How to: Use Acekard2i card on your 3DS (by vitaboss)
Note from Wololo: This tutorial was initially published by /Talk member vitaboss, as part of our monthly tutorial contest. Vitaboss won the best 3DS tutorial prize in October (a $20 PSN Code) for his entry. You can find the original post here.
Hi people, if you had any version of Nintendo DS with the Acekard2i card, I will teach you in this tutorial how to use the same card on the 3DS in order to play Nintendo DS homebrews. I know that there’s on the market many new linkers that allow more functionality but if you, like me, have already own Acekard2i for your old DS, this will allow you to play Nintendo DS homebrews without paying any extra fees on new linkers.
You will need:
- A Acekard2i
- A DS / DS lite / DSi or DSi XL
- A computer
- A micro SD
- A USB or SD adapter
- So to begin, download the AceKard 2i firmware.
- Once downloaded, extract the 2 files with WinRar to where you want.
- Now format your micro SD using your computer (if you have games in it I suggest you move them to the desktop and then put them back on the micro SD after formatting).
- Put the two files you extracted earlier at the root of your micro SD.
- Then insert your micro SD in your Acekard2i, and put your Acekard2i in a DS / DS lite / DSi / DSi XL, but not yet in your 3DS.
- Turn on your console, and once in the menu of your Acekard2i click on “Micro SD Card”.
- Go into the content of your micro SD, select “ak2ifw_update_3ds_v1_DSi” if you’re with a DSi / DSi XL or “ak2ifw_update_3ds_v1_DSL” if you’re with a DS Lite.
- Press the “Start” button and wait for “Progress” is completed at 100%.
- Once this done, you can put your Acekard2i in your 3DS and use it normally.
Enjoy !
tnx.. old device new life
it’ll only support 3ds up to version 4.3.
if you’re over that, you might want to consider buying another card
why even post this in the first place
a quick google search will take you to more detailed guides
The 3ds flash card scene is weird. One card advertised that it could hold 10 specific games, but to play more, you’d need to buy another flash card for every 10 more games. Such shady behaviour if true…
the flashcard can only cycle between 10 games
to add more games you just have to delete some or get another microSD
you don’t need another flashcard
no true, this is from the faq on the sku3ds site
Q: What’s that mean – “ten 3DS games maximum for each flashcard”?
A: You can choose to copy any 10 games into your microSD card at the first time, you do need more SKY3DS cards if you want to play more 3DS games anyway.
*sky3d
You don’t need to buy another flashcard. It can only hold up to 10 games. You can easily replace the roms. But you may need more Micro SD cards tho
If you two are talking about sky3ds cart (like Rolenzorol) then you are wrong!
The manufacturer had confirmed many times by many ways that you do need more flash cart not microSD, no mis-understanding, no mis-understood!
Sorry, I meant that what they said on their website is not mis-understanding or mis-translating !
He’s correct, you load 10 games in and that’s it, set in stone and cannot be changed. You will be stuck with those 10 games. I’d wait off for someone to Clone it without the restrictions 🙂
Just get a Supercard DSTwo Flash Card. I can confirm it works on the latest 3DS firmware on both 2DS and 3DS devices.
i second this, way better then AceKard2i, even has GBA support
Hey wololo, I thought you were against flash carts.
I am, personally . The tutorial was not written by me, and I’m not the one who voted for it. The community decided 🙂
I have one of them and the last firmware I knew of doesn’t work on the newer firmwares of the 3DS so this is old and won’t work for 99% of people with a 3DS
As mentioned, this does not work on any 3DS with a firmware about 4.3. As everyone who has a low firmware 3DS is likely already aware of how to use flashcards on their system, this tutorial is actually not particularly useful.
Cool miss playing games on my ds. Um i updated to play pokemon so idk what firmware it on but my action replay works. Miss the old flash carts though wish i had a wii u so i could use the controller as a ds.
This does not work on firmwares above 4.x? I tried it a few months ago and was forced to buy a R4i Gold instead.
WHY U GO and post link with old firmware? Firmware up in the article is from 2011 which dates back to 3DS firmware <3.0.
The acekard 2i works up to 3DS firmware 4.3 and DSi 1.44:
http://filetrip.net/f/30711-ak2i_3ds4-3-0-10_dsi144.7z
(so theoretically you could use your acekard as loader card for the gateway if you stick to 4.1, 4.2, 4.3)
And then? Well get a DStwo, most versatile and long living flash card.
That’s pretty pathetic tutorial to be called “winner” of anything for reasons stated above.
Most notably for the fact that Nintendo blocked Acekard2i in FW 4.4+
Wow, perfect timing. I literally just found my old Acekard not a few days ago. Thanks, Wololo! ^^
So, anyone have a trustable flash cart seller???
modchipsdirect or realhotstuff both ship from america and have good prices
Is there any update for the acekard 2i for the 3ds version 11.0.0-33E ?
you have a great blog here! would you like to make some invite posts on my blog?