With the Nintendo 3DS eShop closed, fans are turning to custom firmware and ROMs to keep their favorite titles alive. Whether you're aiming to preserve your physical collection, try out fan-made romhacks, or play your games on a larger SD card, this guide covers the essential, legal methods for managing 3DS ROMs in 2026. 1. The Essentials: What You Need Before you begin, ensure you have the following:

A powerful tool for dumping your own cartridges and managing files. 2. Understanding ROM Formats (.3DS vs. .CIA)

You can use GodMode9 on your 3DS to convert .3ds files to .cia format for easy installation. 3. How to Install ROMs on Your 3DS

These are raw dumps of game cartridges. They are often used by emulators like Citra .

These are "Container Installable Archives," which are installed via the FBI app to appear directly on your 3DS home menu.