Topic: Serious StreetPass Bug

I've discovered a problem with StreetPass. Basically, if the 3DS loses power long enough for the date to reset (about 10 seconds, I think) then you stop getting StreetPass hits from anyone you've already "hit". You can still get new ones (and probably repeat hits from them), but no more repeat hits for older encounters.

I discovered this when my wife was off on a long journey at the weekend and her 3DS had a red light. Mine had full power so we swapped batteries. Mine retained it's date and time, but hers reset, which I corrected immediately. She stopped getting StreetPass hits from myself and my son whereas I continued getting them from my son. I've now pulled the battery out of my 3DS to see if I could re-create the problem, and sure enough I could.

I suspect the resetting of the date and time messes up the timer that says when you can next get a StreetPass hit from a particular 3DS but can't be certain. The only way to fix it that I am aware of is to system format the 3DS, but this erases any progress in the built in software, all play coins, all Activity Log records, all friends (you actually end up with a new friend code), your Mii and probably other stuff I've not listed. The only things you keep are the progress in individual games as that is stored on the game cards and whatever is on the SD card.

So, if you are considering swapping out your battery for one of the larger capacity ones (or eventually if it needs replacing), you might want to think about whether stopping getting repeat StreetPass hits is a problem for you or not - and try get the original battery out and the new one in as fast as possible. Also, if your 3DS battery gets that low that it forcibly shuts itself down, don't keep trying to turn it back on and get it on charge as soon as you can. I doubt that it's easy to drain the battery low enough to cause this problem, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. Don't leave it unused with a low battery for long periods of time.

There you go.

Thanks for the warning! I'd write to Nintendo so that they're aware of this, that way they can look into it and get it fixed with a future update (if we're lucky, heh)

I hate to bring up the obvious, but you've gone through and made sure you've got a Mii set up for it, StreetPass enabled and wireless turned on for both systems, right? You also won't get StreetPass hits if a system is connected to the internet.

Yes. The only thing lost in the removal of the battery is the date and time. Everything else is intact and has been checked. StreetPass hits still occur with "strangers" but any repeat hits from people "met" from before the battery removal are ignored.

Having some ideas about software programming, I suspect that if you waited long enough (possibly a few years depending on the size of the number used for storing the time) then they would eventually start again.

On one of my tests of the bug, I loaded up StreetPlaza before correcting the date and time and found that it said that previous hits had happened 1 minute ago (at the time the battery was replaced). When then correcting the date and time, these numbers changed back to the correct times but the hits still don't happen.

It may also be possible to cause this bug to happen simply by setting the date and time back in the system menu, but to be honest, I've done enough messing about with it now and am just going to format my system again and get back to using it properly.

wow, this is a serious bug indeed.

so everyone that will exhaust their battery's life will have this bug one day unless nintendo patches the system.
you should send this to nintendo's customer service right away for the sake of everyone.

thanks for the share

@Samholy - There's a difference between letting the battery go flat so the system won't turn on and letting the battery run completely flat. The 3DS hardware keeps some power in the main battery just to keep the clock/calendar running. It's only if you then let it go completely flat that you would have this issue, which I would suspect may take several days.

I doubt there's any point contacting customer services as they'd simply do the "have you got the latest firmware, tried switching it off and on" rubbish. This needs to be raised directly with the people responsible for the system software, who are likely to be in Japan. I'll see if any of my contacts and Nintendo's software development division can forward on the info.

I'm confused. If the 3DS battery is emtpy for 10 seconds it loses the time? I don't believe you. The time will be stored on a seperate internal clock battery.

Nope, it's not. As I said above, there's a difference between the battery being too low for it to switch on and it being completely flat and unable to run the clock. Feel free to pop your battery out for 10 seconds and prove me wrong.

Wow that's so interesting! The so many complications of hand held games...(sigh)

Cool just noticed that your the author of Digger Dan! Can i have your autograph! PLEASE! lol

Yeah, no problem. I'll sign your copy of the game. You have bought it, right?

hahaha youre right. make sure your nintendo 3ds is ON when you play it
I just saw your DSi ware by watching your signature. it looks nice ! will it make it to the 3ds ? ill be curious to try it.

Well, all DSiWare is supposed to make it to the 3DS at some point, so yeah, I expect so. When it does arrive on 3DS, I'd imagine I'll be shouting about it on these forums!

you came so close to owing me a new keyboard just now :3

I really hope I never owe you anything, TBD. I fear you and your magic lock of thread ending.

I hope that was from coffee spitting and not rage typing?

yeah, please do.
my memory is random sometimes, i tend to forget things hehehe

@ImDiggerDan: soda, actually, and don't worry, i was loling :3

I hope they make it where your able to be online and street pass at the same time...

Yay for having people in NL community that can help us get this issues actually attended by Nintendo!

Before you format your 3DSs could you repeat the battery swaping process (including the 10+ seconds between) using the AC adapter?? This could prevent the bug from happening since the 3DS would stay powered (That is if there is an exclusive AC power circuitry inside the 3DS doesnt depend on a battery to work)

You're right DiggerDan, my apologies. There appears to be no clock battery in the innards of the 3DS. I think I was confusing myself with the leaked "prototype" that did have a cell battery on the circuitry. What a stupid design.

@Nick. No problem. I don't think the inclusion of a battery for the back up clock would be necessary for the vast majority of users. Since you can quickly reset the clock, it isn't really a problem for anyone who does manage to reset it through power loss. This StreetPass issue is probably something Nintendo aren't even aware of.

Too late, sorry. Nice idea though.