Nintendo 3DS system software

Nintendo 3DS system software is software on the Nintendo 3DS video game console that can be updated. These updates, which are downloaded through the system's Internet connection, lets Nintendo add and take away features and software. Updates also have changes from previous versions. The newest version of the system software, 11.17.0-50, was released on May 22, 2023.^[1]

Home Menu features, changes, and new applications

The Home Menu is a GUI like the Wii's "Wii Menu" and the DSi's "DSi Menu" which lets you use applications from Nintendo game cards, 3DS applications, or DSiWare applications. The menu has space to show 60 applications, though 120 spaces, for one application each, will show when space starts to run out. On the top screen, the menu shows information such as signal strength, step count, date, time, and battery life. With the home button, the user can go to the HOME menu, except for DS games or DSiWare, which won't let the player go there without quitting the game. From the home screen, the user can manage notes, check friend lists, change the level of light, check notifications, and if updated to the latest version, browse the internet, all without closing the current application. At the home menu, the user can also take photos with the 3D cameras by pressing the L or R buttons. To open another application, the one the player is using must be closed first. Like the DSi, game cards can be swapped while in the menu.

List of all default applications

Main article: Nintendo 3DS

All the following applications come with the latest version of the firmware, with the system:

• Health and Safety Information
• Nintendo 3DS Camera
• Nintendo 3DS Sound
• Mii Maker
• StreetPass Mii Plaza
• AR Games
• Face Raiders
• Activity Log
• Nintendo 3DS Download Play
• System Settings
• Nintendo eShop
• Nintendo Zone

List of applications that allow multitasking

All the following applications let you do something else while they are open:

• Game Notes
• Friend List
• Notifications
• Internet Browser
• Miiverse
• DoomVerse
• JesusVerse
• Miibook
• Miiverse 2

List of applications that need to be downloaded

All the following applications need to be downloaded from the Nintendo eShop first:

• Ambassador Certificate^b
• Swapnote
• Nintendo Video
• Pokedex 3D + Pro
• Pokémon Radar
• Nintendo 3DS 3OS dev menu
• Nintendo Dev Tool
• Nintendo Game Creation Tool
• Nintendo Unity
• Nintendo's Untitled game
• Luigi's Mansion Totally Cool Dude
• G.O.A.T The Game
• Bowling
• COW The Game
• Pig The Game
• Cockroach The Game
• Ant The Game
• Jack the Cockroach The Game
• Bull The Game
• Tuna The Game
• Cheers The Game
• Cheers The Game 2:The Return of Cheers!
• Cheers The Game 3:Reunion

3DS system software versions table

The following is a list of all the versions of Nintendo 3DS firmware.

Release Date	Version	Countries released	Details
NA: December 4, 2012	5.5.0-10		New graphics API named Nintendo graphics API version 3 Added support 4K resolution FX upscaling to a lower native resolution and Upscaled to 4K
EU: September 20, 2012 NA: September 19, 2012 AUS: September 20, 2012	4.4.0-10		Further improvements to overall system stability and other minor adjustments have been made to enhance the user experience.[1]
EU: July 25, 2012 NA: July 24, 2012 AUS: July 25, 2012	4.3.0-10		Further improvements to overall system stability and other minor adjustments have been made to enhance the user experience.[1]
EU: June 27, 2012 NA: June 26, 2012	4.2.0-9		Further improvements to overall system stability and other minor adjustments have been made to enhance the user experience.[1]
EU: May 15, 2012 NA: May 14, 2012	4.1.0-8		Further improvements to overall system stability and other minor adjustments have been made to enhance the user experience.[1] System Update can now be accessed without a Parental Control PIN code.[2]
JP: April 24, 2012 EU: April 25, 2012 NA: April 24, 2012 AUS: April 25, 2012	4.0.0-7		Folders can be made to put games and applications in one place. Up to 60 applications can be put in each folder. The user can name the folders, too. Nintendo eShop usability improvements.[1]
JP: December 21, 2011 EU: December 22, 2011 NA: December 21, 2011 AUS: December 21, 2011	3.0.0-6		Nintendo eShop improvements and additions for several features.[1] Updates to StreetPass Mii Plaza.[1] Transfer from Nintendo 3DS to Nintendo 3DS has been added to Software/Data Transfer.[1] New QR code reading function for the Nintendo 3DS Camera.[1] Improved system stability and convenience.[1]
JP: December 7, 2011 EU: December 7, 2011 NA: December 6, 2011 AUS: December 7, 2011	3.0.0-5		Update to Nintendo 3DS Camera Videos up to 10 minutes long can be recorded in 3D.[3] Certain special shooting modes allow 3D shooting. Update to StreetPass Mii Plaza SpotPass was included. Find Mii II was released. Accomplishments were added. A music player was added. Slideshows for Puzzle Swap panels that were completed before were added. New Puzzle Swap panels were included. An improved StreetPass functionality came into place.
JP: November 3, 2011 EU: November 18, 2011 NA: November 13, 2011 AUS: November 24, 2011	2.2.0-Xa		Improves system security. Blocks some flash carts. The 2.2.0-X update is only on the following games: Super Mario 3D Land Mario Kart 7
JP: July 26, 2011 EU: July 25, 2011 NA: July 26, 2011 AUS: July 26, 2011	2.1.0-4		Improvements and other changes.
JP: June 7, 2011 EU: June 7, 2011 NA: June 6, 2011 AUS: June 7, 2011	2.0.0-2		Nintendo eShop was added to the system. One can now transfer software to a DSi and the other way around. An internet browser was added. Before, there was a 3D demo video. Now, it is gone. Better system performance. You can now use SpotPass while in Sleep Mode.
JP: February 26, 2011 EU: March 25, 2011 NA: March 27, 2011 AUS: March 31, 2011	1.1.0-1 1.1.0-0a		Better stability in the system overall, and bug fixes. A video that shows you how to use the 3D has been included. The 1.1.0-0 update lacks the tutorial video in the next version. The 1.1.0-0 update is only on the following games: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D[4] Pilotwings Resort
JP: February 26, 2011 EU: March 25, 2011 NA: March 27, 2011 AUS: March 31, 2011	1.0.0-0		The first version of the software that comes with every system at launch.

^ a This update came with the specified games and has a regular last number (0, 1, 2, 3...)

^ b Nintendo 3DS owners who performed the 2.1.0-4 system update prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Aug. 18, 2011, were automatically registered for the program.