IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER:-
ALWAYS MAKE BACKUPS OF YOUR NAND BEFORE PROCEEDING!

If you are using SysNAND, do not boot into Gateway mode on firmware 11.3+ (onwards); you will lose B9S and be reverted back to stock firmware. If this ever happens, recover by re-installing B9S using the ntrboot method. I strongly discourage the use of Gateway on SysNAND setups, this can increase the risks of bricks.

Never use old Gateway launcher files. Not only they don't support the latest firmware, but it could potentially brick your console if something goes wrong. Always use the latest version of the Gateway firmware, as of writing, the latest version is v4.2 private beta.

DO NOT do this guide if you have a region changed system.

​

I am not held responsible for any damages to your console. You are responsible for whatever you do to your console. If you screw up your 3DS, don't come complaining about not backing up your NAND or missing one or more steps in the guide.

Prerequisites
- Any modded new/old 3DS/2DS with the latest CFW. (follow this guide if you haven't).
- SD card (8GB or above, formatted to FAT32 32kb cluster).
- Method of reading SD cards on a PC (e.g., an external SD card reader).

Spoiler: Video of GW running on 11.17.0-50E

(1) Downgrade Guide (11.17 -> 4.5/9.2)

Spoiler: Downgrading from 11.17 (optional)

This step is totally optional, but is used to sanitize the NAND so to speak if you have any issues with installing the patches.

Getting the firmware
I will not be providing links to download the system firmware since that breaks the GBAtemp TOS.

If you are using an Old 3DS (3DS, 3DS XL/LL, 2DS), you will need to download "4.5.0-10x(Full).zip" for the downgrade.
If you are using a New 3DS (N3DS, N3DS XL/LL, N2DS XL/LL), you will need to download "9.2.0-20x(Full).zip" for the downgrade.

Alternatively, use 3DNUS to download the firmware for your corresponding console.

('X' corresponds to your system's region.)

Preparing the SD card

- Make a new folder on the root of your SD card called "updates".
- Extract the downgrade (.CIA) files from the ZIP archive into the "updates" folder. It should look something like this:

Spoiler: Reference image/s

Downgrading the 3DS
You will need to download "sysUpdater" in order to downgrade your 3DS. Either boot the application from HBL or install the CIA file using FBI or GodMode9.

Softmod Method
- Boot into your SysNAND through Luma3DS. Your system will need to be updated through the "System Settings" if your console is not on firmware 11.17.0-50.
- Launch "sysUpdater". Once the application has started, press (Y) to downgrade your system.
- Once it has finished, within your luck, it should reboot you into the downgraded firmware.

Note for O2DS users: If you are using a 2DS, you will notice that the top screen is stretched. This is not a console fault; rather, the older firmware is forced to render the top-screen in 3D mode instead of 2D; later system versions starting from 6.2 support the 2DS in 2D mode.

(2) Creating a GW EmuNAND

Spoiler: Making a GW EmuNAND (GM9 method)

Preparing the SD card

- Download the latest release of GodMode9: https://github.com/d0k3/GodMode9/releases/latest
- Copy the "GodMode9.firm" file from the ZIP archive to the "luma/payloads" folder on the root of your SD card.
- Copy the "gm9" folder from the ZIP archive to the root of your SD card.
- Download the "gw_b9s_package.zip" archive below this post.
- Extract the contents of the ZIP archive to the root of your console's SD card.
- Download the latest Gateway "Launcher.dat", you can find this in "the usual places".
- Copy the latest "Launcher.dat" file onto the root of your SD card.
- Make a new folder on your computer and call it "3DS backup" or something else. Then, copy all of the files and folders from the root of your SD card to the folder that you have just created.
- Insert the SD card back into your 3DS.

Formatting the EmuNAND

- Hold down (Start) whilst powering on the console. From the chainloader menu, select "GodMode9" and press (A).
- When GodMode9 has loaded, press the (HOME) button to bring up the action context menu.
- Select "More..." > "SD format menu" > "GW EmuNAND size (full)".
- Select the cluster size as "Auto".
- Using the touch-screen, enter the name of your EmuNAND (i.e., "GATEWAYNAND"). This, however, is totally optional.
- Press (A), and enter the button prompt you see on-screen to proceed.
- When the format has finished, hold down (R) and (B) at the same time, then safely eject the SD card from your console.
- Insert the SD card back into your computer.
- Copy all of your backup files back onto your SD card, re-insert it back into your 3DS and press (A) to re-mount the card.

Spoiler: Making a GW EmuNAND (GW+BootCTR9 method)

Preparing the SD card

- Download the "gw_b9s_package.zip" archive below this post.
- Extract the contents of the ZIP archive to the root of your console's SD card.
- Download the latest Gateway "Launcher.dat", you can find this in "the usual places".
- Copy the latest "Launcher.dat" file onto the root of your SD card.
- Make a new folder on your computer and call it "3DS backup" or something else. Then, copy all of the files and folders from the root of your SD card to the folder that you have just created.
- Insert the SD card back into your 3DS.
- Re-insert your SD card back into your 3DS.

Formatting the EmuNAND

Spoiler: Reference images

- Hold down the (Down) button whilst powering on the console.
- When you see a grey screen, release both buttons and quickly hold down (L) and (Select).
- In the Gateway menu, navigate to "Format EmuNAND" and press (A).
- When asked if you want to format the card, press (Start) to proceed.

• If the progress bar is not idle after 5 or 10 minutes, power off the console and try again.

- Press (A) to return to the menu, then hold (Down) and (B) to power off.

• If the format was successful, but you cannot press (A) to return to the menu, hold down the (Power) button until the console turns off.

- Safely remove your SD card and insert it back into your computer.
- Copy all of your backup files onto your SD card, and re-insert the card back into your 3DS.

(3) Updating your GW EmuNAND

Spoiler: Updating EmuNAND (SysUpdater method)

Getting the Firmware
I will not be providing links to download the system firmware since that breaks the GBAtemp TOS.
Alternatively, use 3DNUS to download the 11.17 firmware for your corresponding console.

Preparing the SD card
- Download the correct "11.17.0-50x(Full).zip" firmware package for the correct model that you have ('X' corresponds to your console region).

• If you install a firmware for the wrong model (i.e., O3DS firmware on a N3DS), it can brick your console.

- Download 123ab's GW patch files for your corresponding region and model. They can be found with a quick Google search.
- Copy only the "updates" folder from the GW patch ZIP archive to the root of your SD card, rename the folder to "patches".

• If the "updates" folder already exists on your SD card, remove it before transferring the folder containing the patches.

- Make a new folder on the root of your SD card called "updates".
- Extract the update (.cia) files into the "updates" folder. The end result should look something like this:

Spoiler: Reference image/s

Updating your EmuNAND
You will need to download "sysUpdater" in order to downgrade your 3DS. Either boot the application from HBL or install the CIA file using FBI or GodMode9.

- Boot into your EmuNAND through Luma3DS. Your EmuNAND should be on a downgraded firmware, this can be checked via the "System Settings" or noticing differences on the "HOME Menu".
- Launch "sysUpdater". Once the application has started, press (A) to update your system to 11.17.
- Once it has finished, you will boot into your updated 11.17 EmuNAND. This can be confirmed by opening the "System Settings".

Patching your EmuNAND

- Power off your 3DS and insert the SD card into your computer.
- Delete the "updates" folder from the root of your SD card.
- Rename the "patches" folder to "updates".
- Re-insert your SD card back into your 3DS, and boot into your EmuNAND through Luma3DS.
- Launch "sysUpdater". Once the application has started, press (Y) to apply the GW patches.
- Once the patches have successfully installed, hold down the (Power) button until the system turns off.

Spoiler: Updating EmuNAND (GM9 method)

Getting the Firmware
I will not be providing links to download the system firmware since that breaks the GBAtemp TOS.
Alternatively, use 3DNUS to download the 11.17 firmware for your corresponding console.

Preparing the SD card
- Download the latest release of GodMode9: https://github.com/d0k3/GodMode9/releases/latest
- Copy the "GodMode9.firm" file from the ZIP archive to the "luma/payloads" folder on the root of your SD card.
- Copy the "gm9" folder from the ZIP archive to the root of your SD card.
- Download the correct "11.17.0-50x(Full).zip" firmware package for the correct model that you have ('X' corresponds to your console region).

• If you install a firmware for the wrong model (i.e., O3DS firmware on a N3DS), it can brick your console.

- Download 123ab's GW patch files for your corresponding region and model. They can be found with a quick Google search.
- Copy only the "updates" folder from the GW patch ZIP archive to the root of your SD card, rename the folder to "patches".

• If the "updates" folder already exists on your SD card, remove it before transferring the folder containing the patches.

- Make a new folder on the root of your SD card called "updates".
- Extract the update (.cia) files into the "updates" folder. The end result should look something like this:

Spoiler: Reference image/s

Updating your EmuNAND

- Hold down (Start) whilst powering on the console. From the chainloader menu, select "GodMode9" and press (A).
- Navigate to "[0:] SDCARD" > "updates".
- Highlight the first file then hold (L) and (Right) to select all of the (.cia) files.
- Press (A) to select the first file.
- In the context menu, select "CIA image options" > "Install game image" > "Install to EmuNAND".
- Enter the button combination provided to proceed with the update.
- When asked to relock the write permissions, press (B).
- Press (B) to go back.
- Navigate to the "patches" folder.
- Highlight the first file then hold (L) and (Right) to select all of the (.cia) files.
- Press (A) to select the first file.
- In the context menu, select "CIA image options" > "Install game image" > "Install to EmuNAND".
- Enter the button combination provided to install the patches.
- Press (B) twice then hold down (R) and (Start) to power off the system.

(4) Booting into Gateway (with or w/o card)

Spoiler: Booting Classic Mode (no GW card)

Spoiler: Reference images

- Power on the console whilst holding (Down).
- If you see a grey screen, release all buttons and hold (L) and (Select).
- Navigate to "Classic Mode" then press (A).
- Press (X).

Spoiler: Booting GW Mode (GW card)

- Insert the Gateway red card into your 3DS.
- Power on the console whilst holding (Down).
- Your 3DS will auto-boot into GW mode.

FAQ

Q: How do I boot into the GW menu?
A: Hold down (L)+(Select) when the Gateway logo appears.

Q: I get a boot rom BSOD (blue screen of death).
A: Your NAND most likely got corrupted or that you're using a older version of the GW launcher (aka Brickway). Restore a working NAND backup using GM9, and download the latest "Launcher.dat".

Q: Does my GW blue card work on 11.17?
A: Yes. The blue card can still be used to play games in DS-mode, even on the latest firmware.

Q: How do I download the latest "Launcher.dat"?
A: Google is your friend.

Q: When I boot into GW/Classic mode, I get a black screen.
A: There are multiple reasons as to why this might be happening:

• Modified SecureInfo_A - The GW launcher does not patch this. You will need to restore this from your donor NAND backup.
• HOME Menu cache/management info - Navigate to "Nintendo 3DS/<ID0>/<ID1>/extdata/00000000/000000**/00000000/" [USA = 8F][EUR = 98][JPN = 82], then delete the "00000005" folder.
• SysNAND setup - You may have not properly setup a GW EmuNAND or that you're using a RedNAND. Format your SD card using GodMode9.
• Modified HOME Menu or fonts - Restore a clean NAND backup that does not contain modifications to the firmware.
• Other issue that isn't disclosed here - Feel free to mention it.

Credits

@Temptress Cerise for the help with patching EmuNAND.
@RednaxelaNnamtra for BootCTR9.
@Hayleia for creating the "v2gw.bin" payload.
@nedron92 for discovering the GW B9S method.
123ab for his GW firmware compatibility patches.

 

[HamzaM]

Nice

 

[qhuy127]

I used to accomplished similar things through an older guide. At that time it was luma 11 and my emunand upgrade to firmware 11.15 successfully boot into GW. It's been awhile i didn't touch my 3ds, i can't remember clearly how i did it. My sysnand is still only at 4.4 from the beginning of the day i started using GW. Now I just hold select + power to get into chainloader and select the second to get into gateway, otherwise i'd go into normal emunand where i can use homebrew normally. I'm quite ok with the current situation yet I want some help to start again using your method. Should I format my console sd card, update luma to v.13 and start from scratch ?

 

[SylverReZ]

I used to accomplished similar things through an older guide. At that time it was luma 11 and my emunand upgrade to firmware 11.15 successfully boot into GW. It's been awhile i didn't touch my 3ds, i can't remember clearly how i did it. My sysnand is still only at 4.4 from the beginning of the day i started using GW. Now I just hold select + power to get into chainloader and select the second to get into gateway, otherwise i'd go into normal emunand where i can use homebrew normally. I'm quite ok with the current situation yet I want some help to start again using your method. Should I format my console sd card, update luma to v.13 and start from scratch ?

I highly recommend updating your SysNAND, Luma3DS and boot9strap to the latest versions before performing the mod. Refer to https://3ds.hacks.guide/ for more info.

 

[qhuy127]

Thanks a lot sylverez! You're a life saver, I did it, Happy New Year

 

[SylverReZ]

Thanks a lot sylverez! You're a life saver, I did it, Happy New Year

You too bud.

 

[vashnin21]

Hello, I have a couple of questions. I am currently on an old 3DS firmware version 4.20.0-9 I currently access my gateway through the DS Menu in the profile screen. My gateway emunand is currently on firmware 11.14.0-46U with the latest update/patches by 123ab. Do I have to do everything in this guide in order to update the emunand to 11.17? Or, can I just enter the emunand that I have and update to 11.17 assuming it still boots after that update and install the patches?

 

[SylverReZ]

Hello, I have a couple of questions. I am currently on an old 3DS firmware version 4.20.0-9 I currently access my gateway through the DS Menu in the profile screen. My gateway emunand is currently on firmware 11.14.0-46U with the latest update/patches by 123ab. Do I have to do everything in this guide in order to update the emunand to 11.17? Or, can I just enter the emunand that I have and update to 11.17 assuming it still boots after that update and install the patches?

I do recommend installing CFW on your 3DS before updating your EmuNAND to 11.17. When you have updated your SysNAND and installed Luma, you can continue.

https://3ds.guide

 

[Spearel18]

Question. Do I have to format my emuNAND even if I already made an emuNAND with Gateway way back in the past? Won't I lose all the installed titles if I do that? I remember faintly that the old install files wont be recognized by the 3ds if you make a format since it creates a different... "encryption" I would say? (It was soo long ago, I don't know my terms ).
Its a protection by Ninty so you can't just copy and paste a game to another system if I remember it correctly...

Also I am on 9.2 O3DS Firmware in SYSNAND I'm still good with that, right? And does it matter what firmware I have on emuNAND?

I mostly only need Luma to play GBA games natively with open_agb_firm btw.

Thanks in advance!

 

[SylverReZ]

Question. Do I have to format my emuNAND even if I already made an emuNAND with Gateway way back in the past? Won't I lose all the installed titles if I do that? I remember faintly that the old install files wont be recognized by the 3ds if you make a format since it creates a different... "encryption" I would say? (It was soo long ago, I don't know my terms ).
Its a protection by Ninty so you can't just copy and paste a game to another system if I remember it correctly...

If your emuNAND is already formatted for use with Gateway, then all that is needed to make a backup of your emuNAND first before you install the system update + patches.

Also I am on 9.2 O3DS Firmware in SYSNAND I'm still good with that, right? And does it matter what firmware I have on emuNAND?

I mostly only need Luma to play GBA games natively with open_agb_firm btw.

Thanks in advance!

I highly recommend that you update Luma3DS and your system first.

 

[sonictopfan]

Does this tutorial let you use Gateway software on a modded 3DS without a GW card? So this basically makes it so you cab run 3DS dumps without installing them on the sysnand.

 

[zekro94]

Does this tutorial let you use Gateway software on a modded 3DS without a GW card? So this basically makes it so you cab run 3DS dumps without installing them on the sysnand.

No, what this does is make it so you can use the GW cart on latest firmware. If you don't have the cart then this doesn't really matter. But for those that do have it it makes them able to use it

 

[Spearel18]

If your emuNAND is already formatted for use with Gateway, then all that is needed to make a backup of your emuNAND first before you install the system update + patches.


I highly recommend that you update Luma3DS and your system first.

Wait, so I have to update my SYSNAND??
I wasn't in the 3ds scene since the last GW update (that's 8 years ago) , and back then it was a big nono to update only the emuNAND so I'm a little hesitant on that regard.
So is it really safe to update SYSNAND?
Also do I have to have anything else preinstalled for this to work?

What I only ever did to my O3DS is make a backup of the SYSNAND with GW and then make an emuNAND with it on my SD card and making backups of the emuNAND with emuNAND Tool 1.0.3 whenever a new system update came out (saved my skin 1 or 2 times).
I heard about A9LH and A9LH to B9S, but I never got the courage to install it, I only ever used the browser to launch into GW. No modifications were made on it, it has a vanilla 9.2 SYSNAND any mod is on emuNAND on the SD card.

Sorry for the questions, but I really don't want to brick my whole 3ds just to finally be able to play GBA games on it natively...

It even occured to me should I even use this guide? Since I never used GW to run roms from the red card only to access my emuNAND and I have everything installed via .cia and I don't plan to change that.

Should I look at other guides that only transitions to Luma3ds from GW, or does this one also does the trick to achieve that?
Never had anything else on it other that emuNAND that I made with GW, no Luma3ds no A9LH and no B9S, because I was afraid of the change and that I would screw it up and loose every installed titles on my emuNAND because of GW working a little differently(or so it always looked like it to me).

Thanks in advance, and sorry again for my noobness..

 

[sonictopfan]

No, what this does is make it so you can use the GW cart on latest firmware. If you don't have the cart then this doesn't really matter. But for those that do have it it makes them able to use it

I have a SuperCard DSTwo and supposedly it has GateWay mood though I could never get it to work, not on ofw, not on cfw, would this software help?

 

[zekro94]

I have a SuperCard DSTwo and supposedly it has GateWay mood though I could never get it to work, not on ofw, not on cfw, would this software help?

I'm not sure but suposedly if you have luma you can make any ds flashcart work. I suppose you couldn't make ut work because you have a higher firmware which blocked the card. Years ago you would need to install a whitelist in order to use older flashcarts but I remember something about luma just launching them without needing a whitelist
If someone knows better then correct me if I'm wrong

 

[SylverReZ]

I'm not sure but suposedly if you have luma you can make any ds flashcart work. I suppose you couldn't make ut work because you have a higher firmware which blocked the card. Years ago you would need to install a whitelist in order to use older flashcarts but I remember something about luma just launching them without needing a whitelist
If someone knows better then correct me if I'm wrong

You can make blacklisted DS flashcarts boot from the HOME Menu using Luma; however, carts like the R4, DSTT, and DS Fire Card require booting from a second launcher such as TWL++ or NTR Launcher.

 

[sonictopfan]

I'm not sure but suposedly if you have luma you can make any ds flashcart work. I suppose you couldn't make ut work because you have a higher firmware which blocked the card. Years ago you would need to install a whitelist in order to use older flashcarts but I remember something about luma just launching them without needing a whitelist
If someone knows better then correct me if I'm wrong

I can confirm luma does let me use older NDS flash cards on my 3DS but I haven't tested Gateway on the SuperCrad DS Two after the mod.

 

[lazyguy]

I posted here months ago saying I wanted to revert my n3ds back into stock and installing the normal cfw instead of gw-cfw. Well, I never did it because it looked too complicated.
Well, I'm back again because I have an itch to try it again. So I'm once again here asking for help and hopefully I will follow thru this time.

I have 2 n3ds xl and I decided to just leave my us region (9.2 sysnand -> 11.2 gwcfw emunand) the way it is since there's no advantages to updating to 11.17 and I'll update my japanese n3ds ll (9.2 sysnand -> ???).

Here lies my current problem. The safest bet is to revert my japanese n3ds back to stock. However, it seems like I can't even get it to boot into gateway anymore. It might be because I was messed with updating gateway via this guide to include godmode on my us region n3ds, but I swear I mirrored the changes to the jap n3ds. I did happen to find my nand backups.

Meanwhile, my us n3ds boots into gateway while holding down on dpad and I get a kernel panic when I hold R while booting (this should boot into homebrew launcher?) I provided a screenshot of my sd card to give an idea of the age of the files.

Not sure where to start, I know I'm all over the place trying to explain stuff.

-small update-
I checked my jap n3ds and it indeed does not have all the new godmode/luma updates. Is it possible that my jap n3ds does not have the ds menu exploit anymore, hence it can't boot into gw mode? I'm not sure how I can go about checking this

 

[Shadow_The_Hedgehog82]

Ive got things mostly working thankyou for the guide. I have dumped and tested with final fantasy explorers and that loads fine although im having issues with pokemon x and y. With pokemon x which i dumped myself (i have tried both via the gw menu and gm9) the game does not work upon launching i get an error which seems to be part of the game saying the cart is damaged. I also tried a pokemon y i didn't dump myself when launching that it goes to the 3ds error screen that forces you to hold the power button. Anyone know what could be causing these issues with pokemon? I have tried both the 3.7.1 and 4.2 launcher dat files

 

[jerem98]

Hello, i have A New 3ds with 1.17 sysnand and emunand updated.
I installed the 123ab's patch on the emunand with gm9.

Synand 1.17 on custom fw luma: boot OK
Emunand 1.17 on gateway fw luma 3DS: boot OK
Emunand 1.17 on custom fw luma: KO black screen with arm11 error.

Please, Could someone could confirm me that it is normal to no able to boot into custom fw luma with emunand patched with the abs gw patch ?
I have downgraded the emunand to 9.2 the emuand first in order to clean the nand.
Tried in 1.14 but same problem

Thanx

 

[Shadow_The_Hedgehog82]

Hello, i have A New 3ds with 1.17 sysnand and emunand updated.
I installed the 123ab's patch on the emunand with gm9.

Synand 1.17 on custom fw luma: boot OK
Emunand 1.17 on gateway fw luma 3DS: boot OK
Emunand 1.17 on custom fw luma: KO black screen with arm11 error.

Please, Could someone could confirm me that it is normal to no able to boot into custom fw luma with emunand patched with the abs gw patch ?
I have downgraded the emunand to 9.2 the emuand first in order to clean the nand.
Tried in 1.14 but same problem

Thanx

I can boot into luma on my old 3ds