What Does the 3DS Hacks Guide Install on My Console?

The 3DS Hacks Guide installs boot9strap and Luma3DS custom firmware on unmodified retail 3DS/2DS consoles, then adds a set of homebrew tools and creates critical system backups. This applies to stock consoles that have not been modified before. If your console already has CFW, this guide's installation path is not the starting point for you.

The Core Installation: boot9strap + Luma3DS

The guide's primary job is to take a stock 3DS or 2DS and install two things:

• boot9strap — the bootloader-level exploit that enables custom firmware to load
• Luma3DS — the custom firmware itself

According to the guide, Luma3DS does two things automatically once installed:

1. Removes the region lock, letting you play games from other regions
2. Allows unsigned software to run, which is what makes homebrew and modified games possible

The guide describes CFW as comparable to "administrator access" on a computer — it lets the console do anything it is physically capable of, rather than being limited by what Nintendo permits.

Homebrew Software Included

Beyond the firmware itself, the guide installs several pieces of homebrew software:

The guide names these by function rather than by specific app name in its overview, so check the current guide pages for the exact tools used at the time you follow it.

System Backups

The guide also makes critical system file backups. These backups serve two purposes:

• Help avoid bricks (a console that won't boot)
• Allow data recovery if a brick does occur

This is a safety step built into the process, not an optional extra.

What CFW Enables After Installation

Once the guide's installation is complete, the guide lists these popular uses:

• Running homebrew software and games made for or ported to the 3DS
• Bypassing the region lock to play games from other regions
• HOME Menu customization with community themes and badges
• Game modification ("ROM hacks") through LayeredFS
• Save data editing, backup, and restore
• Emulation of older consoles, plus native DS and GBA playback
• Installing physical cartridges for digital use

What the Online Service Shutdown Changes

The guide includes a notice that Nintendo 3DS online services have shut down. Relevant points from that notice:

• Current 3DS modding methods are not affected by the shutdown
• Homebrew app Internet access (such as Universal-Updater) is not affected
• Official online game servers are down; alternate servers like Pretendo Network are a work-in-progress
• Browser and general Internet access still work — only Nintendo Network online services (game servers) shut down

So the installation itself and homebrew connectivity remain functional; only official game-server play is gone.

Before You Start

The guide's own advice is to thoroughly read all introductory pages, including the first one, before proceeding. The installation targets unmodified retail consoles, so confirm your console is stock before following the steps. If you only want to know whether CFW is right for you, the list above — region-free play, homebrew, save editing, emulation, and backups — is what you get.