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This wikiHow teaches you lot how to play a downloaded version of a game on a classic Nintendo DS. In order to play downloaded games on your DS, you will need an R4 SDHC card, a microSD carte du jour, and a computer on which you can download the game files.

  1. 1

    Buy an R4 SDHC carte du jour. An R4 SDHC card is the substitute for a game card when loading your own games on a DS. This is what y'all'll plug into the DS in club to load your downloaded games.

    • The easiest way to find an R4 SDHC bill of fare that volition work with your DS is by typing r4 sdhc nintendo ds into an online store'south search.
  2. ii

    Buy a microSD card. The microSD card is actually where the games will exist stored, and then try to find a two-gigabyte (2 GB) card if possible.

    • You can discover microSD cards online too as in most tech stores.
    • Most microSD cards come with an adapter that allows yous to open the SD bill of fare on a estimator. If your selected microSD menu doesn't include an adapter, you'll need to buy one as well.

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  3. iii

    Plug the microSD card into the included adapter card. At the height of the microSD's adapter card, there should be a pocket-sized slot into which you'll insert the microSD carte du jour.

    • The microSD bill of fare just fits ane style, so don't force it. If the microSD menu won't fit into the adapter bill of fare, flip the microSD carte du jour over and try again.
  4. iv

    Plug the microSD bill of fare's adapter card into your reckoner. There should be a wide, flat slot on the side of your estimator (laptop) or on the CPU box (desktop) into which the adapter card fits.

    • If y'all use a Mac, y'all may need a USB-C to SD card adapter.
  5. 5

    Format the card . Before y'all can add files to the microSD card, you'll need to make sure that the carte du jour's format is correct:

    • On Windows, select FAT32 every bit the file arrangement.
    • On Mac, select MS-DOS (Fatty) as the file organization.
  6. 6

    Download a ROM for your selected game. A ROM is a game file; by placing these game files on your SD carte and then using the card with your DS, yous'll be able to select games directly off of the carte. The easiest way to download ROMs is by searching for your game title followed by "ds rom", selecting a reputable site, and clicking the "Download" push or link.

    • Go on in heed that downloading ROMs for games that you don't already ain is piracy, which is illegal in virtually places.
    • Make certain that you only download from sites that you tin trust based on user feedback and reviews. Y'all don't want to accidentally download a virus.
  7. 7

    Wait for your ROM to stop downloading. Once the ROM for your game has finished downloading onto your computer, you tin can proceed with adding the ROM to your microSD on a Windows or Mac computer.

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  1. i

    Make sure that the microSD carte is plugged in. If you lot unplugged the adapter menu (or the microSD carte du jour from the adapter card) from your figurer, re-plug in the card earlier continuing.

  2. two

    Open up Starting time . Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.

  3. 3

    Open File Explorer . Click the folder-shaped icon in the lower-left side of the window.

  4. 4

    Become to the downloaded ROM's location. On the left side of the File Explorer window, click the binder to which your ROM was downloaded.

    • For instance, if your downloaded files normally go to the Downloads folder, you lot'd click Downloads hither.
  5. 5

    Select the ROM. Click the ROM file that you lot just downloaded.

  6. vi

    Copy the ROM. Press Ctrl+C to copy the ROM.

  7. 7

    Select your SD card'due south folder. Click your SD card'southward name in the lower-left side of the File Explorer window.

    • You may have to scroll down to find the SD bill of fare.
    • Alternatively, you can click the This PC folder and so double-click your SD carte'south proper noun under the "Devices and drives" heading.
  8. 8

    Paste in the ROM. Click a blank space in the SD card'due south window, then press Ctrl+V to paste in the ROM. You should see the ROM's file icon appear in the window.

  9. 9

    Eject the SD card. Click the flash drive-shaped icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen, then click the Eject option in the pop-up carte du jour. Once yous receive a notification, you can physically remove the SD card from your computer.

    • You may first have to click ^ in the lower-right corner of the screen to see the flash drive icon.
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  1. 1

    Make sure that the microSD carte du jour is plugged in. If you unplugged the adapter card (or the microSD card from the adapter card) from your estimator, re-plug in the card before continuing.

  2. 2

    Open Finder. Click the blue, face-like app icon in your Mac'southward Dock.

  3. iii

    Go to the downloaded ROM's location. On the left side of the Finder window, click the folder to which your ROM binder was downloaded.

    • For about browsers, the default download location is the Downloads folder.
  4. 4

    Select your ROM. Find the ROM file and click information technology.

  5. 5

    Copy the ROM. Printing Command+C to do and then.

  6. 6

    Click your SD card's name. In the lower-left side of the Finder window, you lot should run into a "Devices" heading, under which your SD card should be listed. Clicking this opens the SD card'south window.

  7. 7

    Paste in your ROM file. Click the SD bill of fare window, then press Command+V . You should see the ROM file announced in the window.

  8. 8

    Eject the SD card. Click the triangle-shaped "Squirt" icon to the right of the SD card's proper name in the Finder, then remove the menu from your Mac when prompted.

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  1. i

    Plug the microSD card into the R4 menu. There should be a small slot at the top of the R4 card into which the microSD carte du jour fits.

    • As with the microSD card'due south adapter card, the microSD card only fits one way.
  2. 2

    Insert the R4 carte into your Nintendo DS. The R4 carte should fit into the slot into which yous normally insert your games' cards.

    • Make sure that the microSD card is snugly inserted into the R4 card too.
    • On the original DS, y'all may outset have to plug a menu reader into the bottom of the DS.
  3. 3

    Plow on your DS. Printing the "Power" push button to plow on the DS.

  4. 4

    Select the "MicroSD Card" option. Once the DS finishes powering on, y'all should come across a "MicroSD Card" option (or something like) on the bottom screen.

  5. 5

    Select your game. The game that you downloaded in ROM format should be displayed here. Select it to open it on your DS and begin playing!

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Add New Question

  • Question

    Tin I employ a smartphone to practise this?

    Community Answer

    If you mean use a smartphone to transfer the files to the Micro SD card, then yes.

  • Question

    What is the recommended size for an SD card?

    Community Answer

    32 GB should be plenty. It's what I'm using and has 64 games on it, from Pokémon to Zelda.

  • Question

    Is in that location a trusted site to buy R4 cards?

    Community Answer

    At that place is no trusted site to buy R4 cards. Y'all tin try eBay at your own risk. Technically, R4 cards are cheaper than Gateway cards.

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  • The steps in this article pertain to a Nintendo DS classic edition. You won't be able to employ the same process on the newer 3DS platform.

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  • Downloading complimentary versions of ROMs for games that you don't own is illegal in most places.

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About This Article

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Reader Success Stories

  • Sreeraj Rajmohan

    Sreeraj Rajmohan

    Nov 17, 2016

    "Thanks, now I know that I need a DS for my birthday."

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