Tutorial  Updated

Block Wii U System Updates (Without DNS Blocking!)

This method has been circulating around since yesterday. Presumably, it was discovered on a Chinese forum.

Using this method allows you to stay connected without DNS blocking, and therefore have complete access to Nintendo services.

There are some concerns floating around about this process. So here is a complete guide detailing the process.

Disclaimer:
The following guide tampers with your NAND. Use this with caution or there is a good chance you'll MESS UP your Wii U for good, or even BRICK!

Requirements:

  • A Wii U & SD: Firmware and SD size doesn't matter as long as you satisfy the other conditions
  • Mocha Or Haxchi
  • HBL on SD card
  • ftpiiu_everywhere (Haxchi) on SD card
  • Access to HBL: Browserhax, Haxchi/CBHC, or any other form of entry point, are all fine. As long as you access it.
  • A PC with FTP Client: Technically it doesn't have to be a PC. It can even be done on your phone with an FTP Client. I'm using the PC for the simplicity of it. FileZilla IS RECOMMENDED.
  • Optional: Use Nand Dumper to back up your nand with all it's contents, as well as dumping the OTP and SEEPRPOM. By having those, you can unbrick your system with a hardmod at any point. Dumping MLC will require a 64GB SD card if your Wii U is 32GB, or 16GB SD card if your Wii U is 8GB.

1A) Using Haxchi/CBHC:
  1. System Menu: Have Haxchi reboot to System menu.
  2. System Menu: Launch HBL via Haxchi or browser.
  3. HBL: Launch ftpiiu_everywhere.
  4. Proceed to section "2)" of the guide to block updates. Proceed to section "3)" if you want to unblock them again.
1B) Using Mocha:
  1. System Menu: Launch HBL via browser.
  2. HBL: Start Mocha (Using default values are fine)
  3. System Menu: Launch HBL via browser again.
  4. HBL: Launch ftpiiu_everywhere.
  5. Proceed to section "2)" of the guide to block updates. Proceed to section "3)" if you want to unblock them again.
2) Modifying your Nand, and blocking updates:
  1. PC: Use an FTP client to connect to your Wii U using the IP address and port on your Wii U screen.
  2. PC: Once connected, Navigate to: "storage_mlc/sys/"
  3. PC: Locate "update" folder, right-click it and Pick "File Permissions". Make sure it's the same as the screenshot below. If it's not the same, then make note of that. You will need it if you want to enable updates later. If it's the Same, then proceed to the next Step.
    384072-FTPiiU.PNG
  4. PC: Delete “update” folder.
  5. Wii U: Press "Home" button to get back to HBL, press it again to get back to Mii Maker.
  6. Wii U: Exit Mii Maker, and click on system settings.
  7. System Settings: Attempt to update your Wii U as Normal. A few seconds after it starts and the progress bar appears, it should give out this error code: 105-3012. If the progress bar actually continues to move, TURN OFF THE WII U IMMEDIATELY!! Recheck your steps, cause something went wrong.
3) Unblocking updates:

If for whatever reason, you would like to return the Wii U to it's original updating state, start by following "1A)" or "1B)" of the guide, then proceed to the next step of this section:
  1. PC: Use an FTP client to connect to your Wii U using the IP address and port on your Wii U screen.
  2. PC: Once connected, Navigate to: "storage_mlc/sys/"
  3. PC: Right-click, and select "Create Directory". Create “update” folder. Once created, right-click again, and select "File Permissions".
  4. PC: When you originally did section "2)", if your permissions were the same as the screenshot in that section, enter those same permissions here. If not, then you should have noted them down somewhere. Enter those values instead, then click ok.
  5. Wii U: Press "Home" button to get back to HBL, press it again to get back to Mii Maker.
  6. Wii U: Exit Mii Maker, and click on system settings.
  7. System Settings: Attempt to update your Wii U as Normal. It should proceed to update normally.
Credits:
@fejich for being the first to notify us about a Chinese website doing this method in this thread
@Shaoxudong for translating the process, and testing it.
 
Last edited by Madridi,

Madridi

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it says that its imposible to make a connection with the server. I checked and the update has not dissapeared so Brain age cannot download. I cheked if I deleted the folder correctly and yes, the update folder was erased
Yeah that's something that nothing to with this guide then. It's an unrelated error.

You removed dns blocking right??
 

RandomUser

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Huh, that's weird. It didn't work for anyone else, so I wonder why it worked for you?
What's your ftp client? Maybe that's worth looking into.
I used WinSCP client.
You know now that it dawn on me, I used around about method of renaming the folder.
Download the "update" folder to your computer, rename it thus keeping all permission intact, then upload the renamed folder and delete the "update" folder
 

godreborn

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I wouldn't block anything unnecessarily. The console literally has no place to download an update, but whatever makes you happy lol

I'm just paranoid that an update will be installed. I checked (without uninstalling cbhc) if an update had been installed. browser hax into the homebrew channel worked, so that's all I needed to know. I'm still hosting my own files which I made a tutorial on with mongoose, but once that become obsolete, I wrote a small note about doing the same xampp. that's what I'm using to host files. I even have the ps4 webkit exploit in there, and it works perfectly. now, I don't have the kexpoloit, only the webkit exploit since how that's done hasn't been released.

@RandomUser , that's how it works with the 360 as well. nice find! if u try to rename the bootanim.xex on the system's flash, it won't work, so u have to download the file, then rename iirc. lol
 
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Madridi

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I used WinSCP client.
You know now that it dawn on me, I used around about method of renaming the folder.
Download the "update" folder to your computer, rename it thus keeping all permission intact, then upload the renamed folder and delete the "update" folder
That's totally different! Effectively, that deleted the old folder, then created the new folder, which is what the guide does describe. The permission step is likely to be precautionary anyway. I'd personally prefer for it to be completely detailed than doing this.

The point is, directly renaming in nand doesnt work. That's the real issue here

I'm just paranoid that an update will be installed.
I get the paranoia part, but like I said, it's IMPOSSIBLE for an update to be installed if the system has no place to download it to begin with!

Just like it's impossible to update via internet connection if you have no connection to begin with :P
 

RandomUser

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@RandomUser , that's how it works with the 360 as well. nice find! if u try to rename the bootanim.xex on the system's flash, it won't work, so u have to download the file, then rename iirc. lol
I did not know that as I dont own an XBOX 360, that's awesome.

That's totally different! Effectively, that deleted the old folder, then created the new folder, which is what the guide does describe. The permission step is likely to be precautionary anyway. I'd personally prefer for it to be completely detailed than doing this.

The point is, directly renaming in nand doesnt work. That's the real issue here


I get the paranoia part, but like I said, it's IMPOSSIBLE for an update to be installed if the system has no place to download it to begin with!

Just like it's impossible to update via internet connection if you have no connection to begin with :P
Okay, your right in that regard, however my way preserve the permission so there's that. Perhaps it may not be needed, but can't hurt to have it.
I have Forgot that I didn't rename it directly, so I dun goofed on that statement keep in mind that the folder may not be effectively renamed and it is the very same folder that got downloaded and re-uploaded. By actually creating a new folder directly, it is possible that the permission may come out wrong from the start and needs tweaking. My way negates the need to make note of the permission setting.
EDIT:
Come to think of it, permission settings cannot be changed anyways, perhaps another safeguard by using my way.
 
Last edited by RandomUser,
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Okay, your right in that regard, however my way preserve the permission so there's that. Perhaps it may not be needed, but can't hurt to have it.
I have Forgot that I didn't rename it directly, so I dun goofed on that statement keep in mind that the folder may not be effectively renamed and it is the very same folder that got downloaded and re-uploaded. By actually creating a new folder directly, it is possible that the permission may come out wrong from the start and needs tweaking. My way negates the need to make note of the permission setting.
EDIT:
Come to think of it, permission settings cannot be changed anyways, perhaps another safeguard by using my way.
Sure, I'm not saying your way is wrong. I'm just saying that I believe best practice would be to keep note of the permissions yourself. I can foresee people losing that downloaded update folder and not knowing that it can be recreated. But yeah, what you're suggesting is viable as well, though I can't vouch for whether file permissions are retained during upload and download since I never tried it, so I'll just take your word for it :)

I also didn't understand your edit..
 

bazovcarlisle

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My FW version is 99.99.99 e and when i try update it says i am up to date. I have followed the tut is there anything else i can do to protect me from the update?
 

Madridi

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My FW version is 99.99.99 e and when i try update it says i am up to date. I have followed the tut is there anything else i can do to protect me from the update?
Your firmware is not 99.99.99 .. your cfw is reporting that. If you followed the tutorial correctly then you won't have any future updates, regardless of what firmware you are on right now
 

pelago

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I wonder if it is possible to create a user friendly homebrew to delete and recreate the folder, rather than using ftp and a PC.
 

leonmagnus99

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i have cbhc /haxchi installed on my wii u.
i followed this guide because i got a pop up of system update being ready for download.

i tried updating after finishing this guide and i got the error code meaning updates are blocked(and oh yea,when i navigated to the storage_mlc/sys and when i opened the update folder there was nothing in it, it was empty.)

and btw. i cannot start most of the titles i have installed.

they all give me the message 'a system update is required before the software update can be downloaded. start the system update now?"
 
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