# Installing boot9strap (Soundhax)

:::details Technical Details (optional)

For technical details on the exploits that you will be using on this page, see [here](https://github.com/nedwill/soundhax) (Soundhax) and [here](https://github.com/TuxSH/universal-otherapp) (universal-otherapp).

:::

## Compatibility Notes

Soundhax (when combined with universal-otherapp) is compatible with versions 1.0.0 through 11.3.0 in all regions.

## What You Need

- The latest release of [Soundhax](http://soundhax.com) _(for your region, console, and version)_
  - If Soundhax appears in your browser as an unplayable video, press Ctrl+S or Cmd+S to save it to your computer
- The latest release of [SafeB9SInstaller](https://github.com/d0k3/SafeB9SInstaller/releases/download/v0.0.7/SafeB9SInstaller-20170605-122940.zip) (direct download)
- The latest release of [boot9strap](https://github.com/SciresM/boot9strap/releases/download/1.4/boot9strap-1.4.zip) (direct download)
- The latest release of [Luma3DS](https://github.com/LumaTeam/Luma3DS/releases/latest) (the Luma3DS `.zip` file)
- The latest release of [universal-otherapp](https://github.com/TuxSH/universal-otherapp/releases/latest) (`otherapp.bin`)

## Instructions

### Section I - Prep Work

In this section, you will copy the files needed to trigger both Soundhax and universal-otherapp.

1. Power off your console
2. Insert your SD card into your computer
3. Copy the Soundhax `.m4a` to the root of your SD card
   - The root of the SD card refers to the initial directory on your SD card where you can see the Nintendo 3DS folder, but are not inside of it
4. Copy `otherapp.bin` to the root of your SD card
5. Copy everything from the Luma3DS `.zip` to the root of your SD card
6. Create a folder named `boot9strap` on the root of your SD card
7. Copy `boot9strap.firm` and `boot9strap.firm.sha` from the boot9strap `.zip` to the `/boot9strap/` folder on your SD card
8. Copy `SafeB9SInstaller.bin` from the SafeB9SInstaller `.zip` to the root of your SD card
9. Reinsert your SD card into your console
10. Power on your console

::: info

![](/images/screenshots/soundhax/soundhax-root-layout.png)

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::: info

![](/images/screenshots/boot9strap-folder.png)

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### Section II - Launching SafeB9SInstaller

In this section, you will launch Soundhax through the Nintendo 3DS Sound app, which will use universal-otherapp to launch the boot9strap (custom firmware) installer.

1. Launch Nintendo 3DS Sound

   ::: info

   ![](/images/screenshots/soundhax/soundhax-welcome.png)

   :::

2. If you've never opened Nintendo 3DS Sound before and get tips on how to use it from a bird icon, go through all of the bird tips, then close the app normally and relaunch it
   - In this situation, launching Soundhax immediately would cause these tips to appear on every launch of the Nintendo 3DS Sound until this is done

3. Go to `/SDCARD`, then play "<3 nedwill 2016"

   - This may take many (up to 10) tries
   - If you see the message "Could not play", you are either on a system version incompatible with Soundhax or downloaded the wrong Soundhax release
   - If it freezes, force the console to power off by holding the power button, then try again
   - If you get a different error, [follow this troubleshooting guide](troubleshooting-soundhax)

   ::: info

   ![](/images/screenshots/soundhax/soundhax-launch.png)

   :::

4. If the exploit was successful, you will have booted into SafeB9SInstaller

### Section III - Installing boot9strap

In this section, you will install custom firmware onto your console.

1. When prompted, input the key combo given on the top screen to install boot9strap
   - If a step on the lower screen has red-colored text, and you are not prompted to input a key combo, [follow this troubleshooting guide](troubleshooting-soundhax)
2. Once it is complete, press (A) to reboot your console

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___

::: tip

Continue to [Finalizing Setup](finalizing-setup)

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