Seeds are added, not removed. To update:
If you need a parser or extractor for a specific project’s seeddb.bin (e.g., from a named 3DS tool), tell me the tool name and I’ll provide a concrete script and exact offsets.
seeddb.bin file is a database used by 3DS tools to decrypt and install newer games (released after 2015) that utilize "Seeds" for security. You typically "produce" or generate this content by extracting data from your own 3DS console using or specialized conversion tools. Ways to Produce a seeddb.bin Using SEEDconv (PC Method) : You can generate a seeddb.bin
on your computer by taking your console-unique data file (found at nand:/data/
: In many cases, you can build support files directly on the console. You would place your existing or generated seeddb.bin sd:/gm9/support folder to allow to properly decrypt and install certain CIAs. Why You Need It Custom Install : If you use Custom Install
to install games directly to your SD card from a PC (which is much faster than FBI), the application requires a seeddb.bin to process the game files. Offline Installation
: It allows you to install games and updates offline without needing to connect to Nintendo servers to fetch the required seeds. Title Database Rebuilds : Essential for rebuilding the Title Database if your system's database becomes corrupted. Common File Locations
If you already have the file, tools usually look for it in these specific paths: %APPDATA%\3ds\seeddb.bin ~/Library/Application Support/3ds/seeddb.bin 3DS SD Card sd:/gm9/support/seeddb.bin Are you trying to fix a specific error in a program like Custom Install or FBI? 3ds seeddb.bin
SEEDconv - seeddb.bin generator for the 3DS console - GitHub
For the Nintendo 3DS, seeddb.bin is a database file containing seeds required to decrypt and install specific games (NCCH and CIA files) released after 2015. Without this file, tools like GodMode9, Decrypt9, or Custom Install cannot properly process newer titles that use "seed crypto". Essential Resources for seeddb.bin
Generation Guide (GodMode9): Use the Reddit Guide to learn how to generate your own console-unique seeddb.bin using GodMode9.
SEEDconv Generator: This GitHub Repository provides a tool to generate a working seeddb.bin by dragging and dropping system files (like 00000000) onto the executable.
SeedDB List & Tools: Visit the ihaveamac/3DS-rom-tools Wiki for a history of known title seeds and related ROM manipulation tools.
Custom Install Documentation: The Hacks Guide Wiki provides instructions on where to place your seeddb.bin when rebuilding title databases or using custom installation methods. Key Usage Details
File Location: For GodMode9, the file should typically be placed in sd:/gm9/support/ to allow for proper decryption of CIAs. Game Compatibility Seeds are added, not removed
: Games released before 2015 generally do not require a seed; however, titles like Ever Oasis (2017) or Pokemon Ultra Sun require it for extraction and rebuilding.
Offline Installation: Having a comprehensive seeddb.bin allows tools like FBI to install seeds for specific titles completely offline without needing to connect to Nintendo's servers.
seeddb.bin file is a database containing decryption seeds required to decrypt and install certain Nintendo 3DS titles, specifically those released after early 2015 that use "Seed Crypto". Why It's Needed Decryption : It allows tools like Decrypt9WIP to decrypt NCCH and CIA files. Installation
: It is a required file for PC-based installation tools like Custom-Install
, which speeds up the game installation process by bypassing the slow transfer speeds of the 3DS. Compatibility : Games released after 2015 (e.g., Ever Oasis
) often require these seeds to function or be installed correctly. How to Obtain It You can generate your own unique seeddb.bin using a modded 3DS console: Using GodMode9
: This is the most common method. Boot into GodMode9, navigate to your system files, and use the script options to dump your console's seeds. Using SEEDconv : You can take the raw system file from nand:/data/(console-unique)/sysdata/0001000f/00000000 and use the utility on your PC to generate the seeddb.bin Third-Party Lists : There are community-maintained versions (like those from ihaveamac on GitHub If you need a parser or extractor for
) that include known seeds for many games, which can be useful if your local dump is missing a specific title. Typical File Locations On a modded 3DS, these files are often placed in:
The primary purpose of seeddb.bin is to store "seeds" required to decrypt NCCH-encrypted game content. While many 3DS games use standard encryption keys, certain titles (specifically "New 3DS" exclusive titles and certain digital eShop games) utilize a specific encryption layer that requires a unique, static seed key to unlock.
Without this database, third-party tools cannot properly decrypt, analyze, or extract content from these specific games.
No. This is a common point of confusion.
In short, seeddb.bin is not console-unique, but it is firmware-region aware.
3ds-seeddb add --cia-dir ./cias/ --seeddb ./seeddb.bin --keys boot9.bin
If you are running Custom Firmware (like Luma3DS) or using an emulator (like Citra or Mikage), setting this up is simple.
A common FBI error. This usually means the CIA you are trying to install needs a seed that your seeddb.bin does not contain. Updating seeddb.bin resolves this.