Backup / Restore 3DS System with GodMode9

GodMode9 by dok3 is a powerful file manager for 3DS that comes with a myriad of useful features from system backup/restore, dumping cartridges and converting 3DS game files between different formats. This guide will show you how to backup and restore your 3DS system, this is highly recommended and one of the first things you should do after hacking your 3DS.

Required Downloads

Hacked (New) Nintendo 3DS (XL) Console with Luma3DS CFW

  • An SD Card is required to store the exploit files and homebrew apps
  • 32GB or more is recommended to store games
  • The SD card must be formatted to FAT32
  • MicroSD cards are compatible with Old 3DS consoles via a MicroSD to SD adapter

Installing / Updating GodMode9

  1. Insert your 3DS SD card into your PC
  2. Extract the GodMode9 .zip3ds godmode9 zip extract
  3. Copy GodeMode9.firm to the /luma/payloads/ folder on your SD card3ds luma payloads folder sd card
  4. Copy the /gm9/ folder to the root of your SD card3ds gm9 folder sd card
  5. Insert your SD card into your 3DS

Backup 3DS NAND

GodMode9’s backup feature will backup your entire 3DS system sans the SD card so that you can rollback your 3DS to a working state if anything goes tragically wrong.

  1. Power on your 3DS while holding [START] to boot into GodMode9
  2. Press [A] If prompted to backup essential files or set RTC date & time, then press [A] to continue once completedgodmode9 set rtc
  3. Press [Home] for the action menu
  4. Select [Scripts…]godmode9 scripts
  5. Select [GM9Megascript]godmode9 gm9megascript 3ds
  6. Select [Backup Options]godmode9 backup options
  7. Select [SysNAND backup]godmode9 sysnand backup
  8. Press [A] to confirmgodmode9 create sysnand backup
  9. Wait for the process to completegodmode9 creating nand backup
  10. Press [A] to return to the main menu once completegodmode9 backup created successfully
  11. Press [Home] to bring up the action menu
  12. Select [Poweroff system] to power off your 3DSgodmode9 poweroff system
  13. Insert your SD card into your PC
  14. Go to the /gm9/out/ folder on your SD card
  15. Copy the _sysnand_##.bin, _sysnand_##.bin.sha and essential.exefs files to a safe location on your computer and delete the files from your SD card3ds gm9 out nand backup
Congratulations, you’ve successfuly backed up your 3DS system. Keep the backups in a safe place on your computer so you can system restore if you ever need to.

Restoring 3DS NAND

GodMode9’s restore feature will allow you to restore your entire 3DS internal storage using a previously created backup file. Restoring from a SysNAND backup should be reserved as a last resort and a less drastic solution is likely to be possible unless your 3DS is completely inoperable (bricked).

  1. Insert your 3DS SD card into your PC
  2. Copy your _sysnand_##.bin backup file to the root of your SD Cardnand backup 3ds godmode9 sd root
  3. Insert your SD card into your 3DS
  4. Power on your 3DS while holding [START] to boot into GodMode9
  5. Press [A] If prompted to backup essential files or set RTC date & time, then press [A] to continue once completedgodmode9 set rtc
  6. From the GodMode9 main menu, select [SDCARD ( )]godmode9 main menu sd card root
  7. Select your _sysnand_##.bin backup filegodmode9 select sysnand bin
  8. Select [NAND image options…]nand restore image options
  9. Select [Restore SysNAND (safe)]godmode9 restore sysnand
  10. Enter the button combination to confirm the SysNAND overwriteoverwrite sysnand button combination
  11. Enter the button combination to unlock SysNAND lvl1 writing permissionsgodmode9 sysnand lvl1 button combination
  12. Wait for the process to completegodmode9 restoring nand backup
  13. Press [A] to continue once completegodmode9 backup created successfully
  14. Press [A] to relock write permissionsgodmode9 relock write permissions
  15. Press [Home] for the action menu
  16. Select [Poweroff system]godmode9 poweroff system
Congratulations, you’ve now restored your 3DS system to the state of the backup. The data on your SD card will remain untouched.

3DS Hacks and Homebrew

Installing 3DS Backups and Homebrew

  • Install 3DS backups and homebrew easily with FBI

Play DS Games with TWiLight Menu++

  • Play Nintendo DS ROM’s flawlessly using TWiLight Menu++
  • The application also features a built-in cheats manager

Install Virtual Console Games (GBC, GBA, SNES etc)

  • Convert ROM’s to Virtual Console titles and install them directly to your Home menu using New Super Ultimate Injector

Dump Cartridges to SD

  • Play your games without the cartridge inserted by dumping them directly to your SD card with GodMode9
  • Cartridges can be dumped as multiple formats: .cia for 3DS consoles, .3ds for emulators or .nds for Nintendo DS games

Credits