Hacking SWITCH NOOB PARADISE - Ask questions here

[Dothackjhe]

I have a Switch (XAW1007) with firmware 4.1.0, but I had not been reading any news about the Switch before getting one, and there seem to be a lot of things around right now for it (ReiNX, Atmosphere, Homebrew Launcher, Fusee Gelee, Hekate, etc.), so I have no idea where to start, and I do not want to install things that are obsolete or are likely to break the Switch.

Would custom firmware be okay to try to install right now, or will it make installing newer things more difficult?
If it is okay to install custom firmware right now, is there an up-to-date guide for installing custom firmware and other things?

If you want a free custom firmware, your best choice is at the moment either ReiNX or RajNX.

If you want a licensed custom firmware that has more perks than the best free CFW available, choose SX OS.

 

[Felo18]

Hi. I have the Nintendo Switch in version 5.1 with SX Os Pro. My question is I can use the CDNSP 4.1.1 app to download my games without damaging anything.

 

[thorasgar]

I have a Switch (XAW1007) with firmware 4.1.0, but I had not been reading any news about the Switch before getting one, and there seem to be a lot of things around right now for it (ReiNX, Atmosphere, Homebrew Launcher, Fusee Gelee, Hekate, etc.), so I have no idea where to start, and I do not want to install things that are obsolete or are likely to break the Switch.

Would custom firmware be okay to try to install right now, or will it make installing newer things more difficult?
If it is okay to install custom firmware right now, is there an up-to-date guide for installing custom firmware and other things?

1.A. Yes, if you are willing to stay offline or a accept a substantial risk of a ban. 1.B No is long as you make a Nand backup before runnning any CFW.

There are several guides in the tutorial section but things are changing so fast that nothing is completely up to date. My suggestion would be to read the tutorials, go back 20 pages in this thread and the same with ReiNX and/or RajNX. Probably should read about ChoiDujourNX so you can upgrade without burning fuses.

There are a lot of decisions and choices to make not just one universally accepted method, so you will have to educate yourself.

ChoiDujourNX - a system firmware installer homebrew for the Nintendo Switch

Hi. I have the Nintendo Switch in version 5.1 with SX Os Pro. My question is I can use the CDNSP 4.1.1 app to download my games without damaging anything.

Damage the Switch or SXPro? No. Damage your status with Nintendo? Likely.

 

[Kotomine Kirei]

If you want a free custom firmware, your best choice is at the moment either ReiNX or RajNX.

If you want a licensed custom firmware that has more perks than the best free CFW available, choose SX OS.

What can SX OS do that free CFW cannot?

1.A. Yes, if you are willing to stay offline or a accept a substantial risk of a ban. 1.B No is long as you make a Nand backup before runnning any CFW.

There are several guides in the tutorial section but things are changing so fast that nothing is completely up to date. My suggestion would be to read the tutorials, go back 20 pages in this thread and the same with ReiNX and/or RajNX. Probably should read about ChoiDujourNX so you can upgrade without burning fuses.

There are a lot of decisions and choices to make not just one universally accepted method, so you will have to educate yourself.

ChoiDujourNX - a system firmware installer homebrew for the Nintendo Switch

Do you know if there is or will be a way to enter RCM without having to use any extra hardware, or to install CFW without entering RCM?
With the way that things seem to work right now, I think that it might be better for me to wait before installing anything, but if there will be no other ways, then I would probably just do it now.

 

[Dothackjhe]

SX OS can run XCI-format files, for one.

 

[godstriker8]

I'm on 5.0.2.

Does it matter if I update to 5.1? I'm going on Vacation, and I want the Xenoblade 2 updates.

 

[877]

I'm on 5.0.2.

Does it matter if I update to 5.1? I'm going on Vacation, and I want the Xenoblade 2 updates.

Check if efuses will be burnt, if not go ahead. There’s a sticky somewhere.

Edit: go ahead it won’t burn another fuse:
https://switchbrew.org/index.php?title=Fuses
Scroll to bottom.

 

[PT333]

I'm using probably the oldest version of DevMenu, one that required Pokemon Quest as donor game. If I install games along with updates and DLCs and then want to remove the game, do I need to uninstall updates and DLCs first or is it enough to uninstall main game file and the rest will be removed with it?

 

[thorasgar]

What can SX OS do that free CFW cannot?

Do you know if there is or will be a way to enter RCM without having to use any extra hardware, or to install CFW without entering RCM?
With the way that things seem to work right now, I think that it might be better for me to wait before installing anything, but if there will be no other ways, then I would probably just do it now.

SX can play XCI files and CFW cannot at this time.

I don’t know if any better methods will be released or when. IMO if you have a quality usb c cable like the pro controller cable and a decently functioning PC or Android phone dealing with rcm and autoRCM is not a problem. Just make sure you understand what you are doing and dont just blindly follow a guide. Many of the people that have major problems are looking for quick answers and make mistakes. I have always maintained that this is a hobby and should be treated as such. If you are not willing to put a lot of your leisure time into it probably best to look elsewhere.

 

[OnnRyuu]

I've been buring my head in this forum and have my brains turned to mush by now from all the big words and procedures :S

I am as much of a noob as possible when it comes to Switch (and all CFW related to it). Ill post some burning questions on my mind here. If this isn't the right place for it, please let me know and I'll try to move them to the correct place.

If I instal Atmosphere or SXOS or ReiNX on my switch, does that mean I will never have access to the original switch OS again?
Can I play online games like Fortnight on a CFW? What is the risk of getting banned?
I've read that some people who played NSP games on airplanemode (regardless if they own the game or not), when they connected back to the Nintendo servers, got banned. Is this true?

 

[Draxzelex]

I'm using probably the oldest version of DevMenu, one that required Pokemon Quest as donor game. If I install games along with updates and DLCs and then want to remove the game, do I need to uninstall updates and DLCs first or is it enough to uninstall main game file and the rest will be removed with it?

I believe all of the data gets removed along with the game.

I've been buring my head in this forum and have my brains turned to mush by now from all the big words and procedures :S

I am as much of a noob as possible when it comes to Switch (and all CFW related to it). Ill post some burning questions on my mind here. If this isn't the right place for it, please let me know and I'll try to move them to the correct place.

If I instal Atmosphere or SXOS or ReiNX on my switch, does that mean I will never have access to the original switch OS again?
Can I play online games like Fortnight on a CFW? What is the risk of getting banned?
I've read that some people who played NSP games on airplanemode (regardless if they own the game or not), when they connected back to the Nintendo servers, got banned. Is this true?

• For starters, you cannot install Atmosphere, SX OS, or ReiNX. To load those CFWs, you have to enter RCM and send a payload (.bin file) that would boot the console into the respective CFW. To access OFW, don't send the payload or select OFW from the menu that pops up from sending certain payloads (e.g. Hekate, SX OS)
• Read the quoted portion from the top of the first post of this thread.
• NSP-related bans have been in the minority most likely due to the high ban risk due to installing them. Many people have either been staying offline or following the recommendations from the bullet point above

 

[OnnRyuu]

Thank you Draxzelex.
Will read the link you provided and come back with newer questions

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

If I understood things correctly, this is how it goes. If I restart my console, I will boot into the OFW, but if I want to boot to a CFW, I have to send a payload to tell the system to load the CFW from the SD Card or dongle. Is this correct?
Whenever I want to play some online games like Fortnight and my console is running an CFW, I can just reboot it and go play my Mario Kart (or any other game that I own, regardless if it is digital on cartridge) without the risk of getting banned.

 

[Ranshiro]

Thank you Draxzelex.
Will read the link you provided and come back with newer questions

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

If I understood things correctly, this is how it goes. If I restart my console, I will boot into the OFW, but if I want to boot to a CFW, I have to send a payload to tell the system to load the CFW from the SD Card or dongle. Is this correct?
Whenever I want to play some online games like Fortnight and my console is running an CFW, I can just reboot it and go play my Mario Kart (or any other game that I own, regardless if it is digital on cartridge) without the risk of getting banned.

to send the payload you'd need either the sx pro dongle, or attach your switch to a computer/android phone, after using some method to get the switch into recovery mode (jig, paperclip, tinfoil, etc)

as soon as any cfw touches your switch, if you then go online, even with OFW, you will eventually get banned.

the "best" way to avoid a ban would be to first make a backup of your NAND, then use cfw for whatever is you want to use cfw for. then when you want to play online with OFW you will need to reformat your switch and then restore your NAND that you had previously backed up.

 

[pin]

Is it possible to have games on multiple sdcard and swap between them?

 

[Draxzelex]

Is it possible to have games on multiple sdcard and swap between them?

Yes, but games installed on an SD card will only work when that specific SD card is inserted into the Switch.

 

[ciareriam]

Finally enabled auto RCM in order to update without burning fuses. Reading online, the switch does not charge in RCM? Do I have to keep charging my switch then? I switch between my consoles and often there are months where I don't touch it and it dies. Is there any workaround?

 

[XaneTenshi]

Finally enabled auto RCM in order to update without burning fuses. Reading online, the switch does not charge in RCM? Do I have to keep charging my switch then? I switch between my consoles and often there are months where I don't touch it and it dies. Is there any workaround?

I believe it does charge in RCM mode, but at a very slow rate. The idea is to boot into either OFW or CFW and just use the sleep function whenever you are not using the Switch, as sleep mode consumes less power than RCM mode. Also, I think that CTCAER, the creator of Hekate, confirmed that if you shut down a Switch that has AutoRCM installed, using the built in power off function in Hekate, it stays off. That could be your solution.

Go here for the Hekate thread: https://gbatemp.net/threads/rcm-payload-hekate-ctcaer-mod.502604/

 

[thorasgar]

Yes, but games installed on an SD card will only work when that specific SD card is inserted into the Switch.

I would hope that would be obvious to everyone but perhaps not. Sigh.

That did get me thinking though, if 2 SD cards are set up identically in regards to the CFW but have different games installed on them, are they hot swappable or is a reboot required?

 

[OnnRyuu]

So, even if I use the famous CFW SX OS, It does not matter if I switch back to my OFW, I wont be able to play my online games? Only if I restore my NAND? How reliable/safe is the NAND restoration method for playing online?

 

[Draxzelex]

That did get me thinking though, if 2 SD cards are set up identically in regards to the CFW but have different games installed on them, are they hot swappable or is a reboot required?

The console will always reboot when the SD card is removed. Someone could make a patch/homebrew that prevents this from happening but I don't see anyone working on it probably because of how useless it is functionally.

So, even if I use the famous CFW SX OS, It does not matter if I switch back to my OFW, I wont be able to play my online games? Only if I restore my NAND? How reliable/safe is the NAND restoration method for playing online?

No one has been banned yet for doing so.