How to transfer digital games from "old" 3DS to NEW 3DS?

This may be a dumb question, but I've honestly never tried it, so how does it work? I am getting a New 3DS (pre-ordered the Monster Hunter bundle on GameStop), but I don't want to lose my digitally bought games. I hear that they are locked to the system, so is there a transfer option already available that I'm oblivious to?

Thanks in advance. The new consoles are out next month.

The 3DS has a system transfer option in the settings. It's pretty easy to do. You'll also want to transfer the files on your 3DS SD card onto your micro SD for your New 3DS.

Yeah, there is a system transfer option in the settings that basically requires two 3DSs to be within wireless range of each other (and both using the transfer option), and it completely transfers all licenses associated with the 3DS to the other 3DS, and when the process finishes it might actually end up formatting the original 3DS so that both 3DSs don't have access to the games? Anyway, yeah, I've yet to do it, but by all accounts it works pretty well.

Awesome, thanks for the response. My only remaining question is...

I had a 3DS before I bought my XL that I bought games on, BUT I did not do a system transfer for them because I didn't know it existed. However, I have them registered to one of my Club Nintendo accounts. Is there a way I can get those licenses on my New 3DS, or am I screwed because I no longer have the console? Maybe Nintendo can look at my account and see that they're mine?

Does the transfer keep your saved games intact? I'm gonna go postal if my AC village bites the dust. (I have eShop version)

It does not but you can transfer them using a PC with an SD card slot pretty easily.

Oh I see, is it just a case of taking the SD card out, then putting the contents onto a Micro?

Yup, though you still have to use the System Transfer for the licenses.

That's great, well, kind of, I'm still annoyed you have to have both systems to do the damn transfer. I was planning to sell my current 3DS but now I gotta wait. (knowing my luck, prices will drop)

Purchases get transferred over when doing a System Transfer. The process can be a bit confusing, I found a guide from a local Nintendo website, Vooks.net helped a lot when I got my New 3DSXL back in November. Basically, the crucial thing to keep everything pain free is when you reach the "Transfer SD Card data" part select "Copy via PC" (assuming you have an SD card reader, and appropriate card adapters, anyway). You should have all of your saves for any digital games intact once you've performed the System Transfer and copied the contents of your 3DSXL's SD card to your New 3DS XL's microSD card.

As for your old old 3DS and the games purchased there, I don't believe you have any way to recover those games.

Can anyone confirm whether the saves can be transferred too? I don't have access to my card adapter and so was hoping to transfer my saves in the system transfer. My Pokémon and AC village dudes, I can't lose em!

Even if it takes hours, thats fine!

Can you do the data transfer from the original non-XL 3DS too?

Well first you get a blender

@feive_vz: I think (think) if the game is a physical cartridge the data is stored on there. If it's digital, I believe the data just gets copied over during the transfer. I could be wrong, but I seem to recall that's what happened with my friend when he got his XL. (Here's what Nintendo website has to say about it)

@frostyryan Yup.

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