happen in local download matches.
Is it safe to update emunand that way or could it brick the updated system?

 

[apoptygma]

didnt know that could happen in local download matches.
Is it safe to update emunand that way or could it brick the updated system?

It would be interesting to know. Could be risky if the reboot occurs prior to the download/update

 

[Fishaman P]

Oh dang, this sounds interesting at the very least, if not promising.

 

[bache]

This is really interesting. Luckily, I sold my 9.2 3DS to a friend when I got my 9.0.0 N3DS, so next time I see him, I'll be sure to try it.

 

[cearp]

If it's just the core, that would create one hell of a Frankenfirmware in many cases... 9.2.0 with 4.5.0 of most of everything else?

yes, it's the same that happens if you only update by cart. updating by wifi gives you the full fw

 

[metaljay]

So is this true? I want to update my N3DS to 9.2.

 

[lamende]

Will it work with Jap and American update?

 

[Thomas12345]

With specific tools it's possible to update to any firmware. I've read on here numerous times you can't update to 9.2 (for example) because there is no cartridges with that update and the online updater will give you (at the time of writing) the 9.5 update. There is however one other method of updating to a desired firmware version.

Upon joining a local multiplayer / download play session you may be prompted to update your system. The host 3DS acts as a server and delivers the firmware it is running.

For example, I have an emunand 9.2 on system A. System A creates a local mario kart 7 lobby from launching the game via a mk7 .cia installed in emunand. System B joins the lobby and is prompted to update. System A will now send core files for the 9.2 update to system B without either requiring a valid internet access point.

Note this does not occur if loading a game from a .3ds rom or retail cartridge (unless that firmware version is required to play that particular game)

But how do you get 9.2 on system A in the first place? Would you need a friend who already has 9.2?

 

[osm70]

But how do you get 9.2 on system A in the first place? Would you need a friend who already has 9.2?

9.2 Emunand?

 

[Thomas12345]

9.2 Emunand?

to get 9.2 emunand you need either a emunand backup already at 9.2, or ur sysnand is at 9.2. In either case, you need something at 9.2

 

[metaljay]

But does it work haha!

 

[osm70]

to get 9.2 emunand you need either a emunand backup already at 9.2, or ur sysnand is at 9.2. In either case, you need something at 9.2

Or downgrade your emunand by installing firmware 9.2 cia file via devmenu.

 

[Myria]

What happens if an Old 3DS attempts to serve a game to a New 3DS of an older firmware version?

 

[Helper]

Once the New 3DS (XL/LL) NAND pinouts are discovered, could someone with a NAND mod try this to see what exactly gets updated? It'd be interesting to know if this works in the following situation:
a
1. You have a New 3DS (LL) with 8.1.0-0 firmware (no browser basically..)
2. You have an old 3DS with an emunand on 9.2
3. You use Download Play to pass 9.2 to the New 3DS and then hopefully update it successfully.

This is just speculation on my part, but: this combined with a region changed emuNAND might let those of us with out of region New 3DSes that are trapped on 8.1.0 update to 9.2 with a browser, assuming that Download Play updates more than just the core files.

Just the ability to dump NAND wouldn't be enough to examine the differences (or anything, really). NAND is encrypted with a console-unique key. The Old 3DS had code execution so you could generate a XORpad to decrypt the NAND image. But the New 3DS does not (yet) have (public) arbitrary code execution (apart from ninjhax which, as I understand it, doesn't provide access to the AES engine), so you can't decrypt a New 3DS NAND image.

EDIT: On a mostly unrelated note, I am so desperate for a N3DS LL NAND pinout. Soon...

EDIT2: Tangentially related to the topic: in my attempt, a JPN 9.1 N3DS could not download a DL Play game from a JPN-region copy of Tetris running on a USA 9.2 O3DS. On the JPN 3DS, the DL Play screen didn't even respond; nothing appeared in the menu. Just... nothing.