Hacking Hardware Picofly - a HWFLY switch modchip

[D16]

Tinyfly v2.0 - the layout is based on the well known rp2040-tiny from waveshare but made for switch.

1. All necessary pads are exposed and the LED DIN as well.
2. Resistors and capacitors are 0402 size for easier soldering
3. Default D0,CMD,CLK resistors are 100,100,47ohm respectively

I've attached here the gerber file and bom/pick and place files.

Updates:
Tinyfly v2.0.zip - Initial Release
Tinyfly v2.0b.zip - Added extra pads for GND and 3V3 line on the right side. Swapped CPU and RST at the bottom part. Some components are changed to basic parts if planning to fabricate using JLCPCB.
Tinyfly v2.0c.zip - Adjusted few and changed components to basic parts for cheaper fabrication.

Images:
View attachment 425415View attachment 425418View attachment 425417View attachment 425416


Component Mappings:
View attachment 426981

Can this be done with CPU flex cables?

 

[thesjaakspoiler]

Is there an application or website that helps find interaction between the points of the Nintendo Switch board circuit?

I think it was discussed a while ago :
https://gbatemp.net/threads/xzzs-switch-boardviews-cracked.663854/page-2#post-10581574

Post automatically merged: May 5, 2025

Can this be done with CPU flex cables?

That post is over a year old when there were hardly any picofly based boards available.
Technically speaking that should be possible but that is not really the problem.
Unless you also make your own flex cables, you might not get flex cables from Chinese sellers that are compatible with your board.
Any company can make their own flex cables for their own hwfly/picofly board are there isn't any fixed standard for those cables.
Ordering small batches of one's own flex cables also isn't that cheap.
Only mass producing can bring those costs down.

 

[dodo136]

help me wth failed oled modding

i modded my switch with kamikazi method first i accidently cut the dat0 trace the console didn't boot at all just black screen i manage to put small solder blob to bridge the cut trace and checked in diode mode to make sure its not shorted the console boots i soldered i wire to the ball and confirm it still boots i put solder mask and rechecked it still boots then i installed a picofly first it booted to hekate but when i checked emmc info it gives error emmc running in slow mode 0mb/s this might means a hardware issue then failed to int storage
when i try to take back up it gives failed to inti storage
no boot from hekate when i disconnect both ribbon cables off the Pico fly board "still connected to to cpu" it gives me purple screen
checked the resistor close to kamikaze point in resistance mode it gives 4.5 or 4.7k as i remember
i also went to pro cell phones repair technician to check the trace he did it and repair the trace but same issue boots to hekate with failed to int emmc
any suggestion ? did my emmc dead ? i don't have a back up
plz any suggestion may help

 

[malgamer]

help me wth failed oled modding

i modded my switch with kamikazi method first i accidently cut the dat0 trace the console didn't boot at all just black screen i manage to put small solder blob to bridge the cut trace and checked in diode mode to make sure its not shorted the console boots i soldered i wire to the ball and confirm it still boots i put solder mask and rechecked it still boots then i installed a picofly first it booted to hekate but when i checked emmc info it gives error emmc running in slow mode 0mb/s this might means a hardware issue then failed to int storage
when i try to take back up it gives failed to inti storage
no boot from hekate when i disconnect both ribbon cables off the Pico fly board "still connected to to cpu" it gives me purple screen
checked the resistor close to kamikaze point in resistance mode it gives 4.5 or 4.7k as i remember
i also went to pro cell phones repair technician to check the trace he did it and repair the trace but same issue boots to hekate with failed to int emmc
any suggestion ? did my emmc dead ? i don't have a back up
plz any suggestion may help

remove modchip and try power on

 

[dodo136]

remove modchip and try power on

PURPLE SCREEN
i removed the ribbon cable and checked the resistor again it was blown i don't remember the last time i measured it was ok before or after i installed the ribbon
i hope its just the resistor and the emmc is still good i dont have a resistor for now to replace i found a 4.6k resistor in and old v1 donor board i dont know if its ok to out it on while shorting 100ohm or not i dont wanna risk damage something
what do u think ?

 

[thesjaakspoiler]

PURPLE SCREEN
i removed the ribbon cable and checked the resistor again it was blown i don't remember the last time i measured it was ok before or after i installed the ribbon
i hope its just the resistor and the emmc is still good i dont have a resistor for now to replace i found a 4.6k resistor in and old v1 donor board i dont know if its ok to out it on while shorting 100ohm or not i dont wanna risk damage something
what do u think ?

4K6 instead of 4k7 should be no problem.

 

[LuigiGad]

sometimes if the hole of the kamikaze is wider than expected, there may be a breakdown in the surface track that goes to the opposite side of the CMD welding point and you have the problem of the purple screen. it is easily restored by bridging

 

[dodo136]

help me wth failed oled modding

i modded my switch with kamikazi method first i accidently cut the dat0 trace the console didn't boot at all just black screen i manage to put small solder blob to bridge the cut trace and checked in diode mode to make sure its not shorted the console boots i soldered i wire to the ball and confirm it still boots i put solder mask and rechecked it still boots then i installed a picofly first it booted to hekate but when i checked emmc info it gives error emmc running in slow mode 0mb/s this might means a hardware issue then failed to int storage
when i try to take back up it gives failed to inti storage
no boot from hekate when i disconnect both ribbon cables off the Pico fly board "still connected to to cpu" it gives me purple screen
checked the resistor close to kamikaze point in resistance mode it gives 4.5 or 4.7k as i remember
i also went to pro cell phones repair technician to check the trace he did it and repair the trace but same issue boots to hekate with failed to int emmc
any suggestion ? did my emmc dead ? i don't have a back up
plz any suggestion may help

it was the cmd resistor i replaced it and it works now ty evryone

 

[nachoska21]

Hi, can you confirm if I can extract the RST point where I point on the arrow? I found this image in the thread, but I don't see that point used in the tutorials. Thanks.

 

[aveltmp3]

Anybody in Melbourne, Aus that could recommend a quality installer? Thanks.

 

[blackblackblack]

found the issue, 1ewp :/. but its strange since its not heating up when being turned on

hey, i had similar problem with yours, can you help elaborate how to detect and solve the issue? did you change any component to solve it?

 

[Cristiano04]

Hello, gentlemen, I need some help.
I have to replace a component marked in red on a Switch Lite but I don't know what its reference is.
I have a MARIKO donor board if it has the same component on it.
Sorry for the English, I'm using Google Translate.

 

[chronoss]

Hi !!!

Someone have tested to install a Pico on a console on last fw 20.0.1 ?
I get always this error : *==
I change 2 flex and tested with RP2040 normal and a Tiny model, all give me same error...
I use the last pico fw : PicoFly_2.80

 

[CarlosCruz]

Hi !!!

Someone have tested to install a Pico on a console on last fw 20.0.1 ?
I get always this error : *==
I change 2 flex and tested with RP2040 normal and a Tiny model, all give me same error...
I use the last pico fw : PicoFly_2.80

The last one I made was a lite and it worked normally.

 

[LuigiGad]

Hi !!!

Someone have tested to install a Pico on a console on last fw 20.0.1 ?
I get always this error : *==
I change 2 flex and tested with RP2040 normal and a Tiny model, all give me same error...
I use the last pico fw : PicoFly_2.80

I have installed some rp2040-zero on console with fw 20.0.1. no problem

 

[chronoss]

The last one I made was a lite and it worked normally.

I have installed some rp2040-zero on console with fw 20.0.1. no problem

Etrange...

 

[LuigiGad]

Etrange...

Why should it be strange? All these firmware changes involve the system AFTER having exploited the hardware flaw which is always the same, and that will remain forever.

 

[chronoss]

Why should it be strange? All these firmware changes involve the system AFTER having exploited the hardware flaw which is always the same, and that will remain forever.

Yeahn i found my error, i cut one line on my motherboard and i fixe it today. now i boot into atmo without problem

 

[GaySexMaster]

Hello, i have hwfly rp2040 original version (i think, it doesnt say v2 on it, HWFLY Core RP2040 ) and i sometimes have emmc slow issues with it installed. without it installed everything is good. i have v1 patched console.
There are some resistor mods you can do, does anyone know what values i should use
cat0 is 200ohm and cmd is 50 ohm

 

[matu]

Hi everyone, I'm trying to install a hwfly chip into my switch lite and after soldering the flexi tapes I did some measurement of the points and it looks like point B is having to much voltage? I'm getting 3V while measuring in diode mode.
The values of the other points are:

Measurement in diode mode:
C: 0,729V
A: 0,725V
D: 0,731V

Measurement in beep mode:
SP1:
left side: 0,
right side: 024,7 Ohm

SP2:
left side: 024,6 Ohm,
right side 0

I watched a youtube tutorial of modding the switch lite and the guy was measuring around 1,7V on the point B. I'm getting 3V. So now I'm worried that I did something wrong. The chip is not connected yet and I haven't powered the switch on yet. I will attach some pictures, would really appreciate if someone can give me a hint what might be wrong.
Thank you in advance.