Nintendo 3DS system software Facts for Kids

The Nintendo 3DS has special system software that makes it work. Think of it like the operating system on a computer or phone. Nintendo can send updates through the internet to your 3DS. These updates add new features, change old ones, and make the system run better. The newest version of this software, called 4.5.0-10, came out on December 4, 2012.

Home Menu: Your 3DS Main Screen
- Apps That Come With Your 3DS
  - Apps You Can Use While Playing
  - Apps You Need to Download
Important 3DS System Software Updates
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Home Menu: Your 3DS Main Screen

The Home Menu is like the main screen of your Nintendo 3DS. It's where you see all your games and apps, just like the menus on the Wii or Nintendo DSi. You can see games from Nintendo game cards, 3DS apps, or DSiWare apps.

The menu can show up to 60 apps at once, but it can hold up to 120 if you have many. On the top screen, you'll see helpful information like your Wi-Fi signal, how many steps you've taken, the date, time, and battery life.

You can press the HOME button at any time to go back to the Home Menu. However, if you're playing old Nintendo DS games or DSiWare, you'll need to quit the game first. From the Home Menu, you can do many things without closing your current game or app:

Write notes about your game.
Check your Friend List to see who's online.
Change the screen's level of light.
Look at messages or alerts.
Browse the internet (if your system is updated).

You can also take cool 3D photos with the 3DS cameras by pressing the L or R buttons from the Home Menu. To open a new app, you usually need to close the one you're using first. Just like the DSi, you can swap game cards while you're on the Home Menu.

Apps That Come With Your 3DS

Here are the apps that are already on your Nintendo 3DS when you get it:

Health and Safety Information
Nintendo 3DS Camera
Nintendo 3DS Sound
Mii Maker
StreetPass Mii Plaza
AR Games
Face Raiders
Activity Log
Nintendo 3DS Download Play
System Settings
Nintendo eShop
Nintendo Zone

Apps You Can Use While Playing

Some apps let you do other things while they are open, like checking a friend list or browsing the internet. This is called multitasking!

Game Notes
Friend List
Notifications
Internet Browser

Apps You Need to Download

These apps don't come with your 3DS. You need to download them from the Nintendo eShop:

Ambassador Certificate
Swapnote
Nintendo Video
Pokedex 3D + Pro
Pokémon Radar

Important 3DS System Software Updates

The Nintendo 3DS system software has been updated many times. Each update brought new features or made the system work better. Here are some of the most important updates:

Release Date	Version	What's New
NA: December 4, 2012	4.5.0-10	Made the system more stable and improved the user experience.
JP: April 24, 2012 EU: April 25, 2012 NA: April 24, 2012 AUS: April 25, 2012	4.0.0-7	You could now create Folders to organize your games and apps. You could put up to 60 apps in each folder and even name them!
JP: December 7, 2011 EU: December 7, 2011 NA: December 6, 2011 AUS: December 7, 2011	3.0.0-5	Big update for the Nintendo 3DS Camera: You could record 3D videos up to 10 minutes long. New special shooting modes for 3D photos. Also, the StreetPass Mii Plaza got updates like SpotPass, Find Mii II, and a music player.
JP: June 7, 2011 EU: June 7, 2011 NA: June 6, 2011 AUS: June 7, 2011	2.0.0-2	This update added the Nintendo eShop where you could buy and download games. An internet browser was added. You could now transfer software between a 3DS and a DSi. The system worked better and you could use SpotPass even when the system was in Sleep Mode.
JP: February 26, 2011 EU: March 25, 2011 NA: March 27, 2011 AUS: March 31, 2011	1.0.0-0	This was the very first version of the software that came with every Nintendo 3DS when it was first launched.