Hacking Question My little brother is dumb. How to factory reset a switch without the parental code. On 3.0.1

[David456]

Hi, so my brother just bough a used Nintendo Switch, which is most likely stolen. It came without a dock/charger, just the console and a Zelda on a card in it.
Anyways, there are 2 other accounts and a parental control on and we couldn't find any way to format it without knowing the pin code. Is there a way?
I understood we could also call Nintendo, what would we need to know to restore it through them?

And if there is not ANY way to do that, what restrictions are there on using the console? Could we expect someone braking into this version of the system any time soon?

Thanks a lot.

 

[Deleted User]

Hi, so my brother just bough a used Nintendo Switch, which is most likely stolen. It came without a dock/charger, just the console and a Zelda on a card in it.
Anyways, there are 2 other accounts and a parental control on and we couldn't find any way to format it without knowing the pin code. Is there a way?
I understood we could also call Nintendo, what would we need to know to restore it through them?

And if there is not ANY way to do that, what restrictions are there on using the console? Could we expect someone braking into this version of the system any time soon?

Thanks a lot.

Honestly, calling Nintendo is probably the best thing to do. You can't restore it to original firmware though, only 3.0.1. Most likely, it will be a long waiting game before we get something on 3.0.1

 

[David456]

Honestly, calling Nintendo is probably the best thing to do. You can't restore it to original firmware though, only 3.0.1. Most likely, it will be a long waiting game before we get something on 3.0.1

And What would they want to know? There is supposed to be a sticker on the bottom which is ripped off and the only things we know are the serial numbers I can check in the system.

 

[Deleted User]

And What would they want to know? There is supposed to be a sticker on the bottom which is ripped off and the only things we know are the serial numbers I can check in the system.

Well, I can't answer that question. Personally, I've never had to call nintendo after I accidentally told them to wait while I booted into emuNAND and then they hung up sooo.

 

[David456]

Well, I can't answer that question. Personally, I've never had to call nintendo after I accidentally told them to wait while I booted into emuNAND and then they hung up sooo.

Thank you, I have one more question please. There are 2 accounts on the switch and neither of them is linked to a nintendo account. What does that mean? Is it possible that the console has never been online?

 

[Deleted User]

Thank you, I have one more question please. There are 2 accounts on the switch and neither of them is linked to a nintendo account. What does that mean? Is it possible that the console has never been online?

If the console is on 3.0.1, it has been updated (which means it has been online). If neither of them have been connected to a nintendo account, chances are the original owners never used it for anything except single player games (such as breath of the wild) and didn't use it for the eshop.

 

[gamesquest1]

How to boot into recovery mode on Nintendo Switch

• Turn off the console by pressing the power button on top of the console for five seconds.
• Press POWER button + Volume Up + Volume down at the same time.
• Release all buttons when the Switch logo appears on the screen.
• The console should now be in recovery mode with the option to update.

Right now you can update the console, erase all data including save data and pictures, or erase data excluding saved data and pictures. This should be handy for some people who are experiencing issues with their Nintendo Switch out of the box and want to try a factory reset to see if it helps resolve issues.

(Not certain if recovery mode requires the pin, but usually they don't)

 

[David456]

How to boot into recovery mode on Nintendo Switch

• Turn off the console by pressing the power button on top of the console for five seconds.
• Press POWER button + Volume Up + Volume down at the same time.
• Release all buttons when the Switch logo appears on the screen.
• The console should now be in recovery mode with the option to update.

Right now you can update the console, erase all data including save data and pictures, or erase data excluding saved data and pictures. This should be handy for some people who are experiencing issues with their Nintendo Switch out of the box and want to try a factory reset to see if it helps resolve issues.

(Not certain if recovery mode requires the pin, but usually they don't)

Thanks for the answer, but unfortunately it requires the pin code. We're going to try calling nintendo on Monday and I wanna ask. What exactly are they gonna want from me? Because all we have are the serial number and the enquiry number, is it gonna be enough? I don't know about any security questions, or details about the original owner like names, credit card details etc.

 

[supercarotte]

Thanks for the answer, but unfortunately it requires the pin code. We're going to try calling nintendo on Monday and I wanna ask. What exactly are they gonna want from me? Because all we have are the serial number and the enquiry number, is it gonna be enough? I don't know about any security questions, or details about the original owner like names, credit card details etc.

Wait, am I the only one baffled by this ? PIN-blocked recovery ? 90% of parents who put a pin forget it after one week, meaning if your Switch breaks for some reason and needs a reset it becomes, for all intents and purposes, a brick. I understand the Update and "light wipe" functions being protected but it should be possible to do a full wipe since it destroys all save and user data.

Also, if your console has a pin, can't you link it to the parentale contrôle smartphone app ? I never tried but I know it's possible to reset the phone from there.

 

[Shadow#1]

Thanks for the answer, but unfortunately it requires the pin code. We're going to try calling nintendo on Monday and I wanna ask. What exactly are they gonna want from me? Because all we have are the serial number and the enquiry number, is it gonna be enough? I don't know about any security questions, or details about the original owner like names, credit card details etc.

just say u bought it used off ebay and the seller isnt on ebay anymore they will understand

 

[driverdis]

Thanks for the answer, but unfortunately it requires the pin code. We're going to try calling nintendo on Monday and I wanna ask. What exactly are they gonna want from me? Because all we have are the serial number and the enquiry number, is it gonna be enough? I don't know about any security questions, or details about the original owner like names, credit card details etc.

Tell them you got the console used as a gift and it still has the pin code active. If they won't let you remove the code, spend some time everyday guessing it. If whoever used it decided to use a easy or well known pin combo then you may have a chance.

EDIT: the eBay story would be a safer bet. I would use that story instead.

 

[smileyhead]

I'm more baffled by the fact how it's pretty obviously stolen, yet you don't try contacting the seller or the police.

 

[Deleted User]

what a fucking thread, great post OP

 

[driverdis]

I'm more baffled by the fact how it's pretty obviously stolen, yet you don't try contacting the seller of the police.

If it was stolen, then whoever owned it would probably replace it under insurance if their deductible is not high. If it was me, I would keep it so I am not out money also. I would not lose any sleep over it since I did not intentionally buy a stolen console.

 

[jpx86]

I'm more baffled by the fact how it's pretty obviously stolen, yet you don't try contacting the seller of the police.

And, people are trying to help him. lol

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If it was stolen, then whoever owned it would probably replace it under insurance if their deductible is not high. If it was me, I would keep it so I am not out money also. I would not lose any sleep over it since I did not intentionally buy a stolen console.

What insurance would people file a claim for a Nintendo on?

 

[driverdis]

And, people are trying to help him. lol

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What insurance would people file a claim for a Nintendo on?

Either Renter's or Homeowner's insurance would be who you would file a claim with.

 

[David456]

Yes it's obviously stolen, but if we report it, the police would take the console and mostly likely my brother wouldn't see his money back. I don't want to sell the console and put someone else in the same situation. I will try to call nintendo and see from there, there is a local ebay like store in my country so I will go with that. Hopefully that will solve it, at least the Zelda is playable until then.

 

[smileyhead]

Yes it's obviously stolen, but if we report it, the police would take the console and mostly likely my brother wouldn't see his money back.

And you're okay with owning a stolen console?
Not only that, but from what I've read, you can't use it properly anyway.

 

[Glyptofane]

Either Renter's or Homeowner's insurance would be who you would file a claim with.

Maybe if the owner's home was cleaned out from theft. If it was just the Switch, you don't file a claim over a $300 loss.

 

[Deleted User]

If the console is stolen then won't it be traced to OP's address when he connects it online?

If the previous owner reported it as stolen then Nintendo can probably figure out a stolen system is connecting to their servers. From there Ninty can report it to US authorities who can order OP's internet company to provide them with OP's personal details.

Or maybe I'm full of shit. I don't fucking know.