Ultimate guide to upgrade your firmware/Atmosphère

ONLY UPDATE YOUR CONSOLE TO 2x.x.x IF ALL THE HOMEBREW YOU USE IS UPGRADED




Sometimes you need to upgrade your console, upgrade the firmware or upgrade Atmosphère, using the @l7777 's guide (https://gbatemp.net/threads/updating-hekate-atmosphere-and-hos.631739/) as base I hope to create a list of necessary steps to successful upgrade your console.

This guide uses Hekate, if you don't want to use Hekate skip the steps about it. You may loose some features.





Make a backup.​

Always make a full backup of your console, so if something goes wrong you have a know working restore point.​


  • If you are going to update your SysNAND you can create a backup using Hekate's NYX, It's the easy way.
  • For your EmuNAND there are two paths:
  1. If your EmuNAND is RAW based, you can use a tool like EmuTool (EmuTool GitHub) to backup the RAW partition to a set of files on your PC. That backup can be used later to restore the RAW partition or you can convert your setup to File based EmuNAND using that files.
  2. If your EmuNAND is file based, making a backup is so easy as copying the SDMC:/emuMMC folder to your PC.

Also is advisable to backup all files on your SD Card, You can Use Hekate's UMS for that task, so you don't remove the SD from Console and avoid the problem associated to manipulating the SD card.

Preparation.​

Before you start the process you need some steps:
  • Download latest Atmosphère files, download again from the GitHub repo no matters if you think you have it, sometimes the repo is silent updated.
  • Download latest Hekate files, download again from the GitHub repo no matters if you think you have it, sometimes the repo is silent updated.
  • Download latest Sigpatches from the GBATemp Thread no matters if you think you have the newest, they might be upgraded.
  • Download latest Sys-Patch Sysmodule some people tells is redundant but is better be safe than sorry
  • If you are going to upgrade your firmware, remove any theme you have installed! NX-Themeinstaller now have a option to remove all installed themes.
  • You can get a legally acquired firmware files:
  • Also a search engine can help you to find a correct backup, by example Firmware 18.1.0 rebootless have an ID of e7e2b68

Starting the process.​

Restart your console to Hekate's NYX and load UMS tool, or remove the card and put on your PC, is up to you, Hakate may be a little bit slower but you do not risk physically your console.
  • Delete SDMC:/atmosphere/contents or SDMC:/atmosphere/titles, you should have backed up this folder before.
  • Delete the next folders, that's because the first time you load new Atmosphère that folders will emptied and that can take a lot of time so you could think your console got frozen, so in order to avoid that false alarm it's better to delete them before start console.
    • SDMC:/atmosphere/crash_reports
    • SDMC:/atmosphere/erpt_reports
    • SDMC:/atmosphere/fatal_reports
  • If you had used INCOGNITO_RCM, is advisable to remove incognito from yours *NAND, having PRODINFO blanked via Incognito RCM can create problems on the new firmware/atmosphère versions.
  • Extract Atmosphère zip file and copy to the root of your SD, overwrite all files.

ProdInfo Blanked


If you like to kept your prodinfo blanked, restore and edit your SDMC:/exosphere.ini file and add/change the next values to «1» in order to enable Atmosphère incognito on telemetry:
Code:
blank_prodinfo_sysmmc=1
blank_prodinfo_emummc=1

DNS MiTM


Now to enable DNSMiTM, you need to restore your SDMC:/atmosphere/config/system_settings.ini file from backup, or copy the one from SDMC:/atmosphere/config_template/system_settings.ini and be sure the parameter enable_dns_mitm , enable_dns_mitm_debug_log and add_defaults_to_dns_hosts have the value u8!0x1 Also be sure you remove the «;» at start of the line. By example, your file should be something like:

Code:
[atmosphere]

.
.
.

enable_dns_mitm = u8!0x1
; Controls whether dns.mitm uses the default redirections in addition to
; whatever is specified in the user's hosts file.
; 0 = Disabled (use hosts file contents), 1 = Enabled (use defaults and hosts file contents)
add_defaults_to_dns_hosts = u8!0x1
; Controls whether dns.mitm logs to the sd card for debugging
; 0 = Disabled, 1 = Enabled
enable_dns_mitm_debug_log = u8!0x1
; Controls whether htc is enabled
; 0 = Disabled, 1 = Enabled

.
.
.

Where the dots represent other text.


Other Atmosphère Configs


Restore your SDMC:/atmosphere/config/override_config.ini (Key combos for atmosphère) & SDMC:/atmosphere/config/stratosphere.ini (Disable game cartdrige) files.


Hekate



  • Extract the downloaded Hekate zip file, and copy to the root of your SD, overwrite all files.
  • Upgrade your payload.bin file, if you use a injector on the injector, if you use a modchip replacing the file SDMC:/payload.bin file, if you use Hekate rename the file hekate_ctcaer_X.Y.Z.bin to payload.bin and copy to root of your SDCard.
  • Restore YOUR OWN CUSTOMIZED SDMC:/bootloader/hekate_ipl.ini file from the backup you did before. if is necessary remove any kip1patch=nosigchk line on it because you are not using patches.ini so far.
    Or if you like to use it on your console, download latest Sigpatches archive from the post indicated on the thread, but copy only the file SDMC:/bootloader/patches.ini and do not remove the lines on your hekate_ipl.ini. this is not necessary.

Sigpatches






Testing the console​


Put the card or turn off the console, then start your console as usual and let the HOS to load.​
If everything load fine you can now upgrade your firmware or go to next step.​
In order to upgrade your firmware, load Homebrew Loader (HBmenu) and run Daybreak. it's better to select «install (FAT32 + exFAT)» option, on this way if anytime you insert a SD card formatted on exFAT you will avoid an error. This option only install additional drivers but DO NOT modify your card. Be sure of select «Preserve settings» if you like to preserve your games and configuration.​
Your console will restart once the process end.​
Test your installed titles and verify some games to run OK.​


Finishing the setup.​


After you know your console boots correctly and everything is fine now you can reinstall SYSMODULES, cheats, and modifications. you can choose restore them from your SDMC:/atmosphere/contents backup or I do recommend to look if there is any newer version.​
Other common SYSmodules are, Emuiibo, Mission Control, FTPD, etc.​
Remember to restart your console once you upgraded any SYSMODULE​
Take a time and look for updated version of your Homebrew.​
If you use themes look if there are new versions of NXThemesInstaller and the patches needed to install them, after update all components, reinstall your themes.​


Important note for Mac Users:​


Macintosh OSes and IOS have a disgusting tendency to no adhere to standards so if you handle your card on a Mac, be sure to boot in to NYX and on tools tab select «Unset archive bit» AND «Fix archive bit - Nintendo»​

More information about the upgrade process:​


 
Last edited by impeeza,
I managed to get Hekate to start. I wrote only this line in launch.txt \ATMOSPHERE_HEKATE\PAYLOAD.BIN and then put only the hekate bin in the rcm (nothing else). Now i can boot hekate, and then emunand atmosphere

I was wondering, do I really need the Hekate bin (renamed payload.bin) in the root of the SD card, since I don't have a modchip?
No, you do not need SDMC:/payload.bin, that file is needed only if you are using a modchip or using SX Core payload.
 
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Thanks so much! I have a few more questions:
-I used Lockpick to extract the prod.keys and title.keys files, which are located in the switch folder on the SD card. Now that I have the backup on other storage devices, can I delete these two files from the SD card?

-Can I play with the original operating system, with physical games? I started the 90DNS tester, and it tells me that all is blocked. Now can I safely boot the Switch, or should I boot with Hekate and then Sysnand with the official firmware+physical games+online service?
 
can I delete these two files from the SD card?
yes, you can
Post automatically merged:

-Can I play with the original operating system, with physical games? I started the 90DNS tester, and it tells me that all is blocked. Now can I safely boot the Switch, or should I boot with Hekate and then Sysnand with the official firmware+physical games+online service?
 
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Not sure if this is the right thread to ask in, but I wanted to make some save backups so I went back to my launch switch (unpatched) that I successfully hacked earlier in the year. To transfer over the save files it made me update my launch switch. I went to update atmosphere and updated that, fusee, etc. However when I launch syscfw it gives me the following error:


If I go in via emummc it doesn't access my transferred save files so that's no good for me. Clearly I'm not super well versed in hacking so I'm sure some of what I'm saying must be frustrating and I apologize for that but I appreciate if anyone knows what the error is. I've gone through and tried to update everything I could...atmosphere, fusee, hekate. I'm sure I'm missing something basic. Thanks for the help!
 
Not sure if this is the right thread to ask in, but I wanted to make some save backups so I went back to my launch switch (unpatched) that I successfully hacked earlier in the year. To transfer over the save files it made me update my launch switch. I went to update atmosphere and updated that, fusee, etc. However when I launch syscfw it gives me the following error:


If I go in via emummc it doesn't access my transferred save files so that's no good for me. Clearly I'm not super well versed in hacking so I'm sure some of what I'm saying must be frustrating and I apologize for that but I appreciate if anyone knows what the error is. I've gone through and tried to update everything I could...atmosphere, fusee, hekate. I'm sure I'm missing something basic. Thanks for the help!

Remove mission control Sys-Module by removing the folder SDMC:"/atmosphere/contents/010000000000bd00 and then restart your console.


you can use JKSV homebrew to backup and restore savegames.
 
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Remove mission control Sys-Module by removing the folder SDMC:"/atmosphere/contents/010000000000bd00 and then restart your console.


you can use JKSV homebrew to backup and restore savegames.
Thank you! I've backed up saves before with JKSV, I just had that problem with the update. I appreciate the help, it's working perfectly now
 
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ONLY UPDATE YOUR CONSOLE TO 20.x.x IF ALL THE HOMEBREW YOU USE IS UPGRADED




Sometimes you need to upgrade your console, upgrade the firmware or upgrade Atmosphère, using the @l7777 's guide (https://gbatemp.net/threads/updating-hekate-atmosphere-and-hos.631739/) as base I hope to create a list of necessary steps to successful upgrade your console.

This guide uses Hekate, if you don't want to use Hekate skip the steps about it. You may loose some features.





Make a backup.​

Always make a full backup of your console, so if something goes wrong you have a know working restore point.​


  • If you are going to update your SysNAND you can create a backup using Hekate's NYX, It's the easy way.
  • For your EmuNAND there are two paths:
  1. If your EmuNAND is RAW based, you can use a tool like EmuTool (EmuTool GitHub) to backup the RAW partition to a set of files on your PC. That backup can be used later to restore the RAW partition or you can convert your setup to File based EmuNAND using that files.
  2. If your EmuNAND is file based, making a backup is so easy as copying the SDMC:/emuMMC folder to your PC.

Also is advisable to backup all files on your SD Card, You can Use Hekate's UMS for that task, so you don't remove the SD from Console and avoid the problem associated to manipulating the SD card.

Preparation.​

Before you start the process you need some steps:
  • Download latest Atmosphère files, download again from the GitHub repo no matters if you think you have it, sometimes the repo is silent updated.
  • Download latest Hekate files, download again from the GitHub repo no matters if you think you have it, sometimes the repo is silent updated.
  • Download latest Sigpatches from the GBATemp Thread no matters if you think you have the newest, they might be upgraded.
  • Download latest Sys-Patch Sysmodule some people tells is redundant but is better be safe than sorry
  • If you are going to upgrade your firmware, remove any theme you have installed! NX-Themeinstaller now have a option to remove all installed themes.
  • You can get a legally acquired firmware files:
  • Also a search engine can help you to find a correct backup, by example Firmware 18.1.0 rebootless have an ID of e7e2b68

Starting the process.​

Restart your console to Hekate's NYX and load UMS tool, or remove the card and put on your PC, is up to you, Hakate may be a little bit slower but you do not risk physically your console.
  • Delete SDMC:/atmosphere/contents or SDMC:/atmosphere/titles, you should have backed up this folder before.
  • Delete the next folders, that's because the first time you load new Atmosphère that folders will emptied and that can take a lot of time so you could think your console got frozen, so in order to avoid that false alarm it's better to delete them before start console.
    • SDMC:/atmosphere/crash_reports
    • SDMC:/atmosphere/erpt_reports
    • SDMC:/atmosphere/fatal_reports
  • If you had used INCOGNITO_RCM, is advisable to remove incognito from yours *NAND, having PRODINFO blanked via Incognito RCM can create problems on the new firmware/atmosphère versions.
  • Extract Atmosphère zip file and copy to the root of your SD, overwrite all files.

ProdInfo Blanked


If you like to kept your prodinfo blanked, restore and edit your SDMC:/exosphere.ini file and add/change the next values to «1» in order to enable Atmosphère incognito on telemetry:
Code:
blank_prodinfo_sysmmc=1
blank_prodinfo_emummc=1

DNS MiTM


Now to enable DNSMiTM, you need to restore your SDMC:/atmosphere/config/system_settings.ini file from backup, or copy the one from SDMC:/atmosphere/config_template/system_settings.ini and be sure the parameter enable_dns_mitm , enable_dns_mitm_debug_log and add_defaults_to_dns_hosts have the value u8!0x1 Also be sure you remove the «;» at start of the line. By example, your file should be something like:

Code:
[atmosphere]

.
.
.

enable_dns_mitm = u8!0x1
; Controls whether dns.mitm uses the default redirections in addition to
; whatever is specified in the user's hosts file.
; 0 = Disabled (use hosts file contents), 1 = Enabled (use defaults and hosts file contents)
add_defaults_to_dns_hosts = u8!0x1
; Controls whether dns.mitm logs to the sd card for debugging
; 0 = Disabled, 1 = Enabled
enable_dns_mitm_debug_log = u8!0x1
; Controls whether htc is enabled
; 0 = Disabled, 1 = Enabled

.
.
.

Where the dots represent other text.


Other Atmosphère Configs


Restore your SDMC:/atmosphere/config/override_config.ini (Key combos for atmosphère) & SDMC:/atmosphere/config/stratosphere.ini (Disable game cartdrige) files.


Hekate



  • Extract the downloaded Hekate zip file, and copy to the root of your SD, overwrite all files.
  • Upgrade your payload.bin file, if you use a injector on the injector, if you use a modchip replacing the file SDMC:/payload.bin file, if you use Hekate rename the file hekate_ctcaer_X.Y.Z.bin to payload.bin and copy to root of your SDCard.
  • Restore YOUR OWN CUSTOMIZED SDMC:/bootloader/hekate_ipl.ini file from the backup you did before. if is necessary remove any kip1patch=nosigchk line on it because you are not using patches.ini so far.
    Or if you like to use it on your console, download latest Sigpatches archive from the post indicated on the thread, but copy only the file SDMC:/bootloader/patches.ini and do not remove the lines on your hekate_ipl.ini. this is not necessary.

Sigpatches






Testing the console​


Put the card or turn off the console, then start your console as usual and let the HOS to load.​
If everything load fine you can now upgrade your firmware or go to next step.​
In order to upgrade your firmware, load Homebrew Loader (HBmenu) and run Daybreak. it's better to select «install (FAT32 + exFAT)» option, on this way if anytime you insert a SD card formatted on exFAT you will avoid an error. This option only install additional drivers but DO NOT modify your card. Be sure of select «Preserve settings» if you like to preserve your games and configuration.​
Your console will restart once the process end.​
Test your installed titles and verify some games to run OK.​


Finishing the setup.​


After you know your console boots correctly and everything is fine now you can reinstall SYSMODULES, cheats, and modifications. you can choose restore them from your SDMC:/atmosphere/contents backup or I do recommend to look if there is any newer version.​
Other common SYSmodules are, Emuiibo, Mission Control, FTPD, etc.​
Remember to restart your console once you upgraded any SYSMODULE​
Take a time and look for updated version of your Homebrew.​
If you use themes look if there are new versions of NXThemesInstaller and the patches needed to install them, after update all components, reinstall your themes.​


Important note for Mac Users:​


Macintosh OSes and IOS have a disgusting tendency to no adhere to standards so if you handle your card on a Mac, be sure to boot in to NYX and on tools tab select «Unset archive bit» AND «Fix archive bit - Nintendo»​

More information about the upgrade process:​




 
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I want to update my switch for Pokemon, what cfw should I do? I saw v20.1.5. What do I need to update? Hecake, fuse, Atmos and what else? I'm looking for the latest versions for the cheats and the overlay. Where do I put them again? I think I also need to update the update cfw app. I'll backup my SD card to do a backup but do I do the few one? I don't remember what I do to backup just to make sure I have a backup in case something messes up while updating to the new cfw.
 
Is there another SYS patch? Because on it says it "runs ONLY on At 1.8.0". Also, I saw that I have duel boot with Linux. I forgot where the homebrew menu is to see what apps I have like daybreak etc. I plan on backing up my 1tb SD card, making a full backup for it (although I always used to do the Hecate way and that worked for me). Also, I read through pg 1 of what to do, which thing is to make the device stay in offline mode not connecting to N? Want to make sure I have and know everything to get ready so I can finally do this tonight
 
Is there another SYS patch? Because on it says it "runs ONLY on At 1.8.0". Also, I saw that I have duel boot with Linux. I forgot where the homebrew menu is to see what apps I have like daybreak etc. I plan on backing up my 1tb SD card, making a full backup for it (although I always used to do the Hecate way and that worked for me). Also, I read through pg 1 of what to do, which thing is to make the device stay in offline mode not connecting to N? Want to make sure I have and know everything to get ready so I can finally do this tonight
https://gbatemp.net/download/sys-patch-sysmodule.39124/
 
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Oh I misread it so it'll work. Any chance you or someone has a video tutorial on how to update? Only because I want to make sure I do a full backup correctly, get all of the files and do everything
videos ARE ALWAYS OUTDATED, that is why this written guide is made.
 
videos ARE ALWAYS OUTDATED, that is why this written guide is made.
Yeah that's true. Do I have to worry since my device also have Linux? Like will I still be able to have/use it ? Need to remember what files are for it. Although I think I should be good if I'm going to override/update the update files and also see what homebrews are not working anymore
 
Yo añadiría el bundle NX Venom for overclocking y undervolt mejora bastante el rendimiento y la duración de la batería.

I would add the NX Venom for overclocking bundle and undervolt improves performance and battery life quite a bit :grog:
Considering NX Venom is actually really bad I would never suggest that lmao

Stick to switchcraft if you wanna oc/uv
 
Going to update everything for the first time (19 to latest) but am slightly confused regarding my raw partition.

At what point do i restore it or is the backup only if required? I will be backing up but unsure if the hekate ams tool or the windows tool linked on first page are doing the same thing?

From my understanding, i can update hekate files, then ams files, then fw without needing a backup really... In theory of course?
 
At what point do i restore it or is the backup only if required? I
The backup is required because IF something goes wrong you have a point to go back.


I will be backing up but unsure if the hekate ams tool or the windows tool linked on first page are doing the same thing?
If you have space on your SD Card the easy way to backup is use Hekate.


My recommendation is to take advantage of this migration to convert your RAW partition to a File based EmuNAND. it is easy to backup and restore (it is just a normal folder) and today have the same speed than RAW one.


From my understanding, i can update hekate files, then ams files, then fw without needing a backup really... In theory of course?
Yes you can, but if your user partition get corrupted on the upgrade of the firmware you won't have a way to get your emunand working again. That is likely to happen on upgrade to FW 20.0.0 most of us had to reinstall all games because the new format of user partition and some people ended with corrupted user information.
 
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The backup is required because IF something goes wrong you have a point to go back.



If you have space on your SD Card the easy way to backup is use Hekate.


My recommendation is to take advantage of this migration to convert your RAW partition to a File based EmuNAND. it is easy to backup and restore (it is just a normal folder) and today have the same speed than RAW one.



Yes you can, but if your user partition get corrupted on the upgrade of the firmware you won't have a way to get your emunand working again. That is likely to happen on upgrade to FW 20.0.0 most of us had to reinstall all games because the new format of user partition and some people ended with corrupted user information.
How would i migrate to a file based and should i have an emummc folder if i am raw based?
 
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My Switch lite emuMMC and Stock-SysMMC both been updated but I've forgot to apply Atmosphere on CFW-SysMMC (files attached). And now no games boot on emuMMC. Do I need to just update the CFW SysMMC or there other process I have to go through?
 

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