Nintendo Support

How to Connect Your Nintendo 3DS to the internet

A broadband internet connection and wireless router are required. Follow the steps below to get connected.

  1. Turn on your Nintendo 3DS System by pressing the POWER Button.  Touch the System Settings icon on the HOME Menu (the icon looks like a spanner or wrench).

     

  2. Touch "Internet Settings"

     

  3. Touch "Connection Settings"

     

  4. Touch "New Connection"

     

  5. Touch "Manual Setup"

     

  6. Touch "Search for Access Point"

     

  7. The Nintendo 3DS System will search for any wireless networks within range. Once it has finished searching, it will display the names of all the wireless networks it finds.

     

  8. Look for your wireless network. If you're not sure which is yours, you will need to log into the router using a connected device, such as your computer. Once you have logged in you will need to locate your Network name (SSID). This will be the name of the wireless network displayed on the Nintendo 3DS System.

    Please contact your router manufacturer or refer to the product manual included with the router for information on how to log into your router and locate these details.

     

  9. What to do next will depend on the "lock" icon you see next to your network on the Nintendo 3DS System:

Closed or “locked” icon: Your wireless network is secured with WEP or WPA wireless security and requires a security key. For more information in regard to how to locate and access the wireless security key for your network, please refer to your router’s product manual or contact your router manufacturer.

Enter your WEP / WPA key

  1. Use the keyboard that appears on the lower screen (Touch Screen) to enter your security key and touch "OK" when finished.

  2. Touch "OK" to save your settings.

  3. Touch "OK" again to begin a connection test.

 The connection test was successful – Your Nintendo 3DS System is now connected online.

The connection test was not successful - If the test was not successful, you will receive an error code. Try our error code lookup for detailed information on many common error codes.

Open or “Unlocked” icon:

  1. Touch your network name, then touch "OK" to save the settings.

  2. Touch "OK" again to begin a connection test.

 The connection test was successful - Your Nintendo 3DS is now connected online.

The connection test was not successful - If the test was not successful, you will receive an error code. Try our error code lookup our where we have detailed information on many common error codes.