3DS:Bible

The 3DS Bible is an assortment of fixes to common issues, managed by eip in collaboration with the Nintendo Homebrew crc team. Its original link can be found here.
Note that this version of the Bible has been altered to fit the wiki's manual of style. As a result, among other changes, this means the manual CTRTransfer has been moved to its own page.

The processes marked [ADVANCED] on this page are potentially destructive and should only be followed under guidance. Use caution and common sense. If you run into any issues or do not understand something, join the Nintendo Homebrew Discord and ask, in English, for help.

[1]: Console boots to black screen with power LED after installing boot9strap (with GodMode9 access)

There are four potential solutions for this issue. Follow them in given order. If any one of these fixes the issue, there is no need to proceed to the next one.

• Luma Black Screen Bug
  • See here for the steps to this process.
  • If the console still did not boot, see the next item.
• Deleting HOME Menu extdata
  1. Navigate to the following folder on your SD card: sd:/Nintendo 3DS/<ID0>/<ID1>/extdata/00000000
  2. Delete the folder relevant to your region:
     • USA: 0000008f
       EUR: 00000098
       JPN: 00000082
       KOR: 000000A9
  3. Try booting again. If the console still did not boot, see the next item.
• Deleting HOME Menu theme data
  1. Navigate to the following folder on your SD card: sd:/Nintendo 3DS/<ID0>/<ID1>/extdata/00000000
  2. Delete the folder relevant to your region:
     • USA: 000002cd
       EUR: 000002ce
       JPN: 000002cc
  3. Try booting again. If the console still did not boot, see the next item.
• CTRTransfer
  • See the CTRTransfer page for instructions. If the console still did not boot, you may optionally try a manual CTRTransfer.
    • If the console still did not boot after this, you have a serious issue that must be diagnosed further. Join the Nintendo Homebrew Discord and ask, in English, for help.

[2]: Recovery Mode/Safe Mode Update

This can be used for most general circumstances and should not be destructive. Use cases: random crashes, broken titles, console not booting after suggested fixes

1. Turn the console off.
2. Hold the following buttons: [L, R, D-Pad Up, A], then power the console on.
3. This should boot you into Safe Mode. It should prompt a system update. It will require access to the Internet.
4. Accept the update. Once done, it should note its success and then power off the console.

The Safe Mode update has been successfully performed.

[3]: Remove HOME Menu management information from CTRNAND

This process may reset your Home Menu data, such as theme orders, folders and notifications. Use cases: console not booting after suggested fixes

1. Turn the console off.
2. Hold the following buttons: [L, R, D-Pad Down, B], then power the console on.
3. The console should boot to home menu and give you a prompt. Accept it.

Your HOME Menu management information is now removed.

[4]: Delete system save data [ADVANCED]

This process will reset your system save data, which will include any Miis you have made and your friend list.
This should generally not be attempted unless you have been advised to perform this process. Use cases: console not booting after suggested fixes

1. Boot your system to GodMode9 by holding START while powering on.
2. Navigate to the drive [1:] SYSNAND CTRNAND, then the folder data.
3. In this folder, there should be a folder whose name is 32 random letters and numbers. You may recognize that this is your id0.
4. Press R + A to bring up directory options, then select Copy to 0:/gm9/out
5. Once complete, press X on this folder to delete it.
6. On the following prompt, press A.
7. Restart your system.
   • If this does not work, to restore you can copy the backup from 0:/gm9/out back to 1:/data.

Your system save data is now removed.

[5:] Injecting N3DS donor NAND header [ADVANCED]

This process should only be used when explicitly proven necessary, only as a last resort, and not for general purposes. This process will render your TWLNAND permanently unusable on stock firmware. Your TWLNAND runs DS games/DS system software. So long as you never uninstall CFW, this will not be a problem.

1. Power off your console, eject the SD card and connect it to your computer.
2. Download the donor header (right click > Save Target As or similar).
3. Place the file you just downloaded on your root directory.
4. Boot your console into GodMode9 by holding START during boot.
5. Open [0:] SDCARD
6. Locate NCSD_header_n3ds.hdr and press Y to copy it. It should show up under CLIPBOARD in the top right of the bottom screen.
7. Back out to the GodMode9 main window and open [S:] SYSNAND VIRTUAL
8. Select nand_hdr.bin, then choose Inject data @offset.
9. Do not change the offset, and just press A. You will be met with a write unlock prompt. Press A again.
10. You will see a red screen warning you about a SysNAND level 3 unlock. Enter the button combination on the screen to proceed.

Your NAND header is now replaced with a donor.