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For support (in English) with GodMode9, as well as help with scripting and to get updates and info, join GodMode9 on Discord.

Required Reading

GodMode9 is a full access file browser for the Nintendo 3DS console, giving you access to your SD card, the FAT partitions inside your SysNAND and EmuNAND, and basically anything else. Among other functionality, you can copy, delete, rename files, and create folders.

Note that if you have any payload files other than GodMode9.firm in the /luma/payloads/ folder on your SD card, holding (Start) on boot will display a “chainloader menu” where you will have to use the D-Pad and the (A) button to select “GodMode9” for these instructions.

GodMode9 is powerful software that has the capability to modify essentially anything on your console. Though many of these modifications are locked behind a permissions system, and it is impossible to accidentally perform dangerous actions without deliberately unlocking permissions, you should still follow instructions carefully and keep backups just in case.

Updating GodMode9

Some of the instructions below are only applicable to the latest version of GodMode9, and as such you should follow this section to update your copy before continuing. Overwrite any existing files.

What You Need

The latest release of GodMode9

Instructions

Power off your device Insert your SD card into your computer Copy GodMode9.firm from the GodMode9 .zip to the /luma/payloads/ folder on your SD card Copy the gm9 folder from the GodMode9 .zip to the root of your SD card Reinsert your SD card into your device

Creating a NAND Backup

Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot Press (Home) to bring up the action menu Select “Scripts…” Select “GM9Megascript” Select “Backup Options” Select “SysNAND Backup” Press (A) to confirm This process will take some time

If you get an error, make sure that you have at least 1.3GB of free space on your SD card Press (A) to continue Press (B) to return to the main menu Select “Exit” Press (A) to relock write permissions if prompted Hold (R) and press (B) at the same time to eject your SD card Insert your SD card into your computer Copy <date>_<serialnumber>_sysnand_###.bin and essential.exefs from the /gm9/out/ folder on your SD card to a safe location on your computer Make backups in multiple locations (such as online file storage)

These backups will save you from a brick and/or help you recover files from the NAND image if anything goes wrong in the future Delete <date>_<serialnumber>_sysnand_###.bin and <date>_<serialnumber>_sysnand_###.bin.sha from the /gm9/out/ folder on your SD card after copying it Reinsert your SD card into your device If your SD card was not detected, hold (R) and press (B) at the same time to remount it

Restoring a NAND Backup

Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot Hold (R) and press (B) at the same time to eject your SD card Insert your SD card into your computer Copy <date>_<serialnumber>_sysnand_###.bin from your computer to the /gm9/out/ folder on your SD card Reinsert your SD card into your device Press (Home) to bring up the action menu Select “Scripts…” Select “GM9Megascript” Select “Restore Options” Select “SysNAND Restore (safe)” Select your NAND backup Press (A) to unlock SysNAND (lvl3) writing, then input the key combo given This will not overwrite your boot9strap installation

This process will take some time Press (A) to continue Press (B) to return to the main menu Select “Exit” Press (A) to relock write permissions if prompted

Injecting any .CIA app into Health & Safety

For organizational purposes, copy the .cia file you wish to inject to the /cias/ folder on your SD card

Note that it is not possible to inject files into Health & Safety that are larger than it (including games and other large applications)

Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot Navigate to [0:] SDCARD -> cias Press (A) on your .cia to select it, then select “CIA image options…”, then select “Mount image to drive” Press (A) on the .app file, then select “NCCH image options”, then select “Inject to H&S” Press (A) to unlock SysNAND (lvl1) writing, then input the key combo given Press (A) to continue Press (A) to relock write permissions if prompted

Restoring Health & Safety after injecting a .CIA app

This will only work if the Health & Safety injection was performed by GodMode9 (not Decrypt9 or Hourglass9).

Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot Press (Home) to bring up the action menu Select “More…” Select “Restore H&S” Press (A) to unlock SysNAND (lvl1) writing, then input the key combo given Press (A) to relock write permissions if prompted

Dumping a Game Cartridge

Insert the game cartridge you intend to dump into your device 3DS game cartridges will be dumped to an installable .cia format

format NDS game cartridges will be dumped to a non-installable .nds format compatible with flashcarts and emulators

Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot Navigate to [C:] GAMECART Follow the steps applicable to your game cartridge: 3DS Game Cartridge: Press (A) on [TitleID].trim.3ds to select it, then select “NCSD image options…”, then select “Build CIA from file”

Press (A) on to select it, then select “NCSD image options…”, then select “Build CIA from file” NDS Game Cartridge: Press (A) on [TitleID].trim.nds to select it, then select “Copy to 0:/gm9/out” Your installable .cia or non-installable .nds formatted file will be outputted to the /gm9/out/ folder on your SD card

Dumping a Title

Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot Hover over the drive applicable to the type of title you wish to dump: User Installed Title : [A:] SYSNAND SD

: System Title: [1:] SYSNAND CTRNAND Hold (R) and press (A) at the same time to open the drive options Select “Search for titles” Press (A) to continue Press (A) on the .tmd file to select it, then select “TMD file options…”, then select “Build CIA (standard)” Your installable .cia formatted file will be outputted to the /gm9/out/ folder on your SD card

Converting a .3DS to .CIA

For organizational purposes, copy each .3ds file you wish to convert to the /cias/ folder on your SD card Note that if you wish to convert a .3ds file that is already on a flashcart, you should follow Dumping a Game Cartridge

file you wish to convert to the folder on your SD card

Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot Navigate to [0:] SDCARD -> cias Press (A) on your .3ds file to select it, then select “NCSD image options…”, then select “Build CIA from file” Your installable .cia formatted file will be outputted to the /gm9/out/ folder on your SD card

Backup GBA VC Saves

The game will be outputted to the /gm9/out/ folder on your SD card with the name <TitleID>.gbavc.sav .

To identify a <TitleID>.gbavc.sav file’s Title ID, you can get a listing of all games on the system and their corresponding Title IDs by hovering over [A:] SYSNAND SD , holding (R) and pressing (A) at the same time, then selecting “Search for titles”.

Do the following process for each GBA VC game that you want to backup the save for: Launch the GBA VC game

Exit the GBA VC game

Boot your device while holding (Start) to launch the Luma3DS chainloader menu

Launch GodMode9 by pressing (A)

Navigate to [S:] SYSNAND VIRTUAL

Press (A) on agbsave.bin to select it

to select it Select “AGBSAVE options…”

Select “Dump GBA VC save”

Press (A) to continue

Press (Start) to reboot your device

Restore GBA VC Saves

To identify a <TitleID>.gbavc.sav file’s Title ID, you can get a listing of all games on the system and their corresponding Title IDs by hovering over [A:] SYSNAND SD , holding (R) and pressing (A) at the same time, then selecting “Search for titles”.

Do the following process for each GBA VC game that you want to restore the save for: Launch the GBA VC game

Exit the GBA VC game

Boot your device while holding (Start) to launch the Luma3DS chainloader menu

Launch GodMode9 by pressing (A)

Navigate to [0:] SDCARD -> gm9

-> Press (Y) on the <TitleID>.gbavc.sav file you wish to restore to copy it

file you wish to restore to copy it Press (B) to return to the main menu

Navigate to [S:] SYSNAND VIRTUAL

Press (A) on agbsave.bin to select it

to select it Select “AGBSAVE options…”

Select “Inject GBA VC save”

Press (A) to continue

Press (Start) to reboot your device

Launch the GBA VC game

Exit the GBA VC game

Format an SD card

Note that this will erase the contents of your SD card!

Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot Press (Home) to bring up the action menu Select “More…” Select “SD format menu” Select any EmuNAND options you wish to use Most users will want to select “No EmuNAND” Select “Auto” Press (A) to accept the label GM9SD Optionally, you may input a custom name for the SD card When prompted, input the key combo given to confirm

Encrypting / Decrypting a .CIA file

For organizational purposes, copy each .cia file you wish to encrypt / decrypt to the /cias/ folder on your SD card

Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot Navigate to [0:] SDCARD -> cias Press (A) on the .cia file to select it, then select “CIA image options…” Select the option to perform the desired function: Encrypt to 0:/gm9/out: Create an encrypted copy of the selected .cia file in the /gm9/out/ folder on your SD card

Create an encrypted copy of the selected file in the folder on your SD card Decrypt to 0:/gm9/out: Create a decrypted copy of the selected .cia file in the /gm9/out/ folder on your SD card

Create a decrypted copy of the selected file in the folder on your SD card Encrypt inplace: Replace the selected .cia file with an encrypted version

Replace the selected file with an encrypted version Decrypt inplace: Replace the selected .cia file with a decrypted version Your encrypted / decrypted .cia will be outputted to the desired location

Removing an NNID without formatting your device