Remember that .cia files install to the Home Menu, while .3ds files are typically used for emulators like Citra on a PC.
You should now see a file ending in . This is the actual file you will use. Step 2: Preparing the SD Card Power off your 3DS and remove the SD card. Connect the SD card to your computer.
Since the file ends in .rar , it is a compressed container. You cannot put this directly on your 3DS.
You will need an application like FBI or GodMode9 installed on your 3DS to handle the installation process.