On the Nintendo 3DS, game plugins are add-ons that run with specific games. They can often be used to:
- Use pre-defined cheat codes (e.g. ultraSuMoFramework)
- Generate items or change game elements (e.g. Vapecord)
- Assist with gameplay (e.g. pokeCalcNTR)
- Create your own cheat codes (CTRPluginFramework blank plugin)
Plugins most commonly come in two formats: the PLG format and the 3GX format. PLG format plugins are generally older and may not work as expected on the latest firmware.
This page serves as a general tutorial for running plugins - it is not a tutorial on how to use these plugins. For information on specific plugins, check the page for the game in question.
Installing PLG format plugins
What you need
- The latest release of BootNTR (one of the
.cia
files)- The banner doesn't matter - get the one that you think looks nicer.
- If you have an Old3DS, you'll need the Mode3 version of BootNTR if you want to use plugins on extended memory mode games (such as the seventh-generation Pokémon games).
- The latest release of Luma3DS 3GX Loader (
boot.firm
)- Even though we're running PLG format plugins, we currently require the 3GX loader version of Luma3DS for BootNTR Selector to work. You won't actually be using the 3GX loading component (unless, of course, you're using any 3GX plugins).
- Your PLG-format plugin of choice
Section I: Prep Work
- Put your SD card into your computer
- Copy the BootNTR Selector
.cia
file(s) to thecias
folder on your SD card- Create it if it doesn't exist - it's just for organizational purposes
- Copy
boot.firm
to the root of the SD card, replacing the existing one - Create a folder named
plugin
on the root of your SD card if it does not already exist - Inside the
plugin
folder, create a folder named with the title ID of the game- You can get the game's title ID from here (cartridges), here (digital games), or from the
FBI -> Titles
menu - For example, Taiko no Tatsujin: Dokodon! Mystery Adventure's title ID is
0004000000190E00
, so you'd create a folder named0004000000190E00
- The creator of the plugin may have already done this for you, in which case you can just copy the title ID folder from the plugin's
.zip
file to theplugin
folder - If you want the plugin to run for all games (for example, for an FPS overlay), create a folder called
game
inside of theplugin
folder
- You can get the game's title ID from here (cartridges), here (digital games), or from the
- Put your SD card into your 3DS
Section II: Installing CIAs
You only need to do this if BootNTR Selector hasn't been installed yet, or if BootNTR Selector is outdated. |
- Power on your device
- Open the FBI application
- Navigate to
SD Card
->cias
- Select the BootNTR Selector
.cia
file(s), then select "Install and delete CIA" - Allow the CIA(s) to install
- Exit the FBI application
Section III: BootNTR Selector
- Open the BootNTR Selector application (the rocket icon)
- If you have an Old3DS and you want to run an extended memory mode game, open the Mode3 version; otherwise, open the normal one
- If prompted to setup the application, select "Use default"
- If you mess up here, you can reset BootNTR Selector's config by holding (Select) while opening the application
- Select Version 3.6
- The screen should flash a color, then kick you back to HOME Menu
- Open your game of choice
- The screen should flash another color to indicate that the plugin has successfully loaded
Your NTR plugin has been successfully loaded! Refer to the plugin's documentation to figure out what key(s) you need to press to access the plugin's settings. |
Installing 3GX format plugins
What you need
- The latest release of Luma3DS 3GX Loader (
boot.firm
) - Your 3GX-format plugin of choice
Section I: Prep Work
- Put your SD card into your computer
- Copy
boot.firm
to the root of the SD card, replacing the existing one - Open the
luma
folder, then create a folder namedplugins
inside it - Inside the
plugins
folder, create a folder named with the title ID of the game- You can get the game's title ID from here (cartridges), here (digital games), or from the
FBI -> Titles
menu - For example, Taiko no Tatsujin: Dokodon! Mystery Adventure's title ID is
0004000000190E00
, so you'd create a folder named0004000000190E00
- The creator of the plugin may have already done this for you, in which case you can just copy the title ID folder from the plugin's
.zip
file to theplugins
folder - If you want the plugin to run for all games (for example, for the CTRPluginFramework blank plugin), rename the plugin to
default.3gx
and just leave it in theplugins
folder
- You can get the game's title ID from here (cartridges), here (digital games), or from the
- Put your SD card into your 3DS
Section II: Installing CIAs
- Power on your device
- Open the Rosalina menu ([Left Shoulder] + [Down D-Pad] + [Select] by default)
- Scroll down to the plugin loader option, then press (A) to enable it
- Exit the Rosalina menu by pressing (B) a couple of times
- Open your game of choice
- The screen should flash another color to indicate that the plugin has successfully loaded
Your 3GX plugin has been successfully loaded! Refer to the plugin's documentation to figure out what key(s) you need to press to access the plugin's settings. |