I recently purchased Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D and it’s too big to fit on my 3DS XL’s SD card. In this video, I’ll show you how to upgrade your 3DS SD memory card and save all your data using a Mac. You can also use this method to backup your existing SD card data in case your handheld is ever lost or stolen.
There are several methods to installing custom firmware on the 3DSXL, but the simplest way involves installing the ntrboot exploit by way of a MicroSD-powered flash cartridge. This inexpensive piece of hardware will allow the 3DS to run ROMs from the aforementioned MicroSD card. In my opinion, the R4i Gold 3DS flash cart is the best on the market and will come with the fewest functional restrictions.
Before beginning, download the latest versions of boot9strap, SafeB9SInstaller, Luma3DS, and ntrboot_flasher_nds. You’ll also need a small magnet.
Insert a blank MicroSD into your computer (operating system doesn’t matter as you’re only moving files to the MicroSD card). In the root folder of the MicroSD card, create a folder called ntrboot.
Unzip the boot9strap*.zip archive and copy the boot9strap_ntr.firm file into the ntrboot folder. Copy the ntrboot_flasher_nds.nds file to the root folder of the MicroSD card.
Eject the MicroSD card from your computer, reinsert it into the flashcart, insert the flashcart into the 3DS and power on the system.
Launch the flashcart from the 3DS main menu, then launch the ntrboot_flasher_nds.nds ROM from the flashcart menu. Follow the on-screen instructions to dump the flashcart’s memory for a backup. After making a backup, select “Inject FIRM” to install boot9strap on the flashcart. Once finished, power off the 3DS.
This tutorial assumes that you have a compatible 3DS flashcart (such as the R4i Gold 3DS) that’s been flashed with ntrboot. Before beginning, download the latest versions of boot9strap, SafeB9SInstaller, Luma3DS, and ntrboot_flasher_nds. You’ll also need a small magnet. Insert the ntrboot-flashed flashcart and continue.
Remove the MicroSD card from the 3DS console (not the flashcart) and insert it into your computer. Unzip the SafeB9SInstaller*.zip archive, then copy SafeB9SInstaller.firm to the root folder of the MicroSD card. Rename SafeB9SInstaller.firm as boot.firm.
Unzip the Luma3DS*.zip archive, then copy boot.3dsx to the root folder of the MicroSD card.
Create a folder called boot9strap in the root folder of the MicroSD card and copy boot9strap.firm and boot9strap.firm.sha from the aforementioned boot9strap archive to this folder.
Eject the MicroSD card from the computer and reinsert it in the 3DS console, then power on the 3DS. Use the magnet to locate the reed switch that controls the sleep function. This should be somewhere around the ABXY button cluster. Once the reed switch is located, power off the 3DS console and place the magnet over the reed switch. With the magnet in place, hold START + SELECT + X + POWER to boot into SafeB9SInstaller. Once all the startup checks complete, you can remove the magnet. Follow the on-screen instructions to install boot9strap, then, once the installation completes, hold the POWER button until the console turns off.
Once again, remove the MicroSD card from the 3DS console and insert it into your computer. Delete boot.firm from the root folder of the MicroSD card, then copy the boot.firm file from the Luma3DS archive to the root of the MicroSD card. Eject the MicroSD card from the computer and reinsert it into the 3DS.
Power on the 3DS and it will boot into the Luma3DS configuration menu. Enable “Show NAND or user string in System Settings” from the configuration menu. Press START to save and reboot.
Once you have completed the installation of boot9strap and Luma3DS to your 3DS console, you no longer require the ntrboot exploit on a flashcart. To return the flashcart to its original functionality, simply restore the dumped backup using the following instructions. Before beginning, download the latest version of ntrboot_flasher.
With the 3DS powered off, remove the MicroSD card from the console and insert it into your computer. Create a folder called ntrboot in the root folder of the MicroSD card. Unzip the flashcart backup archive and copy the resulting *.bin file to the ntrboot folder.
Navigate to the luma folder on the MicroSD card and create a folder called payloads and copy ntrboot_flasher.firm into it. Eject the MicroSD card and reinsert it into the 3DS console.
Insert the flashcart into the 3DS, hold the START button while powering on to boot into ntrboot_flasher. Follow the on-screen instructions to select the appropriate flashcart (R41 Gold 3DS) and restore the original flash. Once completed, press A to return to the main menu and B to power off the console.
This tutorial assumes that you already have Luma3DS installed to the MicroSD card in the 3DS. From here, you will install Luma3DS to the internal memory as well as several other pieces of software to enable the extended functionality of a custom firmware setup. Before proceeding, download the latest versions of ctr-no-timeoffset, FBI (3dsx and cia files), DSP1 (just the cia file), GodMode9, Homebrew Launcher Wrapper, Universal Updater (cia file), Checkpoint 3.7.4 (cia file), and Anemone3DS (cia file).
With the 3DS powered off, remove the MicroSD card from the console and insert it into your computer. In the root folder of the MicroSD card, create a folder called 3ds and one called cias.
Copy ctr-no-timeoffset.3dsx and FBI.3dsx to the 3ds folder. Copy Homebrew_Launcher.cia, FBI.cia, DSP1.cia, Anemone3DS.cia, Checkpoint.cia, and Universal-Updater.cia to the cias folder.
Create a folder called payloads within the luma folder on the MicroSD card. Unzip the GodMode9*.zip archive and copy GodMode9.firm to the /luma/payloads folder. Copy the gm9 folder to the root of the MicroSD card. Eject the MicroSD card and reinsert it into the 3DS console. Power on the console and verify that it has the latest updates. If needed, navigate to System Settings > Other Settings > System Update.
From the 3DS main menu, launch the Download Play application. When you see the Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo DS buttons, press L + DOWN + SELECT at the same time to open the Rosalina menu. Select “Miscellaneous Options” from the menu, then “Switch the hb. title to the current app”. Press B until Rosalina exits, then press HOME and close Download Play.
Launch Download Play again. This time, the Homebrew Launcher application will launch. Select ctr-no-timeoffset from the list. Press A to set the offset to 0, then press START to return to Homebrew Launcher. Select FBI from the list. In the file directory, navigate to SD > cias. Select <current directory> then “Install and delete all CIAs” and press A to confirm. Press HOME and close Download Play. Your home screen will now display icons for Homebrew Launcher, FBI, DSP1, Anemone3DS, Checkpoint, and Universal Updater.
Launch DSP1 from the home screen. Once completed, press B to delete the app and return to the home menu.
Shut down the 3DS console. Press and hold START while powering the 3DS console back on to launch GodMode9. Create the essential files backup and fix the date and time if prompted, then press A to continue. Press HOME to open the action menu, then select “Scripts…” > “GM9Megascript” > “Scripts from Plailect’s Guide” > “Setup Luma3DS to CTRNAND” and press A when prompted, then follow the on-screen instructions. When you’ve returned to the action menu, select “Cleanup SD card” and follow the on-screen instructions.
From the GodMode9 action menu, select “Backup Options” > “SysNAND Backup”. Once completed, press B to return to the menu, then select “Dump Options” > “Dump Boot9.bin & Boot11.bin” and follow the on-screen instructions. Once finished, exit and navigate to [S:] SYSNAND VIRTUAL and select essential.exefs then “Copy to 0:/gm9/out”. Once completed, press HOME to return to the action menu and select “Poweroff system”.
Once the console is shut down, remove the MicroSD card and insert it into your computer. Copy the contents of the /gm9/out/ folder from the MicroSD card to your computer for safe keeping. After copying, delete <date>_<serialnumber>_sysnand_###.bin and <date>_<serialnumber>_sysnand_###.bin.sha from the /gm9/out/ folder. Eject the MicroSD card from the computer and reinsert it in the 3DS console.
You now have access to several custom applications from the home menu with the option to install many more. The installed applications are as follows:
.3dsx file extension..cia file extension.*.cia files for installing via FBI.