How To Use Pretendo On 3DS: Step-by-Step Installation Guide

To connect your Nintendo 3DS system to the Pretendo Network, you must run Luma3DS custom firmware version 13.0 or higher, install the Nimbus connection switcher, and create a verified Pretendo Network ID. This process reroutes your system's network calls from defunct official servers to community-maintained alternatives, restoring online matchmaking, system-wide friends lists, and Miiverse features. Follow this technical walkthrough to safely configure your system without losing your existing digital save data.

Essential Prerequisites and Preparation Checklist

Before attempting to connect your Nintendo 3DS to the Pretendo Network, you must verify that your system meets the minimum software and hardware requirements. Because Pretendo intercepts operating system-level network calls, a standard, unmodified system menu cannot connect. Custom firmware is mandatory to run the background system modules required for safe TLS/SSL decryption and packet redirection.

Verify you have the following assets, configurations, and environment factors ready before proceeding:

• Custom Firmware Status: Your console must be running boot9strap and Luma3DS custom firmware. It is highly recommended to use Luma3DS version 13.0.5 or newer, as older versions lack the native system-module patches required to load custom server configuration files.
• SD Card Format: A high-quality SDHC or SDXC card formatted to the FAT32 file system. For cards 32GB or smaller, use a 32KB allocation unit (cluster) size. For cards 64GB or larger, format with a 64KB cluster size to prevent system interface lag and graphical glitches.
• Network Connection: A stable 2.4 GHz wireless internet connection. The Nintendo 3DS wireless card does not support 5 GHz bands or modern WPA3 security protocols. Ensure your router broadcasts a compatible WPA2-PSK (AES) signal.
• Time Allocation: Approximately 20 to 30 minutes of uninterrupted installation and configuration time.
• Financial Cost: Zero. The Pretendo Network is completely free and open-source, although optional beta tiers are offered to project donors.

Configuring Custom Firmware and Launching Pretendo

Installing Pretendo on a modified Nintendo 3DS console involves updating your system modules, installing the Nimbus server switcher, creating your profile, and linking your custom network account. Follow these precise steps to prevent system menu lockups or account conflicts.

Step 1: Verify and Update Your Luma3DS Configuration

Before editing network settings, you must verify that your Luma3DS installation is configured to allow game patching and custom system modules.

1. Power off your Nintendo 3DS completely.
2. Hold down the Select button on your console, then press the Power button once. Release the Select button only when the Luma3DS configuration menu appears on your top screen.
3. Locate the option labeled "Enable game patching" and ensure there is an "x" inside the brackets next to it. If it is empty, navigate to it using the Directional Pad and press the A button to enable it.
4. Locate the option labeled "Enable custom external FIRMs and modules" if present in your specific Luma3DS revision, and ensure it is enabled.
5. Press the Start button to save your changes and reboot your console into the standard Home Menu.

Warning: If your console boots to a black screen or displays a processor error when attempting to access the Luma3DS menu, your SD card may be corrupted, or your boot.firm file is outdated. Download the latest boot.firm file from the official Luma3DS repository and place it directly on the root of your SD card, overwriting any existing file.

Step 2: Register Your Pretendo Network ID (PNID)

Your console requires a unique identifier to communicate with the Pretendo servers. This account is entirely separate from your legacy Nintendo Network ID (NNID).

1. Open a web browser on your computer or mobile device and navigate to the official Pretendo Network account registration page.
2. Select a unique username. This username will act as your Pretendo Network ID (PNID) and will be visible to other players in online lobbies.
3. Input a valid email address and choose a secure password.
4. Select your preferred timezone and region settings. These must match your 3DS system console settings to prevent regional matchmaking conflicts.
5. Verify your account by clicking the confirmation link sent to your registered email address.

Step 3: Install the Nimbus Connection Switcher

The Nimbus application is the official tool used to toggle your system's network routing between the original Nintendo servers and the Pretendo Network.

1. If your 3DS is connected to the internet and has the Universal-Updater application installed, launch Universal-Updater from your Home Menu.
2. Use the search function within Universal-Updater to locate the app named Nimbus.
3. Select Nimbus, then select the option to install the CIA version of the application. The system will download and install the software directly to your console's Home Menu.
4. Alternatively, for manual installation: Power off your console, insert your SD card into your computer, download the latest Nimbus CIA file from the Pretendo GitHub repository, and place it inside a folder named "cias" on the root of your SD card.
5. Reinsert your SD card into your 3DS, boot the console, and launch the FBI homebrew application.
6. Navigate to SD, select the folder named cias, select the Nimbus CIA file, and choose the "Install and delete CIA" option.
7. Press the Home button to exit FBI. A gift icon will appear on your Home Menu; unwrap it to reveal the Nimbus application.

Step 4: Toggle Network Targets and Link Your Account

Once Nimbus is installed, you must execute the server rerouting process and input your newly created PNID.

1. Launch the Nimbus application from your Home Menu.
2. The application interface will display two network options: "Nintendo" and "Pretendo".
3. Tap "Pretendo" on the touch screen. The application will modify your system files to point all network requests to Pretendo. Wait for the confirmation message indicating that the change was successful, then exit the application.
4. Open the 3DS System Settings application (the wrench icon) from your Home Menu.
5. Tap the blue "Nintendo Network ID Settings" button at the top of the lower screen.
6. If an existing NNID is linked to your console, Nimbus will have automatically decoupled it visually so you do not lose your original account link. Select the option to link an existing ID.
7. Enter your Pretendo Network ID credentials (the username and password you registered in Step 2).
8. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the link. Your system will perform a connection test and successfully sign you into the Pretendo Network.

Pro-Tip: If your 3DS console warns you that it cannot link the account because another NNID is currently associated with the console, return to the Nimbus app, toggle the network target back to Nintendo, then toggle it back to Pretendo. This forces Nimbus to clean out the temporary configuration cache on your system.

Step 5: Activate and Test Restored Online Services

With your PNID linked, you can now access the online suites of compatible games.

1. Launch a supported game, such as Mario Kart 7, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, or Kid Icarus: Uprising.
2. Select the game's Online Multiplayer or Network Play option. Your console will connect directly to the custom Pretendo lobbies.
3. To access Juxt, which is the community-run replacement for the defunct Miiverse social network, download the Juxt app or launch the green Miiverse application icon from your Home Menu while your network switch is toggled to Pretendo.

Technical Specifications and Compatibility Comparison

The transition from official Nintendo Network servers to the community-hosted Pretendo platform changes how your console handles game traffic, authentication, and background updates. Below is a detailed technical comparison highlighting how the legacy network protocols differ from the modern, reverse-engineered Pretendo implementations.

Common System Failures and Practical Field Fixes

When implementing custom servers on legacy console architectures, you may encounter system errors, handshaking timeouts, or console blocks. Use these diagnostic steps to clear errors quickly.

Error Code 022-2501 (Account Link Failed)

This error occurs when the console attempts to contact Nintendo’s authentication servers instead of Pretendo's servers, or when there is a mismatch between your system region and your PNID registry.

• Root Cause: The Nimbus system-module patch failed to redirect the network calls, or your network's DNS cache is forcing your system to resolve Nintendo domain names to official IP addresses.
• Actionable Fix: Launch the Nimbus application and switch your network back to "Nintendo". Reboot your system. Open Nimbus again and select "Pretendo". If the issue persists, go to your 3DS System Settings, navigate to Internet Settings, select Local Connection, and choose your active network profile. Select Change Settings, move to the second page, select DNS, change Auto-Obtain DNS to "No", and input 1.1.1.1 as the Primary DNS and 1.0.0.1 as the Secondary DNS to bypass local router caching.

Error Code 006-0502 (Matchmaking Timeout / Connection Failed)

This error occurs during matchmaking or lobby joining in titles like Mario Kart 7.

• Root Cause: Peer-to-peer (P2P) traffic is being blocked by your router's firewall, or your Network Address Translation (NAT) type is set to Strict (NAT Type D).
• Actionable Fix: Log in to your wireless router's administrator panel. Enable Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) settings. If your system still fails to connect, assign a static IP address to your Nintendo 3DS inside your router settings, and place that static IP address inside your router's Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to bypass all firewall interference.

Error Code 002-0119 (System Update Required)

This system prompt stops players from going online, claiming that a newer console system update is required.

• Root Cause: Your system is running an outdated version of Luma3DS that does not support the latest version spoofing required by the Pretendo system proxy.
• Actionable Fix: Turn off your 3DS. Take the SD card out and insert it into your computer. Download the latest release of Luma3DS from GitHub. Drag and drop the boot.firm and boot.3dsx files onto the root of your SD card, overwriting the old files. Reinsert the card and reboot your system.

Juxt Interface Displays a Blank Screen or SSL Error

When attempting to open the Miiverse icon, the screen remains dark gray or displays an SSL negotiation error.

• Root Cause: Game patching is disabled in your Luma3DS settings, or the local applet cache on your SD card is corrupted.
• Actionable Fix: Hold Select while powering on your 3DS to boot into the Luma3DS menu. Ensure "Enable game patching" is turned on, then press Start. If the screen is still blank, launch FBI, select Title DB, search for the Juxt helper homebrew application, install it, and use it to reset your local console applet configuration cache.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Pretendo on an unmodded, stock Nintendo 3DS console?

No, you cannot use Pretendo on a completely unmodified Nintendo 3DS console. Unlike the Nintendo Wii U, which can use custom DNS tricks to bypass SSL authentication checks for some games, the Nintendo 3DS OS checks digital signatures at a deep system level. It requires custom firmware running Luma3DS to bypass these security protocols and load the necessary custom system modules.

Will connecting to Pretendo get my console banned by Nintendo?

No, connecting to Pretendo will not result in your console being banned from official Nintendo services. Nintendo has officially terminated its online infrastructure for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, meaning there are no official servers left to ban you from. Furthermore, the Pretendo Network is hosted on completely independent servers that do not interact with any of Nintendo's active systems.

Can I keep my existing friends list and friend codes on Pretendo?

Your physical console's Friend Code remains exactly the same when using Pretendo. However, because the official Friend List Server (FLS) database was shut down by Nintendo, your old friends must also configure their systems to run Pretendo and re-register your Friend Code to restore your connection. Your friend list will appear empty on Pretendo until you re-add your friends' codes under the new network server.

Why do some games still show connection errors on Pretendo?

Pretendo is a massive, ongoing reverse-engineering project. It does not provide immediate, universal compatibility for every single 3DS title. While major games like Mario Kart 7 and steel diver are fully functional, other games are still in active development. You can check the current network status and compatibility list for specific titles directly on the Pretendo Network's public status website.

Revive Your Classic Handheld Network Services

Keep your console's social features and multiplayer lobbies running by joining the modern preservation movement today. Register your Pretendo Network ID and configure your custom firmware to reclaim the online experiences that define the legacy of the Nintendo 3DS.