Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 4: How to set up your hardware
• Part 2 of 4: How to copy a game to a card in Windows
• Part 3 of 4: How to Copy a Game to a Card in Mac OS X
• Part 4 of 4: How to launch the downloaded game
• Tips
• Warnings

This article will show you how to play the downloaded game on the classic Nintendo DS console. This requires an R4 SDHC card, a microSD card, and a computer to which you can download the game files.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: How to set up your hardware

1. 1 Buy an R4 SDHC card. It will replace the standard game card if you want to play the downloaded game. You will insert this card into DS in order to be able to play the downloaded games.
   • To find an R4 SDHC card that will work with DS, enter buy r4 sdhc nintendo ds.
2. 2 Buy a microSD card. The game will be stored on it, so the card capacity must be 2 GB.
   • You can find a microSD card at an electronics store or online computer store.
   • Most microSD cards come with an SD-microSD adapter that allows you to use the card on your computer. If the microSD card is sold without an adapter, find and buy one.
3. 3 Insert the microSD card into the supplied adapter. There is a small slot on the top of the adapter where you need to insert a microSD card.
   • There is only one way to insert a microSD card, so if it doesn't fit into the slot, don't overdo it - just flip the card over and try again.
4. 4 Insert the microSD card adapter into your computer. Insert the adapter into the long, narrow slot on the side of your laptop or the front of your desktop computer.
   • If you are using a Mac computer, you may need a USB / C-SD adapter.
5. 5 Format the card. To copy game files to a microSD card, you need to format it correctly:
   • Windows: Select "FAT32" as the file system.
   • Mac: Select "MS-DOS (FAT)" as the file system.
6. 6 Download the ROM file for the game you want. This file contains the entire game; copy some ROM files to the microSD card to insert it into the console and run games directly from the card. To download a ROM file, enter the name of the game in the search box, then enter “ds rom” (without quotes), select a trusted site from the search results and click “Download” or a similar button.
   • Keep in mind that downloading ROMs for games you have not purchased is illegal in most countries.
   • Download files only from trusted sites that have a lot of positive reviews. Otherwise, there is a risk of catching a virus.
7. 7 Wait for the ROM file to download to your computer. Now copy the ROM file to the microSD card on a Windows or Mac OS X computer.

Part 2 of 4: How to copy a game to a card in Windows

1. 1 Insert the microSD card into your computer. If you removed the adapter (or the microSD card from the adapter) from the computer, reinsert it into the computer.
2. 2 Open the start menu . Click on the Windows logo in the lower left corner of the screen.
3. 3 Open an Explorer window . Click the folder-shaped icon at the bottom left of the window.
4. 4 Open the folder with the downloaded ROM file. Do this in the left pane of File Explorer.
   • For example, if you are downloading files to the Downloads folder, in the left pane, click the Downloads folder.
5. 5 Select the ROM file. Click on the downloaded ROM file.
6. 6 Copy the ROM file. To do this, click Ctrl+C.
7. 7 Select your SD card. Click on your SD card name at the bottom left of the File Explorer window.
   • You may need to scroll down the left pane to find your SD card.
   • Alternatively, you can click on "This PC" and then double-click on the name of the SD card in the "Devices and Drives" section.
8. 8 Insert the ROM file. Click on a blank space in the SD card window and then click Ctrl+V... The ROM file icon will appear in the SD card window.
9. 9 Remove your SD card. Click on the flash drive-shaped icon in the lower right corner of the screen and then select "Eject" from the menu.When you receive a notification, remove the SD card from your computer.
   • You may need to press the "^" in the lower right corner of the screen first to display the flash drive icon.

Part 3 of 4: How to Copy a Game to a Card in Mac OS X

1. 1 Insert the microSD card into your computer. If you removed the adapter (or the microSD card from the adapter) from the computer, reinsert it into the computer.
2. 2 Open Finder. Click the blue face icon in the dock.
3. 3 Open the folder with the downloaded ROM file. Do this in the left pane of the Finder window.
   • The main folder for downloads in most browsers is the Downloads folder.
4. 4 Select the downloaded ROM file. To do this, click on it.
5. 5 Copy the ROM file. To do this, click ⌘ Command+C.
6. 6 Click on the name of your SD card. You will find it in the lower left side of the Finder window under Devices. The map window will open.
7. 7 Insert the ROM file. Click on a blank space in the SD card window and then click ⌘ Command+V... The ROM file icon will appear in the SD card window.
8. 8 Remove your SD card. Click the triangle icon to the right of the SD card name in the Finder window. When you receive a notification, remove the SD card from your computer.

Part 4 of 4: How to launch the downloaded game

1. 1 Insert the microSD card into the R4 card. There is a small slot on the top of the R4 card that accepts a microSD card.
   • There is only one way to insert a microSD card, so if it doesn't fit into the slot, don't overdo it - just flip the card over and try again.
2. 2 Insert the R4 card into the Nintendo DS. Insert the R4 card into the slot where you usually insert game cards.
   • Make sure the microSD card is firmly inserted into the R4 card.
   • If required, on the original DS, first connect the card reader (at the bottom of the console).
3. 3 Turn on DS. To do this, press the console's power button.
4. 4 Select the "MicroSD Card" option. After a while, the bottom screen will display “MicroSD Card” (or something similar).
5. 5 Choose a game. The game copied as a ROM file will be displayed on the screen. Select it to start and play!

Tips

• The methods described here are for the classic Nintendo DS model. They cannot be used on the new 3DS console.

Warnings

• Downloading ROMs for games you haven't purchased for free is illegal in most countries.