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.
   
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).
   
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).
   
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.
   
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.
   

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.
   
   • 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:
   
   
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

 

[fyredragon]

thank you lazr, very cool!

 

[neverendsDull]

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]

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]

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: Mar 15, 2024

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]

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.

 

[Lazr1026]

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.

 

[Cralex]

Why are you using the first boot option in minute? you should be using the third.

Ah! There we go. Got the blinking light now. Thanks for finding what I overlooked.

 

[AresNguyen]

Can't Erase MLC, on isfshax minute menu said "Erase MLC is not allowed!" And just press Power/Q button to go back

 

[Ryab]

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.

 

[Lazr1026]

Can't Erase MLC, on isfshax minute menu said "Erase MLC is now allowed!" And just press Power/Q button to go back

then you dont have isfshax installed

 

[AresNguyen]

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?

 

[Lazr1026]

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?

sounds fine

 

[AresNguyen]

sounds fine

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

 

[Lazr1026]

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

just wait for it to stop blinking blue. its still doing the setup

Post automatically merged: Mar 20, 2024

id say another 5 min. if its still blinking blue shut off the console and check the log

 

[AresNguyen]

just wait for it to stop blinking blue. its still doing the setup

Post automatically merged: Mar 20, 2024

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: Mar 20, 2024

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

 

[Lazr1026]

Still blinking over 2 hours! Wii U JP 32gb Black

Post automatically merged: Mar 20, 2024

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

 

[AresNguyen]

show your sd contents. you didnt install isfshax

Here

 

[Lazr1026]

Here

did the isfshax installer say isfshax was successfully installed or did it error?

 

[AresNguyen]

did the isfshax installer say isfshax was successfully installed or did it error?

I think i forgot install isfshax but still process Patch (sd) and boot IOS (slc)
What can i do now?