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FBI is a homebrew title manager and file explorer for a Nintendo 3DS running 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 and is not Nintendo’s eShop.
What FBI does on a 3DS
In 3DS terminology, a title is installed software such as a game, application, update, DLC package, or system component. FBI lets you install, inspect, and remove compatible titles on a modded console.
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Its most common use is installing a CIA package from the SD card. It can also browse files, install packages from a URL or QR code, manage tickets, and perform limited save-data and extdata operations. See the FBI documentation for the current feature list.
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Important 3DS file formats
.cia: An installable package normally handled by a title manager such as FBI. After installation, the software may appear on the HOME Menu..3dsx: Homebrew usually launched through Homebrew Launcher rather than installed as a HOME Menu title..3ds: Commonly associated with cartridge-image or flashcard workflows. It is not interchangeable with a CIA.
More terminology is covered in the 3DS software-installation guide.
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What people commonly use FBI for
Installing CIA files from an SD card
A typical workflow for a legitimate, compatible CIA is:
- Place the CIA on the 3DS SD card, preferably in a clearly named folder such as
/cias. - Insert the SD card and open FBI.
- Select SD, then open the folder containing the file.
- Select the CIA and choose Install CIA.
- Wait for the installation to finish.
- Return to the HOME Menu. The new software may appear as a gift that must be unwrapped.
Menu labels can differ slightly between FBI builds, languages, and screens. Some versions also offer Install and delete CIA or Install and delete all CIAs. These options remove the package after installation to recover SD-card space; they do not mean the installed title itself will be deleted.
Installing from a URL or QR code
FBI can retrieve a CIA from a direct URL, local network location, or QR code. This is convenient for small homebrew applications, but FBI does not verify that an externally hosted file is safe, authentic, current, or compatible. Use only sources you trust.
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FBI can remove installed titles and tickets. For ordinary cleanup, use the normal title-uninstall option and avoid deleting tickets indiscriminately. A ticket is authorization metadata associated with some installed software; deleting one is not always the same as removing every related title file.
Browsing files and advanced storage areas
FBI includes file-browsing functions for the SD card and selected internal locations. Depending on the setup, it can also access certain NAND and system-save locations, make a NAND copy to the SD card, and launch titles installed to NAND.
These are advanced operations. Do not modify or delete system files merely to explore them. An incorrect change can cause software errors or leave the console unable to boot. GodMode9 is generally the more appropriate tool for many low-level system and NAND tasks, especially when following a documented procedure.
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Limited save-data functions
FBI has some save-related features, including selected import, export, and erase operations. It is not the clearest general-purpose save manager, however. For routine 3DS game-save backups and restoration, Checkpoint is usually the better-suited tool.
What you need before using FBI
FBI is normally used after the console already has a compatible homebrew or custom-firmware environment, commonly Luma3DS. It does not install custom firmware or hack an unmodified 3DS by itself.
Before using it, you generally need:
- A compatible custom-firmware setup.
- An SD card with adequate free space.
- A genuine FBI build obtained through a reputable project or guide.
- A compatible CIA from the software author’s official release page or another authorized source.
- A backup plan before changing titles, tickets, or system data.
If your 3DS is unmodified, follow the current 3DS Hacks Guide for the exact console and firmware configuration. Do not assume that copying FBI to an SD card will make it run on a stock system.
FBI compared with other 3DS tools
| Task | Better-suited tool |
|---|---|
| Install CIA applications from the SD card | FBI |
| Find and update homebrew | Universal-Updater |
| Back up and restore ordinary 3DS saves | Checkpoint |
| Perform advanced SD, NAND, or system-file operations | GodMode9 |
Launch a .3dsx homebrew file |
Homebrew Launcher |
| Remove ordinary installed software | System Settings may be sufficient |
Universal-Updater is closer to a homebrew catalog and updater, while FBI is primarily an installer and title manager. Neither should be confused with Nintendo’s official eShop.
Can FBI install games?
Technically, FBI can install compatible game-related CIA packages, including software, updates, or DLC. That technical capability does not grant permission to download copyrighted material.
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Use games and other content that you own, created yourself, or are otherwise legally authorized to use. Downloading unauthorized copies, updates, DLC, tickets, or other copyrighted files may violate copyright law or platform terms. FBI does not make an unlicensed copy legitimate.
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Is FBI required on a hacked 3DS?
No. FBI is widely useful, and the current 3DS Hacks Guide includes it during its final setup because it installs CIA-formatted applications. However, it is not required for every homebrew workflow. GodMode9 can perform some installation and dumping tasks, Homebrew Launcher runs .3dsx applications, and Universal-Updater helps discover and update homebrew.
The right tool depends on the task; installing FBI does not mean every other utility is unnecessary.
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 source. The original Steveice10 repository is archived, while community documentation references the FBI-NH repository.
- The package: A CIA from an unknown URL or QR code can be malicious, corrupted, outdated, or incompatible. FBI cannot guarantee its contents.
- The operation: Installing ordinary software is different from modifying NAND or system titles. Keep backups and do not delete entries you cannot identify.
The FBI page in the current Hacks Guide documentation lists version 2.6.1, dated May 17, 2021. That is the version shown by the guide, not evidence of a newly released 2026 build. Follow the current guide rather than assuming an old menu path or package location is universal.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common installation problems
“Not enough space”
Free space on the SD card and retry. Remember that the CIA may remain on the card after installation unless you selected an install-and-delete option or remove it manually.
Invalid or corrupted CIA
Delete the bad copy and download the file again from the author’s official release page or another authorized source. If the publisher supplies a checksum or expected file size, compare it before retrying.
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The installation was interrupted
Reboot and check whether the title appears on the HOME Menu or as an unopened gift. Do not repeatedly delete random tickets or system entries. Remove only clearly incomplete or duplicate data, and consult the manual finalizing-setup troubleshooting guide if the problem persists.
The title installed but no icon is visible
Check the HOME Menu for an unopened gift, confirm that the installation completed successfully, and verify that the package was intended for the 3DS and your system configuration. An installation package is not necessarily directly launchable from FBI after installation.
FBI is missing
Use the current 3DS Hacks Guide’s troubleshooting path for your system state. Depending on what remains functional, the documented recovery method may involve reinstalling it through another authorized tool such as GodMode9.
Network or QR installation fails
Check the network connection and the URL, then confirm that the host still provides the file. A QR code may point to a removed, outdated, malicious, or incompatible package. When possible, downloading a verified release to the SD card gives you more control over the file.
The bottom line
FBI is best understood as a 3DS installer and package manager for custom-firmware users. Most people use it to install CIA-formatted homebrew or other software they are authorized to use, while Universal-Updater, Checkpoint, GodMode9, and Homebrew Launcher handle different jobs. It is useful, but it is neither a required hacking tool, an eShop replacement, nor a guarantee that every CIA or download source is safe.
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