3ds Simple Cia Converter Tutorial

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For support in English, ask for help at Nintendo Homebrew on Discord.
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  • NCCH Padgen is also used in conjunction with Riku's 3DS Simple CIA Converter. Important Note: Depending on you 3DS console type / FW version and the encryption in your NCCH/NCSD files you may need additional files (see 'Support files' above) and / or seeddb.bin.
  • 3DS To CIA Converter로 3DS(Decrypted)CIA(Decrypted), CIA(Decrypted)-CCI로 변환 할 수 있다. 변환된 cci파일을 3DS To CIA Converter가 있는 폴더에 넣고, cci의 확장자를 3ds로 바꾼다. 3DS To CIA Converter는 cci를 바꿀 수 없기 때문이다. 3DS To CIA Converter를 실행하고 3을 누르고, 3을 누른다.
  • NCCH Padgen is also used in conjunction with Riku's 3DS Simple CIA Converter. Important Note: Depending on you 3DS console type / FW version and the encryption in your NCCH/NCSD files you may need additional files (see 'Support files' above) and / or seeddb.bin.

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.

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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 v1.9.2pre1 release of GodMode9

Instructions

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

Creating a NAND Backup

  1. Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot
  2. Press (Home) to bring up the action menu
  3. Select “Scripts…”
  4. Select “GM9Megascript”
  5. Select “Backup Options”
  6. Select “SysNAND Backup”
  7. 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
  8. Press (A) to continue
  9. Press (B) to return to the main menu
  10. Select “Exit”
  11. Press (A) to relock write permissions if prompted
  12. Hold (R) and press (B) at the same time to eject your SD card
  13. Insert your SD card into your computer
  14. 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
  15. Delete <date>_<serialnumber>_sysnand_###.bin and <date>_<serialnumber>_sysnand_###.bin.sha from the /gm9/out/ folder on your SD card after copying it
  16. 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

  1. Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot
  2. Hold (R) and press (B) at the same time to eject your SD card
  3. Insert your SD card into your computer
  4. Copy <date>_<serialnumber>_sysnand_###.bin from your computer to the /gm9/out/ folder on your SD card
  5. Reinsert your SD card into your device
  6. Press (Home) to bring up the action menu
  7. Select “Scripts…”
  8. Select “GM9Megascript”
  9. Select “Restore Options”
  10. Select “SysNAND Restore (safe)”
  11. Select your NAND backup
  12. 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
  13. Press (A) to continue
  14. Press (B) to return to the main menu
  15. Select “Exit”
  16. 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)

  1. Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot
  2. Navigate to [0:] SDCARD -> cias
  3. Press (A) on your .cia to select it, then select “CIA image options…”, then select “Mount image to drive”
  4. Press (A) on the .app file, then select “NCCH image options”, then select “Inject to H&S”
  5. Press (A) to unlock SysNAND (lvl1) writing, then input the key combo given
  6. Press (A) to continue
  7. 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).

  1. Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot
  2. Press (Home) to bring up the action menu
  3. Select “More…”
  4. Select “Restore H&S”
  5. Press (A) to unlock SysNAND (lvl1) writing, then input the key combo given
  6. 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
  • NDS game cartridges will be dumped to a non-installable .nds format compatible with flashcarts and emulators
  1. Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot
  2. Navigate to [C:] GAMECART
  3. 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”
    • NDS Game Cartridge: Press (A) on [TitleID].trim.nds to select it, then select “Copy to 0:/gm9/out”
  4. Your installable .cia or non-installable .nds formatted file will be outputted to the /gm9/out/ folder on your SD card

Dumping a Title

  1. Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot
  2. 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
  3. Hold (R) and press (A) at the same time to open the drive options
  4. Select “Search for titles”
  5. Press (A) to continue
  6. Press (A) on the .tmd file to select it, then select “TMD file options…”, then select “Build CIA (standard)”
  7. 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
  1. Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot
  2. Navigate to [0:] SDCARD -> cias
  3. Press (A) on your .3ds file to select it, then select “NCSD image options…”, then select “Build CIA from file”
  4. 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”.

  1. 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
    • 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”.

  1. 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
    • Press (B) to return to the main menu
    • Navigate to [S:] SYSNAND VIRTUAL
    • Press (A) on agbsave.bin 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!

  1. Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot
  2. Press (Home) to bring up the action menu
  3. Select “More…”
  4. Select “SD format menu”
  5. Select any EmuNAND options you wish to use
    • Most users will want to select “No EmuNAND”
  6. Select “Auto”
  7. Press (A) to accept the label GM9SD
    • Optionally, you may input a custom name for the SD card
  8. 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

  1. Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot
  2. Navigate to [0:] SDCARD -> cias
  3. Press (A) on the .cia file to select it, then select “CIA image options…”
  4. 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
    • Decrypt to 0:/gm9/out: Create a decrypted copy of the selected .cia file in the /gm9/out/ folder on your SD card
    • Encrypt inplace: Replace the selected .cia file with an encrypted version
    • Decrypt inplace: Replace the selected .cia file with a decrypted version
  5. Your encrypted / decrypted .cia will be outputted to the desired location

Removing an NNID without formatting your device

  1. Launch GodMode9 by holding (Start) during boot
  2. Press (Home) to bring up the action menu
  3. Select “Scripts…”
  4. Select “GM9Megascript”
  5. Select “Scripts from Plailect’s Guide”
  6. Select “Remove NNID”
  7. Press (A) to continue
  8. Press (A) to unlock SysNAND (lvl1) writing, then input the key combo given
  9. Press (A) to continue
  10. Press (B) to return to the main menu
  11. Select “Exit”
  12. Press (A) to relock write permissions if prompted
  13. Press (Start) to reboot your device

Learn how to create your own custom 3DS theme. All the tools you need are provided here with clear and concise instructions.

Last Updated: Aug. 2, 2018

Update:

There are many other 3DS theme tutorials now since it has been around 1 - 2 years, and if you want to check out a more modern tutorial and is quite simple (a bit), check this thread by Simsoy at GBATemp -> [Tutorial] how to create custom 3ds themes (2018 edition)

The way I have done it still works though. You could download the file converter in Simsoy's thread as you only need to convert your music just once, instead of 2 - 3 times with my tutorial and programs used.

Does this still work?:

As long as 3D Homebrew is being supported by active developers and coders, creating a custom theme and loading it into your 3DS should be no problem. As the version numbers update, the procedure for this should still remain the same or at least somewhat identical to the video tutorial below.

Why get a custom theme?:

Are you tired of looking at your 3DS theme? It has a generic theme, boring music, a static wallpaper, and doesn't have your favorite character in it? Then you should consider taking the time to deck out your 3DS with a unique custom theme to set yours apart from everyone else! Why not create your own custom 3DS theme and make your 3DS a personal gaming machine you can be proud to carry around. No more turning on your 3DS to the same boring look, and say hello to a world of colorful and dynamic theme.

Still not convinced? That's okay.

Video Tutorial:

Links to files and other helpful resources:

The forum topics for each 3DS theme program:

- YATA+ 3DS Theme Creator

- Usagi 3DS Theme Creator (used in video above)

3DS Homebrew:

So that you can load your custom theme onto your 3DS. There are many other alternative ways to get Homebrew 3DS on your device but I found the way below to be the easiest.

- Homebrew 3DS

- Custom Home Menu Manager for Homebrew 3DS

File Music Converter:

In the link below there is a .rar version and a .zip one, download and extract any of them. They have the same files.

Don't have winrar? Click Here

- Converter Pack (2 programs for BGM)

3ds Simple Cia Converter Tutorial

3ds Simple Cia Converter Tutorial Pdf

How to Use Music Converter:

When you extract the music pack, there is 2 software/programs in there. You will first use the BRSTM Converter and run the application called 'BRSTM Converter C#'. You will select whatever music you want and then go to the tools menu and select 'Simple WAV>BRSTM'. If your music or song is not a WAV file you must convert it to WAV: you can use Audacity because it's free, just drag your file into the software and save as a .WAV file (16 prefer). Once you do that and are satisfied with your settings, click okay. The converted file will be located in the 'Output' folder. If the song is not less than around 3.1 MB, you must adjust the Sample Rate to a lower number, which is 32000. I suggest the lowest number of 15000 is good before it sounds really bad. The next thing to do after this is then use the 'BRSTM2BCSTM' application. Click on that and select your song that you just converted to BRSTM. The output should appear in the same folder as this application. Then you use that file to load into your 3DS Theme editor.

Photo Editor:

The photo editor used in the video. It's free and easy to use! In addition to Pixlr, you can also simply use point or any other photo editing software you are most comfartable with.

- Pixlr

Questions?

If you have any questions or comments, post them below or on the YouTube video (all comments are monitored).

3ds Simple Cia Converter V5.0

View the discussion thread.