3DS How to use BigBlueMenu and CIA files

spud1966

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
May 2, 2005
Messages
14,590
Reaction score
9,806
Location
The Moon
How to use BigBlueMenu and CIA files


Do not try to open installed programs while you're on sysNAND menu !!!

Let's understand first what are BigBlueMenu and .cia files.

BigBlueMenu is an improved version of the Devmenu and it was made by BigBlueBox.
The Devmenu/BigBlueMenu is a program for the 3DS that allows the management of programs installed in the 3DS. That means that it is possible to install and uninstall programs in the 3DS using BigBlueMenu.

Those programs can be applications (like BigBlueMenu or the Youtube app), they can be games (the same as those bought on eShop), they can be game updates (also the same as those downloaded from eShop), they can be DLC content (the same as those on eShop or the in-game shop) and they also be VC games (once again the same as those on eShop).

.cia files are files recognized the by 3DS system and that work like a "package" where the programs are stored.

Then, how to use BigBlueMenu in the 3DS?

1º First, we have to get BigBlueMenu. You can find the files online and it has two versions: one in .3ds format (BigBlueMenu.3ds) and another in .cia format (BigBlueMenu.cia).
You can also find those 2 files in the program "3DS to CIA Converter" made by RazorX2014 and that you can find here in the forum.

Download 3DS To CIA Converter v3.6

This guide will use the files from that program.


2º Download the rar file and extract the contents to your computer. Go inside the created folder and you'll find another folder named "For the 3DS SD card". The 2 BigBlueMenu files that you need are inside that folder.

14buera.png
2nscfgm.png


3º Copy/paste BigBlueMenu.3ds to the root of your Micro-SD card (the one inside GW card). Copy/paste BigBlueMenu.cia to the root of your SD card (the one inside the 3DS) as well.


29xyscx.png
2e4hj7d.png


4º Start your 3DS and go into Gateway Mode. Press [SELECT] to open the multirom menu and the last icon should be the one you just put there (BigBlueMenu). Choose that one just like you do for a game. In the 3DS menu, the BigBlueMenu's icon will appear.

2cqe7gz.jpg
wchibk.jpg


5º Open BigBlueMenu (just like for a game). In the bottom screen there will be 4 tabs and a list of files, while on the top screen there will be some technical informations. The 4 tabs are "Program", "SDMC", "HIO" e "ExtData". In this case, only the first two matter.

rura5u.jpg
29ly5ck.jpg


6º Go to the tab that says "SDMC" and a list of all the files inside the SD card will appear. Search for the file that says "BigBlueMenu.cia" and press "A" to install.

2jakfoz.jpg
2mhewx0.jpg


7º When the installation finishes, go back to the 3DS menu (you just need to press "Home" and "Close" like for the games). In the menu, there will be a new program icon (the first time it shows, it will look like a wrapped gift) and that program is the BigBlueMenu that you just installed.

11l34go.jpg
2008whg.jpg


8º You can now delete BigBlueMenu.3ds from the Micro-SD caed and BigBlueMenu.cia from the SD card because you already have the program installed on the 3DS. From now on, the program will always show on the menu.
Do not try to open installed programs while you're on sysNAND menu even if they show up because it won't work and might cause problems. The exception is if it is patched to work on lower firmware version.

How to install/uninstall other programs with BigBlueMenu?

As it was said in the beginning, .cia files can be games, updates, DLC, etc... To install those programs, the steps to take are the same as the ones you did to install BigBlueMenu.

You should copy the .cia files to the root of the SD card.

You can check on the image that I have on the SD card, as an example, the files "Fantasy.Life.EUR.CIA.3DS-inxite.cia" (Fantasy Life (E) game), "fantasylifedlc.cia" (DLC for Fantasy Life), "pokemon.crystal.cia" (Pokemon Crystal VC game) and "Super.Smash.Bros.for.Nintendo.3DS.EUR.CIA.3DS-inxite.cia" (Super Smash Bros (E) game).

29xyscx.jpg


Afterwards, you only have to enter GW and on the 3DS menu, open BigBlueMenu (that is already installed).
Inside BigBlueMenu, all those .cia files will appear on the SD card's list of files. You only have to select the one you want to install and press "A" to start the installation. In the end, the installed program will appear on the 3DS menu.

9uvyn7.jpg
21cxd15.jpg


To uninstall programs, the steps are also easy.
You just have to open BigBlueMenu and in the first tab ("Program"), the list of all the installed programs in the 3DS will appear.
The files that appear on the list are described by Unique ID and next, Product Code.
If you don't know the Unique ID or the Product Code of the program you want to unistall, you can search for it on this website 3DS Releases. You only need to write it in "Search" and the info will appear on the list.
To unistall the program, select the program that you want and press "X". In the end, the program will no longer appear on the 3DS menu. Be careful because if you uninstall a game, the save from that game will also be deleted and so, even if you install the game again, you'll have to start over.

rk1xj7.jpg


Important Observations:

With the program "3DS to CIA Converter" (from where you took the BigBlueMenu's files), you can create your own .cia file from a .3ds file.
That program also has other functions but if you want to know more, just watch the video that explains it.

Never enter Data Management or else the files that you installed and the saves will disappear. You can simply install and unistall the programs using BigBlueMenu. You can avoid this and also fix the "gift" bug if you separate your emunand from your sysnand which can be done by formatting your 3DS without having the SD card inserted (otherwise you'll format the SD card too). After formatting the 3DS, it will be necessary to install the exploit again with the blue card (valid for 4.x users)

Never enter the extra content or DLC options inside the games or else the DLC you installed will disappear. If they disappear, you'll have to install them again.

After installing the program you want, you can delete the .cia file from your SD card so that it doesn't occupy space unnecessarily. The program will be installed on the 3DS system.

When you're trying to install a program, you always need to have enough space on your SD card or else the installation will give an error. It is as if the .cia file was a package of books. The package has 10 books and you want to store the books inside a closet. If the closet only has space for 5 books, you won't be able to completely store them there. In this situation, it happens the same with the installation.

Only games will appear on the 3DS menu. DLCs, updates and themes will not appear as an icon on the 3DS menu even though they are installed on the system.

CIA games don't have headers and therefore you can go online without needing to do any steps beforehand.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Back
Top