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This wikiHow teaches you how to play a downloaded version of a game on a classic Nintendo DS. In gild to play downloaded games on your DS, you will need an R4 SDHC card, a microSD card, and a figurer on which you can download the game files.

  1. one

    Buy an R4 SDHC bill of fare. An R4 SDHC menu is the substitute for a game menu when loading your own games on a DS. This is what you'll plug into the DS in society to load your downloaded games.

    • The easiest way to discover an R4 SDHC menu that volition work with your DS is by typing r4 sdhc nintendo ds into an online store'due south search.
  2. ii

    Buy a microSD menu. The microSD carte is really where the games will exist stored, so endeavor to find a two-gigabyte (2 GB) card if possible.

    • Y'all can find microSD cards online besides as in most tech stores.
    • Nearly microSD cards come up with an adapter that allows you lot to open the SD card on a computer. If your selected microSD card doesn't include an adapter, you lot'll need to buy one as well.

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  3. 3

    Plug the microSD card into the included adapter card. At the acme of the microSD'south adapter carte, there should be a pocket-sized slot into which you'll insert the microSD bill of fare.

    • The microSD bill of fare only fits 1 way, so don't forcefulness it. If the microSD card won't fit into the adapter card, flip the microSD card over and endeavour once more.
  4. 4

    Plug the microSD card's adapter card into your computer. There should be a wide, flat slot on the side of your figurer (laptop) or on the CPU box (desktop) into which the adapter card fits.

    • If you lot use a Mac, you may need a USB-C to SD carte du jour adapter.
  5. five

    Format the card . Before you lot can add files to the microSD menu, you'll need to make sure that the carte du jour's format is correct:

    • On Windows, select FAT32 as the file arrangement.
    • On Mac, select MS-DOS (FAT) as the file arrangement.
  6. 6

    Download a ROM for your selected game. A ROM is a game file; by placing these game files on your SD card and so using the card with your DS, yous'll exist able to select games directly off of the card. The easiest mode to download ROMs is past searching for your game title followed by "ds rom", selecting a reputable site, and clicking the "Download" push button or link.

    • Keep in heed that downloading ROMs for games that you lot don't already own is piracy, which is illegal in most places.
    • Brand sure that you only download from sites that you lot can trust based on user feedback and reviews. You don't want to accidentally download a virus.
  7. seven

    Wait for your ROM to stop downloading. Once the ROM for your game has finished downloading onto your computer, you can go along with adding the ROM to your microSD on a Windows or Mac computer.

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  1. 1

    Brand certain that the microSD card is plugged in. If you unplugged the adapter card (or the microSD bill of fare from the adapter card) from your reckoner, re-plug in the card before standing.

  2. ii

    Open First . Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.

  3. 3

    Open File Explorer . Click the folder-shaped icon in the lower-left side of the window.

  4. 4

    Go to the downloaded ROM'due south location. On the left side of the File Explorer window, click the folder to which your ROM was downloaded.

    • For example, if your downloaded files normally get to the Downloads folder, yous'd click Downloads here.
  5. v

    Select the ROM. Click the ROM file that you only downloaded.

  6. 6

    Copy the ROM. Printing Ctrl+C to copy the ROM.

  7. 7

    Select your SD card'south binder. Click your SD card's proper name in the lower-left side of the File Explorer window.

    • You may have to scroll downward to find the SD card.
    • Alternatively, yous can click the This PC folder and and so double-click your SD card's name under the "Devices and drives" heading.
  8. eight

    Paste in the ROM. Click a blank space in the SD carte's window, then press Ctrl+5 to paste in the ROM. You lot should see the ROM'south file icon appear in the window.

  9. ix

    Eject the SD card. Click the flash drive-shaped icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen, then click the Eject pick in the pop-upwardly menu. Once y'all receive a notification, you can physically remove the SD card from your computer.

    • Y'all may first accept to click ^ in the lower-right corner of the screen to run across the flash drive icon.

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  1. i

    Make sure that the microSD card is plugged in. If you unplugged the adapter bill of fare (or the microSD card from the adapter carte) from your calculator, re-plug in the carte du jour earlier continuing.

  2. 2

    Open up Finder. Click the blue, face-like app icon in your Mac'southward Dock.

  3. 3

    Get to the downloaded ROM's location. On the left side of the Finder window, click the folder to which your ROM folder was downloaded.

    • For virtually browsers, the default download location is the Downloads folder.
  4. four

    Select your ROM. Find the ROM file and click information technology.

  5. 5

    Copy the ROM. Press Command+C to do so.

  6. 6

    Click your SD card's proper name. In the lower-left side of the Finder window, you should come across a "Devices" heading, under which your SD bill of fare should be listed. Clicking this opens the SD card'due south window.

  7. vii

    Paste in your ROM file. Click the SD carte du jour window, and so printing Command+V . Y'all should run into the ROM file appear in the window.

  8. viii

    Eject the SD card. Click the triangle-shaped "Eject" icon to the correct of the SD carte's name in the Finder, then remove the card from your Mac when prompted.

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  1. one

    Plug the microSD card into the R4 card. In that location should be a small slot at the top of the R4 carte du jour into which the microSD card fits.

    • As with the microSD carte's adapter bill of fare, the microSD bill of fare only fits ane mode.
  2. 2

    Insert the R4 menu into your Nintendo DS. The R4 bill of fare should fit into the slot into which you normally insert your games' cards.

    • Make sure that the microSD carte is snugly inserted into the R4 card equally well.
    • On the original DS, yous may showtime have to plug a carte du jour reader into the lesser of the DS.
  3. iii

    Turn on your DS. Printing the "Power" push button to plow on the DS.

  4. iv

    Select the "MicroSD Card" selection. In one case the DS finishes powering on, you should meet a "MicroSD Card" selection (or something like) on the bottom screen.

  5. 5

    Select your game. The game that you downloaded in ROM format should exist displayed here. Select it to open it on your DS and begin playing!

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Add New Question

  • Question

    Can I employ a smartphone to practise this?

    Community Answer

    If you mean utilise a smartphone to transfer the files to the Micro SD card, then yes.

  • Question

    What is the recommended size for an SD card?

    Community Answer

    32 GB should be enough. It'due south what I'm using and has 64 games on information technology, from Pokémon to Zelda.

  • Question

    Is there a trusted site to buy R4 cards?

    Community Answer

    There is no trusted site to buy R4 cards. Yous can try eBay at your ain risk. Technically, R4 cards are cheaper than Gateway cards.

  • Question

    Tin I put more than than 1 game on one card?

    Community Answer

    Yeah, depending on how much the card tin shop and how large the games are. If it says 32GB, for example, that ways you can only store up to 32GB of data.

  • Question

    Can I download an NDS file using my Android phone?

    Community Answer

    Aye, equally long every bit you accept enough complimentary space on your phone, and you lot observe a way to put the files on your micro SD.

  • Question

    Is the R4 menu technically an SD card that a DS takes?

    Community Answer

    The R4 menu is the normal, DS- sized game cartridge that yous put the SD menu into.

  • Question

    Do I need a micro SD card or an R4 card to download games to my DS?

    Community Answer

    You need both. R4 acts equally a 'menu reader' and your micro SD carte is your retention where your downloaded games are saved.

  • Question

    Can I transfer a game from my phone to my Nintendo 2DS?

    Community Answer

    Yes. Transfer the files to an SD carte du jour from your phone so put your SD card in your Nintendo.

  • Question

    Tin I download 3DS games on it (if I own a 3DS)?

    Community Answer

    No, yous can't considering there'southward no store. You will only take the games that you went out and paid for in the shop. Play on Pictochat every bit an alternative.

  • Question

    Can I put my SD card into my PC, or do I have to buy a special adapter for it?

    Community Answer

    Some have slots and some don't. You'll accept to await upward information on your specific PC to figure out which yous have.

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  • The steps in this article pertain to a Nintendo DS archetype edition. You won't be able to apply the same process on the newer 3DS platform.

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  • Downloading gratuitous versions of ROMs for games that you don't own is illegal in most places.

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  • Sreeraj Rajmohan

    Sreeraj Rajmohan

    Nov 17, 2016

    "Thanks, now I know that I need a DS for my birthday."

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