Dump EShop Games On 3DS: A Complete Guide

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Dump eShop Games on 3DS: A Complete Guide

So, you're looking to dump your eShop games on your 3DS, huh? Maybe you want to back them up, play them on an emulator, or just have them all in one convenient place. Whatever your reason, this guide will walk you through the process step-by-step. Don't worry, it's not as complicated as it sounds! We'll break down everything you need to know in a way that's easy to understand, even if you're not a tech whiz. Let's dive in and get those games backed up!

What You'll Need

Before we get started, let's make sure you have everything you need. Think of this as your prep list for a fun little tech adventure. Having the right tools will make the whole process smoother and less prone to errors. Plus, being prepared is always a good idea, right?

  • A 3DS with Custom Firmware (CFW): This is the big one. You'll need a 3DS that's already running CFW like Luma3DS. If you don't have CFW yet, you'll need to install it first. There are tons of guides online that can walk you through this, so don't sweat it. Just search for "install Luma3DS" and you'll find plenty of resources. Having CFW unlocks a lot of potential for your 3DS, allowing you to run homebrew applications and do all sorts of cool things.
  • An SD Card: Make sure you have an SD card with enough space to hold your games. The bigger, the better, especially if you have a lot of eShop titles. Nobody wants to run out of space halfway through dumping their games! A 64GB or 128GB card should be plenty for most people, but if you're a real digital hoarder, you might even consider a 256GB card. Just make sure your 3DS is compatible with the size you choose.
  • FBI: This is a homebrew application that you'll use to install and manage CIA files. If you have CFW, you probably already have FBI installed. If not, you can easily find it and install it using your CFW setup. FBI is like the app store for your 3DS, but instead of downloading from Nintendo, you're installing files from your SD card. It's an essential tool for any 3DS homebrew enthusiast.
  • GodMode9: This is another essential homebrew tool. It's a powerful file manager that allows you to access and modify almost anything on your 3DS. You'll need it to decrypt and dump your eShop games. If you don't have GodMode9, you can find it and install it using your CFW setup. GodMode9 might seem intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it, you'll realize how incredibly useful it is. It's like having root access to your 3DS.

Step-by-Step Guide to Dumping Your eShop Games

Alright, let's get down to business! Here's how to dump your eShop games using GodMode9. Follow these steps carefully, and you'll be playing your backups in no time.

  1. Boot into GodMode9: Turn off your 3DS completely. Then, hold the (Start) button while powering on the system. This will boot you into GodMode9. If it doesn't work the first time, try again. Sometimes it takes a couple of tries to get the timing right. Once you're in GodMode9, you'll see a bunch of folders and files. Don't panic! We'll guide you through exactly what you need to do.
  2. Navigate to the "[A:] SYSNAND CTRNAND" Drive: Use the D-pad to navigate through the folders. This drive contains your system files, including your installed eShop games. Be careful not to delete or modify anything you're not supposed to, or you could brick your 3DS. Just stick to the steps outlined in this guide, and you'll be fine.
  3. Find the "title" Folder: Inside the "[A:] SYSNAND CTRNAND" drive, look for a folder named "title". This is where all your installed titles are stored, including your eShop games. Open this folder to proceed.
  4. Locate the Game You Want to Dump: Inside the "title" folder, you'll see a bunch of folders with strange names. These are the title IDs of your installed games. To find the game you want to dump, you'll need to know its title ID. You can find a list of 3DS title IDs online with a quick search. Once you've found the correct folder, open it.
  5. Navigate to the "content" Folder: Inside the game's title ID folder, you'll find a folder named "content". This is where the actual game data is stored. Open this folder to proceed.
  6. Find the Game's .app File: Inside the "content" folder, you'll see a file with a .app extension. This is the main game file that you'll need to dump. Select this file using the D-pad and press the (A) button.
  7. Select "Copy to 0:/gm9/out": A menu will pop up with several options. Choose the option that says "Copy to 0:/gm9/out". This will copy the .app file to the "gm9/out" folder on your SD card. This is where GodMode9 stores the files it dumps.
  8. Wait for the Copy to Finish: The copying process may take a few minutes, depending on the size of the game. Be patient and wait for it to finish. Don't interrupt the process, or you could end up with a corrupted file. Once the copy is complete, you'll see a confirmation message on the screen.
  9. Repeat for Other .app Files: Some games have multiple .app files. If you see more than one .app file in the "content" folder, repeat steps 6-8 for each file. Make sure you dump all the .app files to ensure you have a complete backup of the game.
  10. Decrypt the .app File: Now that you've dumped the .app file, you need to decrypt it. This is necessary to make the game playable on an emulator or to install it as a CIA file. To do this, navigate to the "gm9/out" folder on your SD card using GodMode9.
  11. Select the .app File and Choose "Decrypt file": Select the .app file you just dumped and press the (A) button. A menu will pop up with several options. Choose the option that says "Decrypt file". This will decrypt the .app file and create a new, decrypted version in the same folder.
  12. Rename the Decrypted File to .cia: Once the decryption is complete, rename the decrypted file from .app to .cia. This will allow you to install it using FBI. To rename the file, select it and press the (A) button. Choose the option that says "Rename file" and enter the new name with the .cia extension.
  13. Repeat for Other Games: Repeat these steps for each eShop game you want to dump. Once you've dumped and decrypted all your games, you're ready to install them as CIA files or play them on an emulator.

Installing the Dumped Games as CIA Files

Now that you've dumped and decrypted your eShop games, you might want to install them as CIA files. This will allow you to play them directly from your 3DS home menu, just like you would with a purchased eShop game. Here's how to do it using FBI:

  1. Copy the CIA Files to Your SD Card: Copy the .cia files you created to a folder on your SD card. You can create a new folder specifically for your CIA files, or you can put them in an existing folder. Just make sure you know where they are so you can find them easily.
  2. Open FBI: Launch FBI from your 3DS home menu. If you don't have FBI installed, you'll need to install it first. FBI is a homebrew application that allows you to install and manage CIA files.
  3. Navigate to the Folder Containing the CIA Files: Use the D-pad to navigate to the folder on your SD card where you copied the CIA files. FBI will display the contents of the folder, including the CIA files.
  4. Select the CIA File You Want to Install: Select the CIA file you want to install and press the (A) button. A menu will pop up with several options.
  5. Select "Install CIA": Choose the option that says "Install CIA". FBI will begin installing the CIA file. This process may take a few minutes, depending on the size of the game. Be patient and wait for it to finish.
  6. Repeat for Other CIA Files: Repeat steps 4-5 for each CIA file you want to install. Once you've installed all your CIA files, you'll see them appear on your 3DS home menu.

Playing the Dumped Games on an Emulator

If you're more interested in playing your dumped eShop games on an emulator, you'll need a 3DS emulator like Citra. Citra is a popular open-source emulator that allows you to play 3DS games on your computer. Here's how to get started:

  1. Download and Install Citra: Download the latest version of Citra from the official Citra website. Follow the installation instructions to install Citra on your computer.
  2. Copy the CIA Files to Your Computer: Copy the .cia files you created to a folder on your computer. You can create a new folder specifically for your CIA files, or you can put them in an existing folder. Just make sure you know where they are so you can find them easily.
  3. Open Citra: Launch Citra from your computer.
  4. Load the CIA File: In Citra, go to File > Load File and select the .cia file you want to play. Citra will load the game and start playing it.
  5. Configure Citra's Settings: You may need to configure Citra's settings to get the best performance. This includes things like resolution, graphics settings, and input controls. Experiment with different settings to find what works best for your computer.

Troubleshooting

Sometimes, things don't go exactly as planned. Here are a few common issues you might encounter when dumping eShop games, and how to fix them:

  • Game Doesn't Show Up on Home Menu After Installing CIA: Make sure you've installed the CIA file correctly using FBI. Also, try refreshing your 3DS home menu by pressing the (Home) button and closing and reopening the menu. Sometimes, it just takes a refresh to get the game to appear.
  • Game Crashes or Freezes: This could be due to a corrupted CIA file. Try redumping the game and reinstalling the CIA file. Also, make sure you have enough free space on your SD card. Running out of space can cause games to crash or freeze.
  • GodMode9 Doesn't Boot: Make sure you're holding the (Start) button correctly while powering on the system. Also, make sure you have the latest version of GodMode9 installed. An outdated version of GodMode9 might not boot properly.

Conclusion

Dumping your eShop games on your 3DS might seem like a daunting task at first, but with this guide, you should be able to do it with ease. Whether you want to back up your games, play them on an emulator, or just have them all in one place, dumping your eShop games gives you more control over your digital library. So go ahead, give it a try, and enjoy your games the way you want to! Remember to always respect copyright laws and only dump games that you legally own.