.cia
file anywhere on your SD card. (You may want to create a "cias" folder for organizational purposes.)
Install and delete CIA
- The CIA file itself does not need to be kept after it is installed, hence "install and delete"
This page details how installing software/homebrew works on the 3DS.
Software on the 3DS comes in two main formats: CIA and 3DSX.
No format is inherently better than the other; it just depends on how you want to launch your software. If you'd prefer your application on HOME Menu, CIA format is the way to go. Otherwise, 3DSX is probably better.
There is also NDS (.nds) format software, which can only be used with TWiLightMenu++/nds-bootstrap and can be installed by placing the NDS file anywhere on the SD card visible to TWiLightMenu++. This format of homebrew is also compatible with the DSi and with DS flashcarts.
Some other file formats you might encounter (but not as often):
Nintendo 3DS
folder. You won't be able to directly manipulate these very easily.In summary, if you want to install software on your 3DS, you should be looking for CIA or 3DSX format applications — and sometimes NDS files.
There is 3 software that can be used to install 3DS software:
.cia
file anywhere on your SD card. (You may want to create a "cias" folder for organizational purposes.)
Install and delete CIA
.cia
file anywhere on your SD card. (You may want to create a "cias" folder for organizational purposes.)
Start
[0:] SDCARD
and press A
.cia
file you want to install, then press A
CIA Image Options...
and press A
Install game image
and press A
Install success
appears
Start
To run a piece of homebrew in .3dsx
format:
.3dsx
file in the 3ds
folder (NOT Nintendo 3DS
) on your SD card
If you followed 3ds.hacks.guide to install custom firmware on your 3DS, you probably also have Universal-Updater, which can be used as a homebrew app store. To use it: