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 the wafel_payloader Stroopwafel plugin, so you don't need to worry about getting a Gamepad from the region you are changing to. If you do want to change the Gamepad region, there is a section at the end of the guide with instructions.

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, but you're on your own should you ta

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.
    • Get the 5payldr.ipx.
  • The latest Aroma files (If you have Aroma already, ignore this.)
    • 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 (Linux/Mac only).
  4. cd into the directory with the MLCRestorerDownloader (ie. cd /Downloads/MLCRestorerDownloader) (Linux/Mac only).
  5. Run the application (ie .\MLCRestorerDownloader for Linux/Mac users). Windows users can just double click the .exe
  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 5payldr.ipx to sd:/wiiu/ios_plugins.
    1747859617670.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.

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 tells you SCFM delete not allowed!, install isfshax and quit trying with no safety measures.
  5. Go back to the main menu and select Patch (sd) and boot IOS (slc).
    • During the setup you won't use the screen and stay at the GO GO GO minute message. You have to go by the power led.
  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.
    • Almost everything should have returned 00000000.
    • SetInitialLaunch will have returned 1.
    • If Set Region to X returned error FFFBFFEE, ask for help. That should not happen.
    • Otherwise boot the console again (select Patch (sd) and boot IOS (slc)), and you should be greeted with initial setup. Success!

Region Changing the Gamepad


  1. Download the latest release of DRXUtil and copy it to sd:/wiiu/apps.
  2. Launch DRXUtil from the Wii U Menu.
    • If it doesn't show up, press L + DPAD Down + Select on the Gamepad and set the "Hide all .rpx" configuration in the "Homebrew on Wii U Menu Plugin" to false.
  3. Select Flash firmware.
  4. Select Built-in Firmware Patches. Read the warning, then select Continue.
  5. Read the second warning, then select Continue.
    • With the patched firmware, the Gamepad will now show "Modified Firmware" while booting up.
  6. Select Set region and select the target region.
    • Note that Japan/Americas/Europe are the only regions that are actually used.
  7. Press A to confirm. Press B to go back to the main screen.
  8. Select Show DRC/DRH information and verify that the region under DRC info has been set to the one you selected.
  9. Press B to go back to the main screen and select Flash firmware.
  10. Select Original Firmware. Read the warning then select Continue.
  11. Read the second warning, then select Continue.
  12. Wait for the firmware to flash. Press B once finished and go back to the Wii U Menu.
  13. Launch System Settings, select Console Information (Icon with a red Console/Gamepad), select Set System Language, and select the target language. This will change the Gamepad language.
  14. Once it's finished, you're done!

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 set up autobooting in minute to have it automatically load IOSU. Instructions for that are on the isfshax guide.

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, DRXUtil
@rw-r-r_0644: Finding isfshax and implementing it
 
Last edited by Lazr1026,
Anyone update for this? "Everything went fine for me, the log showed no errors at the end, but it seems like I missed something, as I can't start from aroma or the Wii U menu, I only get the black screen of the 'minutes' app, what can I do to start the aroma? thanks."
 
i tried rebuilding my MLC with SLC files again. is it normal for the led to blink blue (not red or orange) for more than 30 minutes. is it normal for mlc replacement or isfs just not recognizing the problem and not showing errors or my NAND chip was broken idk xd
Post automatically merged:

btw it does not shows the logs
 
Hi,
I'm trying to change my European Wii U to a Japanese version, but the problem is that it crashes when I try to create a mii (in the initial console setup) and I can't skip this step unfortunately...

do I need to also install the SLC applications? (I still have the SLC European apps)

(Btw, when I restart the console, I get an error and I have to completely install the MLC again (because otherwise I am stuck permanently on error 155-0206)
1000028357.jpg
 

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i tried rebuilding my MLC with SLC files again. is it normal for the led to blink blue (not red or orange) for more than 30 minutes. is it normal for mlc replacement or isfs just not recognizing the problem and not showing errors or my NAND chip was broken idk xd
Post automatically merged:

btw it does not shows the logs
seems like I was missing your last post. It shouldn't take that long. Please show the setup log.
You can also dump the system crash logs in Backup and restore. Maybe they show something helpful.

do I need to also install the SLC applications?
No, the SLC titles are the same for all regions. Can you show the setup log? Maybe something failed to install.
 
seems like I was missing your last post. It shouldn't take that long. Please show the setup log.
You can also dump the system crash logs in Backup and restore. Maybe they show something helpful.


No, the SLC titles are the same for all regions. Can you show the setup log? Maybe something failed to install.
sorry bro, the setup log file was not created on the sd, but i did create a system crash log. bro sorry, i am not very knowledgeable about programming, and low architecture programming in general, but can you tell me if i might have corrupted NAND memory after all and will have to do NAND aid?
here is the logs zip file
 

Attachments

if it starts blinking blue it should have already created a wafel_setup_mlc.log on the SD. Else make sure the SD isn't write locked.
Post automatically merged:

Hm your logs are just filled with this
Code:
334: FSA fsa_core_ops.c(1511): failed to issue command to FS (-196640)
00:00:47:339: FSA fsa_core_ops.c(1511): failed to issue command to FS (-196640)
Beause that is spammed so much, everything else was evicted from the log. Maybe you could try to run it just short, so we see what happens before in the log.
The error means "UnsupportedCmd"
 
Last edited by SDIO,
No, the SLC titles are the same for all regions. Can you show the setup log? Maybe something failed to install.
Oh okay...

I deleted the old MLC download and completely re-downloaded everything... but unfortunately I'm having the same problem... here are the logs:

OpenDir /vol/sdcard/wafel_install: 0
OpenMCP /vol/sdcard/wafel_install: 0
InstallInfo 0005001b10053000: 00000000
Install 0005001b10053000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10054000: 00000000
Install 0005001b10054000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10056000: 00000000
Install 0005001b10056000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10057000: 00000000
Install 0005001b10057000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10058000: 00000000
Install 0005001b10058000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10059000: 00000000
Install 0005001b10059000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10063000: 00000000
Install 0005001b10063000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10065000: 00000000
Install 0005001b10065000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10067000: 00000000
Install 0005001b10067000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10068000: 00000000
Install 0005001b10068000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10069000: 00000000
Install 0005001b10069000: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500101004a000: 00000000
Install 000500101004a000: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500101004b000: 00000000
Install 000500101004b000: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500101004c000: 00000000
Install 000500101004c000: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500101004d000: 00000000
Install 000500101004d000: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500101004e000: 00000000
Install 000500101004e000: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500101005a000: 00000000
Install 000500101005a000: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500301001a10a: 00000000
Install 000500301001a10a: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500301006d00a: 00000000
Install 000500301006d00a: 00000000
InstallInfo 00050030100110ff: 00000000
Install 00050030100110ff: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500301001000a: 00000000
Install 000500301001000a: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500301001100a: 00000000
Install 000500301001100a: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500301001200a: 00000000
Install 000500301001200a: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500301001300a: 00000000
Install 000500301001300a: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500301001400a: 00000000
Install 000500301001400a: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500301001500a: 00000000
Install 000500301001500a: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500301001600a: 00000000
Install 000500301001600a: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500301001700a: 00000000
Install 000500301001700a: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500301001800a: 00000000
Install 000500301001800a: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500301001900a: 00000000
Install 000500301001900a: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001010040000: 00000000
Install 0005001010040000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001010041000: 00000000
Install 0005001010041000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001010043000: 00000000
Install 0005001010043000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001010044000: 00000000
Install 0005001010044000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001010045000: 00000000
Install 0005001010045000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001010047000: 00000000
Install 0005001010047000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001010048000: 00000000
Install 0005001010048000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001010049000: 00000000
Install 0005001010049000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001010062000: 00000000
Install 0005001010062000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001010066000: 00000000
Install 0005001010066000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005003010010009: 00000000
Install 0005003010010009: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005003010011009: 00000000
Install 0005003010011009: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005003010017009: 00000000
Install 0005003010017009: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b1004f000: 00000000
Install 0005001b1004f000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b1005c000: 00000000
Install 0005001b1005c000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b1005f000: 00000000
Install 0005001b1005f000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b1006c000: 00000000
Install 0005001b1006c000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10042300: 00000000
Install 0005001b10042300: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10042400: 00000000
Install 0005001b10042400: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10050000: 00000000
Install 0005001b10050000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10051000: 00000000
Install 0005001b10051000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10052000: 00000000
Install 0005001b10052000: 00000000
Flush MLC: 0
Set region to 1:, FFFBFFEE
SetInitialLaunch 0: 1

Flush SLC: 0
 
if it starts blinking blue it should have already created a wafel_setup_mlc.log on the SD. Else make sure the SD isn't write locked.
bro, no, i can put the files on sd so my sd is not locked, but wafel_setup_mlc.log is not created on sd. also I read that you created a plugin wafel_destroy_mlc. should i use it and maybe it will help me?
 
Set region to 1:, FFFBFFEE
That is your problem. Look at the Manually fixing the sys_prod section in the guide, that should solve your problem.

my sd is not locked
Sometimes the Wii U detects SDs as write locked, even if they are not. Then it helps to tape over the WP switch.

I read that you created a plugin wafel_destroy_mlc. should i use it and maybe it will help me?
No, that never really worked and is not needed anymore. Earsing the MLC and deleting the scfm.img in minute is now the reliable way to do it.
 
That is your problem. Look at the Manually fixing the sys_prod section in the guide, that should solve your problem.


Sometimes the Wii U detects SDs as write locked, even if they are not. Then it helps to tape over the WP switch.


No, that never really worked and is not needed anymore. Earsing the MLC and deleting the scfm.img in minute is now the reliable way to do it.
ok thanks ill try then
 
That is your problem. Look at the Manually fixing the sys_prod section in the guide, that should solve your problem.
Really sorry to have bothered you with a fake problem... thank you very much for helping me (for not much 😭)

that said... I have a question...
would it be possible to downgrade on very old versions without risk of breaking anything? 🤔
 
We weren't able to do that. Also you would be limited that we would to use the latest IOSU, since all the patches are written against that and that might require some level of the other titles
 
We weren't able to do that. Also you would be limited that we would to use the latest IOSU, since all the patches are written against that and that might require some level of the other titles
oh okok, thx :p
 
if it starts blinking blue it should have already created a wafel_setup_mlc.log on the SD. Else make sure the SD isn't write locked.
Post automatically merged:

Hm your logs are just filled with this
Code:
334: FSA fsa_core_ops.c(1511): failed to issue command to FS (-196640)
00:00:47:339: FSA fsa_core_ops.c(1511): failed to issue command to FS (-196640)
Beause that is spammed so much, everything else was evicted from the log. Maybe you could try to run it just short, so we see what happens before in the log.
The error means "UnsupportedCmd"
Ok, what can I say. I think I'm really dumb because I used a bad sd, and I also think that's the reason why the MLC files weren't writing to the sd, and maybe that was the cause of the problem. But I can also say that I just replaced my sd card with a smaller one (8gb) and everything is working correctly. I also realized why I used to have the 160-2203 error before. It was caused by wafel_payloader not loading aroma. On the new sd card this error is not there, but also WII U still does not load into the aroma, even with the payloader plugin installed. Also forgot to say that unfortunately, even with payloader, it gives me a gamepad region pairing error. I will attach screenshots of how I have the files installed on the sd, bro can you help me please?
Post automatically merged:

Ok, what can I say. I think I'm really dumb because I used a bad sd, and I also think that's the reason why the MLC files weren't writing to the sd, and maybe that was the cause of the problem. But I can also say that I just replaced my sd card with a smaller one (8gb) and everything is working correctly. I also realized why I used to have the 160-2203 error before. It was caused by wafel_payloader not loading aroma. On the new sd card this error is not there, but also WII U still does not load into the aroma, even with the payloader plugin installed. Also forgot to say that unfortunately, even with payloader, it gives me a gamepad region pairing error. I will attach screenshots of how I have the files installed on the sd, bro can you help me please?
also i pick up the gamepad error. it also shows me with loaded payloader and aroma file
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Last edited by AlexCasual,
Hahahah bro im really dumba**
Post automatically merged:

Bro thank you so much for helping everything works perfectly
1712871238351.png
 
Last edited by AlexCasual,
when I selected "Patch (sd) and boot IOS (slc)" the power led started blinking yellow instead of blue. its been doing that for 15 minutes now. what should I do?

Edit: the light is solid yellow now, but the screen is the same.
Edit2: thought the mlc titles were corrupted and backed out to try redownloading them, retried and now it stalled with a solid yellow light on the loading "wii u menu" screen
 
Last edited by Tthat1guy,

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