3DS Hacks - Convert 3DS ROMs to .cia

Nintendo 3DS games can often be found in the .3ds format, which is intended for emulators like Citra. Nintendo 3DS consoles cannot load .3ds ROM files, however they can be converted to .cia format which can be installed on hacked 3DS consoles with FBI. This guide will show you how to convert your .3ds ROMs to .cia files using GodMode9.

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

Convert .3ds to .cia

  1. Insert your 3DS SD card into your PC
  2. Create a folder called in inside the /gm9/ folder on your SD card if it doesn’t exist already3ds godmode9 convert rom gm9 in folder
  3. Copy your .3ds rom file to the /gm9/in/ folder on your SD cardconvert 3ds to cia gm9 in persona q
  4. Insert your SD card into your 3DS
  5. Power your 3DS on while holding [START] to boot into GodMode9
  6. Press [Home] for the action menu
  7. Select [Scripts…]godmode9 scripts
  8. Select [GM9Megascript]godmode9 gm9megascript 3ds
  9. Select [Miscellaneous]convert 3ds to cia godmode9 gm9megascript miscellaneous
  10. Select [.3ds to .cia Converter]convert 3ds to cia godmode9
  11. Select your .3ds game then press [A] to confirm your selection and wait for the process to completeconvert 3ds to cia godmode9 select
  12. Press [A] once complete to go back to the menu, your .cia file will be found in the /gm9/out/ folder on your SD cardconvert 3ds to cia gm9 out persona q
  13. You can now install the .cia using FBI, navigate to SD -> gm9 -> out to install the game from this locationconvert 3ds to cia fbi install persona q

Congratulations, you’ve converted a .3ds rom file to a .cia to install on a 3DS console.

3DS Hacks and Homebrew

Installing 3DS Backups and Homebrew

  • Install 3DS backups and homebrew easily with FBI

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

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

Play DS Games with TWiLight Menu++

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

Credits