[Guide] Connect to online services in Pokémon X/Y and OR/AS

To go online in Pokémon X/Y and OR/AS, you have to make some changes to your save file to go online unfortunately. This is quick and easy to do though, requiring just a few steps.

Thanks @piplupness for assisting with this!

:information_source: Note: As a reminder, Pokémon X/Y and OR/AS are currently available for beta testers only. If you’d like to learn about beta testing, see the Donation Subscription FAQ for more information.

Also, make sure you have your 3DS friend code whitelisted for beta servers before connecting online as you’ll get error code 002-0110 otherwise.

You do NOT need to follow this guide if you connected to online servers in these Pokémon games on Nintendo Network servers in the past.

might add more screenshots later if I can be bothered


Prerequisites for this guide

Method 1: on console (recommended)

  • PKSM needs to be installed on your console (v10.2.4 or later)
  • If using a physical Pokémon game, make sure that it’s inserted into your console

Method 2: using a computer (legacy)

  • Checkpoint needs to be installed on your 3DS (you may have already done this when you first homebrewed your console)
  • A Windows computer with PKHex downloaded GitHub
  • If using a physical Pokémon game, make sure that it’s inserted into your console

Connecting online

Method 1: on console (recommended)

To get started, open PKSM on your console and select the game you want to connect to online services with (if you’re using a physical game, make sure the cartridge is inserted into your console).

Then go into Scripts by pressing the Y button and find the option for Add Gamesync ID.c. Then, press the A button to open the script.

PKSM should display that a game sync ID has not been found, press the A button and then B to generate the game sync ID. After that, press A to finish.

You should now be able to successfully connect online in Pokémon X/Y and OR/AS!

Method 2: using a computer (legacy)

To get started, open the Checkpoint app on your Nintendo 3DS console and look for the game you want to connect online with (if you have the game on cartridge, make sure that the cartridge is inserted into your console).

Once you’ve found it, make a backup and choose a name for it (choose something memorable).

After that, exit Checkpoint and turn off your 3DS. Insert your SD card into your computer and open PKHex. When inside PKHex, press File > Open > Find your 3DS SD card > Checkpoint > Saves > Find the save you wish to edit.

Then, press SAV (this is found where you can see your party and box Pokémon) > Game Sync ID. You need to edit this to any number you want (it can’t be left on 0 though).

Once you’ve done that, press File > Export SAV and save into the same folder where your initial save file is in Checkpoint. I’d recommend using a different name so you still have the backup you made beforehand.

Now, just insert your SD card back into your 3DS and open up Checkpoint. Find the game which you’ve just edited the save file for and restore your edited save.

You should now be able to successfully connect online in Pokémon X/Y and OR/AS!

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A PKSM script to edit gen 6 saves like this right on the 3DS would be sick… Just food for thought for someone savvy that reads this more than anything since the tool exists already.

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Yeah, it would be nice if this was able to be done on console at some point🤞

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Will this ever be available for non beta testers? Just curious because the only reason I set up pretendo servers on my 2ds was to play Pokemon online and I have two kids and a terrible paying job lol so I can’t really afford the monthly fee so I was wondering if there is like an ETA for it to no longer only be available to beta testers.

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There’s no ETA unfortunately for when it’ll go public. Hopefully it’s available soon :crossed_fingers:

(by the way, we don’t recommend donating just to get access to beta servers, because a game could leave beta support tomorrow or fairly soon. just donate to support the project :smile:)

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Thank you so much for the reply and transparency I truly appreciate it. I will support for as long as I can with my birthday money because I truly love and believe in this project plus being able to play Pokemon online is a huge plus :joy: much love and thank you again

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Helo @GamersInternatio. Like, if i modify the game sync id, can it cause me that i cant send pokemons to pokemon bank anymore? Can it taint my pokemons? I plan on sending to home from bank later on after i finish the game. What is thej implication of modifuing the game sync id.
If there are risks, can I just change game sync id back to 0 before uploading to bank? Thank you

And second question will this tech extend to pokemon sun / ultra sun eventually? Any plans right now?

You’ll still be able to use Pokémon Bank to my knowledge.

I’m not sure, not really a question for me to answer sorry

This is now the case, I’ve been informed that it was added to PKSM. I’ve added instructions to get it set up there which should work and I’ve kept the legacy instructions in case they’re necessary.

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Can you please help I’m new to pretendo, how to I connect online to Pokémon X?

The steps are in the initial post in this thread lol (you don’t need to do it if you connected your game to Nintendo Network before shutdown, also worth noting that Pokémon X is testers only right now).

Where can I find the discord link, I might just pay for tester

Here: [Pretendo Discord]

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Appreciate you, how much is it for testing, and do you know what I’ll be able to do, like trade, battle ect?

To get access to testing servers, you’re asked to donate $10/month to keep servers running.

I’m not 100% sure on the specific details about what works in Pokémon X, but there’s a good community-run game support page which has details on that (and other games that are in testing) which you might find helpful.

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I appreciate your help

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It’s only Wonder Trades for Gen 6 only.

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I’m not sure it’s worth the 10 a month then. I understand it’s a donation, but I’ve seen that TONS of players on here have donated, and as far as I can see, it seems like maybe it’s not going anywhere?

No progress or updates are given it seems, just a recurrent payment donation for access to wonder-trades? People been waiting on this for years. I wouldn’t mind paying for it if I also got updates and news on what’s being worked on for the pokemon servers, that way I know what’s going on and where my moneys going since it is a recurring payment and not a 1 time payment.

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Yeah I don’t blame you, we don’t generally recommend donating as it is if you just want to access beta servers, more to support the project

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That’s why it’s a donation.

The beta access is only a “thank you” perk for supporting.