[Tutorial] Extract, Edit & Rebuild CIAs made simple 2023.

[Nomu]

In this tutorial I will explain how to extract & rebuild CIAs

After spending an unhealthy amount of days reading information on this forum, I realised no-one talks about using NSUI to extract, edit and rebuild CIAs. So, I'm here to give a brief overview of how it is done because it's fairly straightforward.

What you will need:

• The latest version of NSUI beta 28 – It’s the version I worked with so I can’t comment on previous versions.

Recommended reading:

• [Tutorial] How to Decrypt, Extract & Rebuild 3DS|CIA|CXI Files | GBAtemp.net - The Independent Video Game Community

This tool does what we want to do and has become a staple to the 3DS scene. It is worth knowing it exists and if you have an issue with the method explained below, go back and use this.

Method:

Open NSUI

• 1. Click tools > select CIA & rebuild.
• 2. Drag & Drop CIA(s)
• 3. Click extract.
• 4. Edit what you want.
• 5. Rebuild to apply changes.
• 6. Open extracted folder.
• 7. Copy edited CIA somewhere.

Spoiler: See picture below for visuals.

FAQs
Q. My CIA won't extract, what do I do?
A. Try a different CIA or use the other tool in recommended reading.

Please note that I probably don't have the answer to any issues that may occur. I really just wanted to share this information.
Also Install CIA on 3DS is an option that exists, I've never used it so I didn't talk about it.

Special thanks to @Asdolo for making this tool.

 

[godreborn]

does this also extract the contents of the banner (.bnr) file?

 

[littlepinktulip]

How do you edit the title of a 3DS game?

 

[Radu13]

What about .3ds files?

 

[PandaPandel]

What about .3ds files?

There's specific tools for that, if I am not mistaken in PackHack v12

 

[pogisanpolo]

Is it normal for the resultant .cia file to be much, much, much smaller than the original? I'm trying to rebuild yo-kai watch 3 with modified sound files, and the resulting edited cia came out at a little over 1 GB compared to the normal 3 GB of the original.

 

[Kriiiiii]

ive managed to extract it, but it wont rebuild :/