How To Delete Games In 3Ds: Quick Steps

How to Delete Games on Your 3DS

So, you’ve got a Nintendo 3DS, and maybe you’ve been playing a lot of games. That’s super cool! But sometimes, you need to make some space for new adventures, right? Deleting games on your 3DS isn’t tricky at all, but there are a couple of ways to do it. Let’s go over each method step-by-step, so you become a pro at managing your 3DS library.

Understanding the Different Types of 3DS Games

Before we jump into deleting, it’s helpful to know the different kinds of games you might have. Knowing this helps you understand where the game data is stored and why deletion steps might vary slightly. There are mainly two types of games to consider:

• Physical Cartridge Games: These are the games that come on a small plastic card you insert into your 3DS. When you play these, your save data is stored on the cartridge itself. Deleting data from the console won’t affect your save on a physical copy of game.
• Digital Download Games: These games you download from the Nintendo eShop and are stored directly on your 3DS or an SD card. Deleting these games also deletes the game data from your device or SD card.

Knowing what kind of game you want to remove is the first step. Now, let’s see how you can remove each type of game data from your Nintendo 3DS!

Deleting Digital Downloaded Games

If you downloaded games from the Nintendo eShop, these steps are for you. This is the most common type of deletion you’ll do. Let’s break it down:

Step 1: Go to System Settings

First, you’ll need to close out of any game you might be playing and go back to the main HOME Menu of your 3DS. Look for the little wrench icon at the bottom of the touch screen. That’s the shortcut to your ‘System Settings.’ Tap it to open.

Step 2: Find Data Management

Once inside System Settings, use the touch screen and scroll down. You’re looking for a button called ‘Data Management.’ It usually has an icon of a data chip or memory card. Tap that button.

Step 3: Choose Nintendo 3DS Data

Now you’ll see a few options to manage data. You’ll need to pick ‘Nintendo 3DS Data.’ This is where your downloaded games and apps are stored. Tap that option.

Step 4: Select Software

After choosing “Nintendo 3DS Data,” you’ll see a list of the games and applications you have installed on your 3DS. This is a list of digital games. Browse the list until you find the game you want to delete. Tap on it.

Step 5: Delete the Game

Once you tap the game, you’ll see a menu with several options. The one you are looking for is “Delete.” Tap on it to start the deletion process. The system will then ask you to confirm if you really want to delete the game. Tap ‘Delete’ one more time to move forward.

Step 6: Wait for the Deletion to Complete

The 3DS will now do its thing and remove the game data. How long this takes can depend on the size of the game. Don’t turn off the system during this process. Once it’s done, the game will disappear from your home screen.

Deleting Save Data for Physical Cartridge Games

Physical games are a little different, but you can still delete the save data if you want to start over. The save data for physical cartridge games is stored on the game cartridge itself, not the 3DS’s system memory. So the process is slightly different.

Step 1: Access System Settings

Just like with downloaded games, you’ll need to head to System Settings first. From the HOME Menu, tap the little wrench icon at the bottom of the touch screen.

Step 2: Go to Data Management

Once you’re in the System Settings menu, scroll through the options and tap on “Data Management”. This is where you find the settings for managing different types of data on your system.

Step 3: Select ‘Nintendo 3DS Data’

Inside the ‘Data Management’ menu, you’ll see a couple of options. The option you need to select is “Nintendo 3DS Data”. This section manages save data for installed apps and save files of physical cartages.

Step 4: Navigate to Save Data Section

Now, you will see the same list of software installed on your system and game cartridge data. This time, instead of tapping the software name, click on the “Save Data” below the software you want to delete.

Step 5: Select the Cartridge Game Data

Tap on the game you want to reset and you’ll see your save data options. If you want to delete all save data for a specific physical cartridge game, tap the game name from this menu. A confirmation screen will ask you if you’re sure you want to delete the save data. Tap ‘Delete’ one last time to clear the save data.

Step 6: Confirm Deletion

Your 3DS will confirm the deletion and complete the process. Now, if you start that game again, it should start as if it is new. Remember, deleting save data will erase all progress within the game.

Important Things to Keep in Mind

Before you start deleting things left and right, there are a few things you should know:

• Deleting a game is not the same as deleting save data. When you delete a digital download game, you are removing the game itself from your system. When you delete save data, you’re only deleting your game progress, not the game itself.
• You can redownload digital games. If you delete a digital download game, you can always go back to the Nintendo eShop and download it again if you want to. You will need to use your Nintendo ID. You may lose your saved game progress, however, if you don’t have a backup.
• Deleting is permanent. When you delete a game or save data, it’s usually gone for good (unless you’ve backed it up). Double-check before you confirm.
• Make backups of your save data. If you have important save data and are using SD cards for digital titles, you can backup data using the data management system in 3DS settings.

What to Do If You’re Having Trouble

Sometimes, technology can be a bit tricky. If you’re having trouble deleting games on your 3DS, here are a few things to try:

Restart your 3DS

Sometimes just turning your device off and on again can solve small glitches. If the system is being unresponsive, try powering it down completely then booting it back up again. Try the steps again.

Make sure you are in the correct settings.

Double-check that you are in the right menus and selecting the correct options. Try following these steps again but more carefully.

Check for updates

Make sure your 3DS is up to date with the latest software. Go to system settings and update the system firmware if there is an update available.

Check your SD Card

If you have a game that is stored on your SD card and you are having trouble deleting it, ensure the SD card is inserted correctly into your 3DS and that it is a compatible SD card.

Contact Nintendo Support

If all else fails, you might need help from Nintendo directly. Their customer support team can help with trickier issues. You can find their contact information on the Nintendo website.

Remember to be patient and try all the steps carefully. Deleting games on your 3DS should become second nature with practice, and you’ll be able to keep your 3DS library organized and ready for anything. Now go have fun managing and playing your favorite 3DS titles!