[DS(i)/3DS] TWiLight Menu++ - GUI for DS(i) games, and DS(i) Menu replacement (2024)

View attachment 144245

GUI for DS(i) games, and DSi Menu replacement for DS/DSi/3DS/2DS

View attachment 135253

TWiLight Menu++ launches ROMs from the SD card and flashcard via nds-bootstrap!
TWiLight Menu++ also brings the DSi Menu to your DS Phat/lite, by putting it on a flashcard!
DSi/3DS/2DS users can change sound frequency from 32kHz to 48kHz for higher sound quality!
It is also the first DS flashcard UI to show animated icons from DSi-Enhanced, DSi-Exclusive, and DSiWare games!
Also has an option, where you can run the last played ROM on TWiLight Menu++ startup.
You can run DS games with a different set language (if supported by the game), and clock speed of 133mhz (faster than normal DS).

Also includes (Super) GameBoy (Color) ROM loading via GameYob, NES ROM loading via nesDS, Sega Master System/Game Gear ROM loading via S8DS, Sega MegaDrive/Genesis ROM loading via jEnesisDS, and Super Nintendo (SNES) ROM loading via SNEmulDS.

You can also directly access the flashcard's microSD card, and switch to and from there anytime!
(check below for which flashcards are supported with direct access.)

Boot Demo (by Alex S):

(Old video with the SRLoader name)

Download
If you have a DSi, or a 3DS/2DS without CFW, you'll need a DSiWare exploit to run TWiLight Menu++.
Also works with flashcards. Please check the instructions for flashcard users.

NOTE: If you have any issues happening in the DS games themselves on the SD card, please post the issue in the nds-bootstrap thread.

Compatible DSiWare exploits for nds-bootstrap, without CFW

sudokuhax (uses GenericTWLPayload)
fieldrunnerhax (uses GenericTWLPayload)
grtpwn (uses GenericTWLPayload)
ugopwn/Flipnote Lenny (only for v0.11.0 and v0.11.2)

Instructions

Set-up (Non-CFW DSi/3DS/2DS users)Set-up (DSi users with Unlaunch and/or HiyaCFW)Set-up (CFW 3DS/2DS users, via Updater)Set-up (CFW 3DS/2DS users, Manual method)Set-up (Flashcard users, including DS Phat/DS lite)Creating a RAM disk for homebrew Box art/game cover display Custom top screen image in DSi theme DSi: Getting your DSiWare as .nds files

1. In the 7z file, extract the "_nds" folder from both the 7z root and the "DSi&3DS - SD card users" folder, to the SD Card root. Merge folders, when asked to.
2. Extract the "boot.nds" file from the "DSi&3DS - SD card users" folder, to the SD Card root.
3. Put .gb/.gbc/.gen/.gg/.nes/.nds/.sms/.smc/.sfc ROMs anywhere on your SD card.
4. Launch your exploted DSiWare game, and TWiLight Menu++ will load!
NOTE for DSi users: If you're using exploits such as Memory Pit, ugopwn, Flipnote Lenny, or 4swordshax, or if you're not using HiyaCFW and/or Unlaunch to boot TWiLight Menu++, you won't be able to play DS ROMs, and only GB(C), NES, and DS homebrew can be ran.
1. In the 7z file, extract the "_nds" folder from both the 7z root and the "DSi&3DS - SD card users" folder, to the SD Card root. Merge folders, when asked to.
2. Extract the "boot.nds" file from the "DSi&3DS - SD card users" folder, to the SD Card root.
3. Extract what's in "DSi - CFW users/SDNAND root" to the root of your SD card.
4. Put .gb/.gbc/.gen/.gg/.nes/.nds/.sms/.smc/.sfc ROMs anywhere on your SD card.
5. (Unlaunch users) In Unlaunch menu, go to options, and set the "No button" option to "TWLMENUPP".
6. Launch TWiLight Menu++!
NOTE: Starting with TWLMenu++ v8.4.0, please do the manual method, as the updater is broken.
Install the updater here.
Launch the updater.
Touch Release next to TWL Menu++. Extraction may take a while.
Do Step 3 again, but for nds-bootstrap.
1. In the 7z file, extract the "_nds" folder from both the 7z root and the "DSi&3DS - SD card users" folder, to the SD Card root. Merge folders, when asked to.
2. Extract the "boot.nds" file from the "DSi&3DS - SD card users" folder, to the SD Card root.
3. Extract the "cia" folder from the "3DS - CFW users" folder, to the SD Card root.
4. Put .gb/.gbc/.gen/.gg/.nes/.nds/.sms/.smc/.sfc ROMs anywhere on your SD card.
5. Enable game patching in Luma settings, if you have Luma CFW.
6. Install all 2 CIAs in the "cia" folder in "3DS - CFW users".
  NOTE: If you're using EmuNAND, then install them to SysNAND as well.
7. Launch TWiLight Menu++!
1. In the 7z file, extract the "_nds" folder from both the 7z root and the "Flashcard users" folder, to the SD Card root. Merge folders, when asked to.
2. Extract the "boot.nds" file from the "Flashcard users" folder, to the SD Card root.
3. Put .gb/.gbc/.gen/.gg/.nes/.nds/.sms/.smc/.sfc ROMs anywhere on your flashcard's microSD card.
If you want to use your flashcard firmware instead of nds-bootstrap to load retail/commercial ROMs, then proceed below.
Compatible flashcards (skip to step 4, if your flashcard is not listed):
Original R4/M3 Simply? (Autobooting TWiLight Menu++ works?)
R4iDSN/R4i Gold RTS/R4 Ultra (Cannot autoboot TWiLight Menu++ with R4iDSN/R4i Gold RTS, but can with R4 Ultra)
Acekard 2(i)/Galaxy Eagle/M3DS Real (Cannot autoboot TWiLight Menu++ with Acekard 2(i), but does it work for the others?)
Acekard RPG? (Autobooting TWiLight Menu++ works?)
SuperCard DSTWO (Able to autoboot into TWiLight Menu++)
Extract what's in "for Slot-1 microSD" to the root of the flashcard's microSD card.
After this and setting up TWiLight Menu++ on your flashcard, set "Use nds-bootstrap" to "No" so the flashcard firmware will be used instead of nds-bootstrap.
4. Extract what's in "Flashcard users/Autoboot/(your flashcard)" to the root of the flashcard's microSD card. (Skip this, if you don't see your flashcard.)
5. DS Phat/DS lite users: Go to settings in the DS menu, and turn on auto-start, so your flashcard will start on boot.
6. You're good to go! Launch your flashcard, and TWiLight Menu++ will load! (Load "boot.nds", if you're in the regular flashcard menu, or if autobooting doesn't work.)
7. You can also set your preferred sound/mic frequency, if you're using a DSi, 3DS, or 2DS.
If you want to use TWL clock speed and/or VRAM boost on your flashcard games, launch your flashcard using TWiLight Menu++ on the console's SD card, with the "SCFG access in Slot-1" setting turned on.
NOTE: You do not need to follow this if you're a flashcard user.
To make a RAM disk, download this tool (click "Download Software"), and follow the instructions below.
Instructions by @Dakkon7, modified by me:
1. Run RAMDisk
2. Click View -> Advanced
3. For Disk Size, type "12" for DSi, or "28" for 3DS, above Max 1023 MB.
4. Un-mark Create TEMP Directory, if it's already marked.
5. Click Load/Save
6. Click "Start RAMDisk", and a new window for your .img should appear.
7. Place any file or folder the homebrew expects there.
8. In the RAMDisk program, click "Save Disk Image Now".
9. Save "romname.img" to a folder called "ramdisks" in your .nds folder.
10. Click "Stop RAMDisk" when you're done.
11. In TWiLight Menu++, open per-game settings for your homebrew.
12. Set RAM disk to 0.
13. Launch your homebrew, and it should read your RAM disk.
1. Make sure box art/game cover is set to be shown in TWiLight Menu++ settings.
2. Download this file, and this file for DSiWare covers. (credits to XrayXout and @Mika974)
3. a. Follow XrayXout's readme.
  b. For the DSiWare covers, just put the "_nds" file on the SD root, and merge, if asked to.
4. Your DS game's box art/game cover will now be shown!
To add your own box art:
Place them in "sd:/_nds/TWiLightMenu/boxart".
Can either have the game's TID (ex. ASME.bmp), or the filename (ex. SM64DS.nds.bmp).
Must be in .bmp format, with the size of 128x115, with no color space info, and is 16-bit (X1 R5 G5 B5).
Box art can be downloaded from GameTDB, but will need to be converted from .png to .bmp.
The custom image(s) goes in "sd:/_nds/TWiLightMenu/dsimenu/photos", must end in the .bmp format, with exactly the size of 208x156, with no color space info, and is 16-bit (X1 R5 G5 B5).
This requires a DSi console with Unlaunch 0.9 or later.
This will not work if you're using a 3DS or 2DS console.
1. Download appgen (by jerbear64) (If your computer says it's a virus, it is a false positive).
2. Place it in "/title/00030004".
3. Run appgen.
4. Move your .nds, .pub, and .prv files into "sd:/roms/dsiware".
5. Launch your DSiWare .nds from TWiLight Menu++, and enjoy!

Flashcards supported with direct access, if running on the console's SD card:

Acekard 2i
R4 Ultra (regular, not R4i) (r4ultra.com)

NOTES:

Please check this list for what games work and do not work from the SD card.
If you're running the game from a flashcard, then you won't need this, unless if you're running B4DS (nds-bootstrap for flashcards).
DSi-Enhanced games currently won't work in DSi mode.

Controls

DSi/3DS Menu theme

Left/Right: Select a game/app.
A/START: Launch game/app
L/R: Switch pages.
Y: Per-game settings
Y+X: Cheat menu
(DSi theme) SELECT: SELECT menu (Where system menu, TWLMenu++ Settings, and GBARunner2/GBA Mode can be accessed)

R4 theme

Up/Down: Select a game/app.
A: Launch game/app
Y: Per-game settings
Y+X: Cheat menu

With CFW: DS ROMs (on SD)/carts

L+R+DOWN+B for 2 seconds: Return to TWiLight Menu++.

Credits

@ahezard: nds-bootstrap
@Gericom: GBARunner2
@Drenn: GameYob
@Coto: nesDS
Lordus: jEnesisDS
archeid (Loopy): SNEmulDS
@FluBBa: S8DS
@Apache Thunder: Providing the Miku theme (not made by him) for Acekard theme, nesDS TWL Edition, and the DSi splash from NTR Launcher.
@Vulpes-Vulpeos: TWiLight Menu++ logo (v4.3.0-v6.2.1, and for the launcher, after v1.0.0).
@Joom: Original TWLoader logo.
me: For implementing the auto-reset power button function used in NTR-mode, volume button control, fixed sound, and LED functions, to nds-bootstrap.
@shutterbug2000: For the muted sound/touchscreen fix for nds-bootstrap, and the GB icon.
@nocash123: For the touchscreen mode switch log. Without it, the sound/touchscreen fix code wouldn't exist.
@spinal_cord: DSi4DS and DSision2 graphics.
devkitPro, @realWinterMute: Code used in nds-hb-menu, and the use of the bootloader, devkitARM, libnds, and libfat.

FAQs

Q (3DS users): This is a DS(i) emulator, right?
A: No, this is not an emulator. The menu and DS games (loaded via nds-bootstrap) are ran natively in the console's DS/DSi mode.
The only consoles emulated are NES, Sega MS/GG, GB(C), Sega Gen/MD, SNES, and GBA (but partially, as some parts (such as graphics) are ran natively).

Q: After installing the TWiLight Menu++ CIAs, I don't see the app on the 3DS HOME Menu. How can I fix this?
A: Reboot the console.

Q1: Why is my 3DS/2DS stuck on black screen when launching TWiLight Menu++?
Q2: Why is my 3DS/2DS powering off when launching TWiLight Menu++?
A: TWL_FIRM might've somehow got corrupted.
Follow this guide to fix the issue: https://3ds.hacks.guide/troubleshooting#dsi--ds-functionality-is-broken-after-completing-the-guide

Q: How do I get past Luma's exception screen when trying to soft-reset the game, or return to TWiLight Menu++?
A: Enable game patching in Luma settings.

Q: Can The Biggest Loser boot TWiLight Menu++?
A: No. As The Biggest Loser is a Slot-1 game, and not a DSiWare game, SD access is disabled when running Slot-1 cards.

Q: Why do I get a white screen when trying to load a game from SD Card?
A1: You're using an incompatible DSiWare exploit. It should use GenericTWLPayload for DS ROMs to work.
A2: Please note that not all games work from SD Card yet. Check the list above.
If it's listed as compatible, try again.
If you're a DSi user, Please check the LED set in TWiLight Menu++ settings.

WiFi/Camera: If it's on, that means it's loading from the ROM. If it's off for a while, and the screen is still white, that means the game is unsupported.
Power: If it's purple, that means it's loading from the ROM. If it's blue (or red) for a while, and the screen is still white, that means the game is unsupported.