Hacking Your Nintendo 3DS in 2025
If you’ve recently picked up a Nintendo 3DS or found your old one collecting dust, now is a great time to unlock its full potential. Thanks to an amazing community, modding the 3DS is easier than ever - whether you’re installing games, homebrew apps, or even changing the system’s region.
Start Here: The Ultimate Hacking Guide
Everything you need to hack your 3DS - including region-changing, installing custom firmware, and more - can be found at https://3ds.hacks.guide/. This is the most up-to-date, trusted source, with step-by-step instructions tailored to your specific device model and firmware version.
Before you begin, you’ll need to know:
- Your 3DS model: If your system has a built-in C-stick (nub above the A/B/X/Y buttons) and ZL/ZR buttons, it’s a New 3DS. If not, it’s a regular or Old 3DS.
Your firmware version: You can check this by going to System Settings → Other Settings → scroll to the right → System Update. The version will be
displayed at the bottom-right corner of the top screen.
Instructions vary depending on your system and version, but the guide is incredibly detailed and beginner-friendly.
Installing Games & Apps
Once you’re modded, installing games is easy using 3hs, a convenient app that connects directly to the hShop - a massive database of 3DS titles.
To install or update other homebrew tools and apps, I recommend Universal-Updater. It acts as a central hub for downloading and updating community-made software.
While apps like FBI aren’t strictly necessary for most users, they’re still useful for manual installs and especially handy when using QR codes to install apps directly from your 3DS.
Tip
Download speeds on the 3DS max out around 700 KB/s. Thankfully, 3hs allows you to queue multiple downloads - just set up your list and leave your 3DS charging overnight.
What About Storage?
There are no issues using 128 GB SD cards with a hacked 3DS, and that’s more than enough space for a full library of games, apps, and emulators. Just make sure the card is formatted to FAT32.
Reviving Online Play with Pretendo
Nintendo shut down official online services for the 3DS and Wii U in 2024. But the story doesn’t end there: the community has built an open-source alternative called Pretendo Network, restoring online functionality for both consoles.
With Pretendo, you can:
- Use online multiplayer in supported games
- Access a custom eShop
- Send and receive friend requests
- Create a new online identity (PNID)
To get started, follow Pretendo’s 3DS setup guide: https://pretendo.network/docs/install/3ds
Common Setup Issues
Here are the most common errors users encounter and how to fix them:
| Error Code | Meaning | Fix |
|---|---|---|
022-5432 | Console is stuck between Nintendo and Pretendo networks | Switch to Nintendo Network in Nimbus, open the eShop once, then switch back to Pretendo and try again |
022-2571 | PNID already exists or conflicts with NNID | Use a different name, or choose Link Existing ID instead of creating a new one |
022-2402 | Registration fails on English locale | Temporarily change the system language to Spanish or French, register PNID, then switch back |
For full account creation and linking steps, visit: https://pretendo.network/account/register
Once your PNID is active, you’ll be able to play online, add friends, and enjoy the 3DS’s online features well beyond Nintendo’s official support lifecycle.