Setting Up AKMenu-Next
Info
AKMenu-Next is a frontend for nds-bootstrap based on a fork of akmenu4 for running Nintendo DS Software & Homebrew. It supports cheats along with support for Acekard themes. For controls such as soft-reset and quitting games, please see nds-bootstrap controls
Setup Guide:
Installing AKMenu-Next Flashcart Edition
-
Download the latest release of AKMenu-Next Flashcart Edition.
-
Extract the downloaded
akmenu-next-flashcart.zip
file with 7-Zip. -
From within the akmenu-next files, copy the following files/folders to your SD card root:
_nds
folderBOOT.NDS
-
Download the latest release of nds-bootstrap.
-
Extract the downloaded
nds-bootstrap.zip
file with 7-Zip. -
Copy the contents of the files from the extracted
nds-bootstrap.zip
file to the_nds
folder on your SD card. -
Load
BOOT.NDS
with your flashcart's kernel, or alternatively follow the autoboot steps below.
Cheats
-
If you'd like to be able to use cheats on your games, download a cheat database.
-
You will need the
usrcheat.7z
file. Extract it using 7-Zip, inside you will find ausrcheat.dat
file. Copy this file to_nds/akmenunext/cheats/
on your SD card. (Create thecheats
folder if it doesn't exist)
Autobooting AKMenu-Next
Note
If you don't see your flashcart in the Autoboot folder or the corresponding one in the README.TXT
file, skip this section as you will need to use your flashcart kernel to load AKMenu-Next instead. In some cases you can make a copy of BOOT.NDS
and rename it to default.nds
to make it chainload autoboot on some flashcart kernels.
-
Open the
Autoboot
folder within the AKMenu-Next files. Find the folder that corresponds to your flashcart. Check theREADME.TXT
inside the folder if you are unsure. -
Copy the contents of the folder (do not copy the folder itself) that corresponds with your flashcart to the root of your SD card.
-
If your flashcart is a DSTTi clone that requires additional boot files, check the
Supplementary DSTTi Clone Files
folder. You can check the YSMenu compatibility list to check which one you need. If the file you need is not there, you can make copies of theTTMenu.dat
file from theDSTT & DSTTi
folder and rename them accordingly.
Note
This requires a modded Nintendo DSi system. If your Nintendo DSi is not modded, please follow dsi.cfw.guide to install it.
Installing AKMenu-Next Nintendo DSi Edition
-
Download the latest release of AKMenu-Next DSi Edition.
-
Extract the downloaded
akmenu-next-dsi.zip
file with 7-Zip.Warning
If you are using TWiLight Menu++ and want to dual boot AKMenu-Next, do not copy over
BOOT.NDS
as this will overwrite the one TWiLight Menu++ uses. You can instead launchakmenu-next.dsi
with TWiLight Menu++ or Unlaunch. This however, will mean quitting a game using the nds-bootstrap hotkey menu will boot back into TWiLight Menu++ instead (except if you are using HiyaCFW which will always return to the HiyaCFW Homescreen). -
From within the AKMenu-Next files, copy the following files/folders to your SD card root:
_nds
folderBOOT.NDS
(Please read the warning above)akmenu-next.dsi
-
Download the latest release of nds-bootstrap.
-
Extract the downloaded
nds-bootstrap.zip
file with 7-Zip. -
Copy the contents of the files from the extracted
nds-bootstrap.zip
file to the_nds
folder on your SD card. -
Load
BOOT.NDS
with your desired entrypoint method (e.g. Memory Pit, stylehax or Flipnote Lenny). Alternatively, use Unlaunch or TWiLight Menu++ to bootakmenu-next.dsi
Tip
If you are using HiyaCFW, you can install akmenu-next.dsi
using NTM and have it as a launchable app on your homescreen!
Cheats
-
If you'd like to be able to use cheats on your games, download a cheat database.
-
You will need the
usrcheat.7z
file. Extract it using 7-Zip, inside you will find ausrcheat.dat
file. Copy this file to_nds/akmenunext/cheats/
on your SD card. (Create thecheats
folder if it doesn't exist)
Autobooting AKMenu-Next
-
Turn on your DSi while holding A and B
-
In the Unlaunch menu, go to OPTIONS
-
Set NO BUTTON or a button of your choice to the akmenu-next entry that says
BOOT.NDS
(orakmenu-next.dsi
if applicable) on the bottom screen
Note
This requires a modded Nintendo 3DS system. If your Nintendo 3DS is not modded, please follow 3ds.hacks.guide to install it. This guide is also applicable to the Nintendo 2DS models but will be referenced as a 3DS in the steps below.
Installing AKMenu-Next Nintendo 3DS Edition
-
Download the latest release of AKMenu-Next 3DS Edition.
-
Extract the downloaded
akmenu-next-3ds.zip
file with 7-Zip.Warning
If you are using TWiLight Menu++ on your Nintendo 3DS and want to also use AKMenu-Next, do not copy over
BOOT.NDS
as this will overwrite the one TWiLight Menu++ uses. This however, will mean quitting a game using the nds-bootstrap hotkey menu will boot back into TWiLight Menu++ instead. -
From within the AKMenu-Next files, copy the following files/folders to your SD card root:
_nds
folderBOOT.NDS
(Please read the warning above)akmenu-next.cia
-
Download the latest release of nds-bootstrap.
-
Extract the downloaded
nds-bootstrap.zip
file with 7-Zip. -
Copy the contents of the files from the extracted
nds-bootstrap.zip
file to the_nds
folder on your SD card. -
Boot up your Nintendo 3DS. Open the FBI app, go to your SD card, and find the
akmenu-next.cia
file. Select the cia, then choose "Install CIA". -
Launch the
akmenu-next
application from the 3DS home screen.
Tip
If you are upgrading from an older version of AKMenu-Next, or if AKMenu-Next does not appear on your 3DS home screen after installing the cia, restart your 3DS.
Cheats
-
If you'd like to be able to use cheats on your games, download a cheat database.
-
You will need the
usrcheat.7z
file. Extract it using 7-Zip, inside you will find ausrcheat.dat
file. Copy this file to_nds/akmenunext/cheats/
on your SD card. (Create thecheats
folder if it doesn't exist)
Info
AKMenu-Next and nds-bootstrap must be updated seperately of each other. If you wish to check for the latest version of AKMenu-Next and nds-bootstrap, you can view the latest versions & changelog from the Github releases linked here: AKMenu-Next Releases - nds-bootstrap Releases
Updating AKMenu-Next
-
Go to the tab above for your applicable console/flashcart and Download the latest release of AKMenu-Next from there.
-
Extract the downloaded
akmenu-next-flashcart/dsi/3ds.zip
file with 7-Zip. -
From within the extracted AKMenu-Next files, copy the
_nds
folder to your SD card root, clickingReplace files
if on Windows or Linux, orMerge
if on MacOS. Then follow the steps below.
Please follow the below according to the system you are using:
If you are on a flashcart
- Copy & replace the
BOOT.NDS
file to your SD card root.
If you are on a Nintendo DSi
- Copy & replace the
akmenu-next.dsi
file to your SD card root. - If you do not also use Twilightmenu++, copy & replace the
BOOT.NDS
file to your SD card root. If you use Twilightmenu++, skip this file. - If you have AKMenu-Next installed as an app on HiyaCFW, you will need to install the updated
akmenu-next.dsi
file with NTM.
If you are on a Nintendo 3DS
- Copy & replace the
akmenu-next.cia
file to your SD card root. - If you do not also use Twilightmenu++, copy & replace the
BOOT.NDS
file to your SD card root. If you use Twilightmenu++, skip this file. - Install the
akmenu-next.cia
file with FBI, you may need to restart your 3DS console afterwards to use the new version.
Updating nds-bootstrap
-
Download the latest release of nds-bootstrap.
-
Extract the downloaded
nds-bootstrap.zip
file with 7-Zip. -
Copy the contents of the files from the extracted
nds-bootstrap.zip
file to the_nds
folder on your SD card.