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This page describes the file format for the [[Title list#00040138 - System Firmware|3DS' Firmware]], it contains four 'sections' of ARM code (ARM9 and ARM11). The firmware sections are not encrypted.

This page describes the file format for the [[Title list#00040138 - System Firmware|3DS' Firmware]], it contains up to four 'sections' of data comprising the ARM9 and ARM11 kernels, and some fundamental processes. The firmware sections are not encrypted. In a nutshell, a FIRM contains all the data required to set up the ARM9 and ARM11 kernels, and basic operating functionality.

The ARM9 section contains the ARM9 kernel and the ARM9 process(exheader process name is "Process9"). The ARM11 section(s) contains the ARM11 kernel, and the ARM11 process(es). For NATIVE_FIRM/SAFE_MODE_FIRM these ARM11 processes are sm, fs, pm, loader, and pxi. Normally the 4th section is not used. The code loaded from FIRM is constantly running on the system until another FIRM is launched. The ARM11 kernel is hard-coded to always decompress the FIRM ARM11 modules ExeFS .code, the exheader compression bit is not checked.

The ARM9 section contains the ARM9 kernel (and loader) and the Process9 NCCH (which is the only process run in user mode on the ARM9). The ARM11 sections contain the ARM11 kernel (and loader), and various ARM11 process NCCHs. For NATIVE_FIRM/SAFE_MODE_FIRM these ARM11 processes are sm, fs, pm, loader, and pxi. Normally the 4th section is not used. The code loaded from FIRM is constantly running on the system until another FIRM is launched. The ARM11 kernel is hard-coded to always decompress the ExeFS .code of embedded ARM11 NCCHs without checking the exheader compression bit.

== FIRM Header ==

== FIRM Header ==