How do I put 3DS games on my SD card from my computer?

As a long-time Nintendo fan and avid retro gamer, I‘ve amassed quite a digital collection of 3DS titles over the years. With the upcoming closure of the 3DS eShop this March, many gamers like myself have been wondering what will happen to our libraries of digitally purchased games.

The good news is that even after the eShop shuts down, you‘ll still be able to redownload any games you already own. Better yet, you can even manually transfer your collection over to an SD card using just a computer.

This comprehensive guide will teach you how to easily put 3DS games onto an SD card from your computer. I‘ll be sharing tips from my own experience as well tips from experts at Nintendo.

So let‘s dive in!

An Introduction to 3DS Game Formats

Before we get into the transfer process, let‘s briefly go over the key game formats used on the Nintendo 3DS:

.CIA Files: This is the installation format used for downloading and installing most 3DS titles, both retail and eShop releases. CIA stands for Titles Installer Archiver. These are typically the files you‘ll be transferring from PC to SD card.

.3DS Files: An alternate installation file type sometimes used instead of CIA. Works the same way.

.CCI Files: The raw ROM format that contains the actual game data. Rarely used for installation purposes.

So in summary – look for .CIA or .3DS files when getting your 3DS collection ready for transfer.

SD Card Basics

The Nintendo 3DS family of systems uses standard SD cards for expandable storage space. This is where you‘ll be putting your installed games and save data.

Make sure you are using an authentic, brand name SD card for maximum reliability and performance. The 3DS is compatible with SDHC and SDXC cards up to 32GB in capacity.

You‘ll also need a USB SD card reader to connect the card directly to your computer for file transfers.

Step-by-Step Guide to Transfer Games from PC to SD Card

Once you‘ve gathered your collection of CIA/3DS files and have your SD card reader ready, follow these steps:

1. Insert Your SD Card into the Card Reader

Plug the reader into your computer‘s USB port. When you insert the SD card, it should show up as a mounted drive, labeled something like "REMOVABLE DISK". This is the target location.

2. Navigate to Your 3DS Games Folder on PC

This is wherever you‘ve stored your amassed collection of installable 3DS games on your computer. I like to keep them neatly organized in a CIA folder within my Nintendo folder.

3. Select the Games You Want to Transfer

You might have hundreds of titles, so some selectivity can be wise. Only transfer what you think you‘ll actually play – quality over quantity!

4. Copy and Paste Games to SD Card Drive

Just highlight and drag/drop the CIA file icons directly into the SD card‘s drive folder. The transfer only takes a few seconds each.

Optionally, you can create a dedicated "cia" folder on the root of your SD card to keep transfers organized.

5. Safely Eject the SD Card

Once your transfers are complete, use your computer‘s "Eject" function before removing the card. This prevents any data loss or corruption.

And believe it or not, that‘s all it takes to fill up your SD card with install-ready 3DS goodness!

Now when you insert the SD card into your 3DS, FBI will recognize these archived CIA files and install them cleanly to your home screen like normal eShop downloads.

How Many Games Can You Fit?

A common question is how many 3DS games a typical SD card can hold. To provide a general estimate:

Of course, this varies based on the actual file size of each CIA installation package. Many 3DS eShop titles are under 128MB, while some larger retail games can be over 1GB. But on average, a 32GB SD card should comfortably hold at least 50-70 games.

I hope this give you a better idea of how much flexibility your SD card size provides!

Limitations and Troubleshooting

While the CIA transfer process generally works flawlessly, there are couple limitations to note:

• Extremely large SD cards (512GB+) are prone to slowdown/freezing with the 3DS OS. Stick to 256GB or under for reliability.

• Avoid transferring extra data like photos or themes, as too much non-game content can cause crashes.

If you DO encounter issues getting games to install properly from the SD card using FBI, try these troubleshooting steps:

• Reformat the SD card to FAT32 format instead of exFAT

• Defragment the SD card file table using MiniTool Partition Wizard

• Re-copy the problematic CIA files back onto the SD card

• Delete and reinstall FBI itself in case the app is corrupted

Getting those pesky install errors resolved typically comes down to SD card preparation and isolating any bad game transfer files.

The Future of 3DS Game Collections

While the 3DS eShop is tragically shutting down soon, dedicated fans have ensured that acquired digital libraries will remain playable and transferable for years to come. The homebrew community, for example, has already established alternative shops for redownloading out-of-print games. And the CIA format we‘ve discussed here will never become obsolete.

I plan on enjoying my massive 3DS backlog well into the next decade thanks to these fan preservation efforts. With hundreds of all-time portable classics like Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Mario 3D Land, and Pokémon Omega Ruby, the replay value is essentially endless!

So if you‘re a fellow 3DS gamer concerned about losing access to your purchases, rest assured – your collection is safe if you take control into your own hands. Get all those great eShop exclusives backed up onto SD card before it‘s too late!

Let me know if this guide has been helpful to you guys! I‘m happy to provide any other game saving/transferring advice to keep our software libraries intact in the years ahead. Game on!