Tutorial  Updated

Region Changing the Wii U

The way I used to do it was tedious and was quite complex, however with the v2.0 release of the wafel_setup_mlc plugin, region changing has become much simpler.

It is identical to just rebuilding the MLC, but this has region changing specific notes added.

This does not change the region of the Gamepad, however you can still use an out-of-region gamepad with Aroma, which can be loaded with a Stroopwafel plugin, so you don't need to worry about getting a gamepad from the region you are changing to.

It also does not change the vWii region. If you want to region change the vWii as well, use vWii Decaffeinator on Light Mode to region change. I think you also need to regenerate the setting.txt.

Following this guide will wipe the MLC. You should back up any saves you care about before following. Its possible to do it without wiping the MLC, you just skip the Erase MLC and Delete scfm.img steps, but you will have to remove the old titles with this wupclient (Right Click -> Save As).

Keep an OTP and SEEPROM backup. Nothing should go wrong, but it is better to have the most important backups and not need them vs. need them and not have them.


DO NOT UNINSTALL ISFSHAX AFTER ERASING THE MLC AND DELETING THE SCFM UNTIL YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY REBUILT THE MLC AND CONFIRMED EVERYTHING IS WORKING.
I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE IF YOU FAIL TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS PROPERLY.

If you need support, you can join my server and ask in #help

What you need


  • Install isfshax. This is a requirement. You cannot region change without it. (You can also use de_Fuse, but at that point you probably already know what you are doing.)
    • Stop at the "Booting" section.
  • The release of the MLCRestorerDownloader for your OS.
  • The latest release of the MLC setup plugin.
  • The latest release of the Payloader plugin.
  • The latest files for Aroma. (If you already have it, you do not need to recopy it)
    • Read and tick the 4 boxes -> Click on Download Payloads and Download Base Aroma

Downloading the MLC Titles


  1. Extract the MLCRestorerDownloader you downloaded.
  2. Copy the otp.bin into the extracted folder.
    1721326901000.png
  3. Open a command prompt / terminal.
  4. cd into the directory with the MLCRestorerDownloader (ie. cd /Downloads/MLCRestorerDownloader).
  5. Run the application (ie .\MLCRestorerDownloader.exe for Windows users).
    1721326117827.png
  6. Type in 1 the for MLC titles.
  7. Type in the number for the region you want to change to (ie 2 for USA).
    1721326853774.png
  8. Wait for it to finish downloading. You can do part of the next section while you wait.

SD Setup


  1. Copy the wafel_setup_mlc.ipx to sd:/wiiu/ios_plugins.
  2. Copy the wafel_payloader.ipx to sd:/wiiu/ios_plugins.
    1721326516227.png
  3. Copy the two wiiu folders from the Aroma .zip files to the root of the SD.
  4. Make a folder called wafel_install on the root of the SD and copy all 52 MLC titles here.
    1721326550208.png

Region Changing


  1. Boot the console.
    • If it does not automatically go into minute_minute, go install isfshax.
  2. Navigate to Backup and Restore.
  3. Select Erase MLC and then press EJECT to confirm.
    • If it tells you MLC Erase not allowed, go install isfshax.
  4. Select Delete scfm.img and press EJECT to confirm.
    • If it gives you a warning about bricking the console, do not continue and install isfshax. It's not playing around.
  5. Go back to the main menu and select Patch (sd) and boot IOS (slc).
  6. Wait for the LED to start blinking blue, this means the setup has started. Wait for it to stop blinking, that is when the setup has finished.
  7. Shut off the console and put the SD back into your PC.
  8. Check the wafel_setup_mlc.log file on the root and make sure there were no errors (everything should have 00000000, except for SetInitialLaunch, which will have a 1).
  9. If everything looks right, delete the wafel_setup_mlc.ipx file from sd:/wiiu/ios_plugins.
  10. Boot the console again, select Patch (sd) and boot IOS (slc), and you should be greeted with initial setup. Success!

Manually fixing the sys_prod


You only need to do this section if Set Region to X returned error FFFBFFEE. If it returned a 0, then you can skip this section.
  1. Download the sys_prod.zip attached to this post and extract the sys_prod.xml from it.
  2. Open the sys_prod.xml in a text editor, and change the product_area, game_region to the target region.
    1717984057514.png
    • Region values: JPN - 1. USA - 2. EUR - 4
  3. Change the code_id, serial_id and model_number values to the ones found at the stickers on the bottom of the console:
    1717984392279.png
    1717984474205.png
  4. Save the file, and then copy it to the root of the SD card.
  5. Download the wafel_sysprod_copy and copy it to sd:/wiiu/ios_plugins.
  6. Boot the console and do the Patch (sd) and boot IOS (slc) in minute.
  7. Leave the console running for ~30 seconds, and then you can shut it off.
  8. Do step 6 again, but this time it should actually boot up. You do not need to delete the plugin from the SD, as it will delete itself after it has been ran.

After Region Changing


You can keep isfshax installed, or you can uninstall it. I would keep it, so you can load Aroma on boot without needing to install PayloadLoader, or as some form of 'brick protection'.


You can region change the Gamepad with DRXutil, but no instructions will be given here. Use at your own risk!

Credits



@SDIO: isfshax setup guides, the wafel_setup_mlc plugin, help get the PoC to work, cleaning up my code, making the region fixer more sane...
@shinyquagsire23
: de_Fuse, minute_minute, and stroopwafel
@GaryOderNichts: Also help me get the PoC working
@rw-r-r_0644: Finding isfshax and implementing it
 

Attachments

  • sys_prod.zip
    434 bytes · Views: 39
  • 1717983858114.png
    1717983858114.png
    17.6 KB · Views: 45
  • 1717984271749.png
    1717984271749.png
    187.1 KB · Views: 42
  • 1721326052815.png
    1721326052815.png
    17.8 KB · Views: 34
  • 1721326077789.png
    1721326077789.png
    17.5 KB · Views: 28
  • 1721326356345.png
    1721326356345.png
    23.8 KB · Views: 30
  • 1721326370331.png
    1721326370331.png
    23.5 KB · Views: 24
  • 1721326508851.png
    1721326508851.png
    15.3 KB · Views: 24
  • 1721326739296.png
    1721326739296.png
    20.3 KB · Views: 24
Last edited by Lazr1026,

neverendsDull

Well-Known Member
Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2023
Messages
200
Trophies
1
XP
393
Country
Tonga
Thanks for the guide.
I have been thinking about doing Region change on my Japanese console for some time, but could you explain these two questions:
1. Is it still required to access Nintendo Network for the initial firmware download? i.e. the console needs to download US firmware from the server during initialization, if failed then will it bricked?

The reason for asking this is can we be sure Nintendo will not shutdown the WiiU firmware download server after shutting down the WiiU/3DS network? If the server shuts down on Apr. 8, then if you made the region change afterwards, will it 100% brick your console?

2. Can the step "Downloading the MLC Titles" back up all install records for the games installed on external USB HDD? Or I must manually reinstall everything on the USB disk...
 

fvig2001

Well-Known Member
Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2006
Messages
963
Trophies
1
XP
3,155
Country
Philippines
How can you tell if your gamepad is region changed? Like I thought region change -> initialize will region change it. Like it took a long time compared to same region on initializing the gamepad.

Any cons to region changing besides loss of eshop? I did mine through emunand + isfhax since I wanted NAND protection
 

Lazr1026

Well-Known Member
OP
Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2020
Messages
164
Trophies
0
Age
18
XP
873
Country
United States
Thanks for the guide.
I have been thinking about doing Region change on my Japanese console for some time, but could you explain these two questions:
1. Is it still required to access Nintendo Network for the initial firmware download? i.e. the console needs to download US firmware from the server during initialization, if failed then will it bricked?

The reason for asking this is can we be sure Nintendo will not shutdown the WiiU firmware download server after shutting down the WiiU/3DS network? If the server shuts down on Apr. 8, then if you made the region change afterwards, will it 100% brick your console?

2. Can the step "Downloading the MLC Titles" back up all install records for the games installed on external USB HDD? Or I must manually reinstall everything on the USB disk...
for 1. you dont need to use system settings to download it but it is still downloading from Nintendos servers. They wont shut down the NUS for a long time though. the online servers for games != update servers.
for 2. everything on the usb should still be present, since the usb key is never changed afaik.
Post automatically merged:

How can you tell if your gamepad is region changed? Like I thought region change -> initialize will region change it. Like it took a long time compared to same region on initializing the gamepad.

Any cons to region changing besides loss of eshop? I did mine through emunand + isfhax since I wanted NAND protection
the only way to region change a gamepad is to flash the firmware from a dev gamepad through a hardmod
 

Cralex

Well-Known Member
Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2016
Messages
206
Trophies
0
Age
37
XP
1,296
Country
United States
Hey there. I'm attempting this procedure on my Japanese WiiU to switch it to the US region. I'm running step 5 of the Region Changing header and it seems to be stuck. The LED on the WiiU is purple. Any idea what I'm missing? It's probably something easy, since I'm new to WiiU hacking. Thanks.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3715.jpeg
    IMG_3715.jpeg
    3.5 MB · Views: 91

Lazr1026

Well-Known Member
OP
Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2020
Messages
164
Trophies
0
Age
18
XP
873
Country
United States
Hey there. I'm attempting this procedure on my Japanese WiiU to switch it to the US region. I'm running step 5 of the Region Changing header and it seems to be stuck. The LED on the WiiU is purple. Any idea what I'm missing? It's probably something easy, since I'm new to WiiU hacking. Thanks.
Why are you using the first boot option in minute? you should be using the third.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cralex

Ryab

Well-Known Member
Member
Joined
Aug 9, 2017
Messages
3,427
Trophies
1
XP
4,891
Country
United States
Thanks for the guide.
I have been thinking about doing Region change on my Japanese console for some time, but could you explain these two questions:
1. Is it still required to access Nintendo Network for the initial firmware download? i.e. the console needs to download US firmware from the server during initialization, if failed then will it bricked?

The reason for asking this is can we be sure Nintendo will not shutdown the WiiU firmware download server after shutting down the WiiU/3DS network? If the server shuts down on Apr. 8, then if you made the region change afterwards, will it 100% brick your console?

2. Can the step "Downloading the MLC Titles" back up all install records for the games installed on external USB HDD? Or I must manually reinstall everything on the USB disk...
Last I checked you can still download Wii and DSI system updates so I don't think the server shutdown will be a problem.
 

AresNguyen

Member
Newcomer
Joined
Dec 15, 2023
Messages
22
Trophies
0
Age
55
XP
156
Country
Vietnam
then you dont have isfshax installed
Isfshax already installed with the link on your OP, i'm skipped Erase MLC step, just "Delete scfm.img" and do "Patch (sd) and boot IOS (slc)", now console blinking blue for a while. Is it correct and safe?
 

Attachments

  • 0A449344-D1C1-4FBB-B1CA-1F5612C06A16.jpeg
    0A449344-D1C1-4FBB-B1CA-1F5612C06A16.jpeg
    2.1 MB · Views: 84

Lazr1026

Well-Known Member
OP
Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2020
Messages
164
Trophies
0
Age
18
XP
873
Country
United States
Still waiting blinking blue, what's happens and what's to do next if i haven't Erase MLC, sorry i'm super new with this :rofl2:
just wait for it to stop blinking blue. its still doing the setup
Post automatically merged:

id say another 5 min. if its still blinking blue shut off the console and check the log
 
  • Like
Reactions: AresNguyen

AresNguyen

Member
Newcomer
Joined
Dec 15, 2023
Messages
22
Trophies
0
Age
55
XP
156
Country
Vietnam
just wait for it to stop blinking blue. its still doing the setup
Post automatically merged:

id say another 5 min. if its still blinking blue shut off the console and check the log
Still blinking over 2 hours! Wii U JP 32gb Black
Post automatically merged:

6 hours still blinking blue. I decide to force shut it down, now console won't turn on. Blue static led, Disc drive spin 2 times, no display on TV, gamepad says "unable to connect to wii u console" i can't do anything else. wafel_setup_mlc.log only got few lines (see attachment) help me please
 

Attachments

  • 532180C1-0D3D-4C9C-A7AA-AE2F8C081DCB.jpeg
    532180C1-0D3D-4C9C-A7AA-AE2F8C081DCB.jpeg
    1.8 MB · Views: 71
  • 3C81F26D-AEB6-48FC-BAAB-BC1E28952F98.jpeg
    3C81F26D-AEB6-48FC-BAAB-BC1E28952F98.jpeg
    2.4 MB · Views: 77
Last edited by AresNguyen,

Lazr1026

Well-Known Member
OP
Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2020
Messages
164
Trophies
0
Age
18
XP
873
Country
United States
Still blinking over 2 hours! Wii U JP 32gb Black
Post automatically merged:

6 hours still blinking blue. I decide to force shut it down, now console won't turn on. Blue static led, Disc drive spin 2 times, no display on TV, gamepad says "unable to connect to wii u console" i can't do anything else. wafel_setup_mlc.log only got few lines (see attachment) help me please
show your sd contents. you didnt install isfshax
 

Site & Scene News

Popular threads in this forum

General chit-chat
Help Users
    Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo: Richard Simmons and Gene Simmons should have teamed up for a workout video