How to Perform a System Transfer to Nintendo 3DS Family Systems

In order to perform a system transfer, you must have both a source and target system available. You transfer content from the source system to a target system. In most cases, the new system is the target.

In order to perform a transfer from a Nintendo DSi to a Nintendo 3DS family system, you will need to download the Nintendo 3DS Transfer Tool from the Nintendo DSi Shop.

To complete the system transfer you will need both your Nintendo 3DS family system and Nintendo DSi systems, the wireless data transfer application for the Nintendo DSi, and access to the Internet.

Once complete, you will not be able to transfer data back to the Nintendo DSi.

For assistance with transferring to a Nintendo 3DS family system, please see our information on How to Transfer DSiWare to a Nintendo 3DS Family System.

Please read the following information before continuing:

• If you have already started a system transfer, it is OK to exit the transfer if the Pikmin movie has not begun. If the Pikmin movie has begun, please let the transfer complete.
• An active internet connection is required to process the transfer.
• Plugging in the system is not required to proceed, but it is recommended. The transfer can take more than forty minutes to complete.
• The target and source systems are required to be set to the same region settings before the transfer can begin.
• If the system's region settings are changed, you must launch the Nintendo eShop at least once before proceeding with the system transfer.
• The target and source systems are required to have the latest system update before the transfer can begin.
• You cannot perform a system transfer if the target system has a Nintendo Network ID linked. You must format the target system to remove the Nintendo Network ID link prior to transferring content.

For assistance transferring to a Nintendo 3DS family system, please see our information on How to Transfer Content Between Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 3DS XL, and Nintendo 2DS Systems.

If you have already started a system transfer, it is OK to exit the transfer if the Pikmin movie has not begun. If the Pikmin movie has begun, please let the transfer complete.

There are three options to select from when performing a transfer to a New Nintendo 3DS system:

• PC-Based Transfer: This option allows you to use a PC to copy the data from the source system's SD Card to the target system's microSD Card.
• Wireless Transfer: This option allows you to move all your current content to the new system via a local wireless connection.
• Low-Capacity microSD Card Transfer: This option allows you to move all but your downloaded content to the new system via a local wireless connection. Once the transfer has been complete, you will be able to redownload your content and your save data will be restored.

If you are unsure which to choose, then we have created a guide that will help you select the best option for your situation. As some options require certain tools, such as a PC or special screwdriver, we recommend using our guide.

It is not possible to transfer content from a Nintendo 3DS family system to a Nintendo DSi.

It is not possible to transfer content from a New Nintendo 3DS XL or New Nintendo 3DS to a Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 3DS XL, or Nintendo 2DS.

It is not possible to transfer content from a New Nintendo 3DS XL or New Nintendo 3DS to a Nintendo DSi.

For assistance with transferring to a New Nintendo 3DS XL, New Nintendo 3DS, or New Nintendo 2DS XL, please see our information on How to Transfer Content Between Two New Nintendo 3DS Systems.

Please answer the following questions. At the end, we will provide you with step by step instrucitons on how to best perform a system transfer to your New Nintendo 3DS system.

Please read the following and then select an option:

• An active internet connection is required to process the transfer.
• The target and source systems are required to be set to the same region settings before the transfer can begin.
  • If the system's region settings are changed, you must launch the Nintendo eShop at least once before proceeding with the system transfer.
• The target and source systems are required to have the latest system update before the transfer can begin.
• You cannot perform a system transfer if the target system has a Nintendo Network ID linked. You must format the target system to remove the Nintendo Network ID link prior to transferring content.

The pre-installed game takes up a portion of the target system's microSD Card space (this will vary depending on the size of the game). Because of this, you may not be able to transfer all of your downloaded data to the microSD Card on the target system. If this is the case, you can choose to transfer only save data. Your content will be available for redownload from the Nintendo eShop once the transfer is done.

Even if you select not to delete data from the microSD Card during the system transfer process, you will still need to redownload the preinstalled game from the Nintendo eShop once the transfer has been completed.

Before starting the transfer process, determine the size of SD Card, microSD Card, or miniSD Card being used in the source system.

• The SD Card is inserted into the side of the hardware (left side on the Nintendo 3DS, right side on the Nintendo 3DS XL and Nintendo 2DS). Eject the SD Card by pressing it in until you hear a click, then sliding it out. Make sure the system is powered off before removing the SD Card.

Before starting the transfer process, determine the size of SD Card, microSD Card, or miniSD Card being used in the source system.

• The SD Card is inserted into the side of the hardware (left side on the Nintendo 3DS, right side on the Nintendo 3DS XL and Nintendo 2DS). Eject the SD Card by pressing it in until you hear a click, then sliding it out. Make sure the system is powered off before removing the SD Card.

In order to perform this type of transfer, you will need the following:

• A PC with an SD Card reader
• A size #0 cross-head (+) screwdriver to remove the backplate on the New Nintendo 3DS system
• A microSD Card adapter so the microSD Card can be read by your PC

Please be aware that you will need enough space on the target microSD card to move your content. If there is a preinstalled game on the target system, it will need to be redownloaded once the transfer has been completed.

For assistance with a PC-based transfer, please see our information on How to Perform a System Transfer to a New Nintendo 3DS System (PC).

In order to perform a full wireless transfer, you will need enough space on the target system's microSD Card for all downloaded data on the source system's SD Card.

Please be aware that this process may take more than four hours to complete depending on the amount of data on the source system's SD Card. Please monitor the battery level on both systems to ensure that neither lose power during the transfer.

For assistance with a wireless transfer, please see our information on How to Perform a System Transfer to a New Nintendo 3DS System (Wireless Transfer).

This option will transfer everything to the target system except for downloaded data. You will be able to redownload this content once the transfer has been complete. Once the data has been redownloaded, the save data will be restored.

Please monitor the battery level on both systems to ensure that neither lose power during the transfer.

For assistance with a low-capacity transfer, please see our information on How to Perform a System Transfer to a New Nintendo 3DS System (Low-Capacity microSD Card Transfer).

If your current SD Card is 4 GB or smaller, then it is recommended that you select Low-Capacity microSD Card Transfer when performing a system transfer. This type of transfer will migrate all of your content over local wireless, except your downloaded games.

These games will be available to redownload from the Nintendo eShop once the transfer has been completed. Save data will be restored once the game has been redownloaded.

For assistance with a low-capacity transfer, please see our information on How to Perform a System Transfer to a New Nintendo 3DS System (Low-Capacity microSD Card Transfer).

If your current SD Card is larger than 4 GB, then there are two options:

• You can choose to upgrade the size of the microSD Card in the target system before performing the transfer.
• You can select Low-Capacity microSD Card Transfer when performing a system transfer.
  • This type of transfer will migrate all of your content over local wireless, except your downloaded games. These games will be available to redownload from the Nintendo eShop once the transfer has been completed. Save data will be restored once the game has been redownloaded.

As both cards are the same size, there should be no issue with available space on the target system. Please choose form the following two options:

• Use local wireless to transfer all content to the New Nintendo 3DS system. This process may take more than four hours to complete depending on the amount of data being transferred.
• Use a PC to move content from the current SD Card to the microSD Card being used in the New Nintendo 3DS system. Nintendo recommends using this method; however, you will need the following:
  • A PC with an SD Card reader
  • A size #0 cross-head (+) screwdriver to remove the backplate on the New Nintendo 3DS system
  • A microSD Card adapter so the microSD Card read by your PC

If the source system's SD Card is larger than 4 GB, then it may be hard to determine if there is enough space available to perform the transfer.

You have two options:

• You can choose to upgrade the size of the microSD Card in the target system before performing the transfer.
• You can select Low-Capacity microSD Card Transfer when performing a system transfer.
  • This type of transfer will migrate all of your content over local wireless, except your downloaded games and applications. These applications and games will be available to redownload from the Nintendo eShop once the transfer has been completed. Save data will be restored once the game has been redownloaded.

Please upgrade the microSD Card on the target system before you perform the system transfer.

Once the card has been upgraded, please choose from the following two options to complete the transfer:

• Use local wireless to transfer all content to the New Nintendo 3DS system. This process may take more than four hours to complete depending on the amount of data being transferred.
• Use a PC to move content from the current SD Card to the microSD card being used in the New Nintendo 3DS system. Nintendo recommends using this method; however, you will need the following:
  • A PC with an SD Card reader
  • A size #0 cross-head (+) screwdriver to remove the backplate on the New Nintendo 3DS system
  • A microSD Card adapter so the microSD Card can be read by your PC

If you are not going to upgrade your microSD Card, then you should choose to use the Low-Capacity microSD Card transfer.

Using this method should ensure that there is enough space for the preinstalled game to be redownloaded after the system transfer has been completed.

You will be able to redownload your content at any time from the Nintendo eShop. After the content has been redownloaded, its save data will be restored.

For assistance with a low-capacity transfer, please see our information on How to Perform a System Transfer to a New Nintendo 3DS System (Low-Capacity microSD Card Transfer).

For assistance with a PC-based transfer, please see our information on How to Perform a System Transfer to a New Nintendo 3DS System (PC).

For assistance with a wireless transfer, please see our information on How to Perform a System Transfer to a New Nintendo 3DS System (Wireless Transfer).

Using this method should ensure that there is enough space on the target system to finish the transfer process.

For assistance with a low-capacity transfer, please see our information on How to Perform a System Transfer to a New Nintendo 3DS System (Low-Capacity microSD Card Transfer).

Please upgrade the microSD Card on the target system before you perform the system transfer.

Once the card has been upgraded, please choose from the following two options to complete the transfer:

• Use local wireless to transfer all content to the New Nintendo 3DS system. This process may take more than four hours to complete depending on the amount of data being transferred.
• Use a PC to move content from the current SD Card to the microSD card being used in the New Nintendo 3DS system. Nintendo recommends using this method; however, you will need the following:
  • A PC with an SD Card reader
  • A size #0 cross-head (+) screwdriver to remove the backplate on the New Nintendo 3DS system
  • A microSD Card adapter so the microSD Card can be read by your PC

For assistance with a wireless transfer, please see our information on How to Perform a System Transfer to a New Nintendo 3DS System (Wireless Transfer).

For assistance with a PC-based transfer, please see our information on How to Perform a System Transfer to a New Nintendo 3DS System (PC).

For assistance with a PC-based transfer, please see our information on How to Perform a System Transfer to a New Nintendo 3DS System (PC).

For assistance with a wireless transfer, please see our information on How to Perform a System Transfer to a New Nintendo 3DS System (Wireless Transfer).