3DS:Flashcarts: Difference between revisions

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There are two kinds of flashcarts that the 3DS can use: DS-mode (such as the R4 family) and 3DS-mode (such as Gateway-3DS). DS flashcarts are still sometimes used in custom firmware setups (though [[3DS:nds-bootstrap|nds-bootstrap]] is usually a better option, so [[3DS:ntrboot|ntrboot]] is a more practical use of the cart in those cases), while 3DS flashcarts have fallen out of favor due to CFW entirely replacing their functionality.

There are two kinds of flashcarts that the 3DS can use: DS-mode (such as the R4 family) and 3DS-mode (such as Gateway-3DS). DS flashcarts are still sometimes used in custom firmware setups (though [[3DS:nds-bootstrap|nds-bootstrap]] is usually a better option, [[3DS:ntrboot|ntrboot]] is a more practical use of the cart in those cases), while 3DS flashcarts have fallen out of favor due to CFW entirely replacing their functionality.

==DS flashcarts==

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==3DS flashcarts==

{{critical|text=3DS flashcarts have been entirely ~~superceded~~ by [[3dsguide:index|custom firmware]] setups. Even if you have an old 3DS-mode flashcart lying around, you should not use it; they are at best cumbersome and at worst a potential brick risk if you're not very careful. '''No support on flashcart-based setups will be provided on this wiki or by affiliated support channels except for the purposes of migrating people ''off'' of flashcart-based setups.'''}}

{{critical|text=3DS flashcarts have been entirely superseded by [[3dsguide:index|custom firmware]] setups. Even if you have an old 3DS-mode flashcart lying around, you should not use it; they are at best cumbersome and at worst a potential brick risk if you're not very careful. '''No support on flashcart-based setups will be provided on this wiki or by affiliated support channels except for the purposes of migrating people ''off'' of flashcart-based setups.'''}}

There were three major 3DS-mode flashcarts released over the lifespan of the 3DS: Gateway-3DS, Sky3DS, and Stargate. Any other flashcarts are clones of one of these cartridges (most likely Gateway-3DS).

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'''Gateway-3DS''' was the first flashcart for the 3DS, and one of the earliest ways to run 3DS games from a flashcart. It required its own custom firmware to function, generally relying on an out-of-date SysNAND (often on 4.x or 9.x) and an up-to-date EmuNAND. Most 3DS flashcart clones are based on this cartridge.<br>

Gateway-3DS came with two flashcarts, one blue and one red. The blue one was just a traditional DS flashcart that was occasionally required to install an exploit to run custom firmware, while the red one was the 3DS-mode flashcart.<br>

The cartridge/custom firmware is notorious for its implementation of a clone flashcart detector which could trigger at random for genuine flashcarts, and when triggered, would cause a software brick in the 3DS. This ''was'' notable for being the only software brick that requires a hardmod to fix, but '''recent developments have created a way to fix gateway bricks via ntrboot.''' For assistance with this fix, ~~[https://discord.gg/C29hYvh~~ join the Nintendo Homebrew Discord] and ask, in English, for help.<br>

The cartridge/custom firmware is notorious for its implementation of a clone flashcart detector which could trigger at random for genuine flashcarts, and when triggered, would cause a software brick in the 3DS. This ''was'' notable for being the only software brick that requires a hardmod to fix, but '''recent developments have created a way to fix gateway bricks via ntrboot.''' For assistance with this fix, {{ml|Get support|join the Nintendo Homebrew Discord}} and ask, in English, for help.<br>

Gateway's custom firmware no longer works properly on the latest firmware and is generally not compatible with boot9strap-based setups. If you have such a setup, you should [[3DS:Migrate from Gateway|migrate away from it]].