The steps detailed here generally assume that your console has a modern custom firmware setup (boot9strap + Luma3DS 8.0 or greater). If your console is running an older homebrew setup (for example, something based on arm9loaderhax or menuhax), you should update your setup before trying these instructions.

Power/notification light indicators

My console powers off when I try to turn it on, and/or the notification LED shows a color on boot

There is an issue with your boot.firm file. If you're running boot9strap1.4, your 3DS notification LED may flash a certain color. This color is used to diagnose issues involving your boot.firm file on SD card or internal memory. On older versions of boot9strap, the blue light will power off almost immediately when trying to turn on the console.

If the notification LED flashes:

White: Your 3DS was not able to find boot.firm on your SD card or on internal memory.
Magenta: Your 3DS was not able to find boot.firm on your SD card. It was able to find boot.firm on internal memory, but the file is corrupted.
Red: Your 3DS was able to find boot.firm on both your SD card and on internal memory, but both files are corrupted.

You can get a new boot.firm file by downloading the latest release of Luma3DS, extracting it, and placing boot.firm on the root of your SD card. If your boot.firm file is consistently being detected as corrupted, you may want to check your SD card for errors. Also, note that the 3DS tends to have issues with files extracted using WinRAR.

If you hear a "popping sound", potentially accompanied with the backlight turning on for a split second, there is a hardware issue with your console (such as a disconnected backlight cable). You may be able to get your console to boot by holding it at certain angles.

My console gets stuck on a black screen with blue power light staying on

Follow the black screen unbrick guide

Error message on boot

=An error has occurred: Failed to apply 1 FIRM patch(es)" or "An exception has occurred -- Current process: pm"

Your Luma3DS version is outdated. Download the latest release of Luma3DS and place boot.firm on the root of your SD card, replacing any existing file. Make sure you are extracting the ZIP file with any tool other than WinRAR, as it is known to cause issues with 3DS-related files.

Unable to mount CTRNAND or load the CTRNAND FIRM. Please use an external one."

There are a number of reasons as to why this could be happening. In any case, this error can usually be fixed by following the CTRTransfer guide.

"An error has occurred. Hold down the POWER button to turn off the power..."

ARM11 exception handlers are disabled, or custom firmware is not installed. Try enabling ARM11 exception handlers:

Power off your console
Hold (Select)
Power on your console, while still holding (Select)
If the "Disable ARM11 exception handlers" box is checked, uncheck it

HOME Menu is missing installed applications

This could be caused by various reasons, but most likely because your SD card is not being read by the system. You can check if your SD is being read by holding SELECT on boot and checking the yellow text on the bottom screen; if it says "Booted from CTRNAND via B9S", then your console is booting from the internal memory and not from the SD card. If this is the case, attempt the steps below, which are listed from easiest to hardest:

Power off your console, remove the SD card, re-insert it, then power on your console
Power off your console, remove the SD card, insert it on your computer, download the latest release of Luma3DS, extract boot.firm from the Luma3DS.zip and place it on the root of your SD card (replacing any existing file)
Power off your console, remove the SD card, insert it on your computer and reformat your SD (this will wipe your SD card data)
Test your SD card for errors by following the guide according to your computer's operating system: Checking SD card integrity. If your SD card is marked as faulty, then you will have to replace your SD card
Your SD card slot may be broken. Join Nintendo Homebrew on Discord for further assistance

Blue "BOOTROM ERROR" screen

Your console is likely hard-bricked. You will need to buy an ntrboot flashcart to reinstall boot9strap in order to attempt to fix your console. This may also indicate a hardware issue that cannot be fixed. In any case, join Nintendo Homebrew on Discord for assistance.

It is also possible that someone has set a boot-time splash screen that just looks like a brick. Try leaving your console powered on, waiting on the blue screen, for five minutes.

Some other error

Please take a photo of the error and join Nintendo Homebrew on Discord for assistance.

Software issues on consoles with custom firmware

DSi / DS functionality is broken or has been replaced with Flipnote Studio

Download the latest release of TWLFix-CFW (the .3dsx file)
Power off your console
Create a folder named 3ds on the root of your SD card if it does not already exist
Copy TWLFix-CFW.3dsx to the /3ds/ folder on your SD card
Reinsert your SD card into your console
Open the Homebrew Launcher
Launch TWLFix-CFW from the list of homebrew
Press A to uninstall the broken TWL titles
Press START to reboot the console
Update your console by going to System Settings, then "Other Settings", then going all the way to the right and using "System Update"
- The update will see that the essential TWL titles have been uninstalled, and will redownload and reinstall them
Once the update is complete, tap "OK" to reboot the console

GBA Virtual Console and/or Safe Mode functionality is broken

Your console is running Luma3DS 6.6 or older, likely via arm9loaderhax. You should follow A9LH to B9S to update your console to a modern custom firmware environment.

Extended memory mode games (Pokemon Sun/Moon, Smash, etc.) don't work

This can occur after a CTRTransfer or region change on Old 3DS / 2DS. You will need to system format your console to fix this issue.

Exception screen when booting/loading an application

Look for your exception screen in this page. If you weren't able to find your error or the instructions didn't work, join Nintendo Homebrew on Discord for further assistance.

Opening the HOME Menu settings crashes the console or loads the Homebrew Launcher

Your console likely still has menuhax67 installed. To uninstall menuhax67 follow removing menuhax67

Other troubleshooting

Clear HOME Menu extdata

Power off your console
Insert your SD card into your computer
Navigate to the /Nintendo 3DS/<ID0>/<ID1>/extdata/00000000/ folder on your SD card
Delete the corresponding folder for your 3DS region:
- EUR Region: 00000098
- JPN Region: 00000082
- USA Region: 0000008f
- CHN Region: 000000A1
- KOR Region: 000000A9
- TWN Region: 000000B1
Reinsert your SD card into your console

Clear HOME Menu theme data

Power off your console
Insert your SD card into your computer
Navigate to the /Nintendo 3DS/<ID0>/<ID1>/extdata/00000000/ folder on your SD card
Delete the corresponding folder for your 3DS region:
- EUR Region: 000002ce
- JPN Region: 000002cc
- USA Region: 000002cd
Reinsert your SD card into your console

Multiple ID0

This can occur when using the same SD card on multiple consoles, or after reformatting your console without your SD card inside. This is a waste of space, as only the true id0 can be used by your console.

Rename Nintendo 3DS to BACKUP_Nintendo 3DS
Insert your SD card into your console and power it on
Wait your the console to generate SD card data
- Your applications will have disappeared. This is normal and will be resolved shortly
Power off the console and insert your SD card into your computer
- You should now have a newly created Nintendo 3DS folder in addition to your existing renamed BACKUP_Nintendo 3DS folder
Determine the correct ID0 (32-character folder) in the newly created Nintendo 3DS folder.
Write down the first few characters of the folder you see
- This is your true ID0, which we will keep in the real Nintendo 3DS folder
Delete the ID0 from the current Nintendo 3DS folder
Move the true ID0 folder from the BACKUP_Nintendo 3DS folder to the Nintendo 3DS folder
If it exists, move the Private folder from the BACKUP_Nintendo 3DS 3DS folder to the Nintendo 3DS folder

Multiple ID1

his occurs when you use multiple SD cards with the same 3DS and then merge the SD card contents together, or after restoring a backup of your SD card while there is data already on the card. Both are “valid”, but the 3DS can only read one at a time.

Navigate to Nintendo 3ds/<id0>/
create a folder named BACKUP_ID1
Place all but 1 of the ID1 folder(s) into BACKUP_ID1
- Keep the largest ID1 folder, this will likely have your actual data
Insert your SD card into your console and power on
- If this returned your data, you can delete Backup_ID1
- If your data is still missing try one of the other ID1(s)

Manually entering Homebrew Launcher

Follow manually entering homebrew launcher

Turning off Parental Controls

You can disable the Parental Controls feature by going to System Settings -> Parental Controls and inserting the PIN, then pressing "Clear Settings", then "Delete" to remove it. However, if you do not know the PIN and therefore cannot access the console's settings, you will need to disable it. In order to do this, you need to obtain your console's master key (mkey):

Go to this website
Fill the following boxes with the information:
- Device Type: Select "3DS" (the same applies if you are using a 2DS, New 3DS (XL/LL) or New 2DS (XL/LL))
- System Date: The day and month your console's clock is set to
- Inquiry Number: Can be obtained by pressing "Forgot PIN" then "I Forgot" in the Parental Controls screen
After you have obtained your mkey, press OK on the screen you have obtained your Inquiry Number, then input the master key
Press "Clear Settings", then "Delete" to remove all Parental Controls data