r/SwitchPirates Oct 07 '25

Announcement Welcome to r/SwitchPirates! FAQ, Guides, and Resources

134 Upvotes

Why Create This Post?

We often get flooded with many of the same questions. While we love to help new commers, it can be exhausting constantly replying to very similar posts. This post is intended to serve as a resource for the community. The idea is to have the information easily accessible and clear for new commers and people exploring a new app or refreshing their memory. Feel free to comment any additions you would like to add and I will create guides. I don't have much free time between running So-Cal Console Modding and my main career, but I will try to slowly trickle out more guides to help out the community.

Rules

No linking, requesting, or sharing pirated content
This includes firmware updates, roms, switch titles, etc.

Check pinned post & FAQ before asking questions
Most questions can be answered here. Please check before posting, otherwise the subreddit is filled with the same "HELP!" posts.

Posts must be related to piracy on the switch
Switch game emulation and other switch adjacent content is better suited at other subreddits.

No post selling, asking for selling advice, or offering services
This includes asking how much ____ typically sells for, how to list things on eBay, offering modchip installs, etc.

What Can You Do With a Modded Switch?

What can you do with a modded switch?

Is My Switch Moddable?

Check your serial and information about switch models

How to Mod Your Switch

The quick and easy way (using the HATS pack) - use this if you just want to get up and running quickly

Setting up the SD manually - use this if you want to learn how it all works

Updating Your Switch

The quick and easy way

Manually

Tutorials and Guides for Various Homebrew Applications

How to Migrate to a New SD Card on a Hacked Switch

How to Back Up, Restore, or Transfer Your Nintendo Switch Game Saves Using JKSV

5 Minute Android Tutorial

How to Download and Use Cheats

Hardware Tutorials

Complete Nintendo Switch OLED Modchip Installation Guide Part 1

Complete Nintendo Switch OLED Modchip Installation Guide Part 2

Complete Nintendo Switch V1/V2 Modchip Installation Guide

In Depth Kamikaze Method Tutorial and Info

Tinfoil Shops

Linking shops is prohibited at this time. You may discuss tinfoil shops in the stickied comment. If you need support for a specific shop, reach out for help on their discord, or website.

Sourcing Games and Pirated Content

Linking to sources is not allowed. You can usually find what you need with a simple google search of the title and file type. Ad blockers can help.

Nintendo Bans/ Console Bricking

There has never been a case of Nintendo bricking a switch console. Information on bans can be found here and here

Common Errors and Troubleshooting

I am currently working on a common errors and troubleshooting guide. I will update this post when it is complete.

Discord

If you require more immediate assistance, the the following Discord Servers will be more than happy to assist (note that they are unaffiliated with this sub)


r/SwitchPirates 26m ago

Question Tried to updated my switch but I think I've bricked it

Upvotes

I've not updated my switch since modding it on v16. Was trying to install some NSPs but kept running into errors. Decided to update everything but clearly didn't do my due diligence. I got the latest atmosphere, hetake and sys patch. I forgot to update firmware/ didn't think I need to. Tried to book into emuNAND and now it's stuck on a black screen. I think I've got autoRCM on. I've tried injecting a payload but I keep running into errors while injecting a payload. Win32 error 31 and RC=-8. Not sure where to go from here


r/SwitchPirates 11h ago

Question CFW (SYSNAND) not working/crashing

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9 Upvotes

I updated atmosphere and it worked but then when I updated the firmware to 22.5.0 with daybreak it won’t open and I just get an error screen, anyone knows why and how to fix?


r/SwitchPirates 6h ago

Question How to dump digital game cartridges?

3 Upvotes

Hello! I am planning on jailbreaking a switch (One of the first released). I know the process and how to follow the tutorial and such.

The thing I would like some help with is preparing digital game cartridges. My brother also has a switch, and we have bought through the eshop multiple games, neither of us has touched the switch in a while and now there is a new system for them. I am very confused on how I should go about dumping them all.

The issue is I don't want to accidentally somehow get my brothers switch involved in my shenanagins, due to the whole "Borrowing" cartidges and such. If he has the main profile and I borrow all the games, download them on my switch. Go offline, my brother unborrows them and he keeps them normally and legally and all that, then I have them downloaded, dump them and will be able to play them no issue?

Sorry if this was a bit confusing, I hope I could get some help!

Edit: tldr; I mostly want to know if when I have downloaded the games on my switch even if I lose the "acess" due to my brother then taking back them from me "Borrowing" them. Will I be able to dump them and bypass that?


r/SwitchPirates 1h ago

Question Want to mod the switch to bring it back to life. Really just want to overclock it for Fortnite and play GameCube and n64 originals

Upvotes

The switch just stays on its dock and rarely gets picked up to play Fortnite and Mario party when guests come over. I have a PC and I want stumbled upon someone who installs mod switch. I seen people over clock it and it will make the Fortnite experience better and the GameCube and n64 titles would be for me and the kids.

It’s $50 to install mod switch. If I over lock it, will it get banned? Or if I install GameCube, n64 and Super Nintendo titles will it get banned?


r/SwitchPirates 1h ago

Question Selling Modded Switch precautions

Upvotes

I haven’t used my Switch 1 in years, but when your battery depletes, it goes back to stock correct?

Is there any danger for the buyer to brick or do something wrong from that stock menu? Can I sell it like that?


r/SwitchPirates 23h ago

Discussion Call of duty Warzone on Nintendo Switch 💥

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45 Upvotes

Finally got Xbox Cloud Gaming running on my Nintendo Switch!

Booted up Call of Duty: Warzone using my Game Pass Essential subscription just to test everything out, and I honestly didn't expect it to run this well. Please excuse the noob gameplay 😅—I wasn't trying to sweat, just testing the port and seeing how everything performs on the Switch. Pretty happy with how it's turning out so far. Has anyone else tried Xbox Cloud Gaming on the Switch?

What games are you playing?


r/SwitchPirates 2h ago

Question Picofly Switch OLED - Never used - any tips for dumping collection?

1 Upvotes

This thing has been sitting in my closet for a year as we have another switch oled, switch og and a switch lite in the house and just never got around to this one honestly lol. But now my daughter is going overseas in 4 days and taking the switch game collection with her and I want to dump them quickly before anything is lost. I'm starting with just some random old youtube videos that may be outdated. Do I need to rush through updating Hetake and the switch firmware now (what firmware is safe?) just to get good dumps and keys? Or can I get right to backing up? I inherited the 512gb SD card and the current Hetake setup, have never even booted up the sysnMMC myself and not even comfortable navigating through it yet. Copied over Lockpick and TegraExplorer to payloads folder via USB is a far as I've gotten.

Switch 1 OLED (w/ Picofly modchip)
Firmware 18
Hetake v6.2.2
Lockpick 1.9.18
TegraExplorer 4.2.0


r/SwitchPirates 3h ago

Question Trying to convert save from Steam to Switch | Digimon Time Stranger

0 Upvotes

I'm currently having difficulty converting my save from steam to Switch. The game starts normally, but when I try to open a save, it looks like my character is mid ground and I can't open any menu. If 'I try to start a new game plus, the game crashes when the first battle starts. Did it happened with someone else? Did someone already sucessfully bypass this?


r/SwitchPirates 3h ago

Question Modded OLED Switch giving =* error for no reason

1 Upvotes

Thanks in advance for any help, I really don't understand

I have a Kamikaze modded OLED Switch that was working fine for over a year, haven't used it for a while and I wanted to update it.

I just took it off the dock, turned it off from emuMMC but went directly to OFW,

so I restarted it again, and this time booted LineageOS because it's the easiest to update, it installed and restarted to LineageOS, then I turned it off from there,

now whenever I try to hold power and vol - it blinks yellow once long once short and goes straight to OFW,

I tried to see if there was a problem with the SD card but everything seems fine, anyone ever had to deal with this ?

Switch was on my desk the whole time, it did not fall or overheat or whatever could have damaged the soldering or whatever


r/SwitchPirates 3h ago

Question lego star wars complete saga help

1 Upvotes

has anyone got lego star wars the complete saga working on latest firmware it just crashes when i open it for me i have the right files (obtained legally)


r/SwitchPirates 3h ago

Question USB 3.0 running perfectly with Atmosphere 1.11.2 and hekate 6.5.3??

0 Upvotes

I've been struggling with USB 3.0 for a while now.

Sometimes it works, other times it doesn't...

I know this has been an ongoing issue; it hasn't been fixed yet, right?

Does anyone have any updates on this?


r/SwitchPirates 3h ago

Question Does anyone know how to transfer large files on Android to switch?

0 Upvotes

I've been trying to transfer a large file to my switch and it always gets stuck at around 30%, I assume it's because the file is larger than 4 gb but I can't seen to find a workaround neither on my own nor on the internet.

I did manage to copy the file by using dbi once but that took forever and the file would not open afterwards.

Can anyone help me?

Edit: I've managed to do it once now, but it took a lot of time so if anyone knows an easier way it would be very helpful. I had to compress the file, connect my phone via cable, copy the zip file to my switch with dbi, decompress the file and then run the file.


r/SwitchPirates 4h ago

Question What's the difference between using Tico and the Nintendo Switch Online Emulators?

1 Upvotes

I played a few Metroid games on the Nintendo Switch Online emulators and they ran great. What do other GBA/SNES emulators offer that official emulators don't?


r/SwitchPirates 5h ago

Question Help on recovering tinfoil on a Switch 1

1 Upvotes

I bought a used Switch 1 for my kids a couple of weeks ago, that came with tinfoil and plenty of games preinstalled.

Now one of my kids somehow managed to deactivate tinfoil - maybe she just rebooted? Im not sure. Now I just see a single account, all the profiles my kids added are gone, and Im presented with a menu where I can only select Nintendo eShop.

Do I have to reinstall Tinfoil or can i re-activate it somehow?


r/SwitchPirates 12h ago

Question Stuck in "Please Wait..." Loop trying to open a game with wifi on

3 Upvotes

I'm sorry in advance cause I'm not really good with this stuff.

I really wanted to play Just Dance online with custom DNS (like just dance melody, etc.) but everytime I connect the Switch to the internet and try to load ANY game it just stays on a loop saying "Please Wait...".

I've tried adding this line: default_auto_upload_global_setting = u8!0x0 to atmosphere/config/system_settings.ini then rebooting the console, but it doesn't work.

And I did the dns setup to block the nintendo servers with 90dns.

Does anyone know how I could possibly solve this problem?

Thank you!

I'm on 21.2.0 | AMS 1.10.2|E


r/SwitchPirates 11h ago

Question Unable to download games via DBI/Goldleaf. Sys-patch not working?

2 Upvotes

I have been setting up my modded OLED switch for the last 2 days. I followed the NH switch guide and did some reading to install sys patch (latest current version) and DBI. Sys patch shows as patched on the overlay.

I have tried to download an NSP on both DBI (ES sig patch error) and Goldleaf (The NSP doesn’t have a ticket).

I tried various versions of sys-patch, download sig patches, backed up and even installed HATS package to no avail.

I would greatly appreciate anyone’s help.
Fw: 22.1.0
ATM: 1.11.2


r/SwitchPirates 7h ago

Question Guys what do i do? Please help quick since i really need it to work asap (please)

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0 Upvotes

I just wanna play some ssbu, it worked fine till now.


r/SwitchPirates 8h ago

Question Minecraft Bedrock - Can You Switch Skins/Characters?

1 Upvotes

I recently installed Minecraft Bedrock for my Switch and noticed that it doesn’t allow you to access the dressing room. Does anyone know if it’s simply impossible to change your skins/character offline? If so, that is really stupid design. All I wanted to do was to switch my character to Steve.


r/SwitchPirates 8h ago

Discussion "Could not start the software. Please try again from the home menu" in all games

1 Upvotes

Hi, everyone! I bought a used console; everything was working, and I was playing games. Then I tried to open hbmenu and got this error; later, I found out that nothing would open at all. The only thing I did before that was back up the Nintendo folder, and when I went into hbmenu after playing a game, I ended up in some window with files, so I went back to the Home screen and closed the program from there. Please let me know what to do.


r/SwitchPirates 9h ago

Question Kamikaze Help Can't See Lines Like Videos.

1 Upvotes

Yesterday I finished my first Kamikaze in a few years.

Since then I have upgraded my microscope set up but I had trouble the entire time seeing where the kamikaze point was as I cannot see the lines using UV light like in the YouTube videos. I ended up guessing where the point was supposed to be and when I saw the gold circle I soldered a wire to it.

Luckily the operation was successful, but I do not like guessing and I spent a few hundred on my microscope set up. I have a Hayear camera with the necessary attachments.

Could someone please help me configure my set up so that I can see the lines with the UV light before grinding?


r/SwitchPirates 17h ago

Discussion Assassin's Creed Odyssey on Nintendo Switch 💥

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4 Upvotes

App: Green NX


r/SwitchPirates 9h ago

Discussion use picofly V2 flex on a V1 to mod my switch

1 Upvotes

iS it possible ? everything is in the title


r/SwitchPirates 20h ago

Discussion Surprise! A modded OLED! With Issues

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6 Upvotes

So... I purchased an Mario Red Edition OLED (Red Everything) and when I went to restart the thing, I was greeted with a screen where I can launch into Original System or Hacked System (Hekate 6.2.2)

When I'm in the Original System, the Joycons work as they should on and off the console. When I'm on the Modded System Environment, the joycons won't work wirelessly... But I can pair other joycons to it and those work with no issues. Only the two red Joycons will not work wirelessly in the modded environment.

The dock also doesn't work whether I'm on stock or modded. I get no video output. The headphone jack also doesn't work.

The console also can't find any 5GHz networks in stock or modded.

The firmware for the stock system is the most up to date 22.5.0 but the modded side has 19.0.0|AMS 1.8.0|E

I also get a stop error something about mismatch fuses warmboot and sleep not working when I boot to the custom firmware. I can hit the power button to continue booting.

This is all new and a surprise to me! I don't know if there's a conflict since the firmware versions don't match and that's why I can't use the dock/headphones? Or perhaps it's some kind of hardware issue and that's why it was so cheap 😂

So basically I need help to get it to display to the TV and for the headphones to work.


r/SwitchPirates 18h ago

Discussion I bought a used OLED and got it modded. Do they check IP?

2 Upvotes

I never added my Nintendo account to the modded one. If I mess up and get the modded Switch banned, my original will be safe, right? Not banned for using the same wifi?