NTRBoot Quick Start Guide

These carts come pre-flashed with the ntrboot firmware. If you have one of these carts, you can jump straight into installing boot9strap: https://3ds.hacks.guide/installing-boot9strap-(ntrboot)

Ace3DS X #

This flashcart requires a microSD card to be inserted for it to be detected by your console, neither the DS mode nor the ntrboot mode will work without it. The DS mode is the normal Ace3DS+ experience, you add the kernel files and then your games! However, do not flash this mode with ntrboot. Instead, flip the switch on the side of the cart to 3DS mode. 3DS mode is ntrboot firmware, when the cart is in 3DS mode, it will disappear from your home screen - this is normal and it means that you are now in ntrboot mode.

Purchase links and kernel downloads #

This cart usually costs $5-$10 USD. Searching “ace3ds” seems to correctly return results on AliExpress, however, we cannot guarantee that you will receive the flashcart. A link to a listing is provided here though it may not be the cheapest option out there: NDS-Card / AliExpress

Kernel: Ace Wood 1.62

R4i-SDHC B9S #

This cart does not have a switch for different modes. It’s one of r4i-sdhc.com’s timebomb carts which has been pre-flashed with ntrboot. You can flash it back to a state where it can play DS games again.
The stock kernel for this cart has a timebomb set for the 3rd of September, 2024. You should use YSMenu instead as it does not have a timebomb. See our Timebomb Misconceptions page for more details.

Purchase links and kernel downloads #

This cart costs $16.99 on NDS-Card’s website: NDS-Card

Kernel: R4i-SDHC YSMenu
Alternate Kernel: De-Timebombed 1.85b r4i-sdhc kernel

These carts will need to be flashed with ntrboot as they come with their DS firmware from factory. Flashing one of these carts is easy though, you can find out how to do that here: https://3ds.hacks.guide/ntrboot

R4iSDHC.com 2014+ #

It doesn’t matter whether you get the Gold Pro, or the Dual Core, or any other cart from r4isdhc.com, as long as the year number is 2014 or above - you can use the cart with ntrboot. Carts pre-2014 are not compatible with ntrboot. You must ensure that this is an r4isdhc.com cart, other similar looking carts mentioned in the ‘Carts to avoid’ tab cannot use ntrboot.

The 4.1b kernel for this cart hosted by r4i-sdhc.com has a broken ROM loader - older versions of the stock kernel have a timebomb - you should use YSMenu instead as it does not have the issues mentioned before. See our Timebomb Misconceptions page for more details.

Purchase links and kernel downloads #

This cart usually costs $5-10 USD. Searching “r4 gold” seems to correctly return results on AliExpress. Links are provided here but they may not be the cheapest out there: NDS-Card / AliExpress

Kernel: R4i-SDHC YSMenu
Alternate Kernel: De-Timebombed 1.85b r4i-sdhc kernel

R4i-SDHC 3DS RTS #

This cart is from r4i-sdhc.com, it is very similar to the r4isdhc.com cart mentioned above, though the main difference is that it costs more to buy it.
The stock kernel for this cart has a timebomb set for the 3rd of September, 2024. You should use YSMenu instead as it does not have a timebomb. See our Timebomb Misconceptions page for more details.

Purchase links and kernel downloads #

This cart usually costs $10-15 USD. Searching “r4i-sdhc” seems to correctly return results on AliExpress. Links are provided here but they may not be the cheapest out there: NDS-Card / AliExpress

Kernel: R4i-SDHC YSMenu
Alternate Kernel: De-Timebombed 1.85b r4i-sdhc kernel

This section is a warning against buying certain carts for ntrboot. These carts may look and sound similar to other ntrboot carts.

Generic Ace3DS+ clones #

These carts do not support being flashed with ntrboot. While they are known as Ace3DS+ clones, the hardware is different enough that attempting to flash them with ntrboot will not work!

These carts usually go by ‘X in 1’ or ‘R4 WOOD’ - X referring to the number of games stored on the included micro SD card.

r4isdhc.hk carts #

This Ace3DS+ clone looks similar to an r4isdhc.com cart and is often mistaken as one.

Key differences to look out for are:

• The site listed on the cart.
• This cart has a red PCB, 2014+ r4isdhc.com carts have a yellow PCB.
• The way the year number is displayed - instead of a red ribbon as shown on the r4isdhc.com 2014+ carts, r4isdhc.hk carts have an outline of a star.

This cart does not support being flashed with ntrboot firmware.

r4isdhc.com.cn carts #

This Ace3DS+ clone looks similar to an r4isdhc.com cart and is often mistaken as one.

Key differenced to look out for are:

• The site listed on the cart.
• This cart has a red PCB, 2014+ r4isdhc.com carts have a yellow PCB.
• This cart has a reflective sticker, whereas r4isdhc.com’s labels are not reflective.

Earlier carts (~2017) from r4isdhc.com.cn supported being flashed with ntrboot - it could not be flashed back to it’s DS firmware meaning it would forever be an ntrboot cart. Newer carts (2020+) do not support being flashed with ntrboot.