3DS slotTool Guide
This page is intended for the installation of custom firmware on consoles that currently have Homebrew Launcher access through any entrypoint other than the 3DS Internet Browser.
Installing custom firmware is necessary in order to dump cartridges, mod games, and to use CIA installers like FBI.
This page will not reliably work with Browserhax 2020 (3DS Internet Browser). If you're accessing Homebrew Launcher through that method, follow HBL-USM instead.
Before you start
This guide assumes that you currently have Homebrew Launcher access working on your console on the latest firmware (11.14.0-46). It should work on older firmwares, though.
If your console does not currently have Homebrew Launcher access, you should follow 3ds.hacks.guide instead.
Your left and right shoulder buttons must work in order to follow this guide. If either of those buttons is broken AND you already have your movable.sed
, follow Frogtool instead.
What you need
- The latest release of Luma3DS
- The latest release of unSAFE_MODE
Section I - Prep Work
- Copy
boot.firm
andboot.3dsx
from the Luma3DS.zip
(Luma3DSv10.2.1.zip
) to the root of your SD card, replacing any existing files- The root of the SD card refers to the initial directory on your SD card where you can see the
Nintendo 3DS
folder, but are not inside of it
- The root of the SD card refers to the initial directory on your SD card where you can see the
- Create a folder named
3ds
on the root of your SD card if it does not already exist - Copy the
slotTool
folder from the unSAFE_MODE.zip
(RELEASE_v1.1.zip
) to the3ds
folder - Copy
usm.bin
from the unSAFE_MODE.zip
to the root of your SD card


otherapp.bin
for PicHaxx, /steelhax/
for steelhax) depending on your homebrew entrypoint. As long as you're actively able to get into Homebrew Launcher at this time, you can continue.
Section II - slotTool
- Power on your device
- Open the Homebrew Launcher through your homebrew entrypoint (Pokémon Picross or Steel Diver: Sub Wars)
- This may take a few tries
- Launch slotTool v1.4 from the list of homebrew
- If you get stuck on a red screen, forcefully power off the console by holding the power button for fifteen seconds, then retry this section
- Select the "INSTALL exploit to wifi slots 1,2,3 & shutdown" option
- You will see some on-screen text and then your system will shutdown
- If the on-screen text says FAIL, verify that the
/3ds/slotTool/
directory has bothslotTool.3dsx
andslotTool.xml

Section III - unSAFE_MODE
- With your system still powered off, hold the following buttons: (Left Shoulder) + (Right Shoulder) + (D-Pad Up) + (A), then press (Power)
- Keep holding the buttons until your console boots into Safe Mode
- Press "OK" to accept the update
- There is no update. This is part of the exploit
- Press "I accept" to accept the terms and conditions
- The update will eventually fail, with error code
003-1099
. This is intended behaviour- If the update does not fail, verify that all three of your internet connection settings have been replaced with Haxxxxxxxxxx, then try again
- If the update does not fail, verify that all three of your internet connection settings have been replaced with Haxxxxxxxxxx, then try again
- When asked "Would you like to configure Internet settings?", select "Yes"
- On the following menu, navigate to
Connection 1
->Change Settings
->Next Page (right arrow)
->Proxy Settings
->Detailed Setup
(visual aid) - Once you see
B9S install SUCCESS
on the top screen, press any button to reboot to Luma Configuration- If you are stuck on the
B9S install SUCCESS
screen, it is safe to forcefully turn off the console by holding the power button for 15 seconds - If you do not see the
B9S install SUCCESS
screen, ensure thatusm.bin
is on the root of the SD card, then try again
- If you are stuck on the
Section IV - Configuring Luma3DS
- Your device should automatically show the Luma Configuration menu
- If you do not see the Luma Configuration menu, turn off the console and hold SELECT while turning on the console to access it
- If the power light turns on and off, ensure that
boot.firm
is on the root of the SD card
- Use the (A) button and the D-Pad to turn on the following:
- "Show NAND or user string in System Settings"
(x)
indicates that the option has been turned on
- Press (Start) to save and reboot
- Your device should load the Home Menu after a short delay
Section V - Restoring WiFi Configuration Profiles
- Launch the Download Play application
- Wait until you see the two buttons
- Do not select either of the options
- Press (Left Shoulder) + (D-Pad Down) + (Select) at the same time to open the Rosalina menu
- Select "Miscellaneous options"
- Select "Switch the hb. title to the current app."
- Press (B) to continue
- Press (B) to return to the Rosalina main menu
- Press (B) to exit the Rosalina menu
- Press (Home), then close Download Play
- Launch the Download Play application
- Your device should load the Homebrew Launcher
- Launch slotTool from the list of homebrew
- Select "RESTORE original wifi slots 1,2,3"
- Your device will reboot
Continue to Finalizing Setup
Credits
- ItsPizzaTime1501 for writing the majority of this guide
- zoogie for creating these exploits