Switch Homebrew Guide

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What are we doing to run homebrew on the Switch?

This guide will boot you into a "custom firmware" using a combination of the RCM recovery mode, the hekate bootloader and Atmosphére CFW. In addition, crash reports are cleared on boot using nx-dreport. This has only been tested on firmwares 5.0.2 and 5.1.0, but theoretically should work on all firmware versions. Unlike most current solutions, sleep mode and playing your legitimately purchased games work while booted into "CFW". Certain applications may not work on certain firmware versions so YMMV.

What you will need.

  • A "first-generation" Switch. (All current Switch consoles will work)
  • A way to put your Switch into RCM. See this guide for more information.
  • A host PC running Windows, Linux, macOS or ChromeOS, or an Android device.
  • A USB Type-C to USB-A cable, or a USB Type-C to USB Type-C cable. (Depending on what your host PC supports)
  • If you are using an Android device, you need a way to connect the Switch to it, either a USB OTG cable, or USB-C to USB-C cable depending on what your device supports.
  • A microSD card 2GB or larger, formatted to either FAT32, or exFAT (only if your switch has the exFAT support "update")
  • The latest zip of the Switch Homebrew starter pack.
  • The latest zip of the NX Homebrew boot kit, Unless you are using ChromeOS or Android.
  • Some platform-specific dependencies, listed for each supported OS.

What are the advantages to running homebrew?

Running homebrew will allow you to run tools such as Checkpoint, a save manager. You also can run emulators like RetroArch to play retro games on the Switch. In addition, you can run homebrew games such as tetriswitch and Pong.

Getting Started

Getting Started (Windows)

Setting up your "CFW" boot method
  1. Extract the files in the "sd_root" folder included in the Switch Homebrew starter pack zip to the root of your Switch's microSD card.
  2. Extract the NX Homebrew boot kit to a folder on your computer.
  3. Boot your Switch into RCM and connect it to your PC, see the guide linked above for more information on RCM.
  4. Download the latest version of Zadig and run it with the appropriate permissions.
  5. From the device list, choose "APX" (if it's not showing up in the list, go to Options menu and check List All Devices).
  6. For the driver type, use the arrows to navigate until you see "libusbK (v3.0.7.0)".
  7. Click the big "Install Driver" button. Device Manager should now list "APX" under the "libusbK USB Devices" tree item.
Booting "CFW"
  1. Depending on your processor architecture (32-bit or 64-bit), run the relevant "boot_cfw_Win*.bat"
  2. Once hekate loads, using the volume and power buttons, select "Launch firmware - > CFW"
  3. Once your Switch boots, you can open the album applet to load the Homebrew Launcher.

Getting Started (macOS/Linux)

Setting up your "CFW" boot method
  1. Extract the files in the "sd_root" folder included in the Switch Homebrew starter pack zip to the root of your Switch's microSD card.
  2. Extract the NX Homebrew boot kit to a folder on your computer.
  3. Ensure you have python3 installed.
  4. Ensure you have pyusb installed.
  5. Boot your Switch into RCM and connect it to your PC, see the guide linked above for more information on RCM.
Booting "CFW"
  1. Run the "boot_macOS-Linux.sh" script included in the NX Homebrew boot kit.
  2. Once hekate loads, using the volume and power buttons, select "Launch firmware - > CFW"
  3. Once your Switch boots, you can open the album applet to load the Homebrew Launcher.

Getting Started (Chrome OS)

Setting up your "CFW" boot method
  1. Extract the files in the "sd_root" folder included in the Switch Homebrew starter pack zip to the root of your Switch's microSD card.
  2. Download the latest release of CTCaer's hekate fork, you only need the .bin file, as the SD files are included in the starter pack.
Booting "CFW"
  1. Go to this website.
  2. Under the Payload section, select upload payload and upload the .bin file you previously downloaded.
  3. Boot your Switch into RCM and connect it to your device, see the guide linked above for more information on RCM.
  4. Click "do the thing", select "APX" and click connect.
  5. Once hekate loads, using the volume and power buttons, select "Launch firmware - > CFW"
  6. Once your Switch boots, you can open the album applet to load the Homebrew Launcher.

Getting Started (Android)

Setting up your "CFW" boot method
  1. Extract the files in the "sd_root" folder included in the Switch Homebrew starter pack zip to the root of your Switch's microSD card.
  2. Enable unknown sources in the security settings on your device.
  3. Download the latest release of NXLoader and install it on your device.
  4. Download the latest release of CTCaer's hekate fork, you only need the .bin file, as the SD files are included in the starter pack.
  5. Open the NXLoader app on your device and navigate to the "CONFIG" tab.
  6. Click "SELECT PRIMARY PAYLOAD" and select the .bin file you downloaded earlier.
Booting "CFW"
  1. Boot your Switch into RCM and connect it to your device, see the guide linked above for more information on RCM.
  2. Accept any prompts given by NXLoader.
  3. Once hekate loads, using the volume and power buttons, select "Launch firmware - > CFW".
  4. Once your Switch boots, you can open the album applet to load the Homebrew Launcher.

Credits

  • T3CHNOLOG1C (writing)
  • BrianGilbert (macOS & Linux instructions)
  • xGhostBoyx (RCM guide)
  • Jisagi (base layout)
  • The original authors of all used tools
  • Plailect for inspiring me to write hacking guides