If you are moving from a physical 3DS to an emulator, you will need a homebrew app like Checkpoint or JKSM to export your save.
Released in April 2015, Version 1.4 was a mandatory patch required for all players who wished to access online features. While the official patch notes were brief—citing "various bugs have been fixed in order to provide a smoother gaming experience"—its primary role was maintaining compatibility for trading and battling across the Generation VI games. For players using emulators or modded systems, obtaining a version of this update is essential for several reasons: Online Connectivity : Without the 1.4 update, features like the Wonder Trade Global Trade Station (GTS) Player Search System (PSS) are inaccessible.
.cia (Decrypted) or unpacked .cxi / LayeredFS folder structure ~250 MB to 270 MB Target Architecture ARM11 Emulation / Dynamic Recompiled Graphics How to Install the Decrypted Update 1.4
Gardevoir was first to go. Her sprite turned into a string of Japanese error messages, then she vanished from the party list entirely. A new text line appeared: Gardevoir.gmx has been deleted.
When downloading files directly from the Nintendo eShop network, updates are packaged as encrypted .CIA (Crypto Issued Asset) files. While a physical, modded 3DS console can decrypt these files natively using custom firmware like Luma3DS, standard PC or Android emulators cannot.
hosts detailed discussions and file comparisons of the changes introduced in patch 1.4, including diff checks. Emulation & Modding Reddit's Citra Community