ACNL Hacking FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What system firmware do I need? Can I downgrade my 3DS? What kind of hacks can I do? Can I have more than 30 PWPs? What if I’m on a Mac?

These questions answered and more…

Continue below for the magic crystal ball.

More Q&A will be added as it is received.

Required System Firmware

What system firmware version does my 3DS have to be to use the tools?

It is recommended that your system be at least 9.0.0-20U, but not higher than 9.5.0-22U. SOME users with 8.1.0-18 firmware have reported being able to use the hacks, but this is not guaranteed.

9.0.0-20U, but not higher than 9.5.0-22U. SOME users with 8.1.0-18 firmware have reported being able to use the hacks, but this is not guaranteed. It is NOT guaranteed that you can use the hacks even if you have the RIGHT firmware versions – we’ve had problems with some users just not being able to hack, period, despite everything being right.

If you are on system firmware 9.5.0-23 or higher, you will NOT be able to hack. The 9.5.0-23 system update closed the door to the hacking exploit.

How do I check my system firmware version?

Your system firmware version can be found by going to System Settings from the HOME Screen of your 3DS. Once you are in the System Settings menu, you can find your current firmware version on the TOP screen, bottom right corner. It will appear as 0.0.0-00X, with X being your REGION. U = US region, E = EU region.



Mine for example, is 9.4.0-21U as I am in the US region.

What browser version do I need to be able to hack?

At this time it is suggested you have browser version 1.7567 or higher.



There have not been any successful reports of users with browser versions 1.7552 or lower being able to hack.



The 1.7567 browser version was first introduced with the 7.1.0-16 system firmware.



It is suggested you search for a 3DS with 7.1.0-16 firmware or higher at this time due to new data that has been collected.

How do I check my browser version?

From your Home Screen, go to your Browser, then tap on the WRENCH icon (which takes you to your settings menu). It will take you to a new page with your browser’s settings. The browser version is all the way at the bottom of the list.



I already updated my 3DS to 9.5.0-23 or higher! What do I do?!

There’s nothing you can do. There’s NO way to downgrade. I repeat, there’s no way to downgrade . Even if you format your 3DS, it will still retain its current system firmware version.



way to downgrade. I repeat, . Even if you format your 3DS, it will still retain its current system firmware version. 3DS systems with 9.5.0-23 firmware or higher CANNOT hack.

Will the hacking tools ever be supported on systems with 9.5.0-23 and later updates?

No. Nintendo has patched (fixed) the browser weakness that these tools exploit. The option no longer exists past 9.5.0-22. The door has been closed, to put it simply. Until a different exploit (weakness) is found, you’ll have to find a friend with a 3DS that hasn’t been upgraded.



How long do you think it will take for a new exploit to be found?

It could be months, it could be a year or more. It could be never. Even if one is found, new tools would still have to be created by the community, which also takes time, assuming people with the capabilities are around to do it. Basically, don’t hold your breath.



If I buy a brand new 3DS, will it already be updated past 9.5.0-22U?

If it’s the newest 3DS model, yes . Any N3DS will be unable to hack.

. Any N3DS will be unable to hack. The older 3DS XLs, maybe not , as they are all released from the factory in groups with the same version firmware, which is typically older – mine came from Amazon not fully updated, for instance. You’d have even better luck finding one on eBay or craigslist – just ask the seller to tell you the firmware version before buying.

, as they are all released from the factory in groups with the same version firmware, which is typically older – mine came from Amazon not fully updated, for instance. You’d have even better luck finding one on eBay or craigslist – just ask the seller to tell you the firmware version before buying. Only the older 3DS XLs with un-updated firmware are compatible with the hacking tools at this time.

I have a 3DS with a really OLD firmware version, like 4.5.0-10 – can I use the ACNL hacks?

No, you won’t be able to use the tools. The lowest version we’ve had compatibility with is 8.1.0-18 systems.



Is there a way for me to upgrade a low system like 4.5.0-10 high enough to be able to use the hacks, without upgrading my system all the way?

Yes and no. You can do a selective upgrade through a game cartridge that has the lower firmware you want to upgrade to. However, only a FEW games have the firmware needed.

Now we’ve also discovered that the browser version also matters, so check the browser version before you bother trying to update with a cartridge!



KEEP YOUR WIFI OFF WHEN UPGRADING YOUR FIRMWARE WITH A CARTRIDGE

PLEASE NOTE upgrading through the cartridge will only upgrade PARTS of your system that are essential or required basics firmware – it doesn’t upgrade online components (which would require you to connect online), so you may still run into issues hacking because of this.

US Region:

Super Smash Bros. for 3DS (US Region Only) - has two cartridge versions, one with 8.1.0 firmware, the other with 9.2.0 firmware. There is no way to tell the difference, the cartridges are all identical in appearance, the difference is on the inside in the cartridge software. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a cartridge with 9.2.0 firmware. If you get the one with 8.1.0 firmware, you MAY be able to hack, but you also may not be able to. Tested with both cartridge versions.



- has two cartridge versions, one with 8.1.0 firmware, the other with 9.2.0 firmware. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a cartridge with 9.2.0 firmware. If you get the one with 8.1.0 firmware, you MAY be able to hack, but you also may not be able to. Tested with both cartridge versions. Super Smash Bros. for 3DS is the ONLY US region game with 9.2.0 firmware installed in the cartridge. There are no other US games with 9.2.0 firmware, period.



There are no other US games with 9.2.0 firmware, period. Code Name: STEAM for 3DS (US Region Only) - has a cartridge firmware of 9.4.0 and can be used, like SSB, to try and selectively upgrade your 3DS. Tested.



- has a cartridge firmware of 9.4.0 and can be used, like SSB, to try and selectively upgrade your 3DS. Tested. Code Name: STEAM for 3DS is the ONLY US region game with 9.4.0 firmware installed in the cartridge. There are no other US games with 9.4.0 firmware at this time, period.



There are no other US games with 9.4.0 firmware at this time, period. All other US game cartridges have firmware 8.1.0 or LOWER. Only the above TWO games can be used to selectively upgrade your 3DS in the US region at this time.



EU Region:

Cooking Mama: Bon Apetit! / Cooking Mama 5 (EU Region Only) - has cartridge firmware version 9.2.0. Untested.



- has cartridge firmware version 9.2.0. Untested. Gardening Mama 2: Forest Friends (EU Region Only) - has cartridge firmware version 9.2.0. Untested.



- has cartridge firmware version 9.2.0. Untested. Inazuma Eleven GO 2: Chrono Stones Wildfire (EU Region Only) - has cartridge firmware version 9.4.0. Untested.



- has cartridge firmware version 9.4.0. Untested. Inazuma Eleven GO 2: Chrono Stones Thunderflash (EU Region Only) - has cartridge firmware version 9.4.0. Untested.



- has cartridge firmware version 9.4.0. Untested. All other EU game cartridges have firmware 8.1.0 or LOWER. Only the above FOUR games can be used to selectively upgrade your 3DS in the EU region at this time.

General Questions

What can I do in ACNL with hacking? What are the limitations?

You can do tons of town customization, including editing your players’ features, swapping out your villagers, changing your town grass shape – just to name a few.



What can be hacked is only limited by the game’s framework; the coding for what you want to do must exist in the game already. For instance, we can easily change our grass type from squares to circles, because the game has three pre-set options already coded into the game to choose from, which include squares and circles. However, we would NOT be able to have an all new grass type, such as cloud shapes, because the game doesn’t have that feature coded already. Basically, we’re just swapping out parts that already exist. So you can’t make new things, like new tan colors, but you can change your tan to any of the game’s existing tan colors. You must stick within the game’s existing parameters (options). Make sense?



How does this hacking thing work?

The hacking tools make use of the Spider exploit, found by user MathewE, which essentially allows the loading / unloading of files into games from the SD card by way of a browser weakness in the older system firmwares.

Specifically, the information that is being loaded / unloaded (or dumped and injected as we’ve been calling it in the community) is the RAM file of the games. In addition to a game’s RAM file, there is a ROM file, but we don’t have access to edit the ROM file with these tools.

The RAM file typically holds all of the “customizeable” aspects of the game, especially when a game as randomized pre-set options for things like New Leaf does, for acre tiles, villagers, house styles, you name it – all have been pre-defined in the game’s ROM file, which holds the game’s framework – all of it’s source coding, all of the options for everything are pre-defined here in a framework.

So, the ROM holds all of the POSSIBLE options, you can imagine them as defined in a glossary inside the game. All the possible map layouts, all the possible faces. The RAM holds the options YOUR game ended up with when your file was created, such as what face you ended up with.

Since we have access to edit the RAM file, that means we can swap out things like our faces, for the other available options found in the game’s ROM file.

What hacking tools are currently available?

RAM Editor - uses web browser interface



- uses web browser interface LeafTools - uses QR codes



- uses QR codes MAP Editor - downloadable program



- downloadable program Hex Editing - requires coding knowledge



- requires coding knowledge [click here] for a more detailed explanation of each tool!

Can I use these hacks on a digital download / e-shop version of ACNL?

Yes, you can! You use the tools the same way for a digital copy as you do for a physical copy.



Can I skip the 16 Villager Cycle by using the hacking tools?

Yes, you can do so with the RAM Editor by swapping out one of your current villagers for the villager you want to move back in. Keep in mind though, the villager will still show up on Main street as recently moved out unless you edit that information through the hex code, since that information is stored separately / elsewhere in the game.

So if Fauna was the villager you were cycling 16 for, and you put her back in town with the RAM editor, she’ll be in your town and act as normal but she’ll also appear on Main Street and talk about how she moved out.



Can I have more than 10 villagers in my town with these tools?

No. The game’s coding only has pre-made blocks setup for 10 villagers. It is not possible to change that fact with any of these tools. The spots don’t exist and you can’t add in new spots without accessing the game’s ROM file, which is not possible.



Can I place more than 30 PWPs by using these tools?

No. Having more than 30 PWPs enters game-breaking territory. The game’s code only has x amount of spaces (58, to be exact) to store building info, and that includes the Town Hall, Train Station, and things like Katrina’s Tent, and other event tents. So, even though there’s 58 spaces availble in the game and you’re thinking, that’s plenty of space for more than 30 PWPs, the other 28 spaces are already taken .

. As you can imagine knowing the above, trying to have a PWP slot take up say, Katrina’s Tent spot, is going to cause the game freak out because it’s always going to give Katrina’s Tent priority – it was coded to do so. So then it breaks, because it can’t do anything else. “Does not compute!” cried your 3DS, before shutting down.

RAM Editor Questions

Can I remove villagers from my town using the RAM Editor?

NO! Use LeafTools Eviction Notice tool instead. The RAM editor only edits PARTIAL villager data at this time, and leaves behind some data like the villager’s letters and friendship level with you.



Use LeafTools Eviction Notice tool instead. The RAM editor only edits PARTIAL villager data at this time, and leaves behind some data like the villager’s letters and friendship level with you. Removing a villager through the RAM editor will cause your game to crash. Don’t do it!

Can I swap out my currently existing villagers?

Yes, this is perfectly okay to do. Just remember that because the RAM editor only edits partial villager data at this time, that your new villager will still have your old villager’s letters and friendship level with you.



So, if you swap out Curly for Fang, Fang is going to show you any letters you wrote Curly, and the letters will still be about / addressed to Curly. Fang will also retain Curly’s current friendship level with you, whatever that was.



Can I use the RAM Editor to place my ground patterns?

Absolutely! Check out my guide to Placing Patterns Like a Pro with RAM Editor.



Can I get around item / PWP placement restrictions with the RAM editor, like planting trees where they would normally die or moving PWPs where I normally couldn’t before?

You can to an extent. You can put trees and weeds in rivers and lakes, for instance. But you still can’t plant trees and bushes directly next to buildings or PWPs – they’ll show up when you inject but they’ll disappear after you save and quit.

All buildings and PWPs will retain a one-square space around their perimeters at all times, it’s basically an invisible cushion around each building and PWP (actually, those spaces are part of the buildings / PWPS). This is mostly for WALKING purposes – the game is trying to ensure you have a place to walk / just the way the game was coded. So you can’t put trees or bushes here. Flowers don’t count because they can be walked through.

You can move PWPs around fairly freely within the bounds of your map. I myself love putting fountains in the lakes.

How do the map coordinates work in the RAM Editor?

I made this swaggy coordinate map in MS Paint to help you visualize:



I’m on a Mac, and the RAM editor won’t work in Safari!

Try Chrome, you should be able to use it then.



More coming soon!

MAP Editor Questions

I’m on a Mac, how do I use the Map Editor?

You’ll need to use a Windows interface program such as Wine, Parallels, VMWare, etc. If you don’t have on already, you’ll need to download one!

I changed my river layout with the Map Editor and now parts of my river are flowing in the wrong direction! How do I fix it?

The game has preset tiles for the rivers, each with their own distinct flow, generally three of each tile set. So, for the horizontal river connectors for example, you’ll find six different tiles with horizontal river connectors – three will have rivers flowing EAST, the other three will have rivers flowing WEST. Keep this in mind when rearranging your river if you want your river to always flow in the same direction.

There is NO way to change the flow of the individual river tiles. So if you picked a tile with the river flowing the wrong way, you’ll have to go and change that tile to one where the river is flowing the right way.



Can I create islands on my town map with the MAP Editor?

Yes, you can, but due to the river tiles all having pre-set flows, you’re going to have an island surrounded by a river that flows in opposite directions.

This doesn’t break the game, it’s merely a cosmetic flaw you’ll have to put up with if you want islands. You can have rivers flowing the wrong way without affecting your gameplay.

Can I move where my island dock is located?

NO. Doing so will break your dock and render you unable to visit the Island. You are unfortunately stuck with wherever your dock was when your map was created.



Can I remove the cobblestone underneath my Town Hall and Re-Tail?

Yes, you can. Removing the cobblestone from underneath Town Hall and Re-Tail does not affect anything.



Can I remove the cobblestone underneath my Town Plaza?

Yes and no. No, you can’t remove it without affecting your town events. Events are tied to the COBBLESTONE acre, NOT the Town Tree. Removing the cobblestone from underneath the Town Plaza will cause events to spawn in the upper lefthand corner of your map for towns with their cliff on the left, and in the upper righthand corner for towns with their cliffs on the right. You CANNOT change this.



If you don’t mind the above, then yes, feel free to remove your plaza’s cobblestone acre.

Can I switch my town’s orientation? If my cliff is on the left and my beach is on the right, can I swap them so my beach is on the left and my cliff is on the right?

No, you cannot flip your map orientation. It is not possible. You will have to restart the game to get the desired map orientation you want.



Can I have more than two ramps leading to the beach?

No, you can only have a maximum of two beach ramps. Adding more will crash your game.*



*Only one successful report of three beach ramps at this time.

Can I move or remove my beach ramps?

You must have at least ONE beach ramp at all times, or your game will crash.



You can move your beach ramps around freely. Just remember you can’t move your DOCK.

Can I move or remove my town’s waterfall?

No, since the waterfall is made up of two parts, one of which is an outer acre not currently editable by the Map Editor. You are stuck with where your waterfall is right now.



You can’t completely remove your waterfall either without hex editing the outer acres.

More coming soon!



LeafTools Questions

I got a “connection error” while using LeafTools!

That means the server hosting the scripts is down (or the scripts themselves were taken down) and you won’t be able to use the tools until it comes back up.

More coming soon!



Hex Editing Questions

How do I hex edit?

If you’ve never hex edited before, I suggest reading this guide. You’ll need to teach yourself if you want to learn but there are plenty of helpful guides lying around the internet for you.



What program do I use to hex edit / where can I download it?

There’s many free downloadable programs to choose from for hex editing. You just need to Google for them.

Windows: HxD, Cygnus, HexEdit, etc

Mac: HexEdit, Hex Fiend, etc



Is there a guide on hex editing for ACNL?

Yes, there is! [click here] to open it.



More coming soon!



( leaf divider by cherushimetsumari @ deviantART )