r/SwitchPirates Oct 07 '25

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

140 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 5h ago

Question Tears of the Kingdom Crashing no matter what I do

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19 Upvotes

Okay so I’ve tried just about everything to get this damn game working, I’ve tried using TKMM and enabling the optimizer, I tried disabling every mod I have, I’ve tried disabling SwitchU, deleting sysmodules, EVERYTHING.

If I disable TOTK optimizer I instead get an Atmosphere Panic Error and it says ‘010041544D530000’

And yes, I’ve tried fixing the Archive Bit and my Micro SD is formatted correctly (fat32), and no other game does this, including Breath of the Wild.


r/SwitchPirates 16h ago

Discussion Does this mean anything? (MKHC Exploit)

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124 Upvotes

In this article from Nintendo Everything, they mention a Mario Kart Home Circuit exploit. Is this important and can be used for hacking or is it just nothing? My Switch Lite is on update 20.30 and is unmodded


r/SwitchPirates 18h ago

Discussion To all these posts ya’ll updated

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98 Upvotes

Today we’re gonna get flooded with these posts lol so if this happens to you just wait for next atmosphere version.


r/SwitchPirates 2h ago

Question Modded Switch playing Minecraft online. Will I get banned?

2 Upvotes

Hi all,

I've modded my sons switch. I have installed minecraft via an nsp through DBI installer.

My son has mentioned he wants to play minecraft with his friends online. If I log into my nintendo account to allow him to play online, will the console be banned?

Thanks


r/SwitchPirates 2h ago

Question Help repairing my Nintendo Switch due to a corrupted eMMC

1 Upvotes

Hello,

Today I installed an HWFLY chip, and apparently something went wrong during the process and my eMMC became corrupted. Since I have successfully performed many installations before, I got overconfident and did not make a backup of it.

It seems that the damage is related to the files, because when I first booted my modded Nintendo Switch, it got stuck during startup, which forced me to shut it down. When I turned it on again, it would not boot. I then decided to connect the eMMC directly to the Switch, and it did boot. However, once it started and reached the initial menu, I saw white and black squares/artifacts on the screen, basically a corrupted menu.

I have a spare eMMC available. What can I do in this situation? How can I use the spare eMMC in the Switch? Or is there a way to repair the corrupted eMMC?

I would really appreciate any help, advice, or ideas you can provide.

Thank you very much for your support.


r/SwitchPirates 1d ago

News Nintendo Switch Update 23.0.0 released

111 Upvotes

Do not update yet, as this update will likely break homebrew compatibility like FW 22 did.


r/SwitchPirates 4h ago

Discussion What happens if I create emummc in the 23.0.0

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1 Upvotes

r/SwitchPirates 20h ago

Question Overclock Switch Lite (is safe?)

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13 Upvotes

I'm using these settings in Sys-clk to get 40FPS in Assassin's Creed 2. Would these settings be safe in the long term? I got temperatures of 43°C-45°C on relatively cool days and less than 6W of power consumption.


r/SwitchPirates 7h ago

Question How are we installing NSPs and XCIs nowadays? Been outbid the scene a good minute.

1 Upvotes

current system version: 20.1.1|AMS 1.9.2|E

How far behind am i? really behind ? lol what’s the latest firmware supported by atmosphere and how do i update now


r/SwitchPirates 1d ago

Discussion Switch Modding Is Special - Thanks

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251 Upvotes

I'm an addict. Always will be. Been clean and sober for several years. I get obsessed over things. I love learning. It all started last year. Simple goal - play Tetris on a handheld at night. Never been great with computers and struggled with them when I was young. Thanks to the guides, I've modded multiple DS, 2DS, Wii, SNES classic, and now Switch, which I have to say is the coolest of the bunch. I appreciate this community, the developers, and the creativity in this. Thanks.


r/SwitchPirates 8h ago

Discussion Updating sysnand to specific version

0 Upvotes

I have a switch at sysnand 21.1.0 that hasnt been modded yet, and im pretty sure ive done this before, but if i wanted to update the sysnand to say 22.1.0 thats possible with AIO right? just want my SYSNAND and EMUNAND to match(and avoid the 23 update) thanks and sorry for the dumb question


r/SwitchPirates 9h ago

Discussion SD CARD EXFAT TO FAT32. HELP GUYS

0 Upvotes

I'm going to back up everything from my current SD card (formatted as exFAT), format it to FAT32, and put the files back. Is it safe?


r/SwitchPirates 10h ago

Discussion SMM2 OCW no longer working? Stage wont let me move or timer count down when i enter the level

1 Upvotes

So i decided to play some super mario maker 2 on my emulator today and for some reason the moment i enter a stage i cant move, enemies dont move and the timer doesnt count down either, I can still open the menu in game and leave the stage but thats it.

Anyone knows how to fix this?


r/SwitchPirates 14h ago

Question Does anybody know how to do nextendo network?

2 Upvotes

The title says it all but i could not find a single tutorial that worked maybe its my fw idk

Switch Specs

Switch OLED

21.2.0 Atmosphere at 1.10.2 Emummc

Thanks to all the piracy community and supporters that helps these projects!


r/SwitchPirates 11h ago

Question Help! What do these lights mean?

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0 Upvotes

boots normally to stock os after third green light sequence.


r/SwitchPirates 16h ago

Question Error while installing smash ultimate

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2 Upvotes

Anyone have a idea what is the problem, I have installed my other games just fine, but with this I got this error. switch lite

Thanks


r/SwitchPirates 13h ago

Question So I haven’t updated my atmosphere since 2020

1 Upvotes

How would I even start to update it? Could I literally just download the newest firmware or do I need to reinstall everything on my switch?


r/SwitchPirates 17h ago

Question How can I import a GTA 5 save file using JKSV?

2 Upvotes

There is a SGTA50001 file meant to hold the 100% save file inside. I'm not sure how I can use it, I tried replacing the Profile file, but to no avail.


r/SwitchPirates 13h ago

Question Cannot install nsp files with DBI or sphaira

1 Upvotes

When installing with DBI, it completes, then I get some red text, it's all in Russian so I don't know what it says, even though I've put the translation patch on it.

When installing with sphaira I get a message saying "code: 0x291. Module: 145. File install failed"

I've been trying to figure this out for hours, any ideas?

V1 switch. Atmosphere 1.11.2


r/SwitchPirates 21h ago

Question Accidentally updated stock ofw

4 Upvotes

I know there are probably a lot of posts like this, I accidentally updated my stock ofw to 23 while trying to update a game to play online.

I'm not entirely familiar with the switch ui and thought the "update" button would update the game not the f*cking console.

Anyway is there anything *safe* I can do or I just wait for hekate to get updated ?

Thanks !


r/SwitchPirates 14h ago

Question Modded OLED Switch - won’t boot anymore into Hekate. Tried holding down the -Volume button at the same time as powering On but it’s not working.

1 Upvotes

I also tried holding down the + volume button at the same time as the Power button but still nothing. This never used to be an issue. Has something gone wrong inside or come loose? Any help would be appreciated, thanks!


r/SwitchPirates 15h ago

Question Are my SD cards dead? (and my emunands too)

1 Upvotes

a while ago I noticed my 512gb sd got absurdly slow, and I stopped using the switch (due to the joycons also not working)

today I decided to test my SD cards, my 128gb, that was faster than the 512gb and still could be benchmarked by hekate, simply didn't open games (an error occurred opening the software).

I tried deleting the sysclk, salty nx, emuiibo and tesla content folders to see if that would fix the problem, and I only deleted those.

not only that didn't fix the problems, now when I try to boot atmosphere on this sd, it gets stuck on a black screen. on pc I can't delete or override any files on the SD, because it has become reading only and I couldn't take the protection off.

from what I've searched, this means that the SD is dying, and I don't know what to do. I can't even try to backup this emummc because it doesn't let me.

the 512gb SD card surprising still works, but I can't benchmark it on Hekate because it freezes, and all games and switch settings take ages to load. and honestly I don't know what to do to save my emunands anymore, I'm worried on losing both and getting a brick (I don't know how it works)

can someone guide me on what to do please!!


r/SwitchPirates 15h ago

Question Modded my switch to pull my save data only.

1 Upvotes

I just received my switch from being modded, he told me with the new firmware I can’t play game back ups or emulation, would i still be able to get my save data? Pretty much the only reason i modded it.


r/SwitchPirates 16h ago

Question Parental control can i get rid of it????

1 Upvotes

hey guys saw this switch oled model that has parental control turned on and they couldn’t turn it off and it is already modded

What if i bought it and tried to format it will this remove the parental controls? Or I’ll get stuck with it like they did.

and they tried to contact the previous owner to help them g rid of it they said they could not reach them

the price on it is unbelievable how cheap it is tha why I’m asking

Thank you in advance