Updating A9LH

Last Update: 3 Nov 2016

The actual installation of arm9loaderhax itself consists of payload files installed into the NFIRM partitions on your device’s NAND chip, which is soldered to the motherboard itself. These payloads are updated rarely and only really serve the purpose of launching arm9loaderhax.bin from your SD card, which is, in our case, Luma3DS.

If you do not know what version of arm9loaderhax you are running, just install the latest version with these steps. Installing the latest version while already on the latest version will have no effect.

If you have a PIN set on Luma, you must temporarily turn it off to do these steps. You can re-enable the PIN after the update.

If you are using a payload that does not init the screen on its own (such as Bootanim9), you will need to rename it to arm9loaderhax_si.bin instead of arm9loaderhax.bin

The versions of data_input only refer to revisions of the .zip to be compatible with different installer versions, and are not the same thing as updating a9lh itself (the payload files). They make no practical difference beyond the installation process.

To use the magnet links on this page, you will need a torrent client like Deluge

These steps will also update your various payloads and the AES key database.

What you need

Instructions

For all of these instructions, OVERWRITE any existing files on your SD card.

Section I - Prep Work

1. Power off your device
2. Insert your SD card into your computer
3. Delete any existing aeskeydb.bin from the root of your SD card
4. Delete the a9lh folder from the root of your SD card if it exists
5. Copy aeskeydb.bin to the /files9/ folder on your SD card
6. Copy GodMode9.bin from the GodMode9 .zip to the /luma/payloads/ folder on your SD card
   • If start_Hourglass9.bin already exists in this folder, delete start_Hourglass9.bin
7. Copy arm9loaderhax.bin from the SafeA9LHInstaller .zip to the /luma/payloads/ folder on your SD card
8. Rename arm9loaderhax.bin in /luma/payloads/ to down_safea9lhinstaller.bin
9. Copy the a9lh folder from data_input .zip to the root of your SD card
10. Copy the contents of the arm9loaderhax .7z to a9lh folder on your SD card
11. Reinsert your SD card into your device

Section II - Payload update

1. Launch SafeA9LHInstaller from arm9loaderhax by holding (Down) during boot
2. Press (Select) to update arm9loaderhax
3. Power off your device
4. Insert your SD card into your computer
5. Delete the a9lh folder from the root of your SD card
6. Delete down_safea9lhinstaller.bin from /luma/payloads/
7. Reinsert your SD card into your device

Section III - Configuring Luma3DS

1. Boot your device while holding (Select) to enter the Luma3DS configuration menu
2. Use the (A) button and the D-Pad to turn on the following:
   • “Autoboot SysNAND”
   • “Use SysNAND FIRM if booting with R”
   • “Show NAND or user string in System Settings”
3. If you are using a New 3DS, you should also enable the following:
   • “New 3DS CPU” to “Clock+L2(x)”
   • This will increase the framerate of many games, but may cause instability in others
   • If some games do not work properly, disable this option and try again
4. Press (Start) to save and reboot

Section IV - CTRNAND Luma3DS

1. Reboot holding (Start) during boot to launch the Luma3DS chainloader menu
2. Launch GodMode9 by pressing (A)
3. Navigate to [0:] SDCARD
4. Press (Y) on arm9loaderhax.bin to copy it
5. Press (B) to return to the main menu
6. Navigate to [1:] SYSNAND CTRNAND
7. Press (Y) to paste arm9loaderhax.bin
8. Select “Copy path(s)”
   • Overwrite any existing arm9loaderhax.bin if prompted
9. Press (A) to unlock SysNAND (lvl1) writing, then input the key combo given
10. Press (B) to return to the main menu
11. Hold (R) and press (B) at the same time to eject your SD card
12. Remove your SD card from your device
13. Press (Start) to reboot your device with your SD card removed
    • Booting your device at least once with your SD card removed will allow you to configure the CTRNAND based Luma3DS installation
14. Use the (A) button and the D-Pad to turn on the following:
    • “Show NAND or user string in System Settings”
15. Reinsert your SD card into your device
16. Press (Start) to save and reboot