Topic: New 3DS Can't Connect to Internet? Try this...

I just got my MH4U new3DS XL in the mail today, and to my surprise the handheld simply would not connect to the Internet. Or, more specifically, to the access point. I called customer support and we went through troubleshooting for nearly 2 hours before setting up a repair. Before hanging up though I got a strange urge to power off my 3DS, turn it back on and try connecting one last time. Amazingly, it worked. Even the technician was surprised because it was such a simple fix after everything we had tried.

So, if you can't connect to the access point, try powering down your new3DS, powering back on, deleting any connections and setting up new from scratch.

If you're still having problems, you can always try a manual setup. First you'll want to access a computer and run command prompt (go to START, then RUN, then type "cmd"). Once the command window is open type "ipconfig /all". This will give you all the information you need to set up a manual connection

Basically search for the access point, enter password, test and let it fail. Then go to change settings, page over once to IP address, and manually enter your IP but change the last numbers (example, 192.168.1.1 becomes 192.168.1.15). Then enter your Subnet Mask (255.255.255.0 for me, but yours will be in the command window) and finally your Gateway (192.168.1.1 for me, yours is in the command window).

It will ask you to then perform a DNS setup. Select ok, then choose "detailed setup". Primary should be 008.008.008.008 and Secondary should be 008.008.004.004. Don't use a proxy and leave MTU alone.

Hopefully that will solve any issues people might be having.

ReallY. The first thing to check is restarting the 3ds lol, and they're didn't mention that? 2 hours? lol

They probably assumed the user had already done so. Besides, I'm in IT, and no matter how you phrase it, asking somebody if they turned said device on and off before sounds just as bad as if you ask a lady if she's pregnant and you aren't sure they are just fat. It's a lose lose situation. Somebody is bound to get offended, or maybe get an awkward chuckle out of it.

Well the Xbox one for example needs a hard reset like every week or its all messed up, and support has no problem pointing out how to do a hard reset to everyone lol... Many computers which technically the 3ds and all gaming consoles are tend to fix issues during a hard restart due to OS issues that get resolved on the restart. I would rather the tech on the phone ask me if I tried a reboot versus waiting on the phone for hours. Not all customers are tech savvy, and for support to assume otherwise would be stupid imo, thus all this wasted time during the call.

I am pretty tech savvy and I tell everyone who has tech trouble to do a hard reboot on their tech all the time and many times the problem is resolved, especially with today's tech that don't restart/turnoff and instead go into sleep states like the XBOX ONE. I can't tell you how many times I had to explain you need to hold the power bouton for 10 seconds to really turn it off and do a hard restart, and most issues on the Xbox one get resolved with a hard restart. The 3ds is pretty straight forward in fully turning it off but I'm sure many non tech savvy people don't know restarting your device will most likley fix it, and it's Nintendos support responsibility in telling the consumer the steps for fixing the issue, which is usually a simple restart of the console.

I also was in IT for a few years till my health problems stopped me from working constantly and reliably. I have a Computer Systems degree and completed full CISCO CCNA Computer Networking Program.

I hadn't thought of powering off and on because it was brand new out the box and freshly set up. There really wasn't any reason to think turning it off and on would solve anything. And the tech was very knowledgable. He even said at the end that he was shocked a simple power off and on did the trick, and that he was going to submit feedback as a possible fix for future callers.