Trying to put a 5.4 GB-sized file on the SD Card of my Switch (64 GB available), but it won't work without complaining

[RopeShooter9000]

So, I got an NSP file of Mario Odyssey that I obtained through... Illegitimate means. Now I'm trying to put the file on my Switch's SD via USB-C so I can install it using GoldLeaf. But here's the kicker:
Every time I try and put the file on my SD card via Hekate's USB tools, the transfer process is ALWAYS interrupted by an error message saying: "File is Too Large for Destination."

I tried on Windows, and I got that exact error message.

Then I tried Linux Mint (my daily driver). It worked, got about 3/4 of the way there, but then I got an error message complaining about the file being too big.

The odd thing is that even though the file is 5.2 gigabytes in size, my SD card has around 61 gigabytes available, which SHOULD allow me to install it.

What am I doing wrong? Is it my SD card? Is it the method of installing/transferring I'm using? Is it me? Did I shave too much?

Any help is appreciated. I just wanna play Mario Odyssey, and I spent all my Euros just buying the damned Switch from CEX (V1 model that cost around €245. Steep, but it's more trustworthy than eBay).

 

[AmandaRose]

So, I got an NSP file of Mario Odyssey that I obtained through... Illegitimate means. Now I'm trying to put the file on my Switch's SD via USB-C so I can install it using GoldLeaf. But here's the kicker:
Every time I try and put the file on my SD card via Hekate's USB tools, the transfer process is ALWAYS interrupted by an error message saying: "File is Too Large for Destination."

I tried on Windows, and I got that exact error message.

Then I tried Linux Mint (my daily driver). It worked, got about 3/4 of the way there, but then I got an error message complaining about the file being too big.

The odd thing is that even though the file is 5.2 gigabytes in size, my SD card has around 61 gigabytes available, which SHOULD allow me to install it.

What am I doing wrong? Is it my SD card? Is it the method of installing/transferring I'm using? Is it me? Did I shave too much?

Any help is appreciated. I just wanna play Mario Odyssey, and I spent all my Euros just buying the damned Switch from CEX (V1 model that cost around €245. Steep, but it's more trustworthy than eBay).

I'm gonna take a wild guess and say your sd card is formatted to FAT32. The FAT32 file system has a limit of 4 gigabytes (GB) for a single file. This means you cannot store a file larger than 4 GB on a FAT32-formatted drive, even if the drive has enough total space for it. For a file to be saved to a FAT32 drive, it must be smaller than 4gb.

 

[RopeShooter9000]

I'm gonna take a wild guess and say your sd card is formatted to FAT32. The FAT32 file system has a limit of 4 gigabytes (GB) for a single file. This means you cannot store a file larger than 4 GB on a FAT32-formatted drive, even if the drive has enough total space for it. For a file to be saved to a FAT32 drive, it must be smaller than 4gb.

Should I reformat it? And if so:
1. How do I avoid losing all the data on my SD card?
and 2. Which format is best?

 

[AmandaRose]

Should I reformat it? And if so:
1. How do I avoid losing all the data on my SD card?
and 2. Which format is best?

Copy everything off the sd card then format it to exFAT copy everything back and you files over 4gb will now be able to be copied

 

[TheStonedModder]

Should I reformat it? And if so:
1. How do I avoid losing all the data on my SD card?
and 2. Which format is best?

Do not do that for the switch !

Exfat is a know common failure on the switch and you will lose data.

 

[RopeShooter9000]

Do not do that for the switch !

Exfat is a know common failure on the switch and you will lose data.

Then what do I do?

 

[TheStonedModder]

Then what do I do?

Split the file there’s nsp and xci splitters readily available on Google

 

[RopeShooter9000]

Split the file there’s nsp and xci splitters readily available on Google

That won't mess up the original file, will it?

Post automatically merged: Oct 16, 2025

Copy everything off the sd card then format it to exFAT copy everything back and you files over 4gb will now be able to be copied

@TheStonedModder is telling me to split the file into two or something instead of formatting the SD. Should I follow their advice?

 

[DiscostewSM]

Do not do that for the switch !

Exfat is a know common failure on the switch and you will lose data.

It's a complaint by the homebrew community because of how their apps and such utilize the card. But if it's being used the normal way on Switch, it's not really a problem. Nevertheless, since the use of NSPs is not normal handling, it's best to stick with FAT32 and do as you suggest, by having the files split.

 

[Hayato213]

Easiest way would be to learn to do usb install via a computer, no need to copy and paste file then install, such of waste of time.

 

[DiscostewSM]

That won't mess up the original file, will it?

Post automatically merged: Oct 16, 2025

@TheStonedModder is telling me to split the file into two or something instead of formatting the SD. Should I follow their advice?

It's fine to split the files with the recommended tools, as the programs to install them will handle the difference. Understand, the NSP itself is kind of like an archive that holds a plethora of files within it.

 

[RopeShooter9000]

It's a complaint by the homebrew community because of how their apps and such utilize the card. But if it's being used the normal way on Switch, it's not really a problem. Nevertheless, since the use of NSPs is not normal handling, it's best to stick with FAT32 and do as you suggest, by having the files split.

What tools do I use to split the NSP file? And how do I install them? Do I use GoldLeaf?

 

[DiscostewSM]

What tools do I use to split the NSP file? And how do I install them? Do I use GoldLeaf?

I know there are tools online, but I've never actually done it myself. My Switch is still considered "clean" even with using homebrew on SysNAND. But bringing that up, I'm guessing you don't care of the consequences of installing an NSP if your system is also considered clean.

 

[MasterJ360]

Backing up your data on the sd card to your PC and then formatting it to exfat is the simplest solution for beginners.

 

[RopeShooter9000]

Easiest way would be to learn to do usb install via a computer, no need to copy and paste file then install, such of waste of time.

How do I do that?

 

[digdat0]

To install directly from your computer, download and install DBI (English version here). Open DBI, and from the main menu choose "Run MTP responder". Then plugin the switch to your computer via USB. Whatever file explorer app you have should detect it, and show you a few drives. From those drives, open the SD card where you have the 64gb of space. Then, copy the 5gb file into that folder. It will copy and install it to the SD card. I dont know how it works, but its like magic and wont run into the 5b file limitation.

The second option is to split the NSP into smaller file sizes. Easiest is Switch Army Knife (SAK) if you have Windows. You can get it here. Basically open it, choose "NSP Split" and then select your NSP file. It will process and give two files, usually in same folder as the exe file. Copy both of those files to the SD card. Open goldleaf, and open the sd card file browser, and you can see the files. It should be a one-click install. If it doesnt allow install and shows file contents, go back and choose the larger of the two files and open options for the file (I think x or y button) and choose 'set archive bit'. It will link the two files, and then will allow installing correctly.

 

[RopeShooter9000]

To install directly from your computer, download and install DBI (English version here). Open DBI, and from the main menu choose "Run MTP responder". Then plugin the switch to your computer via USB. Whatever file explorer app you have should detect it, and show you a few drives. From those drives, open the SD card where you have the 64gb of space. Then, copy the 5gb file into that folder. It will copy and install it to the SD card. I dont know how it works, but its like magic and wont run into the 5b file limitation.

The second option is to split the NSP into smaller file sizes. Easiest is Switch Army Knife (SAK) if you have Windows. You can get it here. Basically open it, choose "NSP Split" and then select your NSP file. It will process and give two files, usually in same folder as the exe file. Copy both of those files to the SD card. Open goldleaf, and open the sd card file browser, and you can see the files. It should be a one-click install. If it doesnt allow install and shows file contents, go back and choose the larger of the two files and open options for the file (I think x or y button) and choose 'set archive bit'. It will link the two files, and then will allow installing correctly.

Nevermind. I got the problem sorted. Thanks for the response, though.

 

[BrEx1]

Nevermind. I got the problem sorted. Thanks for the response, though.

Mind sharing how it got sorted ?

Post automatically merged: Nov 14, 2025

Nevermind. I got the problem sorted. Thanks for the response, though.

Having the same issue, please advise me on how to proceed, thank you for your help