Hacking Best practice for preserving Switch 2 exploitability?

[Mikeitait]

Switch can use FAT32 sd cards without additional updates. I havent seen anyone confirm this for the switch 2 but im pretty sure this is also the case. micro sd express are only faster sd cards, theres no other thing special about them. The "activation" that needs an update is for getting the exfat license, which was also the case with switch 1. So you could format your sd card express to FAT32 and it will most certainly work in your switch without the need to do any additional updates. Micro sd express support was added in fw 20.1.0

Post automatically merged: Jun 26, 2025

Switch can use FAT32 sd cards without additional updates. I havent seen anyone confirm this for the switch 2 but im pretty sure this is also the case. micro sd express are only faster sd cards, theres no other thing special about them. The "activation" that needs an update is for getting the exfat license, which was also the case with switch 1. So you could format your sd card express to FAT32 and it will most certainly work in your switch without the need to do any additional updates. Micro sd express support was added in fw 20.1.0

but do switch 2 games install on a fat32 formatted sd express? I mean, for the 4gb limit, has this been tested?

 

[MasterJ360]

Not sure why anyone would want to format the express card to fat32 right now tho. Fat32 was recommended for homebrew compatibility on the Switch1.

 

[DbGt]

Post automatically merged: Jun 26, 2025

but do switch 2 games install on a fat32 formatted sd express? I mean, for the 4gb limit, has this been tested?

Of course...... has always been the case since 2017... Switch OS automatically splits files. The user experience its the same whether is exfat or fat32

Not sure why anyone would want to format the express card to fat32 right now tho. Fat32 was recommended for homebrew compatibility on the Switch1.

Well, why not? its safer, prone to less corruption. Also useful for people who are in fw 20.1.1 and didnt get the exfat license update. Or for people who have their switch in stock fw and want to update in the future to a specific fw via game carts, they can use sd card express formatted in fat32 without needing to update to latest fw to get the exfat license

 

[klondike_bars]

FWIW, I finally got to open mine, went out bought Mario Kart World cartridge and it asked to update to play.

I turned off "Software Auto-Updates" then connected to "Manual Setup" (my home WiFi with the 90dns IPs) then hit update when asked to be able to play the cart, it updated the system firmware to 19.1.0 and no issues playing offline.

 

[FLORiDAPORNBAN]

can someone explain this in more simple terms.. so many comment so much confuse back and forth
very complicated it seems to get a STRAIGHT AND CORRECT ANSWER what is the BEST STEPS to take....
BRAND NEW CONSOLE + MKW DiGiTAL will not purchase any cartridges with 256GB ex memory card

what do i do to make sure I have the best chance to homebrew I thought leaving SEALED was best

 

[R4ismychildhood]

can someone explain this in more simple terms.. so many comment so much confuse back and forth
very complicated it seems to get a STRAIGHT AND CORRECT ANSWER what is the BEST STEPS to take....
BRAND NEW CONSOLE + MKW DiGiTAL will not purchase any cartridges with 256GB ex memory card

what do i do to make sure I have the best chance to homebrew I thought leaving SEALED was best

for SW1, yes
but since SW2 is designed to require connecting to Nintendo's server at least once to do two updates:
1) 20.1.1 update
https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/68526/
"Updating to version 20.1.0 is required to use Nintendo Switch 2 game-key cards.
Updating to version 20.1.0 is required to use a microSD Express card."
2) microSD express usage
https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/68425/~/microsd-card-and-microsd-express-card-compatibility-with-nintendo-switch
"**Please note: a system update via the internet is required the first time you use a microSD Express card. microSD Express cards with a capacity of up to 2TB are supported."
the best chance seems to be the lowest update + the microSD express usage update, then disconnect Wifi & wait

follow instructions earlier in the thread, you don't need a microSD express to trigger that update, however I'm not sure if you will be forced to update to 20.1.5 if you want update 2) now...

 

[Blythe93]

can someone explain this in more simple terms.. so many comment so much confuse back and forth
very complicated it seems to get a STRAIGHT AND CORRECT ANSWER what is the BEST STEPS to take....
BRAND NEW CONSOLE + MKW DiGiTAL will not purchase any cartridges with 256GB ex memory card

what do i do to make sure I have the best chance to homebrew I thought leaving SEALED was best

Because there are no best steps. You have a couple of options:

1. Stay on 19.0.0 - you won't be able to use Switch 1 games, MIG Switch nor activate microSD Express card slot. It's unknown whether you'll be able to activate microSD Express card slot at later point.
2. Update to the latest firmware (20.1.5 is the currently latest one, 20.1.0 was the lowest required for the Switch 1 games and microSD Express card to be activated but the day one patch was up to 20.1.1) - you'll be able to use Switch 1 games and activate microSD Express card slot. You'll also be able to use MIG Switch flashcart but there have been mixed reports of people getting their consoles banned even if using their own backups. Maybe it's because they've used MIG Switch on their Switch 2 without updating the MIG firmware to the latest? Maybe they've actually used publicly available dumps or something like that? We don't know for sure. Don't use MIG Switch or similar on your Switch 2 if you don't want to get your Switch 2 console banned.
3. Update to whichever firmware update is bundled with one of the Switch 2 game carts - e.g. Mario Kart World came with 19.1.0 update. I believe that I've read somewhere that even if there happens to be a game cart with 20.1.1 firmware update (which is the day 1 update), while you'll be able to use Switch 1 games once you get to that firmware, activating microSD card slot will still require you to connect to the Internet. Can't really say for sure.

For the games that might require an update in order to work, you'll be able to update them locally if you have another Switch that has the latest updates already installed for the games you want to update.

 

[Marc_LFD]

FWIW, I finally got to open mine, went out bought Mario Kart World cartridge and it asked to update to play.

I turned off "Software Auto-Updates" then connected to "Manual Setup" (my home WiFi with the 90dns IPs) then hit update when asked to be able to play the cart, it updated the system firmware to 19.1.0 and no issues playing offline.

Yeah, that's how it goes with DNS.

Problem with 19.1.0 is that you're stuck exclusively with internal storage and that's only 232GB usable (and 228GB if it's a 256GB Express mSD).

 

[klondike_bars]

Yeah, that's how it goes with DNS.

Problem with 19.1.0 is that you're stuck exclusively with internal storage and that's only 232GB usable (and 228GB if it's a 256GB Express mSD).

Okay, so as far as anyone knows, there's no way to get to just 20.1.0 or 1.1 with a cartridge update like I did this way?

 

[PureFallen]

Okay, so as far as anyone knows, there's no way to get to just 20.1.0 or 1.1 with a cartridge update like I did this way?

The only cartridge we happen to know about that has a firmware update embedded is Mario Kart World with 19.1.0 .
It could be that DK Bonanza or Metroid Prime have firmware update embedded in them as well, but which version it is will depend when production in the factories for this games started. However, it is unlikely to be some minor or especially a patch level update. We won't know until they are out tho.
Some downloading the microSD Express and exFAT drivers forces a firmware update tho this may or may not be useful either...

 

[Marc_LFD]

I removed the DNS Blocker to update a game and yes, the firmware update did nag me, but after booting into the Recovery Mode and then back to the dashboard it was all good.

That's one way to keep updating NS1 while blocking NS2 firmware updates.

 

[urmother1992]

I'm not sure that I would recommend connecting to Nintendo's servers at all due to the "super nag" (I cannot post links but there are some old threads pertaining to this on gbatemp).
Getting a super nag on the Switch 1 would lock you out of certain features, such as the hidden web browser, a classic and commonly flawed security entrypoint.

 

[Adr990]

For the games that might require an update in order to work, you'll be able to update them locally if you have another Switch that has the latest updates already installed for the games you want to update.

Oh that is good to know. I would be able to obtain the 1.1.0 update for Mario Kart World without connecting to the internet you mean? And avoid a system update? (I am on 20.1.0)
How does that work?

 

[Blythe93]

Oh that is good to know. I would be able to obtain the 1.1.0 update for Mario Kart World without connecting to the internet you mean? And avoid a system update? (I am on 20.1.0)
How does that work?

Pretty much the same way it works on Switch 1. For Switch 2 games you'll need another Switch 2 with the update installed, obviously. For the Switch 1 games, you can use Switch 1 instead (preferably modded one so that you can control which update version you can install if that matters to you). You'll probably be able to update to the higher version but make sure that you don't update past the version that requires a higher update. I believe that game won't work in that case and may ask you to update your console firmware. Also, to avoid accidental updates, make sure to use 90DNS in order to block Nintendo servers on your Switch 2 console that you'd like to keep on a lower firmware.

 

[Minds_Eye]

On my 20.1.1 Switch 2 I was able to turn off airplane mode, reconnect it to the internet, visit the nintendo store, purchase and download a game, then put it back in airplane mode afterwards, all without being given a forced update or even getting the nagging message. No idea how I managed that.

 

[l7777]

On my 20.1.1 Switch 2 I was able to turn off airplane mode, reconnect it to the internet, visit the nintendo store, purchase and download a game, then put it back in airplane mode afterwards, all without being given a forced update or even getting the nagging message. No idea how I managed that.

Do you have Auto updates turned off? I recently did the same. It will likely allow you to stay on older firmware until a game requires it.

 

[Minds_Eye]

Do you have Auto updates turned off? I recently did the same. It will likely allow you to stay on older firmware until a game requires it.

No, just double checked and it was in fact on.

 

[l7777]

No, just double checked and it was in fact on.

Interesting, perhaps it checks at specific time intervals rather than instantly.

 

[lolcatzuru]

Because there are no best steps. You have a couple of options:

1. Stay on 19.0.0 - you won't be able to use Switch 1 games, MIG Switch nor activate microSD Express card slot. It's unknown whether you'll be able to activate microSD Express card slot at later point.
2. Update to the latest firmware (20.1.5 is the currently latest one, 20.1.0 was the lowest required for the Switch 1 games and microSD Express card to be activated but the day one patch was up to 20.1.1) - you'll be able to use Switch 1 games and activate microSD Express card slot. You'll also be able to use MIG Switch flashcart but there have been mixed reports of people getting their consoles banned even if using their own backups. Maybe it's because they've used MIG Switch on their Switch 2 without updating the MIG firmware to the latest? Maybe they've actually used publicly available dumps or something like that? We don't know for sure. Don't use MIG Switch or similar on your Switch 2 if you don't want to get your Switch 2 console banned.
3. Update to whichever firmware update is bundled with one of the Switch 2 game carts - e.g. Mario Kart World came with 19.1.0 update. I believe that I've read somewhere that even if there happens to be a game cart with 20.1.1 firmware update (which is the day 1 update), while you'll be able to use Switch 1 games once you get to that firmware, activating microSD card slot will still require you to connect to the Internet. Can't really say for sure.

For the games that might require an update in order to work, you'll be able to update them locally if you have another Switch that has the latest updates already installed for the games you want to update.

i have no reference for this at all, but i get a strong vibe the the out of box firmware is gonna lead to something, and im staying on it. It's a gamble, but the lower the better and would imagine, depending on the exploit itll be useable, but perhaps thats wishful thinking.

 

[Marc_LFD]

Do you have Auto updates turned off? I recently did the same. It will likely allow you to stay on older firmware until a game requires it.

I'm my experience, it is off and yet it still nags me about doing a firmware update. I don't see the point to as 20.1.1 is perfectly fine.

But if I want to play DKB yeah...