Assuming you're on firmware 9.3 to 10.3, then you can downgrade to 9.2 using the following method.
- Download starter.zip (aka the "homebrew starter kit")
- Download sysUpdater.zip
- Download 9.2.0-20X firmware for your console (Replace X with E for Europe, U for US and J for Japan)
I can't link you the firmware download links, but I can tell you how to find it.
- Google for "[MEGA] [CIA/BIN] MSET 4.X & 6.X backups, Browser backups, Update packs (All Regions)" with the quotation marks.
- Search for your console generation (3ds OLD or NEW)
- Then be VERY careful to download the right 9.2.0-20X firmware for your console.
You will risk bricking your console if you try to install the wrong firmware onto your console.
To double-check the download after it's done, verify the zip archive with an MD5 checker against the following checksums.
| Region | N3DS | O3Ds |
| 9.2.0-20E (Full) | MD5: 6dcca8fcbc9a28c82c2a4e5182f3acf8 | MD5: caec3e015bc065dd0ca512f219c8fc3c |
| 9.2.0-20U (Full) | MD5: e5f40c3b155cfd12ef38be35d2e81d2e | MD5: 879f437d7c78f09ae565f79f5aa9c421 |
| 9.2.0-20J (Full) | MD5: f46677696ed4bf0e182de5a8168b7542 | MD5: a7c14f50e553d99d93efd3a8dd4f8b9d |
Setting up the 3DS for downgrade
Before starting, use a file hash checker to MAKE SURE THE FILE WAS DOWNLOADED CORRECTLY!
- Extract starter.zip to root folder of your sd card
- Extract sysUpdater app to "3ds/sysUpdater" folder of sd card
- Make a folder called "updates" on the root of the sd card
- Put all the firmware CIA files into the "updates" folder
- Safely remove sd card from computer
- Put it into the 3ds
- Turn it on
Installing Menuhax
Since all the files are already on the SD card and ready to go...
- Open up the 3DS browser and run browserhax by typing in http://yls8.mtheall.com/3dsbrowserhax_auto.php
- It'll flicker and take you into Homebrew Launcher.
- From there, select Menuhax installer
- Press A to install
- Restart when instructed
- Now that it's installed, turn off WiFi
- Turn off your 3DS
- Turn it on again, but hold L as it loads
- This should now start you directly into Homebrew Launcher without the need of browserhax
I've written this up in greater detail in a previous tutorial if you're still confused.
Downgrading your Old/New 3DS to 9.2
From homebrew launcher:
- Start up sysUpdater
- Press Y to downgrade. It takes a moment to response so give it about 10 seconds before giving up.
- Wait a few minutes for it to finish
- It will reboot itself
- If everything worked, you will now be on 9.2.0-20 (but you've lost your menuhax)
- When you're rebooted back into your 3DS, open up the browser
- Run and reinstall menuhax via browserhax at http://yls8.mtheall.com/3dsbrowserhax_auto.php
- Remember to turn off WIFI after it's all done
Problems you may encounter with sysUpdate
- opening sysUpdate gives a black screen
- sysUpdate turns on and shows text, but pressing Y or B does nothing
In these cases, I recommend trying:
Method A: Trying a new sd card
- Copy all the stuff from your SD card onto your computer
- Copy all the stuff from the computer to a new sd card made by a more reliable brand (Apparently Samsung works well)
- Try again with new card
Method B: Format the card to FAT32
- Copy all the stuff from your SD card onto your computer
- Format the card to FAT32 using Windows Explorer
- Copy all the stuff back
- Try again
Method C: Run FTBrony first
This one is a strange one but actually worked for me after the third attempt (and after formatting the SD card)
- Get into Homebrew Launcher
- Start FTBrony
- Spam the B button to exit immediately
- Spam the "Right" button on the d-pad to find sysUpdater
- Start it and hope to see text
Things to do now
If you've got a Gateway card, you'd be pleased to know that Gateway supports v9.2 so you can start using it again.
Much like installing sysUpdater, you'll need to load Gateway mode via Homebrew Loader
- Grab GW_ULTRA_3_6_2_BETA.zip from their website
- Extract the contents of GW_3dsx.zip to your SD card so you have X:\3ds\GW\
- Start Homebrew Loader
- Load up Gateway
- Sleep. I'll write up more stuff another day.
Sources
- [TUTORIAL] More-or-less Catch-All Tutorial | GBAtemp.net
- Simple Guide to Downgrading your 3DS | GBAtemp.net
- [MEGA] [CIA/BIN] MSET 4.X & 6.X backups, Browser backups, Update packs (All Regions)
- sysUpdater-0.4.2b-libkhax-SAFEMODE-priority.zip
- The Homebrew Launcher - 3DS
