Let's get you connected!

• Important Note:

  The Internet browser is available through the current system update. Click here for information about performing the system update.

A broadband Internet connection and wireless router are required. Follow the steps below to get connected.

Trying to connect online with an original Nintendo DS game? Click here!

1. Turn on your Nintendo 3DS and access the System Settings by tapping the wrench icon.

   

2. Tap "Internet Settings."

   

3. Tap "Connection Settings."

   

4. Tap "New Connection."

   

5. Tap "Manual Setup."

   

6. Tap "Search for Access Point."

   

7. The Nintendo 3DS will search for any wireless networks within range. Once it is finished searching, it will display the names of all the wireless networks it finds.

   

   

   

8. Look for your wireless network. (If you're not sure which is yours, or you don't see any wireless networks, click here.)
9. What to do next will depend on the "lock" icon you see next to your network on the Nintendo 3DS. Click the image below that matches the lock icon you see on the screen of your Nintendo 3DS.

       

    

No security
10. Tap on your network name, then tap "OK" to save the settings.

    

11. Tap "OK" again to begin a connection test.

    

    

WEP / WPA Security - Your wireless network is secured with WEP or WPA and requires a security key.
10. Tap on your network name, then use the keyboard that appears on the lower screen to enter your security key and tap "OK" when finished.

    (If you don't know your Network Security Key, click here.)

    

11. Tap "OK" to save your settings.

    

12. Tap "OK" again to begin a connection test.

    

• The connection test was successful - Your Nintendo 3DS is now connected online. Click here to find out what's next!
• The connection test was not successful - If the test was not successful, you will receive an error code. Try our error code lookup where we have detailed information on many common error codes.

 

Related Articles:
Error Code Lookup


 

Was this information helpful?

This will depend on the game. Please use the chart below to determine which type of game card you have.

• Nintendo 3DS Game Card
  Nintendo 3DS Game Cards are compatible with WPA security.
• Nintendo DS Game Card
  Nintendo DS Game Cards are not compatible with WPA security. To use the online features of these games, you will need to use WEP security or no security (more info).
• Nintendo DSi Game Card
  Nintendo DSi Game Cards are compatible with WPA security.

(NOTE: The ability to play games over the Internet depends on the software title. See the instruction manual for the software you are using for more information.)

There's no need to worry – all Nintendo 3DS online features are compatible with WPA security. The only time you'll encounter a problem connecting to WPA security with your Nintendo 3DS system would be when using the online features of a Nintendo DS game card.

Related topic: What are WEP and WPA, and where do I find it?

 

More Info:

What alternatives do I have to using WEP when playing my Nintendo DS games online?

If you prefer not to use WEP security, there are other options to secure your network.

• Enable MAC filtering on your network to only allow specific devices to connect. You can find the MAC address of your Nintendo 3DS from the Internet settings (more info). Please consult your router's operations manual for information on where to enter the MAC address of the Nintendo 3DS (and any other MAC addresses you'd like to add to the list of allowed devices).
• Turn your wireless router's "broadcast" setting to "off." This means your network's name will not be shown when other devices search for it; you must know it and enter it exactly into any device you wish to connect to the network. Please consult your router's operations manual for additional information.

If you are unable to get your home router working, please try adjusting the following settings. If you are not sure how to change the settings, please consult your router's manual, your router's manufacturer, or the Internet service provider that installed your router.

(If you need assistance with your WEP or WPA key, click here.)

Firmware Updates for Your Router
If you are unable to get connected using your router, check to see if you have installed the latest firmware updates for your router. In many cases, downloading a firmware update can get the router capable of connecting to the Internet with your Nintendo 3DS system. If you have not done any firmware updates, please visit your router manufacturer's website to see if any updates are available. We recommend installing the firmware update and trying your connection again.

Poor Signal Strength
Check how many bars appear in the signal strength meter in the upper-left hand corner of the top screen.

• If you have more than one bar, the signal strength is likely strong enough.
• If you don't see any bars, you are either too far from your router or there is too much interference. Make sure you are within 30 feet of the router and that all nearby devices that can cause wireless interference (cordless phones, microwaves, etc.) are not in use. Test the connection again.

Can't Detect Router's Signal (SSID)
Your access point will not show up when you Search for An Access Point if you have your Broadcasting set to "No" or "Disable." Some routers also refer to this security as "Stealth" mode. You can either change your broadcast setting to "Yes" or "Enable," or you can manually enter the SSID in the manual setup screen of your Nintendo 3DS. For assistance with specific routers, click here and select your router (if available).

MAC Filtering
Check your router's settings to see if MAC Filtering is turned on. For information on locating this setting, click here and select your router (if available). Otherwise, it's often listed in the "Wireless" tab on your router's setup utility.

If MAC filtering is turned on, you will need to enter the Nintendo 3DS system's MAC Address into one of the available fields. The MAC address of the Nintendo 3DS can be found by selecting "Internet Settings" from the System Settings icon. Select "Other Information," then "Confirm MAC Address."

If you are unable to determine if the setting is on or off, it is likely that MAC Filtering is not being used.

Does your router use 802.11g/n?
If your router uses 802.11n or 802.11g, it may default to only the "n" or "g" band. The "n" setting will not work at all with the Nintendo 3DS. Additionally, if you're playing Nintendo DS games with your Nintendo 3DS, the "g" setting will not work. Check your router's settings (typically in the "Wireless" tab) and make sure that it is set to "Auto," "Mixed," or something similar.

Wireless Channel
If there are other wireless devices in the area, they can interfere with the signal so much that the Nintendo 3DS will not be able to connect to the router. Changing the wireless channel on your router may help. Typically, the channel settings will be found in the router's main "Wireless" tab.

• If the above options didn't help, you may need to use the "Manual Settings" and change your Nintendo 3DS to "Static IP."

Try assigning the Nintendo 3DS a static IP address.


1. Access your router's settings and find the available range of IP addresses. (This is typically found within the DHCP information.)
2. When you find this information, select one of the available IP addresses and enter this, along with the Subnet and Gateway addresses, through the manual settings on the Nintendo 3DS (How to).
3. If you can't find the range of IP Addresses in the router settings, you can usually view them through your computer's IP configuration settings (see "View Your IP Configuration Settings" section below). Increase the number in the last slot by "10" and enter the IP address in the manual settings of the Nintendo 3DS.
4. You will then need to enter the DNS server information of your computer into the Nintendo 3DS as well. To do this you will need to determine your IP configuration settings (see "View Your IP Configuration Settings" section below). This will give you the basic information for all network devices installed on the PC. Included in this will be the DNS Servers information you will need to enter through the manual settings on the Nintendo DS. If only a primary DNS is listed, use that number in both the primary and secondary slots of the Nintendo 3DS.
5. Once this information is entered, try to test the connection again.

View Your IP Configuration Settings:

6. Click the "Start" button in the lower left-hand corner of your computer.
7. Click "Run."
8. Type "cmd" into the box and press Enter.
9. Type "IPCONFIG/ALL" and press Enter.

Transmission Rate:
If you're playing Nintendo DS games on your Nintendo 3DS, they have a transmission rate of 1 to 2 mbps (megabits per second). Most routers transmit at a much higher rate, but are able to adjust for devices that transmit at a slower rate. Your router may have this as a setting that might need to be adjusted.

Look through your router settings for anything that indicates transmission rates. If the router is set to accept high transmission rates only, this will need to be changed to accept all, or for some routers, changed to specifically accept the 1 to 2 mbps range.

Additionally, some routers may have settings with an option like "Turbo Boost" or "G-Nitro." These are settings which maintain a high transmission rate and the Nintendo 3DS may not be able to connect with the router. You may need to disable this option when connecting with the Nintendo 3DS.

If the above information does not solve your problem:
If you have contacted your router manufacturer and they are not able to help get your router settings to work with your Nintendo 3DS system, please contact us for further assistance.

 

The steps to take for manually adjusting your IP Address and DNS settings will vary depending on whether you're using a standard Nintendo 3DS connection file (for Nintendo 3DS games, features, and applications) or a Nintendo DS connection file (for playing online-capable Nintendo DS games with your Nintendo 3DS).

1. Turn on your Nintendo 3DS and access the System Settings by tapping the wrench icon.

   

2. Tap "Internet Settings."

   

3. Tap "Other Information."

   

4. Tap "Confirm MAC Address." Your system's MAC Address will be displayed on the screen.

   

Power the system off and try the download again.
Even if there's a message on the screen stating not to power the system off, it is safe to do so if the download has stopped altogether. Starting the download over will often resolve this type of issue.

Additional Tips:

Slow or incompatible Internet connections can "time out" and result in the download stopping. Are you using a broadband Internet connection such as DSL, cable, or fiber optic? Other, slower types of connections may not be compatible. Click here for more info about compatible connection types.

Try the following:

Check for wireless interference,which can affect the signal strength to the Nintendo 3DS. To help minimize wireless interference, try the following:

• Make sure that the Nintendo 3DS is within 30 feet of the wireless router or other access point and facing in its general direction.
• Make sure that any other interfering devices, such as microwaves and cordless phones, are turned off.

 

Likely cause: The Nintendo 3DS system update has timed out or has been blocked by a firewall.

How to fix: Manually assign a DNS to the Nintendo 3DS or disable the firewall if necessary.

• First - Manually assign your Nintendo 3DS system's DNS settings.

  Assigning a DNS to your Nintendo 3DS will take a few steps to complete, but we are confident you can get there! We'll walk you through each one and you can always call us if you get stuck. Our number is below. Here we go...

1. From the Nintendo 3DS settings, select "Internet Settings," then "Connection Settings" and choose the connection file you currently use.
2. Choose "Change Settings."
3. Click the right arrow and select "DNS," then choose "No" under "Auto-Obtain DNS."
4. Select "Detailed Setup," then "Primary DNS" and enter: 008.008.008.008
5. Select "Secondary DNS" and enter: 008.008.004.004

   Please note: These are public DNS's provided by Google and are subject to Google's Terms of Service. If you prefer to not use this service, doing an Internet search for "public DNS" will provide you with several other options you can use.

6. Save your settings, then select "Test" to begin a connection test.

• Still not working? Access your router's settings and turn off the router's firewall*.

  Typically you can disable your router's firewall to allow all traffic through. To locate this setting, consult the owner's manual for your router. Below are locations for the most popular routers:

  • D-Link: Found by selecting "Advanced," then "Firewall."
  • Netgear: Found by selecting "WAN Setup," then "SPI Firewall."
  • Linksys: Found in the "Security" settings.

  *While Nintendo provides this information for our consumers' use, it is up to each consumer to determine what security needs they have for their own networks, and to decide how best to configure their network settings to meet those needs.

• Still not working? Power cycle your modem and router.
  1. Unplug both the modem and the router from the power outlet.
  2. Wait a couple of minutes and plug the modem back in.
  3. Wait a couple of minutes for the modem to initialize, then plug in the router.
  4. Try again to download the update.

If you are still getting this error message after trying the steps above, please contact us for further assistance.

 

Related Articles:

How to Tell the Nintendo 3DS System's Menu Version
How to Perform a System Update