3DS Hack Guide - Install Luma3DS CFW
Table of Contents
This guide will show you have to hack your Nintendo 3DS and install the Luma3DS custom firmware using the Seedminer exploit, allowing you to run homebrew apps and backup games. With CFW, your 3DS will be able to do many things that would otherwise not be possible on a stock console such as;
- Installing 3DS game and DLC backups (Region Free)
- Playing original DS ROMs
- Install Virtual Console titles (GBC, GBA, SNES etc)
- Dump cartridges and play directly from your SD card
- Import save files
- Cheat codes
(New) Nintendo 3DS (XL) on Stock Firmware 11.13.0
- This method is compatible on all stock Nintendo 3DS consoles on firmware 11.13.0
- Old, New, 2D and XL devices are all supported
- 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
Internet Connection
- You will need an internet connection to use the Seedminer method
- Seedminer requires you to go online with your Mii and add a friend via Friend Code
Functioning DS Internet Settings Application
- The Fredtool method requires the DS Internet Settings application
- On your 3DS, go to [System Settings] -> [Internet Settings] -> [Nintendo DS Connections]
- If you see the [Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Setup] screen, your 3DS is compatible with the Fredtool method
Get ID0 and Friend Code
- Insert your SD card and open the
/Nintendo 3DS/
folder, copy the 32-character name of the folder inside to a notepad for reference – this is your ID0 - Power on your 3DS and make sure you are online by connecting to Wi-Fi. (Create a Mii if you haven’t done so before)
- Go to your Online Friend List -> [Mii Profile] -> [Friend Code] and make a note of your Friend Code for the next steps
Seedminer: Generating movable.sed
- Go to the Seedminer website on your computer’s browser
- Enter your Friend Code
- Enter your 32-character ID0
- Complete the captcha and click [Go]Your
movable.sed
may become available at this point; if so, download it and continue to the next section - Register the Friend Code of the Bruteforce bot that appears on the Seedminer page
- Click [Continue] when the website finishes processing
- Download the
movable.sed
once the process is completed
BannerBomb3
- Open the BannerBomb3 webtool in your browser
- Selct [Choose File] and upload your
movable.sed
file - Click [Start!]
- Download the
tadmuffin_output.zip
folder, this contains theF00D43D5.bin
file - Power off your console and Insert our SD card into your PC
- Unzip
tadmuffin_out.zip
and go to/output/
->/Usa_Europe_Japan_Korea/
- Go to
/Nintendo 3DS/
->/ID0/
->/<32-character id>/
->/Nintendo DSiWare/
on your SD cardCreate the/Nintendo DSiWare/
folder if it doesn’t already exist. - Copy
F00D43D5.bin
from/Usa_Europe_Japan_Korea/
to the/Nintendo DSiWare/
folder on your SD Card - Insert your SD card into your 3DS
- Power on and launch [System Settings]
- Go to [Data Management] -> [DSiWare]
- Select [SD Card]If it worked, the 3DS will flash pink/purple then crash.
- Power off your 3DS and insert the SD card into your PC
- Copy the newly created
42383841.bin
from the root of your SD card to your PC desktop - Go to
/Nintendo 3DS/
->/ID0/
->/<32-character id>/
->/Nintendo DSiWare/
- Delete
F00D43D5.bin
Prepare SD Card
- Copy
boot.firm
from the Luma3DS.7z
to the root of your SD card - Copy
boot.nds
from the b9sTool.zip
to the root of your SD card - Copy
boot.3dsx
(Hombrew Menu) to the root of your SD card - Copy the
/private/
folder fromFrogminer_save.zip
to the root of your SD card - Create a folder called
cia
on the root of your SD card - Create a folder called
3ds
on the root of your SD card - Copy
ctr-no-timeoffset.3dsx
to the/3ds/
folder on your sd card - Copy
FBI.3dsx
to the/3ds/
folder on your SD card - Copy
FBI.cia
to the/cia/
folder on your SD card - Copy
Homebrew_Launcher.cia
to the/cia/
folder on your SD card - Copy
DSP1.cia
to the/cia/
folder on your SD card - Copy
Checkpoint.cia
to the/cia/
folder on your SD card - Copy
lumaupdater.cia
to the/cia/
folder on your SD card
Fedtool
- Open Fredtool in your browser
- Select your
movable.sed
file - Select your
42383841.bin
- Complete the captcha and click [Start]
- Download your
fredtool_output.zip
when the process is complete - Copy
42383841.bin
from theoutput/hax/
folder infredtool_output.zip
to the/Nintendo 3DS/
->/ID0/
->/<32-character-id>/
->/Nintendo DSiWare/
folder on your SD card - Reinsert your SD card into your 3DS
- Power on the 3DS and go to [System Settings] -> [Data Management] -> [DSiWare]
- In the SD Card section, select the [Haxxxxxxxxx!] title -> [Copy] -> [OK]
- Return to [System Settings] -> [Internet Settings] -> [Nintendo DS Connections] -> [OK]
If the JPN version of Flipnote Studio opens, the exploit was successful.

Flipnote Studio Exploit
- Follow this picture guide by zoogie on how to run the flipnote studio exploit
- There is also a video example
Your 3DS should have now loaded up the b9sTool menu after successfully running the flipnote studio exploit.
b9sTool + Luma3DS Configuration
- Select [Install boot9strap] using the D-Pad
- Press [A], then press [START] + [SELECT] at the same time to begin the installation
- Press [HOME] -> [OK] after the installation to exit b9sTool and your 3DS will reboot to the Luma3DS configurationReboot your 3DS while holding [SELECT] to launch the Luma3DS configuration on boot.
- Turn on [Show NAND or user string in System Settings]
- Press [START] to save your changes and reboot the 3DS
Restore DS Internet Settings
- Power off your 3DS and insert the SD card into your PC
- Copy
42383841.bin
from/output/clean/
folder in thefredtool_output.zip
to theNintendo 3DS/ID0/<32-character-id>/Nintendo DSiWare
folder on your SD card – overwrite the existing file - Insert your SD card into the 3DS and power it on
- Launch [System Settings] -> [Data Managerment] -> [DSiWare]
- Under the SD Card section, select the Nintendo DSi™ title
- Select [Copy] then select [OK]
Install Homebrew Applications
- Launch the Download Play app on your 3DS
- In the Download Play menu, simultaneously Press [L] + [Down] + [SELECT] to open the Rosalina menu
- Select [Miscellaneous options]
- Select [Switch the hb. title to the current app.]
- Press [B] to continue
- Press [B] to return to the Rosalina menu
- Press the [HOME] button and close Download Play
- Launch Download Play again
- Your device should now load the Homebrew Launcher
- Launch [ctr-no-timeoffset] from the list
- Press [A] to set the offset to 0
- Press [Start] to go back to the Homebrew Launcher
- Launch [FBI] from the list
- From the FBI menu, go to
SD
->cia
- Select [current directory]
- Select [Install and delete all CIAs] then press [A] to confirm
- When installation is complete, press [Home] then close Download Play
- Launch the [DSP1] app from the Home menu
- Once the process has completed, press [B] to terminate the app and return to the home menu
Setup Luma3DS to boot without SD card
- Power off your 3DS and insert the SD card into your PC
- Create a folder called
payloads
in the/luma/
folder on your SD card - Copy
GodMode9.firm
from the GodMode9.zip
to the/luma/payloads/
folder on your SD card - Copy the
gm9
folder from the GodMode9.zip
to the root of your SD card - Insert your SD card into your 3DS
- Power your 3DS on while holding [START] to boot into GodMode9
- Press [A] If prompted to backup essential files or set RTC date & time, then press [A] to continue once completed
- Press [Home] for the action menu
- Select [Scripts…]
- Select [GM9Megascript]
- Select [Scripts from Plailect’s Guide]
- Select [Setup Luma3DS to CTRNAND]
- Press [A] to proceed when prompted
- Press [A] to unlock SysNAND (lvl2) writing, then input the button combo
- Press [A] to continue
- Select [Cleanup SD card]
- Press [A] to proceed when prompted
- Press [A] to continue once cleanup is complete
- Press [B] to go back to the GM9Megascript menu
- Select [Exit] to return to the main menu
- Press [A] to relock write permissions if prompted
- Press [Home] and select [Poweroff system]
Congratulations, you have hacked your 3DS with the Luma3DS custom firmware. You can now install various homebrew apps as well as backup games and DLC with FBI. It is strongly recommended that your next step is to backup your 3DS with GodMode9, you will be able to restore your system in case anything ever goes tragically wrong.
Next Steps
Backup 3DS System (Recommended)
- GodMode9 by d0k3 is a powerful homebrew file manager for 3DS with various features
- It can also be used to backup your entire 3DS system to a file and restore it later
Installing 3DS Backups
- Install 3DS backups 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
Luma3DS Cheats with Checkpoint
- Easily load game cheats with Checkpoint and activate them using the cheat manager in the Rosalina menu (Luma3DS)
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