How do I increase storage on my 3DS?

How to Increase Storage on Your 3DS

To increase storage on your Nintendo 3DS, you can use a microSD card of up to 32GB in size, or larger SDHC cards that have been formatted to FAT32 for compatibility. By following the proper formatting and installation steps, you can significantly expand your 3DS storage capacity, allowing you to store more games, photos, and videos on your device.

Understanding 3DS Storage Options

The Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 3DS XL, and Nintendo 2DS systems are compatible with SD cards up to 2GB in size, and SDHC cards of 4GB and larger up to 32GB in size. However, with the right formatting, you can use microSD cards of 64GB, 128GB, or even larger, although 128GB is the highest recommended size due to potential issues with GBA graphics and custom themes.

Formatting and Installation

To use a microSD card larger than 32GB on your 3DS, you will need to format it to FAT32 using a computer and a SD card adapter. This can be done using various tools, such as EaseUS Partition Master or GUI Format, and the process typically involves selecting the SD card, choosing the FAT32 file system, and setting the allocation unit size.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about increasing storage on your 3DS:

  1. Q: Can I put a 64GB SD card in a 3DS? A: Yes, you can use a 64GB SD card in a 3DS, but it needs to be formatted to FAT32 first.

  2. Q: Is 64GB enough for 3DS? A: 64GB should be enough for most users, unless you plan to buy a large number of games or store many photos and videos.

  3. Q: How many 3DS games can 32GB hold? A: A 32GB card can hold around 250,000 blocks, which is equivalent to over 100 to 200 eShop games.

  4. Q: Can I use more than 32GB on 3DS? A: Yes, you can use SD cards larger than 32GB on your 3DS, but they need to be formatted to FAT32.

  5. Q: How do I format a 128GB SD Card for 3DS? A: To format a 128GB SD card for 3DS, connect it to your computer, launch EaseUS Partition Master, right-click on the SD card, select Format, and set the file system to FAT32.

  6. Q: Do I need to format a 32GB SD Card for 3DS? A: No, you don’t need to format a 32GB SD card for 3DS, but it’s recommended to format SD cards above 32GB to FAT32.

  7. Q: How much storage is good for a 3DS? A: The recommended storage size for 3DS is up to 32GB, but you can use larger SD cards with FAT32 formatting.

  8. Q: How many GB can a 3DS cartridge hold? A: Game cards for the Nintendo 3DS are from 1 to 8 gigabytes in size.

  9. Q: How many games can a 3DS SD card hold? A: An SD card can hold up to 300 software titles, 180 sound files, and 3,000 photos.

  10. Q: Can 3DS use 512GB SD card? A: No, the 3DS is not compatible with 512GB SD cards, as it only supports microSDHC Memory Card of up to 32GB capacity.

  11. Q: Can you use 2 different SD cards on 3DS? A: Yes, you can use two different SD cards on 3DS, but be careful not to have the same games on both cards.

  12. Q: What is the biggest SD Card for 3DS? A: The largest SD card that can be used on 3DS is 128GB, although 32GB is the highest officially supported size.

  13. Q: Does formatting a 3DS SD Card delete everything? A: Yes, formatting a 3DS SD card will delete all data stored on it, except for photos and videos that you’ve recorded.

  14. Q: Is 128 GB enough for a 3DS? A: 128GB is the highest recommended storage size for 3DS, as larger SD cards may cause issues with GBA graphics and custom themes.

  15. Q: What is the best SD card for 3DS XL? A: The best SD card for 3DS XL is the SanDisk 32GB Extreme PRO V30 SD, which offers fast read and write speeds and is specifically designed for gaming consoles.

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