How to Delete Games and Apps From Nintendo 3DS

Use the data management settings to remove apps from the Nintendo 3DS

By
Nadia Oxford
Nadia Oxford
Writer
  • William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute
Nadia Oxford is a former Lifewire writer with 10+ years' experience. Her articles have appeared in Pocket Games Magazine, Play Magazine, Game Pro, IGN and others.
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Updated on October 20, 2021
Reviewed by
Kayla Dube
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Reviewed by Kayla Dube
  • J. Everette Light Career Center
Kayla Dube has 4+ years' experience in videography and filmmaking. She frequently works in production with indie film companies.
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What to Know

  • Go to HOME > System Settings > Data Management > Nintendo 3DS > Software.
  • Pick a game or app you want to delete and tap Delete.
  • Choose Delete Software and Save Data or Create Save-Data Backup and Delete Software and tap Delete to confirm.

Here's how to delete games and apps on a Nintendo 3DS to make room or simply clean up.

How to Delete 3DS Games and Apps

Decide what you want to remove from your device and then find the app from the Software part of the settings. Here's how:

  1. Tap the System Settings icon on the HOME menu (it looks like a wrench).

  2. Tap Data Management.

  3. Choose Nintendo 3DS.

  4. Pick the option called Software, and then select the game or app you want to delete from the 3DS. You can also choose Extra Data to remove any other data saved by that app.

    Choosing Extra Data is how you remove everything associated with the app. To regain the most storage space, pick that option.

  5. Tap Delete after selecting what should be removed.

  6. Choose either Delete Software and Save Data or Create Save-Data Backup and Delete Software. If you choose the "save-data" option, you can store the backup in a folder already on the device or in a brand new folder.

    Be very careful not to breeze over this step. If you delete the software without making a backup, then all the data that has been saved by that app will be deleted and unable to be restored from a backup.

  7. Tap Delete once more to confirm the action.

Can't Delete a 3DS App?

It shouldn't be a problem at all to delete any app you download to your Nintendo 3DS. However, the option to remove an app is restricted only to those kinds of apps.

System apps and other built-in utilities cannot be removed from the Nintendo 3DS. These kinds of apps are required by the device and must remain on the 3DS, which is why if you chose one during step 4, you'll quickly find that you can't actually remove it.

A few built-in apps and other tools that can't be deleted from the 3DS include Download Play, Mii Maker, "Face Raiders," Nintendo eShop, Activity Log, Nintendo Zone Viewer, System Settings, and Nintendo 3DS Sound, among others.

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