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
Luma3DS is compatible with the latest 3DS firmware (11.13.0) so you can safely update without aiming for a specific firmware version. This guide is fairly long, so you should read through it first to have an understanding of the requirements and set ample time aside to complete all the steps. Required Downloads:

(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

  1. 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 ID0nintendo 3ds id0
  2. 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)
  3. Go to your Online Friend List -> [Mii Profile] -> [Friend Code] and make a note of your Friend Code for the next steps3ds friend code movable

Seedminer: Generating movable.sed

  1. Go to the Seedminer website on your computer’s browser
  2. Enter your Friend Code
  3. Enter your 32-character ID0
  4. Complete the captcha and click [Go]seedminer bruteforce movable
  5. Register the Friend Code of the Bruteforce bot that appears on the Seedminer pagebruteforce moveble bot friend codebruteforce movable brandon friend code bot 281029350533
  6. Click [Continue] when the website finishes processingbruteforce movable continue
  7. Download the movable.sed once the process is completedbruteforce download movable sed

BannerBomb3

  1. Open the BannerBomb3 webtool in your browser
  2. Selct [Choose File] and upload your movable.sed file
  3. Click [Start!]bannerbomb3 movable sed
  4. Download the tadmuffin_output.zip folder, this contains the F00D43D5.bin file
  5. Power off your console and Insert our SD card into your PC
  6. Unzip tadmuffin_out.zip and go to /output/ -> /Usa_Europe_Japan_Korea/bannerbomb3 f00d43d5 bin
  7. Go to /Nintendo 3DS/ -> /ID0/ -> /<32-character id>/ -> /Nintendo DSiWare/ on your SD card
  8. Copy F00D43D5.bin from /Usa_Europe_Japan_Korea/ to the /Nintendo DSiWare/ folder on your SD Cardbannerbomb3 f00d43d5 bin nintendo dsiware
  9. Insert your SD card into your 3DS
  10. Power on and launch [System Settings]
  11. Go to [Data Management] -> [DSiWare]3ds data management
  12. Select [SD Card]
  13. Power off your 3DS and insert the SD card into your PC
  14. Copy the newly created 42383841.bin from the root of your SD card to your PC desktopbannerbomb3 3ds 42383841 bin
  15. Go to /Nintendo 3DS/ -> /ID0/ -> /<32-character id>/ -> /Nintendo DSiWare/
  16. Delete F00D43D5.bin

Prepare SD Card

  1. Copy boot.firm from the Luma3DS .7z to the root of your SD card
  2. Copy boot.nds from the b9sTool .zip to the root of your SD card
  3. Copy boot.3dsx (Hombrew Menu) to the root of your SD card
  4. Copy the /private/ folder from Frogminer_save.zip to the root of your SD card
  5. Create a folder called cia on the root of your SD card
  6. Create a folder called 3ds on the root of your SD card3ds sd card root
  7. Copy ctr-no-timeoffset.3dsx to the /3ds/ folder on your sd card
  8. Copy FBI.3dsx to the /3ds/ folder on your SD card3ds folder sd card
  9. Copy FBI.cia to the /cia/ folder on your SD card
  10. Copy Homebrew_Launcher.cia to the /cia/ folder on your SD card
  11. Copy DSP1.cia to the /cia/ folder on your SD card
  12. Copy Checkpoint.cia to the /cia/ folder on your SD card
  13. Copy lumaupdater.cia to the /cia/ folder on your SD card3ds sd fbi cia

Fedtool

  1. Open Fredtool in your browser
  2. Select your movable.sed file
  3. Select your 42383841.bin
  4. Complete the captcha and click [Start]fredtool movable bin
  5. Download your fredtool_output.zip when the process is complete
  6. Copy 42383841.bin from the output/hax/ folder in fredtool_output.zip to the /Nintendo 3DS/ -> /ID0/ -> /<32-character-id>/ -> /Nintendo DSiWare/ folder on your SD cardfredtool output dsiware
  7. Reinsert your SD card into your 3DS
  8. Power on the 3DS and go to [System Settings] -> [Data Management] -> [DSiWare]3ds data management
  9. In the SD Card section, select the [Haxxxxxxxxx!] title -> [Copy] -> [OK]3ds data management fredtool haxxxxx
  10. Return to [System Settings] -> [Internet Settings] -> [Nintendo DS Connections] -> [OK]ds connection settings flipnote exploit
flipnote exploit 3ds

Flipnote Studio Exploit

  1. Follow this picture guide by zoogie on how to run the flipnote studio exploit
  2. There is also a video example

b9sTool + Luma3DS Configuration

  1. Select [Install boot9strap] using the D-Pad3ds b9stool install
  2. Press [A], then press [START] + [SELECT] at the same time to begin the installation3ds b9stool a9lh warning brick
  3. Press [HOME] -> [OK] after the installation to exit b9sTool and your 3DS will reboot to the Luma3DS configuration
  4. Turn on [Show NAND or user string in System Settings]luma3ds show nand user string
  5. Press [START] to save your changes and reboot the 3DS

Restore DS Internet Settings

  1. Power off your 3DS and insert the SD card into your PC
  2. Copy 42383841.bin from /output/clean/ folder in the fredtool_output.zip to the Nintendo 3DS/ID0/<32-character-id>/Nintendo DSiWare folder on your SD card – overwrite the existing filerestore ds connection settings 42383841 bin
  3. Insert your SD card into the 3DS and power it on
  4. Launch [System Settings] -> [Data Managerment] -> [DSiWare]3ds data management
  5. Under the SD Card section, select the Nintendo DSi™ titleds connection settings restore dsiware
  6. Select [Copy] then select [OK]

Install Homebrew Applications

  1. Launch the Download Play app on your 3DSdownload play luma3ds
  2. In the Download Play menu, simultaneously Press [L] + [Down] + [SELECT] to open the Rosalina menu
  3. Select [Miscellaneous options]luma3ds download play miscellaneous options
  4. Select [Switch the hb. title to the current app.]luma3ds switch hb title current app
  5. Press [B] to continue
  6. Press [B] to return to the Rosalina menu
  7. Press the [HOME] button and close Download Play
  8. Launch Download Play again
  9. Your device should now load the Homebrew Launcherhomebrew launcher 3ds
  10. Launch [ctr-no-timeoffset] from the listhomebrew app menu 3ds
  11. Press [A] to set the offset to 0ctr-no-timeoffset 3ds
  12. Press [Start] to go back to the Homebrew Launcher
  13. Launch [FBI] from the list3ds homebrew fbi
  14. From the FBI menu, go to SD -> cia3ds fbi sd cia folder
  15. Select [current directory]fbi sd cia current directory
  16. Select [Install and delete all CIAs] then press [A] to confirm3ds fbi install and delete cia
  17. When installation is complete, press [Home] then close Download Play
  18. Launch the [DSP1] app from the Home menudsp1 3ds
  19. Once the process has completed, press [B] to terminate the app and return to the home menu3ds dsp1

Setup Luma3DS to boot without SD card

  1. Power off your 3DS and insert the SD card into your PC
  2. Create a folder called payloads in the /luma/ folder on your SD card
  3. Copy GodMode9.firm from the GodMode9 .zip to the /luma/payloads/ folder on your SD card
  4. Copy the gm9 folder from the GodMode9 .zip to the root of your SD card3ds gm9 folder sd card
  5. Insert your SD card into your 3DS 
  6. Power your 3DS on while holding [START] to boot into GodMode9
  7. Press [A] If prompted to backup essential files or set RTC date & time, then press [A] to continue once completedgodmode9 set rtc
  8. Press [Home] for the action menu
  9. Select [Scripts…]godmode9 scripts
  10. Select [GM9Megascript]godmode9 gm9megascript 3ds
  11. Select [Scripts from Plailect’s Guide]godmode9 scripts from plailects guide 3ds
  12. Select [Setup Luma3DS to CTRNAND]godmode9 luna3ds ctrnand
  13. Press [A] to proceed when promptedluma3ds ctrnand prompt
  14. Press [A] to unlock SysNAND (lvl2) writing, then input the button combogodmode9 unlock sysnand lvl2 write permissions button combination
  15. Press [A] to continue
  16. Select [Cleanup SD card]godmode9 clean up sd card
  17. Press [A] to proceed when promptedgodmode9 cleanup sd prompt
  18. Press [A] to continue once cleanup is completegodmode9 cleanup sd complete
  19. Press [B] to go back to the GM9Megascript menu
  20. Select [Exit] to return to the main menugodmode9 megascript menu exit
  21. Press [A] to relock write permissions if promptedgodmode9 relock write permissions
  22. Press [Home] and select [Poweroff system]godmode9 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

Credits