Installing
Applications are installed by copying the necessary files directly to the 3ds/ folder in the root of the SD card (preferred for new designs), or in a subdirectory of 3ds/, in which case said subfolder must be named identically to its executable. Most applications come with two files:
[appname].3dsx: The executable.[appname].smdh: The icon/metadata. (Not required in any case, and may be integrated into the .3dsx)[appname].xml: The list of supported targets (i.e. installed titles which the app supports replacing in memory at runtime, thus inheriting its permissions), and of any arguments to be passed to the .3dsx. (Optional)
A standalone .xml file can point to a differently-named .3dsx, launching it with potentially different arguments so that a single application can run in different modes.
The Homebrew Launcher will scan the SD card for all .3dsx files, but will only display an icon for those who have one according to the format described above. Recent enough versions can freely navigate the filesystem to select an application.
List
Launchers
Applications
| Name
|
Description
|
Author
|
Download
|
Open-Source
|
Last Updated
|
| 3dsfetch
|
Small 3DS version of a popular Linux ricing script called screenfetch.
|
VideahGams
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2015-09-17
|
| TSI9
|
A simple program for detecting touch screen input.
|
Johnodon
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2017-7-21
|
| 3DSident
|
Identity tool for the Nintendo 3DS heavily inspired by PSPident.
|
Joel16
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2020-1-18
|
| Clear MAC Filter
|
Reset 8-hour per-console StreetPass rate limiting
|
tastymeatball
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2018-8-24
|
| CtrRGBPATTY
|
Generate patches that edit LED notifications
|
CPunch
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2017-11-3
|
| ctrrpc
|
A small and easily extensible RPC server/client written in C/Python. Allows you to quickly poke service-commands and syscalls over Wi-Fi from a Python shell on your PC. Useful during reverse-engineering. No longer under (active) development?
|
plutoo
|
Build from repo
|
Yes
|
2014-11-10
|
| ctr-streaming-server
|
A 3DS homebrew audio/video playback server. It can also send HID state to the client (see the README) when enabled. The included parse_hidstream tool can be used to parse that HID data to simulate keyboard/mouse input events, via Linux uinput. No longer under (active) development?
|
yellows8
|
Build from repo
|
Yes
|
2014-11-20
|
| DownloadMii
|
A WIP repo-based online marketplace for homebrew applications & games.
|
filfat
|
Build from repo
|
Yes
|
2015-11-24
|
| fb43ds
|
A simple 3DS Facebook chat client
|
linoma
|
Build from repo
|
Yes
|
2015-04-07
|
| for-anyone-who-walks-a-lot
|
Tool to get past the 10 coin per day limit on earning Play Coins by walking.
|
iamevn
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2016-03-26
|
| Homebrew Browser
|
Download homebrew from the internet!
|
cromo, zeta0134
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2015-10-07
|
| NFCReader
|
Allows you to use your 3DS as a NFC/RFID UID Scanner.
|
Jasper Peters
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2017-01-21
|
| ScreenInfo
|
Identify whether New 3DS LCD panels are TN or IPS.
|
SciresM
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2016-09-04
|
Game Engines
Games
Emulators
| Name
|
Description
|
Author
|
Download
|
Open-Source
|
Last Updated
|
| 3DNES
|
A NES emulator, without sound support. No longer under development.
|
st4rk, gdkChan
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2015-03-28
|
| atari800-3DS
|
An Atari 8-bit home computer emulator.
|
asie
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2016-10-29
|
| blargSnes
|
A Super Nintendo (SNES) emulator. A compatibility list can be found here.
|
StapleButter
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2015-06-12
|
| CHIP-3DS
|
A simple and slow CHIP-8 emulator.
|
xerpi
|
Build from repo (alt. here)
|
Yes
|
2015-04-02
|
| CHIP8-2DS
|
CHIP-8 emulator with savestates and touch controls.
|
nopy4869
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2016-07-20
|
| CitrAGB
|
Yet another GBA emulator for the 3DS.
|
Shiny Quagsire
|
Build from repo (alt. here)
|
Yes
|
2015-09-21
|
| GameYob
|
A Game Boy (Color) emulator. A compatibility list can be found here.
|
Drenn/Steveice10
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2016-07-17
|
| mGBA
|
A GBA emulator that runs well without kernel hax.
|
endrift
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2016-10-13
|
| r3Ddragon
|
A WIP Virtual Boy emulator for the 3DS based on Reality Boy / Red Dragon.
|
mrdanielps
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2016-08-16
|
| RetroArch
|
A multisystem emulator. (GB, GBA, SNES, Genesis, CPS1, CPS2, etc.)
|
libretro
|
Here
|
Yes
|
Undergoing rapid development.
|
| SNES9x for 3DS
|
A SNES emulator for the old 3DS / 2DS. Optimised from Snes9x 1.43 and runs many games at full speed. Compatibility list here
|
bubble2k16
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2017-02-11
|
| VirtuaNES for 3DS
|
A NES emulator for the old 3DS / 2DS. Optimised from VirtuaNES 0.9.7 and runs many games at full speed.
|
bubble2k16
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2017-03-23
|
| TemperPCE for 3DS
|
A PC-Engine/Turbografx-16 emulator for the old 3DS / 2DS. Optimised from Temper runs all games, including CD-ROM and SGX games at full speed.
|
bubble2k16
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2017-06-19
|
Theme managers
| Name
|
Description
|
Author
|
Download
|
Open-Source
|
Last Updated
|
| 3DS HomeMenu extdata Tool
|
Tool for accessing the SD extdata which Home Menu uses. This essentially allows writing custom themes to extdata which get loaded at Home Menu startup.
|
yellows8
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2015-08-17
|
| Custom Home Menu Manager 2
|
Theme manager for Nintendo 3DS. Discontinued.
|
Rinnegatamante
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2016-07-04
|
| Themely
|
Theme manager for Nintendo 3DS with 3dsthem.es integration.
|
ErmanSayin
|
Here
|
Not anymore, 1.3.1 last FOSS version
|
2017-6-28
|
| Usagi 3DS Theme Editor
|
A simple 3DS theme editor for PC. You will need to have the .NET Library installed on your PC first before you can use it.
|
usagirei
|
Here
|
Not sure
|
2017.05.28
|
| Anemone3DS
|
New theme and Luma splash screen manager, created to fill the gap left by its predecessors.
|
User:astronautlevel2
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2018-5-13
|
Title managers
| Name
|
Description
|
Author
|
Download
|
Open-Source
|
Last Updated
|
| FBI
|
Open source CIA (un)installer and launcher.
|
Steveice10
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2015-12-02
|
| FBI 2
|
Multipurpose file/title/ticket/save manager
|
Steveice10
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2018-8-21
|
| FreeShop
|
GUI CDN title installer
|
TheCruel/arc13/Paul/evi
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2018-5-17
|
| NASA
|
Universal CIA Manager for FWs 4.1 - 10.7
|
Rinnegatamante
|
Here
|
No
|
2016-04-13
|
Note: downloading non-system applications from CDN is broken in any known homebrew, regardless of whether a signed ticket is installed or not (See also: 11.8.0-41#Server-side_changes)
Save managers
| Name
|
Description
|
Author
|
Download
|
Open-Source
|
Last Updated
|
| save_manager
|
Proof of concept save exporter/importer
|
profi200
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2015-09-13
|
| svdt
|
Save Data Explorer/Manager
|
meladroit
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2015-10-16
|
| JK's Save Manager
|
Save/Extdata Manager
|
JK_
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2016-09-29
|
| JK's Save Manager for Rosalina
|
Modded version of JKSM for use as .3dsx on Luma 8+
|
Phalk, JK_
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2017-7-12
|
| PKSM
|
Save editor for Pokémon generations 4 to 7
|
Bernardo Giordano
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2017-8-3
|
| SpecializeMii
|
Editor for Mii database (specialness)
|
phijor
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2017-1-22
|
| SpecializeMii
|
Editor for Mii database (specialness and ownership)
|
phijor, Ryccardo
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2017-8-13
|
File servers
| Name
|
Description
|
Author
|
Download
|
Open-Source
|
Last Updated
|
| ftpd (ftBrony)
|
A FTP server.
|
mtheall
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2016-09-17
|
| FTP-3DS
|
Fork of ftBrony with a Nintendo theme. No longer under development and without repo.
|
iamevn
|
N/A
|
Yes (No source officially available.)
|
N/A
|
| FTP - Graphic ModifierX Edition
|
Fork of ftpd with aesthetic modifications.
|
FloatingStar
|
Here
|
Yes
|
2016-01-27
|
| ftpony
|
A basic FTP server, useful for testing new homebrew versions without swapping the SD card. No longer under (active) development?
|
smea
|
Build from repo (alt. here)
|
Yes
|
2014-11-24
|
Icon Packs
Icon Packs are SMDH Packs for homebrew apps.
| Name
|
Description
|
Author
|
Download
|
Last Updated
|
| Simplok
|
The first 3DS Icon pack.
|
link6155
|
Here
|
2015-09-12
|
| 1LP
|
Another 3DS Icon pack. Repo is dead, no alternate downloads available.
|
100pcrack
|
N/A
|
2015-12-22
|
| Modern UI
|
A simple icon pack with a flat and minimalist design.
|
LouchDaishiteru
|
Here
|
2016-02-15
|
Demos
| Name
|
Description
|
Author
|
Download
|
Open-Source
|
Last Updated
|
| Skate Station
|
A demo for the 3DS featuring music and 3D effects
|
SVatG
|
Here
|
Yes
|
July 2019
|
| cubedemo
|
A short demo of Homebrew on the 3DS, with working sound.
|
plutoo
|
Here
|
No
|
N/A
|
| MCU Bricker / LED Rave
|
Make the notification LED glow in different colors
|
User:MarcusD
|
Here
|
Yes, but down
|
Late 2016?
|
| Spine 2D
|
Demo of Spine's 2D skeletal animations
|
Cruel
|
3DSX; CIA
|
No
|
N/A
|
| demo ou mourir
|
Small demo for the 3DS with music and 2D effects
|
Desire
|
Here
|
No
|
November 2015
|