For a lot of you this is old information, but the question gets asked from time to time, and I'm pretty sure many SKY3DS / PastaCFW users are not in the know about this. Also, PastaCFW users: backup your goddamn SysNAND! You may thank me for that later. So, here we go...

What you need:

• A 2DS, O3DS or N3DS with FW <= 9.2.0.
• A Cubic Ninja retail cartridge or the rom and a SKY3DS
• Gateway's launcher.dat from the GW FW (link not allowed, but a websearch for Gateway 3DS will quickly lead you to where you'll find it)
• A big enough internal SD card installed in your 3DS (NAND backup is around 1...2GB, rom dumps maximize at 4GB)

How to get into the GW menu:

1. Copy the GW launcher.dat (it's in the GW FW download, in the subfolder "GW_ULTRA_...") to your internal SD card
2. Connect your 3DS to the internet
3. Start Cubic Ninja -> "Create" -> "QR Code"
4. If 3. boots you right into Homebrew Launcher or something else, you need to uninstall the previous exploit from Cubic Ninja (press L+R+X+Y in the main menu) and try again.
5. Select "Scan QR Code" and scan your regions QR code (contained in the GW FW download, subfolder "Save Games...", also found below). Make sure you scan the code for the correct region.

That's it! And the next time you want to get into the GW menu, you only need to follow step 3.

QR codes for Europe / US (left) and Japan (right) (click to enlarge):



How to backup your SysNAND from the GW menu

1. Select "Backup System NAND", confirm with X

Nand.bin will be created on your internal SD card. And, no, you don't need an actual GW card for that.


How to dump roms from the GW menu

1. Switch Cubic Ninja for the game cart you want to dump (unless you want to dump CN)
2. Select "Backup 3DS Game Cartridge", confirm with X

A rom file will be created on you internal SD card. No GW card needed. This is a proper rom dump, usable with SKY3DS, GW, or - when converted to .CIA - PastaCFW.


Other stuff
This is no more dangerous than installing Ninjhax, so not dangerous at all. The GW card is only needed to boot into GW mode or classic mode. In fact, a SysNAND backup may be the only way to save your 3DS once something goes seriously wrong. It is discouraged, however, to blindly fiddle around with the GW menu's other options. See here for what's possible and what the possible consequences may be. Also, there are other ways to get into the GW menu, such as using a OOT cartridge and a save dongle, or using the web browser (O3DS below 9.2 only).

 

[rubyloving]

Should note that it only works for firmware version 9.2 or earlier, unless i'm mistaken.

 

[d0k3]

Should note that it only works for firmware version 9.2 or earlier, unless i'm mistaken.

Correct, forgot about that.

 

[Saiyann]

Hey, when I run ninjahax it doesn't boot gateway mode but goes into Homebrew launcher. What do I do wrong? I have launcher.dat on my sd card

 

[d0k3]

Hey, when I run ninjahax it doesn't boot gateway mode but goes into Homebrew launcher. What do I do wrong? I have launcher.dat on my sd card

You need to uninstall the previosu exploit first (no worries, it is easy to reinstall). Press L+R+X+Y in Cubic Ninja main menu and choose to delete the savegame. Then proceed with the steps of this guide.

 

[Jayro]

I use the web exploit to load the gateway launcher on my un-touched 9.2U 2DS, and dump my own roms and saves. Even my nand, but I can't use any of them yet until I buy a 3DS flash cart.

 

[JoostinOnline]

Can you use Webhax instead of Cubic Ninja?

 

[JoostinOnline]

I'm on 9.2U and the code causes the game to crash.

 

[Wankerla]

Man, please! Include how to exit gateway launcher. My heart stoped for a moment because i didn't know how to exit from the gateway menu back to sysnand. Then i try to boot into classic mode then it goes black. Luckily i hold the power button and it restarts my 3ds. But thanks anyway!