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FBI is a homebrew title manager and file explorer for a Nintendo 3DS that already has custom firmware. Its main job is installing and managing software packaged as .cia files. It is unrelated to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nintendo’s eShop, or any official Nintendo system application.
What FBI does on a 3DS
In 3DS homebrew terminology, a title is installed software such as an application, game, update, DLC package, or certain system software. FBI lets users install, remove, and inspect these titles on a compatible custom-firmware system.
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Its most common use is installing a CIA package from the console’s SD card. It can also install files from a local network, a direct URL, or a QR code containing a download location. FBI can browse files, delete installed titles and tickets, and perform selected save-data and extdata operations.
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FBI is not a tool for hacking an unmodified 3DS. It is normally used after a homebrew or custom-firmware environment—usually Luma3DS—has already been set up. The current 3DS Hacks Guide includes FBI during its final setup instructions.
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What is a CIA file?
A .cia file is an installable 3DS software package. FBI installs it so the software can become an installed title and, in many cases, appear on the HOME Menu.
Other common 3DS file types serve different purposes:
.cia: generally installed with a title manager such as FBI..3dsx: usually launched through Homebrew Launcher rather than installed to the HOME Menu..3ds: commonly associated with cartridge-image or flashcard workflows and is not interchangeable with a CIA.
For more format and installation terminology, see the 3DS software-installation guide.
How to install a CIA with FBI
This is the typical workflow for a legitimate, compatible CIA on a 3DS that already has custom firmware:
- Obtain the CIA from the software author’s official release page or another source you are authorized to use.
- Copy it to the SD card, preferably in a clearly named folder such as
/cias. - Safely eject the SD card, return it to the 3DS, and open FBI.
- Select SD and navigate to the folder containing the CIA.
- Select the file and choose Install CIA. Menu labels can vary slightly by FBI build, language, or context.
- Wait until installation finishes. If offered, Install and delete CIA installs the package and removes the original file afterward to recover SD-card space.
- Return to the HOME Menu. The new software may appear as a gift that must be unwrapped before it can be opened.
FBI installs the package; it is not necessarily a launcher for the newly installed software. If the title does not immediately show as an icon, check for an unopened gift and confirm that the installation completed successfully.
Can FBI install games?
Technically, FBI can install compatible game-related CIA packages, including authorized backups, updates, and DLC. However, FBI does not grant permission to download or use copyrighted software.
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Use only software you own, created, or are otherwise legally authorized to use. Downloading unauthorized copies, updates, DLC, tickets, or other protected content may violate copyright law or platform terms. A CIA’s ability to install does not make an unlicensed copy legitimate.
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Is FBI required on a hacked 3DS?
No. FBI is widely useful, but it is not required for every custom-firmware workflow. Other tools handle different jobs:
| Task | Better-suited tool |
|---|---|
| Install CIA applications from the SD card | FBI |
| Find and update homebrew applications | Universal-Updater |
| Back up and restore ordinary 3DS game saves | Checkpoint |
| Perform advanced SD-card, NAND, or system-file operations | GodMode9 |
Launch .3dsx homebrew |
Homebrew Launcher |
| Remove ordinary installed software | System Settings may be sufficient |
Universal-Updater is primarily a homebrew discovery and update tool, not a replacement for every FBI title-management function. Checkpoint is generally the clearer choice for routine save backup and restoration. GodMode9 is more appropriate for low-level operations, but it also requires greater care.
Other functions in FBI
Depending on the system and build, FBI can provide access to several additional functions:
- Browse and modify files on the SD card.
- Install or remove titles and tickets.
- Browse pending or incomplete title data.
- Manage selected save data and extdata.
- Export, import, or erase certain DS-cartridge save data.
- Export, import, or delete save-data secure values.
- Access selected NAND and system-save locations on systems using Luma3DS.
- Create a NAND copy on the SD card.
- Launch titles installed to NAND.
FBI is not an eShop replacement
FBI can retrieve a package from a URL or QR code, but that does not make it an official storefront. It has no Nintendo eShop catalog or Nintendo account storefront interface. A QR code or URL may point to a removed, outdated, malicious, or incompatible file, and FBI cannot verify the trustworthiness of the source for you.
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Generally, no. FBI is intended to run within an existing homebrew or custom-firmware environment. Simply copying FBI to the SD card of a stock console will not normally make it launch.
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If the 3DS is unmodified, follow the current 3DS Hacks Guide for the exact console and firmware configuration instead of using an old standalone tutorial. The required process and recommended files can change over time.
Is FBI safe?
FBI is established open-source 3DS homebrew, but “safe” depends on three separate things:
- The application: obtain a genuine, compatible build from a reputable project or guide.
- The package: install only CIA files from sources you trust and are authorized to use.
- The system change: ordinary title installation is different from altering NAND or system data.
The original Steveice10 FBI repository is archived, while current community documentation references FBI-NH. The Hacks Guide documentation currently lists FBI version 2.6.1, dated May 17, 2021. That is the version listed by the guide—not evidence of a new 2026 release.
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“Not enough space”
Free space on the SD card and retry. Remember that you may need room for both the CIA and the installed title. After a successful installation, you can remove the CIA if you no longer need it.
The CIA is invalid or corrupted
Delete the damaged file, download it again from the official source, and compare its file size or checksum if the publisher provides one. Do not assume FBI is at fault simply because a package will not install.
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Installation finished but no icon appears
Return to the HOME Menu and check for a gift that needs to be unwrapped. If the title is still missing, reboot and verify that the installation completed and that the package is compatible.
Network or QR installation fails
Check the network connection and confirm that the URL still works. A reachable URL can still serve an incompatible or untrustworthy file, so use network installation only with a source you recognize.
FBI is missing after setup
Use the FBI finalizing-setup troubleshooting instructions rather than improvising changes to title databases or system files. The correct recovery method depends on the state of the custom-firmware setup.
A title, ticket, or NAND entry is unclear
Do not delete it casually. Deleting a ticket is not identical to uninstalling all title data, and indiscriminate cleanup can create new problems. Consult the current guide or knowledgeable support before changing system-related entries.
The bottom line
FBI is best understood as an installer and package manager for custom-firmware Nintendo 3DS systems. Most users rely on it to install CIA-formatted homebrew or other authorized software, while Universal-Updater, Checkpoint, GodMode9, and Homebrew Launcher are better suited to discovery, save management, advanced system work, and .3dsx launching respectively.
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