The Best R4 Card Settings and Features for NDS/NDSL Consoles
How to Download and Install R4 Firmware for NDSL and NDS
If you own a Nintendo DS Lite (NDSL) or a Nintendo DS (NDS) console, you might have heard of the R4 flashcard. This is a device that allows you to play backup games, homebrew applications, multimedia files, and more on your handheld system. But in order to use an R4 flashcard, you need to download and install the right firmware for it. In this article, we will show you how to do that step by step.
r4 ndsl nds firmware download
What is R4 Firmware and Why Do You Need It?
R4 firmware is the software that runs on your R4 flashcard. It is responsible for loading the menu, reading the game files, accessing the settings, and providing various functions. Without the firmware, your R4 flashcard will not work at all.
You need to download and install the correct firmware for your specific R4 flashcard model and version. This is because different R4 flashcards have different hardware features and compatibility issues. For example, some R4 flashcards can only work on certain NDSL or NDS firmware versions, while others can work on all of them. Some R4 flashcards can support SDHC cards (up to 32GB), while others can only support standard SD cards (up to 2GB). Some R4 flashcards can run newer games with enhanced features, while others can only run older games with basic features.
R4 Firmware Features and Benefits
By downloading and installing the right firmware for your R4 flashcard, you can enjoy many features and benefits, such as:
Playing backup games from various regions and languages
Playing homebrew games and applications made by independent developers
Playing retro games from other consoles using emulators
Watching movies, listening to music, viewing photos, reading e-books, etc.
Customizing the menu appearance and theme
Using cheats, save states, soft reset, real-time save, etc.
Updating your games online
Accessing additional functions such as Wi-Fi, rumble pack, browser, etc.
R4 Firmware Compatibility and Requirements
To download and install the right firmware for your R4 flashcard, you need to make sure that it is compatible with your NDSL or NDS console. You also need to have some basic requirements, such as:
A working NDSL or NDS console with a charged battery
A compatible R4 flashcard that fits into the slot-1 of your NDSL or NDS console
A micro SD card that matches the capacity and speed of your R4 flashcard
A micro SD card reader or adapter that connects to your computer
A reliable internet connection and a web browser
A file extractor program such as WinRAR or 7-Zip
How to Find the Right R4 Firmware for Your Flashcard
Before you download and install the firmware for your R4 flashcard, you need to find out which firmware version is suitable for your flashcard. This depends on the type, model, and version of your R4 flashcard. There are many different kinds of R4 flashcards in the market, and they are not all the same. Some of them are genuine products from the original R4 team, while others are clones or fakes from other manufacturers. Some of them have similar names but different features, while others have different names but similar features. To avoid confusion and compatibility issues, you need to identify your R4 flashcard correctly.
Different Types of R4 Flashcards and Their Firmware Versions
Here is a table that summarizes some of the most common types of R4 flashcards and their firmware versions:
R4 Flashcard Type
Firmware Version
Website
R4 Original (R4v2)
1.18 (discontinued)
r4ds.com
R4 SDHC
1.34 (discontinued)
r4sdhc.com
R4i SDHC (red box)
1.4.5 (discontinued)
r4i-sdhc.com
R4i SDHC RTS (silver box)
1.85b (latest)
r4i-sdhc.com
R4i Gold (non-RTS)
1.51b (discontinued)
r4ids.cn
R4i Gold 3DS RTS (yellow box)
1.85b (latest)
r4ids.cn
R4i Gold Pro 2023 (white box)
3.9b (latest)
r4isdhc.com
R4i 3DS RTS (black box)
1.87b (latest)
r4i-sdhc.hk
Note: This table is not exhaustive and may not include all the types of R4 flashcards available. It is only meant to give you a general idea of the most popular ones. You should always check the official website of your R4 flashcard for the latest firmware updates and information.
How to Identify Your R4 Flashcard Model and Version
To identify your R4 flashcard model and version, you need to look at the physical appearance and the label of your flashcard. Here are some tips to help you:
Look at the color and shape of your flashcard. Different types of R4 flashcards may have different colors and shapes, such as red, silver, yellow, white, black, etc. Some may have rounded corners, while others may have sharp edges.
Look at the logo and text on your flashcard. Different types of R4 flashcards may have different logos and texts, such as "R4", "R4i", "R4 SDHC", "R4i SDHC", "R4i Gold", "R4i 3DS", etc. Some may also have additional words or symbols, such as "RTS", "Pro", "Upgrade", "Revolution", etc.
Look at the website address on your flashcard. Different types of R4 flashcards may have different website addresses printed on them, such as "r4ds.com", "r4sdhc.com", "r4i-sdh c.com", "r4ids.cn", "r4isdhc.com", "r4i-sdhc.hk", etc. You should always visit the website address that matches your flashcard to download the firmware.
Look at the serial number or QR code on your flashcard. Some types of R4 flashcards may have a serial number or a QR code printed on them, which can help you verify the authenticity and compatibility of your flashcard. You can scan the QR code or enter the serial number on the official website of your flashcard to check if it is genuine and supported.
If you are still unsure about your R4 flashcard model and version, you can also try inserting it into your NDSL or NDS console and turning it on. If the flashcard works, you can see the firmware version on the top screen of the menu. If the flashcard does not work, you may see an error message or a blank screen, which means that you need to download and install a different firmware version.
How to Check Your NDSL or NDS Firmware Version
To check your NDSL or NDS firmware version, you need to look at the settings menu of your console. Here are the steps to do that:
Turn on your NDSL or NDS console without inserting any flashcard or game card.
Tap on the settings icon (the wrench) on the bottom screen.
Tap on the right arrow until you reach the last page of the settings menu.
Look at the bottom right corner of the top screen. You will see a number that indicates your firmware version. For example, "Ver 1.4.5E" means that your firmware version is 1.4.5 and your region is Europe.
You need to know your NDSL or NDS firmware version because some types of R4 flashcards may not work on certain firmware versions. For example, some R4i flashcards can only work on firmware versions up to 1.4.5, while others can work on all firmware versions. You may need to update or downgrade your NDSL or NDS firmware version to make your R4 flashcard compatible.
How to Download R4 Firmware from Reliable Sources
Once you have identified your R4 flashcard model and version and your NDSL or NDS firmware version, you can proceed to download the right firmware for your flashcard. However, you need to be careful about where you download the firmware from, because there are many fake or malicious websites that may provide corrupted or infected files that can damage your flashcard or console. You should always download the firmware from reliable sources, such as:
The Official R4 Website and Its Firmware Downloads
The official R4 website is the best source for downloading the firmware for your R4 flashcard, because it is maintained by the original R4 team and provides authentic and updated files. However, finding the official R4 website can be tricky, because there are many fake or clone websites that use similar domain names and logos to deceive users. To avoid confusion and fraud, you should always check the website address carefully and compare it with the website address printed on your flashcard.
Here is a list of some of the official R4 websites and their firmware downloads:
r4ds.com: This is the official website for the original R4 (R4v2) flashcard. It provides the firmware version 1.18, which is discontinued and does not support SDHC cards or newer games. It also provides some kernel updates and patches for certain games.
r4i-sdhc.com: This is the official website for the R4i SDHC (red box) and R4i SDHC RTS (silver box) flashcards. It provides the latest firmware versions for both flashcards, which are 1.4.5 and 1.85b respectively. It also provides some kernel updates and patches for certain games.
r4ids.cn: This is the official website for the R4i Gold (non-RTS) and R4i Gold 3DS RTS (yellow box) flashcards. It provides the latest firmware versions for both flashcards, which are 1.51b and 1.85b respectively. It also provides some kernel updates and patches for certain games.
r4isdhc.com: This is the official website for the R4i Gold Pro 2023 (white box) flashcard. It provides the latest firmware version for this flashcard, which is 3.9b. It also provides some kernel updates and patches for certain games.
r4i-sdhc.hk: This is the official website for the R4i 3DS RTS (black box) flashcard. It provides the latest firmware version for this flashcard, which is 1.87b. It also provides some kernel updates and patches for certain games.
Note: This list is not exhaustive and may not include all the official R4 websites available. You should always check the website address that matches your flashcard to download the firmware.
The Wood Firmwares Project and Its Firmware Downloads
The Wood Firmwares Project is an unofficial project that provides alternative firmware versions for some types of R4 flashcards. It is developed by a third-party team called Yellow Wood Goblin, and it aims to improve the compatibility and performance of the R4 flashcards. Many users prefer the Wood Firmwares over the official ones, because they offer more features, updates, and support for newer games.
However, the Wood Firmwares Project is not compatible with all types of R4 flashcards. It only supports some of the genuine products from the original R4 team, such as the R4 Original (R4v2), the R4i Gold (non-RTS), and the R4i Gold 3DS RTS (yellow box). It does not support any of the clone or fake products from other manufacturers, such as the R4 SDHC, the R4i SDHC, the R4i Gold Pro, etc.
Here is a list of some of the Wood Firmwares and their downloads:
Wood R4: This is the Wood Firmware for the R4 Original (R4v2) flashcard. It provides the latest firmware version for this flashcard, which is 1.62. It also provides some kernel updates and patches for certain games.
Wood R4i Gold: This is the Wood Firmware for the R4i Gold (non-RTS) flashcard. It provides the latest firmware version for this flashcard, which is 1.64. It also provides some kernel updates and patches for certain games.
Wood R4i Gold 3DS: This is the Wood Firmware for the R4i Gold 3DS RTS (yellow box) flashcard. It provides the latest firmware version for this flashcard, which is 1.64. It also provides some kernel updates and patches for certain games.
Note: This list is not exhaustive and may not include all the Wood Firmwares available. You should always check the official website of the Wood Firmwares Project to download the firmware.
Other Trusted Websites and Their Firmware Downloads
If you cannot find your R4 flashcard model or version on any of the official or unofficial websites mentioned above, you may need to look for other trusted websites that provide firmware downloads for your flashcard. However, you need to be very careful about which websites you choose, because there are many untrusted or malicious websites that may provide fake or harmful files that can damage your flashcard or console.
To avoid scams and viruses, you should always follow these tips when looking for other trusted websites:
Do some research on Google or other search engines to find out more about your R4 flashcard model and version and its firmware downloads. Read reviews, forums, blogs, etc. to see what other users say about their experiences with different websites.
Check the reputation and credibility of the website before you download anything from it. Look at its domain name, design, content, contact information, etc. to see if it looks professional and legitimate. Avoid websites that have suspicious or misleading domain names, poor or copied design, irrelevant or outdated content, no contact information, etc.
Scan the downloaded files with a reliable antivirus program before you open or extract them. Make sure that they are free of any malware or spyware that can harm your computer or console.
Backup your micro SD card data before you install any new firmware on it. In case something goes wrong with the installation process or the firmware itself, you can restore your data from your backup.
Here is a list of some of the other trusted websites that provide firmware downloads for some types of R4 flashcards:
r43ds.org: This is a trusted website that provides firmware downloads for various types of R4 flashcards, such as the R4 3DS, the R4i 3DS, the R4i Gold 3DS, the R4i SDHC 3DS, etc. It also provides some kernel updates and patches for certain games.
r4idsn.com: This is a trusted website that provides firmware downloads for the R4iDSN flashcard, which is a clone of the R4i Gold 3DS RTS flashcard. It provides the same firmware version as the original flashcard, which is 1.85b. It also provides some kernel updates and patches for certain games.
r4town.com: This is a trusted website that provides firmware downloads for various types of R4 flashcards, such as the R4 DS, the R4 SDHC, the R4i SDHC, the R4i Gold, etc. It also provides some kernel updates and patches for certain games.
Note: This list is not exhaustive and may not include all the other trusted websites available. You should always do your own research and verification before you download anything from any website.
How to Install R4 Firmware on Your Micro SD Card
After you have downloaded the right firmware for your R4 flashcard from a reliable source, you need to install it on your micro SD card. This is the memory card that stores your games, applications, files, and firmware for your flashcard. To install the firmware on your micro SD card, you need to follow these steps:
How to Format Your Micro SD Card Properly
Before you install the firmware on your micro SD card, you need to format it properly. Formatting is the process of erasing all the data on your micro SD card and preparing it for new data. Formatting is necessary because it can fix any errors or corruption on your micro SD card and make it compatible with your flashcard and console.
To format your micro SD card properly, you need to use a micro SD card reader or adapter that connects to your computer. You also need to use a formatting tool that supports FAT32 file system, which is the file system that most R4 flashcards use. You should not use the default formatting tool of your computer, because it may not format your micro SD card correctly.
Here are some of the formatting tools that you can use:
SD Formatter: This is a free and easy-to-use tool that can format any SD or micro SD card with FAT32 file system. It can also adjust the allocation unit size and erase options to optimize the performance of your micro SD card.
Panasonic Formatter: This is another free and easy-to-use tool that can format any SD or micro SD card with FAT32 file system. It can also adjust the allocation unit size and erase options to optimize the performance of your micro SD card.
MiniTool Partition Wizard: This is a free and powerful tool that can format any SD or micro SD card with FAT32 file system. It can also create, delete, resize, move, copy, merge, split, and convert partitions on your micro SD card.
To format your micro SD card using any of these tools, you need to follow these steps:
Insert your micro SD card into your micro SD card reader or adapter and connect it to your computer.
Open the formatting tool of your choice and select your micro SD card from the list of drives.
Select FAT32 as the file system and choose an appropriate allocation unit size (usually 32KB or 64KB) and erase option (usually quick or full).
Click on format or start and wait for the process to complete.
Eject your micro SD card from your computer safely.
Note: Formatting will erase all the data on your micro SD card, so make sure that you backup any important files before you format it.
How to Extract and Copy the R4 Firmware Files to Your Micro SD Card
After you have formatted your micro SD card properly, you need to extract and copy the R4 firmware files to it. The R4 firmware files are usually compressed in a ZIP or RAR archive that you need to unzip or unrar using a file extractor program such as WinRAR or 7-Zip. The extracted files usually include a folder named "_rpg" or "_ds_menu", a file named "_DS_MENU.DAT" or "_rpg.nds", and some other optional files such as "moonshl2", "R4.dat", "R4iMenu", etc.
To extract and copy the R4 firmware files to your micro SD card, you need to follow these steps:
Insert your micro SD card into your micro SD card reader or adapter and connect it to your computer.
Open the file extractor program of your choice and locate the downloaded R4 firmware archive on your computer.
Select the R4 firmware archive and click on extract or unzip to a folder of your choice.
Open the extracted folder and select all the R4 firmware files inside it.
Copy or drag and drop the R4 firmware files to the root directory of your micro SD card. The root directory is the main or top-level folder of your micro SD card, where you can see other folders such as "DCIM", "Nintendo", etc.
Eject your micro SD card from your computer safely.
Note: Do not rename, delete, or modify any of the R4 firmware files, as this may cause errors or malfunctions on your flashcard.
How to Insert Your Micro SD Card into Your R4 Flashcard
After you have extracted and copied the R4 firmware files to your micro SD card, you need to insert it into your R4 flashcard. This is the final step of installing the firmware on your flashcard. To insert your micro SD card into your R4 flashcard, you need to follow