Tutorial Simple Guide to Downgrading your 3DS

[Saikuro]

I managed to succesfully downgrade my O3DS XL from 9.5 to 9.2 using MenuHax as entry point, opened ftBrony, closed it and opened sysUpdater and worked at the first try.

Since I hace like 4 3DS, this one was in the box. Can I format the console now that it's on 9.2?

 

[Father Crilly]

I managed to succesfully downgrade my O3DS XL from 9.5 to 9.2 using MenuHax as entry point, opened ftBrony, closed it and opened sysUpdater and worked at the first try.

Since I hace like 4 3DS, this one was in the box. Can I format the console now that it's on 9.2?

Formatting has nothing to do with firmware. It just deletes your stuff off the 3DS and that's about it.

 

[JAWS_XS]

You guys I'm not sure it's needed but I also install Teracopy. Use that when you copy all the cia's to the updates folder. And remember if you are on N3ds it might work in 5 min or 8-9 hours. It took me 8 hours before I picked up Teracopy, hitting "y" in Homebrew menu and backing out, and opening ftbrony and hitting "b" twice.

Also remember on N3ds you CAN NOT update emunand past 9.5.0.23. O3ds and 2ds are fine to update to 10.3

another thing once you downgrade your only focus should be CFW. that's the main reason to downgrade.

 

[GoodCookie88]

Only got the downgrade to work formatting, ive tried 12 times using ever entry point available and the 3ds and it would soft brick, well what i think happend was that there was a 3ds game or app that was messing up the downgrade process, the sysupdater version didnt matter because Ive tried the latest verions o sysUpdater and the first release also ... so the problem was resolved by formatting the 3ds I dont know if it will work for you but It worked with me and another friend that was having the same problem of soft bricking...

 

[Hammyface]

I was getting this error till I tried Hammyface's method. Launch FTBrony, press B two times and then launch sysupdater.

Managed to get it working 2nd try ! I was trying since 45min before that and had this error message.

I hope you'll get lucky too, I finally downgraded my N3DSXL 10.3 -> 9.2 ! Thanks to all

You are very welcome. Glad I could help.

Could anyone let me know what needs to be done after successfully downgrading to 9.2 on an n3ds? I am not asking about setting up Homebrew Channel or CFW or anything. But what do I need to do to be "fully hacked"? Do I need to install AGB_FIRM-PatchedV2-0004013800000202.cia ? DS-WhiteList1.0-0004800F484E4841 ? Anything?

 

[DarkFlare69]

I accidentally voted for "No" in the poll, but it should be 2 yes's because my downgrade worked and my friend who doesn't have a gbatemp account downgraded successfully.

 

[Boy12]

Keep me updated with your progress.

I downgraded again and can now run the exploit via OoT

 

[Ruby Gloom]

I've downgraded many systems ever since I learned how to do it. I've never had a bricked console from doing this.
I'd like to say I have successfully.... bricked my 2DS. The damn thing froze midway into the downgrading process. Also, I accidentally placed in the 2.0 update files. ( Don't ask me why I wanted to DG to such a low FW. I won't speak, I say! XD ) Either way, I was screwed. Still sucks that the software froze. It would've bricked in either case of having the proper files in it or not. :/ I blame myself for being an impatient child.

 

[gallymimu]

... they can you just have to delete that one specific CIA with FBI.

oh so i am suppost to remove the 000400102002CA00.cia from the machine
instead of removing the file from updates file in SD card?

Make sure you delete the right one. Unless you want a brick.

No tutorial I've read stated where to delete the CIA from. Doesn't bother me because I don't have a Japanese console.

Be careful guys, I was fairly certain that the CIA file mentioned should be deleted prior to update i.e. from the update folder, RATHER than after the update. sorry if this already got answered I am a few pages behind on the thread.

 

[Xenosaiga]

been trying this for about 4-5 hours now. Got mad, Sat down at my couch and pressed Y while petting my dog. Shoulda named that bastard Lucky because now I'm downgrading.

IT WORKED! I'm on 9.2 on an N3DS

 

[aeros]

Be careful guys, I was fairly certain that the CIA file mentioned should be deleted prior to update i.e. from the update folder, RATHER than after the update. sorry if this already got answered I am a few pages behind on the thread.

but the problem is that if i delete that cia, sysUpdater wont update since it is looking for the cia when it is installing
so how can i skip the updater for looking for that cia?

 

[Ruby Gloom]

Ah, shit! Look at that amazing timing! My girlfriend's 2DS just got slammed with a brick for the same reason! It froze midway. She had the proper files unlike me. Was this even tested with EUR 2DS systems...?

EDIT: I know it says " Proceed at your own risk. ", but was there even testing or was it coded and assumed to be working...? We're a tad aggravated. Hers was a soft brick. She restored it. It's all good. Mine wasn't. It was a hard brick.

 

[pancakewagon]

After 2 or so days of deciding whether to do the downgrade I finally did it.
And it worked first try!

o3ds 10.3, sysupdater opened first try and installed perfectly

 

[gallymimu]

someone on reddit by the name of Gameboy figured out how to fix his error problem by reseting his dbs folder, this is what he said "and you need to reset your dbs folder in sysNAND" , Basically if you look at your SD card navigate to your sysNAND and find the dbs folder. Check the file size on them and if it's not 0 then you need to replace them with a blank text file with a renamed extension. A quick Google search about replacing dbs solved the problem for me, so if my direction wasn't good enough search that or ask me again, but it's probably faster to search it. Good luck!" , "Replace them and start up your ds normally, and go to settings then data management then 3ds (not sure the exact order but it's in there. If you can't find it let me know in like an hour I can get my ds) but it will say repair saves or something and click yes. After that try to install the cia again and that should fix it". you can make a simple text file by opening notebook on windows and saving it under the same name of whats in your dbs folder.

I believe this is actually a crude method of clearing the database of installed applications, should be similar to a format in function, or similar to using a blank SD card.

 

[MysticEspeon]

Successfully downgraded my o3DS XL from 10.3 to 9.2!

 

[Hammyface]

Ah, shit! Look at that amazing timing! My girlfriend's 2DS just got slammed with a brick for the same reason! It froze midway. She had the proper files unlike me. Was this even tested with EUR 2DS systems...?

EDIT: I know it says " Proceed at your own risk. ", but was there even testing or was it coded and assumed to be working...? We're a tad aggravated. Hers was a soft brick. She restored it. It's all good. Mine wasn't. It was a hard brick.

I have a strange feeling my suggestion might prevent bricks. Load up BronyFTP (it's already included with Homebrew Channel) then press B twice to go back to Homebrew Launcher and then run sysupdater. Sysupdater on my system kept freezing until I did what I just posted. As soon as I did that it stopped freezing.

I believe most bricks are happening because sysupdater is locking up in the middle of updating (it's like unplugging your PC while flashing your motherboard bios). For whatever reason, running BronyFTP first then going into sysupdater prevents the freezing.

 

[Ruby Gloom]

I have a strange feeling my suggestion might prevent bricks. Load up BronyFTP (it's already included with Homebrew Channel) then press B twice to go back to Homebrew Launcher and then run sysupdater. Sysupdater on my system kept freezing until I did what I just posted. As soon as I did that it stopped freezing.

It froze midway. Also, I can't try it again... I don't have a system to do that on... Should I have her try once more...?

 

[gallymimu]

Question regarding the SHA-1 of N3DS firmware pack: Does the "question mark" "?" belong to the SHA-1 ?

shouldn't matter. when you run the check if all the other characters match and there is or is not an extra ? then it is correct. there is an infinitesimally small chance that you would get the exact missmatch of only the "?" also there should be a specific number of characters that make up the hash and it is likely a power of 2 i.e. 8,16,32 characters.

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but the problem is that if i delete that cia, sysUpdater wont update since it is looking for the cia when it is installing
so how can i skip the updater for looking for that cia?

are you sure it is looking for that file? I was pretty sure it uses whatever files are in the directory. Otherwise it would have to know about every CIA for every region and every 3ds version and every firmware version. I doubt that it is keeping track, but could of course be wrong!

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I have a strange feeling my suggestion might prevent bricks. Load up BronyFTP (it's already included with Homebrew Channel) then press B twice to go back to Homebrew Launcher and then run sysupdater. Sysupdater on my system kept freezing until I did what I just posted. As soon as I did that it stopped freezing.

I believe most bricks are happening because sysupdater is locking up in the middle of updating (it's like unplugging your PC while flashing your motherboard bios). For whatever reason, running BronyFTP first then going into sysupdater prevents the freezing.

this is a documented method of improving reliability of the process.

 

[Father Crilly]

I downgraded again and can now run the exploit via OoT

Congratulations. Did you use my method?

 

[Hammyface]

this is a documented method of improving reliability of the process.

Cool. But to be honest I accidentally came across that info buried away on a completely different website. It should be added to the OP.