If you need a file post your request in the File request megathread ! PLEASE !
tl;dr
If you just want to download games on your 3ds use 3hs (https://hshop.erista.me/3hs)
If you need a cia use hshop
If you just want to play Pokemon games you can use the great guide by our user SteveW_MC (Guide)
If you updated your system and are booting into an error update luma manually (https://3ds.hacks.guide/faq.html)
If you have questions about Citra go to /c/Citra
Questions about cfw/hacking go to /c/3dshacks (do not mention anything related to piracy there)
Questions about flashcarts go to c/flashcarts
Read the 3dshacks faq before posting about an issue (https://3ds.hacks.guide/faq.html)
If you need any form of file please post your request in the pinned file request megathread
tl;dr Troubleshooting
Your hacked 3ds "needs" 2 files to boot (boot.firm (luma) and boot.3dsx (homebrew launcher)) you can get the newest version of those files from github (https://github.com/LumaTeam/Luma3DS/releases)
normally your 3ds has these files in 2 locations, its own internal storage (ctrnand) and on the sd card. If you boot the 3ds without an sd card or the sd card is unreadable it will use the files from the ctrnand. If the files on the ctrnand are outdated the 3ds will not boot. This happens if you update the 3ds firmware without first updating luma and format your sd card.
THIS IS NORMAL and not a problem! just take your sd card and put the newest versions of those 2 files on the root (highest level) of the sd card.
Frequently Asked Questions
❔ Can i play out of region games? / Hacking makes your 3DS/2DS be able to play any region. You can play EUR games on a USA system and the opposite USA games on a EUR system.
❔If you have issues with games loading try importing the seed first by locating the game within FBI > Titles > Selecting the game > Import seed. If that doesn't work try switching the games region to whatever it is with Luma Locale Switcher so if the game is USA then switch the region of it to USA and try loading it again. For certain games like Luigi's Mansion and Tomodachi Life you do need the right region for the game to work. No idea why and this is usually EUR systems trying to play the USA version of games. If you can't get games to work please comment below for help.
❔ Whatever happened to Freeshop? / Nintendo killed it, along with all other programs that get games from Eshop servers. They are permanently dead.
❔ Can we make a new Freeshop? / No
❔ Can I update to the latest update? / Yes. Update Luma to the latest stable release and then update your system software.
❔ How do I hack my 3DS? / Follow the guide here don't use a youtube video - https://3ds.hacks.guide/
❔ I found a .CIA - now what? / Put it on your SD card and use an installer like FBI to install the game.
❔ Can I get banned for pirating games? / Yes and No. It has happened in the past, but it's been years since any bans. Nintendo does not know if your console is hacked. They do not know if you are playing games you installed from a .CIA. Don't cheat while playing online and you should be fine. 3DS is dead now anyway so Nintendo seems to have giving up.
❔ Can I update .CIA games normally? / Yes if the region of the game matches your console. For example a USA system and a USA game. If a game is prompting an update notice, try to update by normal means. If you get an error you can always download an update .CIA and install it through FBI.
❔ How can I install games if I don't have access to the SD card? / Use Boop (Use version 1.4.0 if the game you're sending is 1GB or larger) or FTPD. Boop is PC only while FTP can be done via PC or your phone. Boop guide and FTP Phone guide for Android and Apple. FTP is easy to use on PC just use a FTP app like Filezilla.
❔ Can I upgrade my SD Card? / Yes. If you want to upgrade your SD card all you need to do is format the new card to Fat32 and copy the entire contents of your old card to the new one. Should just work like before, but now with more free space. Cards up to 256GB seem to work fine. 128GB and bigger SD cards should be formatted with 64KB clusters or else GBA VC Injects may have display problems.
❔ Can I pop in my SD card into a non hacked console and have my games playable? / No, it doesn't work like that. Even a hacked console can't use the same SD card you have in another system. Nintendo made the 3DS locked to a single system with the SD card. Meaning it only works on the one system it's tied to.
❔ Can I do a system transfer to another system and still have my CIA games? / Yes, but the other console needs to be hacked first. Hack the system you wish to system transfer to first (I would advise you to back up your saves with checkpoint before doing the transfer in case anything happens) Then do the system transfer. Once done use Faketik to restore your CIA installed games.
❔ I have some .3ds files how do I convert them to .cia, or Install them to my device? / If you want to do a conversion on your 3DS use this guide. If you want to do it on your PC use this program. If you want to install them directly you can do so by using Godmode9.
❔ I have a 3DS game cartridge that I want to dump and install as a .cia how do I do it? / Guide here
❔ I want to backup or edit my GBA VC Inject save how do I get the save file? / How to Backup and how to Restore the save.
❔ I want to hack my system, how risky is it? / Thanks to our user fork_on_the_floor2 who has done a poll among our members we can give you the empirical risks of you running into problems:
80.58% did not have any issues hacking their system
16.91% had minor issues that were easy to fix
1% of users had major issues or bricked their system
HOW TO PLAY DS GAMES
There's 3 ways to play DS games on your system. DS games cannot be a CIA file unless Nintendo released it as DSiWare.
- Get a flashcard, any current r4 cards will work just fine THE YEAR ON THE CARD DOES NOT MATTER! Install ysmenu+rgf kernel, get it here.
- Use DS Forwarders (or YANBF which allows for more then 40 titles on your homescreen) which places shortcut icons on your homescreen, ~~but doesn't AP patch the rom like Twilight Menu++ does.~~ (nds forwarder patches the roms too, please try to launch games unpatched to test before trying anything else) otherwise you'll need to AP patch the roms yourself using this method.
- Install Twilight Menu++ which is the best method if you don't want to buy a flashcard. Twilight Menu AP patches your roms on the fly before launching.
Whatever method you choose you need to find DS roms which are readily available online. If you want help with where to find them ask in the REQUEST MEGATHREAD.
MAKING VC GAME INJECTS (GBA, GB, GBC, NES, SNES, PS1, NEOGEO, ETC)
Use NSUI to make VC inject CIAs of these platforms which get added as Home screen icons. Here's an alternative guide on how to use it.
PS1 injects are also available, but only on NEW 3DS/2DS. Compatibility is not perfect so some games run ok and others are buggy.
NEOGEO games can also be injected now, but like PS1 it's recommended for only NEW 3DS/2DS systems. Games also may have performance issues so some run great and others not so much.
All require rom files which are readily available online. If you want help with where to find them ask in the REQUEST MEGATHREAD.
A list of CIA sites
hshop (Recommended)
Ziperto (Decrypted Roms)
AlvRo's Complete 3DS ROM Sets
QR CODES
hshop - Creator Post (Recommended)
CIA COLLECTIONS
Juegos de Nintendo 3DS (In Spanish, but has English too)
ROM SITES
Vimm's Lair
I got a giant ass list so I don't even remember off hand haha. Eyeballing either Armored Core or Baldurs Gate but space is a bit too limited to snag either currently so that would have to be a "some other time" deal.