3DS:Splash screens - Hacks Guide Wiki (2024)

Splash screens are images that can be displayed on the top and bottom screen during startup. You could use these images to, for example:

• Remind you of key combinations (e.g. hold SELECT for Luma3DS configuration, hold START for Luma3DS chainloader)
• Display a commemorative BIOS screen

Splash screens are static images. If you want to see an animation on boot-up instead, check out BAX.

Splash screens do not display during the boot process, they interrupt it. For instance, if you have a splash screen that last three seconds, your boot time will be increased by three seconds.

In order for splash screens to be displayed, they must be enabled from Luma3DS configuration. You'll only need to do this once (unless your configuration file is reset).

If you have a PIN enabled, the splash screen will be displayed after you enter your PIN.

1. Power off your device
2. Press and hold (Select), and while holding (Select), power on your device to enter the Luma3DS configuration menu
3. Scroll down to Splash and press (A) until you see (x) to the right of Before
   • You could also set it to After, but that would make payloads inaccessible from the splash screen which would lessen the usefulness of the splash screen

By default, the splash screen will last 3000 milliseconds (3 seconds). If you wish to extend or shorten this time, modify the splash_duration_ms line in the file config.ini (inside the luma folder).

Using Anemone3DS

1. Open the Anemone3DS application
2. Press the letter "T" on the top right-hand corner to switch to Splash mode
3. If you don't already have a splash, press (Right Shoulder) to open the QR scanner
   • You can scan the QR code of a splash you like from Theme Plaza
4. Press (A) to install whatever splash is highlighted

Your splash has been successfully applied!

Manually

1. Put your SD card into your computer
2. Get your splash screen of choice. You can get one you like from Theme Plaza
3. Open the .zip file that the splash screen is inside of
4. Extract splash.bin and splashbottom.bin to the luma folder on your SD card
5. Put your SD card back into your 3DS

Your splash has been successfully applied!

This may be useful in cases where you want to:

• Indicate that the SD card has been removed
• Indicate your address or contact details should your device be stolen

Enabling splash screens on CTRNAND

You'll only need to do this once (unless your configuration file is reset).

1. Remove your SD card from your 3DS
2. Press and hold (Select), and while holding (Select), power on your device to enter the Luma3DS (CTRNAND) configuration menu
3. Scroll down to Splash and press (A) until you see (x) to the right of Before
   • You could also set it to After, but that would make payloads inaccessible from the splash screen which would lessen the usefulness of the splash screen

Applying splash screens on CTRNAND

1. Put your SD card into your computer
2. Get your splash screen of choice. You can get one you like from Theme Plaza
3. Open the .zip file that the splash screen is inside of
4. Extract splash.bin and splashbottom.bin to anywhere on your SD card
5. Put your SD card back into your 3DS
6. Press and hold (Start), and while holding (Start), power on your device to enter GodMode9 (or the Luma3DS chainloader)
7. Navigate to [0:] SDCARD -> <wherever you put your splash screens>
8. Press (Left Shoulder) to mark both splash.bin and splashbottom.bin
9. Press (Y) to copy the items
10. Press (B) until you are back at the GodMode9 [root] screen
11. Navigate to [1: SYSNAND CTRNAND] -> rw -> luma
12. Press (Y) to paste the items
13. Press (A) to unlock SysNAND (lvl1) writing, then input the key combo given
14. Press (A) to continue
15. Press (Home) to bring up the action menu
16. Select “Poweroff system” to power off your device

Your splash has been successfully applied to CTRNAND!

fastboot3DS is also capable of using splash screens if you want to have two splash screens for some reason (or don't want to use Luma3DS's splash screen feature). You can use the same splash screen images that you'd use for Luma3DS.

On boot, while the splash is displayed, you will be able to hold the (Home) button to enter fastboot3DS's menu.

1. Hold the (Home) button, then power on your device while still holding (Home) to enter fastboot3DS's menu
2. Navigate to Boot setup... -> Change boot mode...
   • Normal boot - Splash will display and then boot into fastboot3DS's menu
   • Quick boot - Splash will display and then boot into the first available boot slot
   • Quiet boot - Splash will not display normally on boot, but will still show when holding (Home) button to enter fastboot3DS's menu
3. Press (B) to go back, then navigate to Change splash...
4. Select Use custom splash...
5. Navigate to the folder where your splashes (splash.bin and splashbottom.bin) are located, then press (X) while hovering over the folder
   • For example, if your splashes are in luma, then hover over luma (do not enter the folder) and press (X).
   • If your splashes are zipped, they will have to be unzipped before being selected
6. Wait for fastboot3DS to convert the splash

Your splash has been successfully applied!

If you want to change the duration of your splash:

1. Hold the (Home) button, then power on your device while still holding (Home) to enter fastboot3DS's menu
2. Navigate to Boot setup... -> Change splash... -> Set splash duration...
3. Use the D-Pad Up and Down keys to select how long you want your splash to display, then press (A) to confirm
   • There is a minimum and maximum time of 500ms and 10,000ms (0.5 to 10 seconds), respectively

If you want to put your graphic designer passion into use, you can create your own splash screen. This process can be generally simplified with the splash-ds web tool, but the gist is:

1. Create your images with an image editor of your choice
   • The top screen must be 400x240 px and the bottom screen must be 320x240 px
2. Open the splash-ds website
3. Drag-and-drop your images into the website, and play with the settings as you see fit
4. Click "Download splash screen"
5. Open the resulting .zip file that the splash screen is inside of
6. Put your SD card into your computer
7. Extract splash.bin and splashbottom.bin to the luma folder on your SD card
8. Put your SD card back into your 3DS

Your custom splash screen has been successfully applied!