Patching Guide

Why do certain files need patches?

Certain files, such as large TV shows or sizable albums, need to be split into patches to fit on the 3DS' MicroSD card. Due to the 3DS' FAT32 SD card format, no files over 4GB can be directly placed on the MicroSD. Patching allows us to bypass this limitation by placing a CIA file onto the SD card and adding any additional content that wouldn't have fit otherwise.

When set up correctly, patches are automatically applied by Luma.

Now, without further ado, here's how you can set up patches for your files:

1. Insert your 3DS' MicroSD card into your computer or laptop.

2. Install the CIA and TAR files of choice.

• Note: If the CIA doesn’t come with a TAR file, you can skip this guide. Yay!

3. Drag and drop the CIA file into your "cias" folder on the root of your SD card.

4. Extract the TAR file anywhere on your computer or laptop.

5. Drag the extracted file (should be titled "luma") onto the root of your SD card.

6. Safely remove the MicroSD card from your computer or laptop after completing these steps and place it back into your powered-off 3DS system.

7. Hold down the "Select" button while powering up your device. This should bring up the Luma3DS configuration menu.

8. Navigate to "Enable game patching" using the D-pad and check the box next to it by pressing A. If this is already enabled, leave it as is.

9. Once you have enabled game patching, navigate to "Save and exit." Press A to save your changes and exit the Luma3DS configuration menu.

10. Lastly... enjoy your CIA! You can now install and load the file as you normally would and Luma will automatically patch the file giving you all of the intended contents.