Nds-bios-arm7.bin May 2026

Because of how often this file is faked or corrupted, you should verify its integrity using hash values. A hash is a digital fingerprint.

The correct MD5 hash for a standard Nintendo DS (Phat/Lite) ARM7 BIOS is:

df692a80a5b1bc90728bc302e0dd422b

To verify yours:

If the output matches the hash above, your file is correct. If not, you need to re-dump it from hardware. Nds-bios-arm7.bin

Note: The Nintendo DSi BIOS files are different and larger. If you dumped from a DSi, the hash will not match the DS Lite hash—that is normal for DSi-emulation, but standard emulators prefer the original DS BIOS.

There is only one legal, ethical, and safe way to get this file: Dump it from your own physical Nintendo DS console. Because of how often this file is faked

Nintendo has sold over 150 million DS units. If you own one (original DS, DS Lite, or DSi), you have the legal right to create a personal backup copy of its BIOS for use with emulators. This is analogous to ripping a CD you own to MP3.

Here is the step-by-step guide to dumping nds-bios-arm7.bin using a DS Lite or original DS (DSi requires additional steps). If the output matches the hash above, your file is correct

The BIOS file is essentially the "startup code" for the co-processor.

| Error Message | Likely Fix | | :--- | :--- | | “File size mismatch. Expected 16384 bytes.” | You have a corrupt or wrong BIOS file. A proper ARM7 BIOS is exactly 16 KB (16,384 bytes). | | “BIOS version incompatible with Firmware” | Your firmware.bin is from a different region or DS model. Use a matched set (all from the same source console). | | “Could not read BIOS interrupt vectors” | The file is not a valid BIOS. You may have downloaded a text file or HTML file by mistake. | | Game boots to white screens | You have the ARM7 and ARM9 files swapped. Rename them correctly. |