Nintendo DS Modding Index

DS Game Forwarders (3DS)

HOME menu forwarders are icons on your HOME menu that redirect to another software that runs the icon as listed. In this case, one can add DS games from the SD card (utilizing nds-bootstrap) or from a compatible flashcard (via its respective kernel) to the HOME menu for easier access to games.

DS games need to be dumped to a digital .nds format. You can dump your DS cartridges using GodMode9.

This page assumes you are running a modern CFW environment from 3ds.hacks.guide.

Choose one of the following to add to the HOME menu:

Part 1: Getting the required files #

If you already have Universal Updater installed on your console, you can skip to step 3.

  1. Open FBI and select Remote Install, then Scan QR Code
  2. Scan this QR code to install the latest version of Universal-Updater
    Universal-Updater QR code
  3. Open Universal Updater from your HOME Menu
  4. Install the NDSForwarder package
  5. NDSForwarder and its required files are now set up in its respective locations

Part 2: NDSForwarder #

  1. Open the Homebrew Launcher
  2. In the Homebrew Launcher, open NDS Forwarder Generator
  3. Navigate to your game’s location and press A
  4. Confirm you wish to install by selecting Yes
  5. After it is installed, your game will now appear as a title on your HOME menu

If you have any issues, check the FAQs on the GBAtemp thread.

Requirements #

3DS:

A supported flashcard from this list

The recommended flashcards are the DSTT and Acekard 2i. If you want perfect game compatibility, get the SuperCard DSTWO/DSTWO PLUS. The only downside is that it drains your system battery faster.

If you have a flashcard that works with Apache Thunder’s NTR Launcher, feel free to request it on the GBAtemp thread. Be sure to specify which build you’re using (Normal or Alt), and if RESETSLOT1 is set to 0 or 1 in sd:/nds/ntr_launcher.ini.

Compatible:

Untested:

  • R4i3D NEW (Use R4iDSN template and pack)

Partially compatible:

  • Ace 3DS+ (Game compatibility is bad, so saving/loading save file results in crashing.)
  • Gateway Blue Card (Game compatibility is bad, so saving/loading save file results in crashing.)
  • EX4DS (Game compatibility is bad, so saving/loading save file results in crashing.)
  • R4iLS (Game compatibility is bad, so saving/loading save file results in crashing.)
  • Cards with www.r4isdhc.com.cn (Game compatibility is bad, so saving/loading save file results in crashing.)

Incompatible:

  • CycloDS (i)Evolution (Can autoboot ROMs, but it works differently than other flashcards.)
  • (i)Edge (Unable to autoboot a .nds ROM)
  • R4 Gold Pro (www.r4i-gold.com / www.r4i-gold.me) (YSMenu (not the forwarder process) bricks the card)
  • R4i3D (2012)
  • R4 Infinity Dual Core
  • R4 SDHC
  • R4 SDHC Dual-Core (www.r4isdhc.com) (YSMenu (not the forwarder process) bricks the card)

PC:

  • A 64 bit OS
  • Forwarder3-DS
  • Java 8 Update 251
  • Linux users: JavaFX
    • Debian-based: Run this
    • Arch: sudo pacman -S java8-openjfx && sudo archlinux-java set java-8-openjdk/jre

Part 1: Getting started #

  1. Download one of these packs:
  2. Extract the contents of the for Slot-1 microSD folder to the root of your flashcard’s microSD card, and (if the folder exists) the contents of the for 3DS SD card folder to the root of your 3DS’s SD card.

After you extract the pack for your card, you can edit sd:/_nds/ntr_forwarder.ini to change the settings. This isn’t possible for Acekard RPG, R4 DS, and R4i Gold RTS.

  • NTRCLOCK: If set to 0 or A is held, the DSi boot screen will appear instead of the normal DS splash, and TWL clock speed is used, so lags begone
  • DISABLEANIMATION: If set to 1 or B is held, the DS/DSi boot screen is skipped
  • HEALTHSAFETYMSG: If set to 1, the boot screen’s health and safety message will appear on the bottom screen, otherwise the bottom screen stays white with no health and safety message

Part 2: Getting the AP fix files from TWiLight Menu++ #

If you already have TWiLight Menu++, skip to the next section.

  1. Download the latest TWiLightMenu-3DS.7z
  2. In the 7z file, go to _nds/TWiLightMenu/
  3. Copy the apfix folder to sd:/_nds/ntr-forwarder/ on your 3DS’s SD card

Part 3: Forwarder3-DS #

  1. Open Forwarder3DS.jar
    • Windows users: If it doesn’t open, download this Forwarder3DS.bat, place it in the same folder as Forwarder3DS.jar, and run it
  2. Set your card as the Target on the left
    • NOTE: If you don’t see a list of cards, download this zip, and put the forwarders folder in the same folder as Forwarder3DS.jar, then rename it to .forwarders
  3. Enable Automatically set ROM path
    • Linux users: The automatic path is incorrect since it includes the entire path (e.g. /media/$USER/something/), please remove that part
    • MacOS users: The automatic path is incorrect since it includes /Volumes/(cardname)/ at the start, please remove that part
  4. Click the folder in the top right and select the ROMs you want to make forwarders for or drag and drop them onto the window
    • NOTE: The ROMs must already be on your SD card when selecting them, and can’t be moved without recreating the forwarders
    • SD card users: If your save file is in the same folder as the ROM, move it to a folder called saves, with the saves folder being in the same place as the ROMs
  5. If you’re playing a hack/translation of a DSi-Enhanced game that has it’s banner/title edited, find the banner for the game from here, right click on the game in Forwarder3-DS, click Import banner, and click on the banner to use
  6. If using a homebrew ROM, click on it, then clear the Game title and type the game’s title
  7. Click the floppy disk button to generate the forwarder CIA(s)
  8. Copy the CIA(s) to your 3DS’s SD card, then install them using FBI
    • If using EmuNAND, install to both SysNAND and EmuNAND