This guide assumes you have access to RCM, if you do not, use a compatible method. Some of those compatible methods can be found here.
This guide will transform your stock switch to play "backups" of switch games
1.) Installing ReiNX

• Download the latest stable ReiNX Release (Found here) (Extract this on to the root of your SD)
• Make a new folder in the /ReiNX/ directory on your SD named 'titles'
• Download hbmenu.nro (place this on the root of your SD)
• Download this .zip file and extract it to /ReiNX/titles/
• Download the latest stable release of Tinfoil(Found here)
• Create a new folder on the SD's root named 'switch'
• Place tinfoil.nro (found in the tinfoil zip) in the /switch/ directory
• Make a new folder on the root of the SD named 'tinfoil' and inside this folder create another folder named 'nsp'

*From now on any NSP warez or homebrew you download should be placed in /tinfoil/nsp on the SD card.

2.) Booting into ReiNX
*Skip this step if you are familiar with booting into CFW

• Use your method of choice to enter RCM
• Push ReiNX.bin from the ReiNX.zip we downloaded earlier to your switch. (If you do not know what app to use to do this i reccomend TegraRCMGUI for Windows users.)

3.) Installing Games

• Open the homebrew launcher by opening the Nintendo Switch Album
• Open tinfoil
• Choose Title Management>Install NSP>(Choose the NSP you would like to install)

Profit! Enjoy your "legally obtained backups"

FAQ:

- Can I delete .NSP files from my SD after they have been installed via tinfoil?
Yes you can.

- Will I get banned for going online?
Yes, you will most likely be banned from playing online with your switch. This in fact does not block updates though, and you can still access the eShop. (I strongly suggest you keep your switch in Airplane mode and de-link your NNID if you plan on using CFW to install a bunch of NSPs.)

- Can I install updates or DLC with this tool?
Not with tinfoil currently, you have to install devmenu to install DLCs and game updates. See here: https://gbatemp.net/threads/quick-g...ates-dlc-with-devmenu-no-sx-os-needed.512337/

- Can I convert .XCI to .NSP?
Yes. Use this.

- Do i have to use the album to launch into the homebrew launcher?
No. You can install this via tinfoil and launch the homebrew launcher as if it is an app if that pleases you.

- I wish i could backup my saves so that i don't lose them...
Download checkpoint.nro and use it to backup your saves/import saves from another switch.

- Can i install any homebrew to my main menu with this?
Pretty much. Check this out.

- How do i update ReiNX?
You can update it manually by downloading the latest release and extracting it to the root of your SD card, or use this updater homebrew application. (Recommended you use that homebrew to decrease hassle every time you want to update.)

 

[Ian095]

You can pirate games using this method. That is 99.9% of everyone using this guide's intention.

Ahh ok had to be sure considering the other guy who's method uses Hekate was against it. Was trying to install Skyrim (an xci which was converted into NSP) but it failed to read the xml format or whatever. Going to look into it tomorrow, but at least I know it's not because it's impossible now. Thanks!

 

[Nazosan]

All those looking into various "jig" methods, someone posted this on Twitter a while back (I'm so sorry, I can't remember who):

Spoiler

That is a 10K resistor. This lets you have the equivalent of shorting the pins, but it's supposed to work with the newer JoyCon firmware that detects if the pins are shorted. I found out that you can fit a really small non-SMD resistor in there if you trim a bit on the plastic part that goes over the area when you push it back together. Curiously the part that needs to be trimmed doesn't even seem to have any purpose that I could tell. I can verify via my own that I can enter RCM using a 10K resistor instead of a short, so I guess the chip isn't very picky.

BTW, AutoRCM seems nice, but it gets overwritten by updates it seems. I was on 4.1.0 and basically nothing supports it for whatever reason even after everyone kept saying over and over "stay on lower firmwares because there are some great things they can do" it seems every single bit of code out now requires that you first update to 5.1. Unfortunately -- silly me -- I just assumed it would still be there because people were saying the boot code was rarely touched and next thing I know it's booting back to the system and obviously burning those fuses (so 4.1.0 is gone forever I guess.) IMO this is yet another reason we kind of really need emuNAND. Something like this happens with emuNAND and you go into an old sysNAND (but in a worst case scenario emuNAND can be copied over if fuses got burned somehow anyway. At least, assuming it works how it did with the 3DS.) Except I suppose with emuNAND boot code in the internal NAND shouldn't be modified anyway, so presumably it wouldn't happen in the first place. Anyway, the point is: don't count on AutoRCM because it's not 100% guaranteed.

 

[MarzDaindigo]

Failed to install nca! Error code: 0x00000805

Anyone know the problem?

Btw the nsp is deatg road to canada...a small game i thought would work -____-

 

[Itsblaze302]

I downloaded 2 nsp offline but then i went to my ofw and went online and both of the games updated. I am not banned but will I get banned soon?

 

[IHOP]

I downloaded 2 nsp offline but then i went to my ofw and went online and both of the games updated. I am not banned but will I get banned soon?

no one knows for sure. probably but maybe not. good luck lol.

 

[Nevercholt]

Hmmm I installed MK8 Deluxe but when I launch it it wants me to update and I cannot skip it :/ Any way to bypass that?

 

[Itsblaze302]

Hmmm I installed MK8 Deluxe but when I launch it it wants me to update and I cannot skip it :/ Any way to bypass that?

Get the update nsp and install it.

 

[Nevercholt]

Get the update nsp and install it.

I get an .xml parsing error :/

 

[cicciopas]

Failed to install nca! Error code: 0x00000805

Anyone know the problem?

Btw the nsp is deatg road to canada...a small game i thought would work -____-

same error for at least 5 nsp tried

 

[Nevercholt]

Get the update nsp and install it.

Bloons TD5 works just fine for me, even without the nsp update but MK8 doesnt work :/

 

[IHOP]

So i did some messing around on my 5.1.0 switch, (ReiNX with sigpatches) installed a ton of 'acquired' nsps to my system. Connected it to the internet, updated about 5 to 6 games through the switch. Downloaded Fortnite from the eShop, played around for an hour. It seems that Nintendo is going to ban you if you take paid games with online functionalities (e.g. Splatoon 2, Paladins) and try and play them online. Keeping your switch online and using it to play online games you legitimately own, while installing single player oriented experiences without having to pay for them (e.g. Octopath Traveler, Xenoblade Chronicles 2) that don't use online, doesn't seem to trigger a ban. I've put about 6 hours into Octopath Traveler today (holy shit is that game good) while being connected to the internet and nothing has happened to me yet.

 

[Nevercholt]

I made a video tutorial if anyone is interested/having troubles getting this up and running:

 

[chr0m]

I made a video tutorial if anyone is interested/having troubles getting this up and running:

I haven't played with any of this yet, just using SX OS and XCIs, but I believe you couldn't get Mario Kart working because Tinfoil doesn't support installing updates and DLC yet.

You can use devmenu to install the update, or if you're brave, get the Switch online and let it update there

 

[Nevercholt]

I haven't played with any of this yet, just using SX OS and XCIs, but I believe you couldn't get Mario Kart working because Tinfoil doesn't support installing updates and DLC yet.

You can use devmenu to install the update, or if you're brave, get the Switch online and let it update there

Okay thx! For now I just stick to SX OS

 

[Ghassen-ga]

Hi, I'm 4.1 and got a blue screen what am I doing wrong?

 

[Ian095]

Hi, I'm 4.1 and got a blue screen what am I doing wrong?

Don't think it works on 4.1, had the exact same problem. Update without burning fuses or if you're as lazy as me update with burning them lmao.

I've been trying to install a game, I'm guessing converting a XCI to NSP won't be able to be installed since I got that xml error, but I'm "acquiring" an NSP that I never made myself so, here's hoping...

If you look at other posts on here it's a reoccurring problem with people on 4.1 to get a blue screen.

UPDATE: Can confirm you can install backups which you are not the original owner of, also the XCI to NSP converter doesn't work for installing this method, but clean NSP's do install (compiled by Nintendo). It does indeed work on 5.1.0 while getting a blue screen on 4.1.0 and maybe other FW below that. I installed Octopath Traveler but failed to install the update which I believe isn't supported right now. Thanks, Rei and most of all OP for making this thread.

 

[Ghassen-ga]

Don't think it works on 4.1, had the exact same problem. Update without burning fuses or if you're as lazy as me update with burning them lmao.

I've been trying to install a game, I'm guessing converting a XCI to NSP won't be able to be installed since I got that xml error, but I'm "acquiring" an NSP that I never made myself so, here's hoping...

If you look at other posts on here it's a reoccurring problem with people on 4.1 to get a blue screen.

UPDATE: Can confirm you can install backups which you are not the original owner of, also the XCI to NSP converter doesn't work for installing this method, but clean NSP's do install (compiled by Nintendo). It does indeed work on 5.1.0 while getting a blue screen on 4.1.0 and maybe other FW below that. I installed Octopath Traveler but failed to install the update which I believe isn't supported right now. Thanks, Rei and most of all OP for making this thread.

I got it to work using the newest files, but can't play the games without doing a system update, so meh, I'm guessing no way Arround that?

 

[Ian095]

I got it to work using the newest files, but can't play the games without doing a system update, so meh, I'm guessing no way Arround that?

Can't confirm for sure but all my problems were solved by updating to the latest FW. High chance if you want a smooth error-free experience you'll have to update. If you have the time or a friend with a switch you can follow a guide on here to update offline with a game cart if it has the 5.1.0 update which if you enter RCM mode apparently avoids burning the fuse. Think it was this one https://gbatemp.net/threads/an-easy...ch-firmware-without-burning-any-fuses.511847/ (Note I think the issue with this method is that if you miss RCM you end up burning the fuse).

Other than that well, your only other option is that lengthy way of updating offline which just discouraged me as it seems like a lot of effort. https://gbatemp.net/threads/how-to-...nofficially-without-burning-any-fuses.507461/

Considering you will have to update your FW to play newer games though unless some sort of bypass is released by the end of the year it seems to be an indefinite choice, for now.

 

[Borsalino]

Will I get banned using devmenu? I only plan to install updates and DLC but will never go online.

 

[LoDeus]

Another ban-related question, not totally understanding how it works, but if I go online with a game I own or just to eShop with a not-owned NSP installed, is it detected too? or only if I would go online with a not-owned game?
Don't want to try because too early for a ban and no other switch to sacrifice