Standard features

This page details features in Luma3DS that are either always in effect (cannot be toggled off) or are toggled on by default. For documentation on optional/toggleable features, see the Optional features page. For documentation on Rosalina, see Rosalina.

Data protection

• FIRM partition write protection: Luma prevents the system from writing to the FIRM partitions. This allows you to perform a System Update safely without boot9strap being removed.
• Session persistence: You will be returned to the correct NAND (sysNAND or emuNAND1/2/3/4) when returning from titles that soft reboot the 3DS, such as System Settings, extended memory games (Smash Brothers, Monster Hunter XX, etc.), DS carts, and DSiWare. This excludes GBA Virtual Console games launched from emuNAND; due to the way AGB_FIRM works you must be rebooted to sysNAND on exit or your save will be lost.

Removal of restrictions

• AGB patches: Custom Gameboy Advance Virtual Console games can be launched with AGB_FIRM, eliminating the need to use a homebrew emulator.
• Archives/ARM9 exheader/Services/SVC access: SVC, service, archive, and ARM9 exheader permission checks are patched out by default as of Luma3DS v9.0.
• Exception handlers: If something causes a crash/exception, Luma3DS will show a dump and offer to save it to the SD card for parsing later. ARM11 exception handlers can be turned off, but this is highly not recommended; ARM9 exception handlers cannot be turned off. Luma's exception handlers are capable of handling crashes in chainloaded payloads (unless the payload has its own handlers, such as GodMode9), CPU exceptions, svcBreak()s, kernel panics, most cases of ErrDisp, etc.
  • To parse an exception dump:
  • Note: Our exception dump parser uses Python; it must be installed and added to your system PATH.
  • Clone Luma's git repository (or just download the /exceptions/parser directory)
  • Open a terminal/CMD avigate to the /exceptions/parser directory, and run python setup.py install. This will install the exception dump parser to your system.
  • Navigate to where your kept your exception dump and run luma3ds_exception_dump_parser FILE_NAME_HERE.dmp
• NTR/TWL cart whitelist patches: The Home Menu and TWL_FIRM whitelist for DS carts have been patched out; if your 3DS flashcart shows in the original Nintendo DSi Home Menu, it should work with a 3DS running Luma. Additionally, very old DS carts that did not show in the DSi Home Menu can be booted with homebrew such as NTR Launcher.
• Region-free patches: The region lock preventing foreign/imported 3DS games from working has been removed. Carts from the NA (North America), EU (Europe), JP (Japan), KOR (Korea), TWN (Taiwan, Hong Kong), and CHN (mainland China) regions should work without issue on any region firmware with Luma, eliminating the need to perform region changes. Note: CHN/TWN/KOR 3DSes use a different shared font archive than NA/EU/JP. It may be necessary to install the other regions' shared font archives if your out of region game does not work.
• Signature check patches: Most signature checks performed by Horizon (the 3DS operating system) have been patched out, allowing unsigned code/homebrew to run without issue.