WARNING! If you get banned somehow, I'm not responsible

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UPDATE 7/23:

Tutorial is now outdated because you can now "Install" NSP via DevMenu
Follow either one of these threads
Hekate LayeredFS Full Sig Patches
CTCaer Hekate patch

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UPDATE 7/22:
The following script is a All-In-One tool, thanks to @Assasin1990 and @Ericjwg and replaces STEP 3 below (along with titlekey step)
Simply download the script NCA-NSP-XCI To LayeredFS v1.6
Note: You will need to have keys.ini file
Run the .bat file and follow the commands

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OVERVIEW:
This guide will explain how to play eShop games (aka NSP files) without SX OS and without Dev Menu
Note: if this guide is too advanced for you, wait for automated tools

REQUIREMENTS (TESTED WITH):
Nintendo Switch Firmware 5.1.0
Hekate - CTCaer mod v3.1
TomGer's SDFiles v5 - Rocket Man
Hactool 1.1.0

Note: if you test on older SDFiles/CTCaer/Switch FW and it doesn't work, you are on your own

DO NOT NEED:
Dev Menu
SX OS

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Note: Following steps were tested successfully with Hollow Knight, Enter the Gungeon, Poly Bridge & Fast RMX (NSPs)

STEP 1: READ
Meet the requirements mentioned above

STEP 2: PREP FILES
Acquire the NSP file by whatever means
Extract hactool files in the same folder as NSP file
Make sure your keys file also exists in same folder
(if you dont have keys file ready, google Maxconsole Underground Skull & Crossbones)
Note: this guide uses "keys" as .txt file

STEP 3: EXTRACT
Extract the NSP file via hactool by going into command prompt and execute in your working directory;

hactool -t pfs0 -k keys.txt game.nsp --pfs0dir=extract

(keys.txt or keys.ini or keys.dat whatever you want to use, make sure to rename in command and as long as it contains all the keys needed)

All the files will now be located in your currentFolder/extract

Find the biggest NCA in filesize located in the 'extract' folder (Tip: rename the file into game.nca)

Then execute one of the following;

If you prefer 1 RomFS.bin file, execute the following:

hactool -k keys.txt --titlekey=CopyPasteKeyHere --exefsdir=exefs --romfs=romfs.bin game.nca

Otherwise if you prefer all game file extracted into a folder, execute the following:

hactool -k keys.txt --titlekey=CopyPasteKeyHere --exefsdir=exefs --romfsdir=romfs game.nca

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FOLLOWING STEPS ARE FOR FINDING TITLE KEY
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Note: Following steps were tested with Hollow Knight

PICK 1 METHOD: Web-based or Stand Alone Application

WEB-BASED
Go to https://hexed.it/ (or use any Hex Editor)

OR Stand Alone Application
Download HxD - Freeware Hex Editor
Change view by going to 'VIEW > Byte group size > set it to 16
(Able to select the entire key and copy / paste easily)

(Key above modified to mask actual values)

Open the .tik file located in your currentFolder/extract (you can even drag and drop)
Go to address 0x180 and you will see a long string of values (16 columns, 32 characters)
This is the unique title key for your nsp file (note it down without spaces)
Example: 18420AE8##############E3FEAC (values masked due to legal reason)

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STEP 4: PATCH
Patch the main.npdm file with donor title by going to
http://carlus.altervista.org/nx/title_id_patcher.html

Enter the TitleID of the donor title
Drag and Drop your main.npdm file
Download and overwrite

STEP 5: TRANSFER
Using the donor TitleID from previous step, create a folder on your Switch SD Card
//atmosphere/titles/<donorTitleID>/
Copy the romfs and exefs files in this Donor TitleID folder

STEP 6: PLAY
Begin by launching firmware "Older LayeredFS" option (some games 'might' work in newer LayeredFS option)
Run the Donor Title
If any error occurs, simply patch the main.npdm with another donor title ID and rename the folder with new donor title ID

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Sample Donor Titles to use:
Pinball FX3 - 0100DB7003828000
Happy Birthdays Demo - 010083600AE9E000
Octopath Demo - 010096000B3EA000
Pokemon Quest - 01005D100807A000
Fallout Shelter - 010043500A17A000

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TOOL:
Once you understand how all of this works "manually", I highly recommend following this other guide by @huma_dawii and tool created by @Assasin1990
https://gbatemp.net/threads/extract-nsp-nca-xci-update-all-in-one-tool-for-layeredfs.511156/

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TROUBLESHOOTING:

Error: Invalid NCA header! Are keys correct?

Fix 1:
Make sure your keys file is valid, format is
master_key_00 = C2...
master_key_01 = 54...
and so on

Fix 2:
if your keys file is .ini, make sure your hactool command mentions keys.ini (replace .txt)

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Error: section 0 is corrupted!
Error: section 1 is corrupted!

Fix 1:
Wrong title key, hex edit again and grab the 0x180 address values again
Sample entry for Sonic Mania : --titlekey=4BFF1#####DAC57#####B322 (Full value masked due to legal reasons)

 

[HoTsHoTz79]

I am wondering how this thread has not gone crazy yet. This seems to be what many of us have been waiting for, or am I missing something?

Is there better compatibility with this then LayeredFS with xci's? Looking forward to some results. I plan to test soon, can't just yet.

I saw multiple tutorials for NSP / eShop games but with SX OS... and couple users asked about LayeredFS ... because theres so a lot out there in each thread... useful info like this gets buried, so i decided to make this tutorial

I discovered this method in the LayeredFS thread - @Mat37 & @EmperorX provided directions on how to do

as far as compatibility goes.. i am not sure... i have cartridge games as XCI and eShop only titles as NSP
so i didn't try games like Super Mario Odyssey as NSP...

 

[Pizzlewizzle]

Thanks for the tutorial... will be trying this tomorrow unless ReiSwitched or an easier way comes out.

 

[HoTsHoTz79]

Thanks for the tutorial... will be trying this tomorrow unless ReiSwitched or an easier way comes out.

from the sound of it... it will be easier
so in the meantime, we can enjoy nsp's through hard work lol

 

[Wolfy]

It is cool that this is a thing now, though I'll probably wait till it's easier to do without having to check Hexes.

*thought it was Sig Patches with hekate before so I was hyped XD too good to be true I guess*

 

[studio1b]

i can say this works i been doing this for a week or so already

 

[HoTsHoTz79]

Stand Alone Application
Download HxD - Freeware Hex Editor
Change view by going to 'VIEW > Byte group size > set it to 16
(Able to select the entire key and copy / paste easily)

View attachment 136341
(Key above modified to mask actual values)

Added optional step for retreiveing TitleKey via HxD
Allows user to copy the key by selecting the value.. the HexEd.it site doesn't allow copy command

 

[Lava1000]

I get Section 0 is corrupted with the correct titlekey. I am using Enter The Gungeon

 

[HoTsHoTz79]

I get Section 0 is corrupted with the correct titlekey. I am using Enter The Gungeon

gotta be the titlekey

try to get the key again (try the new step i added, using HxD)

key for enter the gungeon is something like .... DF9A-----------FE83

 

[Lava1000]

gotta be the titlekey

try to get the key again (try the new step i added, using HxD)

key for enter the gungeon is something like .... DF9A-----------FE83

I think I just Figured Out I Have A Bad NSP xD The NSP was an update!

 

[Lava1000]

I think I just Figured Out I Have A Bad NSP xD The NSP was an update!

Nevermind romfs.bin now extracts but exefs does not extract!

 

[tatdat1994]

Working great, now newlayeredfs mod plague with xci ,old one with nsp
Edit: And some how it's more stable than xci.

 

[Evan25lee]

How do i get the main.npdm file? i cant seem to find it anywhere

 

[kramer987]

How do i get the main.npdm file? i cant seem to find it anywhere

exefs folder

 

[HoTsHoTz79]

Nevermind romfs.bin now extracts but exefs does not extract!

if the NCA you are trying to extract only gives RomFS.bin... then theres no "Partition Type of ExeFS"
Game NSP and Update NSP both should have ExeFS...
DLCs do not have an ExeFS

so maybe your NSP file is a DLC perhaps?

 

[Beware]

So is there any way to get DLC into titles? This method works great, but the main games I want to play are Doom and Wolfenstein.

Compatibility is a little weird. It doesn't necessarily match up with the Awesome Table compatibility list. The games I have working with free/demos:

Ikaruga w/ Pinball FX3
Hollow Knight w/ Stern Pinball
Dead Cells - Super One More Jump
Bloodstained: CotM - Pokemon Quest
Axiom Verge - Fortnite
Skyrim - Octopath Prologue
DKCR: Tropical Freeze - Octopath Prologue
Crash Bandicoot Trilogy - The Pinball Arcade

I'm unsure if they all save, I'll update this post if it turns out they don't.

 

[F1NATIK]

People still messing with this layeredfs SHIT, FFS just splash out, Broke back arses

 

[HoTsHoTz79]

So is there any way to get DLC into titles? This method works great, but the main games I want to play are Doom and Wolfenstein.

Compatibility is a little weird. It doesn't necessarily match up with the Awesome Table compatibility list. The games I have working with free/demos:

Ikaruga w/ Pinball FX3
Hollow Knight w/ Stern Pinball
Dead Cells - Super One More Jump
Bloodstained: CotM - Pokemon Quest
Axiom Verge - Fortnite
Skyrim - Octopath Prologue
DKCR: Tropical Freeze - Octopath Prologue
Crash Bandicoot Trilogy - The Pinball Arcade

I'm unsure if they all save, I'll update this post if it turns out they don't.

DLC, couple of us tried to merge onto the base games but no luck.
My findings were that the DLCs have only one section 'Section 0 with Partition type of RomFS'
Meanwhile, the base games/updates have Partition type of RomFS in Section 1
So when you try to use hactool to merge, the Section 0 cant merge with Section 1

Anyways... i cant fully confirm Wolfenstein as i just finished chapter 1 only but i am currently playing the updated RomFS using 'XCI' merge with Update NSP

People still messing with this layeredfs SHIT, FFS just splash out, Broke back arses

yea you are right, might as well splash out and buy the games /s

 

[Zumoly]

So is there any way to get DLC into titles? This method works great, but the main games I want to play are Doom and Wolfenstein.

DLC does not play nice being merged with the base game and the update as romfs (dunno why?)
But from what I can tell if you have the Card Game, the DLC will work just fine so long you have updated your game to see the DLC.

 

[xHR]

Could you give some working donors? I wrote script for unpacking xci and nsp (nsp_xci_decryptor on github), but cannot find any working pair for nsp for testing

 

[HoTsHoTz79]

Could you give some working donors? I wrote script for unpacking xci and nsp (nsp_xci_decryptor on github), but cannot find any working pair for nsp for testing

I've tested FastRMX, Hollow Knight and Enter the gungeon using the following donors
Happy Birthdays Demo 010069700AF9C000
Pinball FX3 0100DB7003828000

There is this script too if you haven't checked it out yet

TOOL:
Once you understand how all of this works "manually", I highly recommend following this other guide by @huma_dawii and tool created by @Assasin1990
https://gbatemp.net/threads/extract-nsp-nca-xci-update-all-in-one-tool-for-layeredfs.511156/​