Nintendo 3DS / 3DS XL / 2DS XL Guide

Your Nintendo 3DS / 3DS XL / 2DS XL Guide — ModxGaming

Welcome to your Nintendo 3DS guide. If you've just unboxed your console and noticed there are no games on it — don't worry, that's completely normal and completely intentional. Your console has been set up by Lewis at ModxGaming with custom firmware, which means you're in full control of what goes on it. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, step by step.

What do you need help with?

Click on your situation below and you'll be taken straight to the right part of the guide:

Understanding Your Home Screen

When you turn on your 3DS, you'll notice the home screen is fully zoomed out with icons arranged across the screen in a grid. Your console has been set up with four folders across the top of the screen, each clearly labelled so you always know where to go.

The Games folder (top left) — this is where you'll install and launch your games from. It contains the HShop app, which is your game store.

The Themes folder (next to Games) — this is where you'll go to customise the look of your console. It contains the Anemone app.

The Mods folder (next to Themes) — this is where all your custom firmware tools live. We'll cover these further down.

The Apps folder (next to Mods) — this contains all the standard Nintendo apps that came with your console, like the camera, settings, eShop, and more.

We'll start with the most important one — getting games onto your console.

Installing Games — HShop

Inside the Games folder, you'll find an app called HShop. This is your game store — think of it like the App Store or Google Play, but for your Nintendo 3DS.

HShop gives you access to a massive library of 3DS games, DS games, DLC, and updates, all downloadable directly over your Wi-Fi connection, completely for free.

How to Install a Game Using HShop

Step 1 — Connect to Wi-Fi
Before opening HShop, make sure your 3DS is connected to your home Wi-Fi. You can check this by going to System Settings > Internet Settings.

Step 2 — Open HShop
Open the Games folder and launch HShop. On first launch it may take a moment to load. You'll be given the option to sign in with a free account or continue as a guest — either works fine, but creating a free account lets you track your downloads across sessions.

Step 3 — Find Your Game
Once inside HShop, you can browse by category or use the search function to find a specific game. Use the touch screen or d-pad to navigate, and tap or press A to select.

Step 4 — Install Your Game
When you've found the game you want, select it and press A to begin the download. The game will install directly to your console. Larger games may take a few minutes depending on your Wi-Fi speed — you can see the progress on screen.

Step 5 — Play Your Game
Once the download is complete, exit HShop and head back to the home screen. Your game will appear as an icon, ready to launch. Just tap it and you're good to go.

Tip: Your 3DS only supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, not 5GHz. If HShop won't connect, make sure your router or hotspot is broadcasting on 2.4GHz.

Installing Custom Themes — Anemone

Inside the Themes folder is an app called Anemone. This lets you completely change the look of your 3DS home screen — backgrounds, music, icons, and more. There are thousands of free themes available made by the community.

How to Install a Custom Theme

Step 1 — Open Anemone
Go to the Themes folder and open Anemone.

Step 2 — Browse for a Theme
Inside Anemone, tap the download icon on the touch screen (or press X and then left on the d-pad) to open the built-in theme browser. This connects to Theme Plaza — an online library with thousands of custom themes. Wait a moment for the list to load, then scroll through and find a theme you like.

Step 3 — Download Your Theme
Select the theme you want and confirm the download. It will save directly to your console.

Step 4 — Apply Your Theme
Once downloaded, go back to the main Anemone screen. Find your theme in the list, highlight it, then hold A and press Up on the d-pad to install it.

Step 5 — See Your New Look
Press Start to exit Anemone, then press the Home button. Your new theme will be applied to the home screen immediately.

Tip: Anemone lets you shuffle up to 10 different themes so your console can change its look randomly each time you boot up — just select multiple themes before pressing Start to apply.

Your Mods Folder — Custom Firmware Tools Explained

Inside the Mods folder you'll find a set of custom firmware apps. You don't need to use most of these on a daily basis, but it's good to know what they do. Here's a simple breakdown of each one:

FBI
FBI is your console's app installer. It allows you to install games, apps, and other software in .cia format directly onto your 3DS. Think of it as the tool that makes everything else possible behind the scenes. Most of the time you won't need to open it directly, but it's essential to have installed.

Universal Updater
This is an app store for homebrew (community-made) applications. If you ever want to explore additional apps, tools, or emulators made by the 3DS community, Universal Updater is where you'll find them. Just open it, browse, and install anything that catches your eye — it handles everything automatically without needing a PC.

Checkpoint
Checkpoint is your save game manager. It lets you back up and restore your save files for any game on your console. If you ever want to keep a backup of your progress — just in case — open Checkpoint, find your game, and create a backup. It's simple, quick, and could save you from losing hours of progress.

FTPD
FTPD lets you transfer files between your 3DS and a PC wirelessly over your home Wi-Fi connection. It's mainly used by more advanced users who want to move files around without taking out the SD card. If you're just here to play games, you won't need this — but it's there if you ever do.

Homebrew Launcher
The Homebrew Launcher is a gateway to running community-made applications that aren't installed directly to your home screen. Some apps and tools run through here rather than appearing as standard icons. If Universal Updater ever directs you to open the Homebrew Launcher to run something, this is where you'd find it.

A Quick Word on Your Apps Folder

The Apps folder on the far right of your home screen contains all the standard applications that came with your Nintendo 3DS. This includes the camera, settings, Download Play, Mii Maker, Mii Plaza, Nintendo 3DS Sound, Activity Log, AR Games, Face Raiders, and more.

These all work exactly as Nintendo intended. Your custom firmware runs alongside everything Nintendo built in, not instead of it — so all your standard features remain fully intact.

Need Help?

If you ever get stuck or something doesn't seem right, feel free to get in touch directly through ModxGaming. Lewis personally handles every order and is happy to help.

ModxGaming — Premium Modded Consoles, Handcrafted by Lewis