Hacking Best practice for preserving Switch 2 exploitability?

[quotepelican]

Update 20.1.5 (skipping anything before 20.1.1) has arrived:
https://yls8.mtheall.com/ninupdates/reports.php?date=2025-06-18_01-15-01&sys=bee



Very generic and suspicious changelog btw.


Wii firmware updates that attempted to block Homebrew were labeled like:


3DS firmware updates that attempted to block Homebrew were labeled like:


So yeah guys... it begins. Time to stay on 20.1.1 or 19.0.0 and wait... for a long time.

Damn I missed the opportunity to get one. Oh well I guess I'll start waiting for switch 3

 

[PureFallen]

Damn I missed the opportunity to get one. Oh well I guess I'll start waiting for switch 3

We all knew that was coming earlier or later.
I don't know if waiting 5-8 years for a successor might not exists is a viable strategy tho...

Might as well get a 20.1.5 then and uh, pray. And not skip the entire generation.

 

[bazooka]

Welp. I have one system on 20.1.1.

My other system is a mkw bundle that is still sealed. I’m still in the return window but I’m not sure what to do. I’m leaning towards returning it.

But dang, what if only the new in box consoles become the golden systems.

I go back and forth. My backlog of games is already extensive

 

[SirrisM]

I have a question regarding firmwares, has it ever been the case that a firmware update has patched any homebrew of a Switch? Hasn't pretty much every homebrew been hardware based, and worked as long as you have the correct hardware for it?

 

[SirrisM]

I have a question regarding firmwares, has it ever been the case that a firmware update has patched any homebrew of a Switch? Hasn't pretty much every homebrew been hardware based, and worked as long as you have the correct hardware for it?

 

[ihaveahax]

I have a question regarding firmwares, has it ever been the case that a firmware update has patched any homebrew of a Switch? Hasn't pretty much every homebrew been hardware based, and worked as long as you have the correct hardware for it?

The last time there was a real software exploit was Caffeine for 4.1.0 (December 2017). It was fixed in 5.0.0 (March 2018). Everything else has been hardware-based, including the RCM exploit and modchips.

The Switch OS kernel has been airtight since then, and it is reasonable to believe Switch 2 will continue this trend.

 

[SirrisM]

The last time there was a real software exploit was Caffeine for 4.1.0 (December 2017). It was fixed in 5.0.0 (March 2018). Everything else has been hardware-based, including the RCM exploit and modchips.

The Switch OS kernel has been airtight since then, and it is reasonable to believe Switch 2 will continue this trend.

If that's the case then why do so many people obsess over their firmware?

 

[wischmob]

Because there is a chance. Nothing is unhackable, a vulnerability might just take years to be uncovered, or never be found. It's a gamble.

Lowest reasonable firmware is always best. You can always update later on, but going back is rather impossible.

 

[ihaveahax]

If that's the case then why do so many people obsess over their firmware?

It's all based on faith and people clinging onto "well technically maybe it'll happen probably".

The thing is the microkernel is very small and is possible to do correctly. At least one prominent Switch hacker agrees that it is airtight.

 

[SirrisM]

It's all based on faith and people clinging onto "well technically maybe it'll happen probably".

The thing is the microkernel is very small and is possible to do correctly. At least one prominent Switch hacker agrees that it is airtight.

Let's say a firmware exploit where to be found, can you then update to the required firmware to play new switch 2 games? Or are you stuck on that firmware with the games available for it

 

[ihaveahax]

Let's say a firmware exploit where to be found, can you then update to the required firmware to play new switch 2 games? Or are you stuck on that firmware with the games available for it

It depends. If you find a kernel exploit, you likely could do emuMMC. Otherwise you would only be able to play games that work up to the current firmware, as well as locking yourself out of things like game updates and online play.

A lot of this is hypothetical because we do not know all the specific changes made to Switch 2. But we do know for sure that it is based on the same OS as Switch 1. Sidenote, we also know that hardmods will be more difficult for several reasons (like anti-glitching features).

 

[SirrisM]

It depends. If you find a kernel exploit, you likely could do emuMMC. Otherwise you would only be able to play games that work up to the current firmware, as well as locking yourself out of things like game updates and online play.

A lot of this is hypothetical because we do not know all the specific changes made to Switch 2. But we do know for sure that it is based on the same OS as Switch 1. Sidenote, we also know that hardmods will be more difficult for several reasons (like anti-glitching features).

The Caffeine exploit wasn't a kernel exploit right?

 

[RetroKbee]

Yesterday night I am on time to update the Switch 2 to 20.1.1 and d/l Mario kart

However, Today I will receive my Micro Sd card. Is it still possible to unlock the micro sd card without update to 20.1.5?

 

[RetroKbee]

-- Double sorry

 

[DbGt]

Welp. I have one system on 20.1.1.

My other system is a mkw bundle that is still sealed. I’m still in the return window but I’m not sure what to do. I’m leaning towards returning it.

But dang, what if only the new in box consoles become the golden systems.

I go back and forth. My backlog of games is already extensive

Same, but im not contemplating that much on returning it.

Have one switch 2 on fw 20.1.1 all set up, have another one new in box with stock fw which i had decided to update it to day 1 update but was procrastinating and now theres a new fw...... So now i think i have 3 options:

1. Leave it in the box with stock fw and hope for the best
2. Suck it up, and update it to latest fw and hope for the best
3. Store my 20.1.1 already set up switch, dont use it anymore, and update and use instead the one thats in the box. Which i would have to set it up. mmmm what to do

Speaking of which, does anyone know what happens to virtual game cards in this situation:
They are all loaded into switch (2) A, which is the only switch linked to my account. Now that switch is completely offline (due to new fw). If i unlink this switch from my account through nintendos website, then link switch (2) B and load all my virtual game cards there. That means I would be able to play all games on both systems??

I havent seen information about this specific scenario, but I have read mixed opinions on people having trouble loading their virtual game cards on a new system after losing or not having access to their old system, being unable to play their games on the new system as it was asking them to link it to the old system which they didnt have access anymore.... even after unlinking their old system from their account through nintendos website.

Yesterday night I am on time to update the Switch 2 to 20.1.1 and d/l Mario kart

However, Today I will receive my Micro Sd card. Is it still possible to unlock the micro sd card without update to 20.1.5?

Probably not, i think it checks for system update...but please share your results. Would be great if you could do it without updating fw.
Are you receiving a micro sd express?? if yes, can you test something? can you format it in FAT32 and test if it can be used like this, without any additional update? I was able to use a normal micro sd formatted in FAT32 without any additional update (to transfer images, which is the only thing you can do in switch 2 with a normal sd card), so i am wondering if a micro sd express formatted in FAT32 could be fully used without any additional update. That would be useful to know as it would mean switch 2 could be updated through game cards and still be able to use micro sd express cards formatted in FAT32 without any additional updates.

 

[PureFallen]

If that's the case then why do so many people obsess over their firmware?

Increased attention to the software to be honest.
I not want to step the experts on the toes here, but aside from the software being "unhackable" past a certain point, what probably added to no software exploits being discovered was probably also a lack of demand. Everyone who wanted to run CFW on their Switch 1 either invested into a RCM-able console or a mod chip that enabled to do similar things on future devices.

Now that RCM is not possible on Switch 2 though, there will be actual demand for other ways and there will be increased attention and effort behind looking at the software again. Looking how security is a process and not a "state" one can accomplish, I am certain that the software of the Switch 2 will be hacked at some point. The question should be rather whenever this happens within a relevant lifespan, such as the lifespan or the console or the timeframe in which games can still be downloaded from the eShop for preservation purposes.

 

[xAder]

Hello guys, I have a bit of an issue with my switch 2, I'm on 20.1.1 but since 20.1.15 came out every time I take the console out of sleep or open a game I get the message to update the firmware and need to press up to cancel (if i just press A out of habit it will update), my gf also uses the console so I believe she might press update by mistake.

Is there any way to stop this message from appearing so I can stay in this firmware for now?

 

[xAder]

Sorry double post*

 

[TeleTubby666]

Now the moment of truth has come for me: I have two Switch 2 consoles here — one is still sealed in its original packaging, the other is on firmware 20.1.1 and is now prompting for an update. I’ve reset the console to factory settings to get rid of the nag screen (which worked), but now I have to decide whether to:

a) Leave one Switch in the closet and block updates on the other by disabling the internet

b) Leave one Switch in the closet and simply update the other to 20.1.5

c) Start using the sealed Switch and update it to 20.1.5 while keeping the other one on 20.1.1

What would you do with regard to potential future exploits?

Thanks in advance!

Edit @xAder: As written above, factory setting made the nag screen disappear

 

[Blythe93]

However, Today I will receive my Micro Sd card. Is it still possible to unlock the micro sd card without update to 20.1.5?

Check this video guide: