Hacking Switchbrew - Channel Installation and Retroarch Customization

[Notshane]

I see why my old thread was derailed, it's because I deviated far off the main point that was already resolved. It was inappropriate of me to not make a new thread after I did so, so now I will do it here, albeit more concise and a bit more descriptive than my replies on the last one.

Okay, so can I put channels on the main menu like I could with the Wii U and Haxchi without modifying it significantly? (e.g. Homebrew Menu selectable from a menu square instead of Album) I saw this video that showed a person go on something called "Tinfoil" but I haven't found any competent videos about how to go about it. And that I need some files called "NSP" to install the channels directly to the menu. I believe all of this associates with something called "EMUNAND" which, to my knowledge, permanently modifies the NAND on the Switch and I don't want to do this, but would rather simply install a channel on the menu. The Wii and Wii U allowed this without modification of the entire firmware, so I'm really hoping that's once again the case with the Switch.

Oh, and in the same video, the guy has a theme on Retroarch that looks much better than the default. If anyone knows where this theme is available and how to put it on, that'd be great. As well as how to properly run the 3D consoles like N64, PSX, etc. I've seen other people run them on the Switch, but they always crash for me. In this same video, the guy even gets them running as he's explaining the overclocking, though that's not what I want to do with my Retroarch in fear of damaging the Switch internals. The video is below.



The link did not go to the timestamp I put, so just go to 5:23 to see the better theme he put for Retroarch. He also managed to segregate the consoles with separate sections, as well as give them each their own unique game icon in their game lists. If there's anything that anyone knows about how to do this, I would very much appreciate it.

 

[TotalJustice]

To install a shortcuts to the .nro use nro2nsp.
https://gbatemp.net/threads/legal-nro2nsp-builder.519915/
For better compatibility i recomoned doing sdmc (directing the patch to the nro). An a example would be /switch/Tinfoil/Tinfoil.nro. None of this has to do with emunand btw.

To change to that retroarch theme, open retroarch and go to settings and open driver. Then change the menu driver to ozone.

To have the games apear under their console name (n64, snes, nes etc) you need to scan the file (rom) or the directory (folder with roms in). This is found under import content.

 

[Notshane]

To install a shortcuts to the .nro use nro2nsp.
https://gbatemp.net/threads/legal-nro2nsp-builder.519915/
For better compatibility i recomoned doing sdmc (directing the patch to the nro). An a example would be /switch/Tinfoil/Tinfoil.nro. None of this has to do with emunand btw.

To change to that retroarch theme, open retroarch and go to settings and open driver. Then change the menu driver to ozone.

To have the games apear under their console name (n64, snes, nes etc) you need to scan the file (rom) or the directory (folder with roms in). This is found under import content.

Thank you very much! For one reply to answer all but one of my questions is great! This helps me very much and I can't wait to finally not have to deal with the inconvenience of using the exploit every time I want to open up homebrew.

 

[Notshane]

Oh, well, I suppose I'm not done with the trial and error yet. There's no competent videos on how to use this "NRO to NSP" program. And the closest I have to installing the channel is needing a program called "FileZilla" but that seems a bit complicated. Was hoping it was easy enough to just install a channel on the Switch itself.

Oh yeah, one thing I left out, but the Switch is always at maximum brightness. Is there any way to fix that? Also, going to assume I'll need a custom font and other configuration files to get the theme exactly as it was in the video, because well it's similar in layout, the text and icons are not present. It said "missing assets" upon loading up the menu. Oh, and scanning does nothing, also forgot to mention that. It scans them, but nothing shows up as its own folder.

 

[TotalJustice]

Oh, well, I suppose I'm not done with the trial and error yet. There's no competent videos on how to use this "NRO to NSP" program. And the closest I have to installing the channel is needing a program called "FileZilla" but that seems a bit complicated. Was hoping it was easy enough to just install a channel on the Switch itself.

Oh yeah, one thing I left out, but the Switch is always at maximum brightness. Is there any way to fix that? Also, going to assume I'll need a custom font and other configuration files to get the theme exactly as it was in the video, because well it's similar in layout, the text and icons are not present. It said "missing assets" upon loading up the menu. Oh, and scanning does nothing, also forgot to mention that. It scans them, but nothing shows up as its own folder.

For nro to nsp all you have to do is type in the path of the nro, I gave you an example in my previous comment. You have to add an image icon and press shuffle on the title ID but that’s it, should take a few seconds to do. It is really really simple so just have a play with it

Some games won’t show for me either so I had to create my own playlist.
https://www.marcrobledo.com/retroarch-playlist-editor/
I used this site to do all the work for me. Just drag all your roms onto it (keep each system in different folders like gba, nes) then press select all and edit the path to where your roms are on the switch. For example roms/gba is mine for all my gba games.
Once done click save and it will ask for a file name. Use the same file name found in /retroarach/playlists folder on your switch. For example the gba file is called Nintendo - Game Boy Advance.ipl. Once you save your new ipl file, copy it to the playlists folder on the switch.

This sounds long winded but it really takes less than a minute. I would create a video but I don’t have time to edit / make the video actually enjoyable.

 

[Notshane]

For nro to nsp all you have to do is type in the path of the nro, I gave you an example in my previous comment. You have to add an image icon and press shuffle on the title ID but that’s it, should take a few seconds to do. It is really really simple so just have a play with it

I sure hope so.

Some games won’t show for me either so I had to create my own playlist.
https://www.marcrobledo.com/retroarch-playlist-editor/
I used this site to do all the work for me. Just drag all your roms onto it (keep each system in different folders like gba, nes) then press select all and edit the path to where your roms are on the switch. For example roms/gba is mine for all my gba games.
Once done click save and it will ask for a file name. Use the same file name found in /retroarach/playlists folder on your switch. For example the gba file is called Nintendo - Game Boy Advance.ipl. Once you save your new ipl file, copy it to the playlists folder on the switch.

This sounds simpler than the other stuff I've been trying to do today. Hopefully, I figure this out, at least, if I am to achieve one of my goals today.

This sounds long winded but it really takes less than a minute. I would create a video but I don’t have time to edit / make the video actually enjoyable.

Oh believe me, if the video was descriptive, I wouldn't care at all if it's enjoyable. At least you'd be giving me information in a way that's the easiest to understand.

 

[TotalJustice]

This sounds simpler than the other stuff I've been trying to do today. Hopefully, I figure this out, at least, if I am to achieve one of my goals today.

Yeah it really is just drag and drop and then change the file name.

 

[Notshane]

Yeah it really is just drag and drop and then change the file name.

Alright. Oh, and well you're still here, do you know if I need to go to firmware 6.0.0 or higher to mod Ultimate? I want to update to 4.0.1 (was told any firmware below 4.1.0 is the safest) so I can use GameCube controllers, but am unsure if I should go higher or not since I also want to mod Ultimate at some point.

 

[TotalJustice]

Alright. Oh, and well you're still here, do you know if I need to go to firmware 6.0.0 or higher to mod Ultimate? I want to update to 4.0.1 (was told any firmware below 4.1.0 is the safest) so I can use GameCube controllers, but am unsure if I should go higher or not since I also want to mod Ultimate at some point.

Can’t answer that unfortunately as it’s not something I’ve looked into as I’m on the latest 6.20.

 

[Notshane]

Can’t answer that unfortunately as it’s not something I’ve looked into as I’m on the latest 6.20.

Okay, well, thank you anyway.

 

[stephrk398]

Okay, so can I put channels on the main menu like I could with the Wii U and Haxchi without modifying it significantly? (e.g. Homebrew Menu selectable from a menu square instead of Album)

No, You need to enter RCM. The person in the video you linked has done this as well. There's quite a bit of confusion in your original post that the previous person did not address and I think he/she assumed you knew what you were doing somewhat. If you're not willing to use a jig then it's game over for you I'm afraid. If you don't like jigs you can, however, use auto-RCM once you have CFW setup which allows you to no longer need a jig after a hard reboot, but there are downsides to this. =/

 

[Notshane]

No, You need to enter RCM. The person in the video you linked has done this as well. There's quite a bit of confusion in your original post that the previous person did not address and I think he/she assumed you knew what you were doing somewhat. If you're not willing to use a jig then it's game over for you I'm afraid. If you don't like jigs you can, however, use auto-RCM once you have CFW setup which allows you to no longer need a jig after a hard reboot, but there are downsides to this. =/

Yeah, I researched and finally got a bit more information about that. Hearing that using squares on OFW without booting into RCM can net an immediate ban if they're opened, I believe. I also want to do ChoiDujourNX to go to 4.0.1 (I hear that any firmware below 4.1.0 is safest) so I can use GameCube controllers and, well, USB controllers in general more proficiently since it's actually in the firmware, but if being at 2.1.0 doesn't grant any significant benefits from going to 4.0.1, I've considered turning off auto-RCM and just blowing the fuse altogether.

Oh, and I am curious as to whether or not I'm supposed to backup the NAND again after going up to 4.0.1 or not. I did back it up on 2.1.0, but I used FAT32 and so it's split into fourteen pieces. I considered using a joiner script, but the ".bat" file read "join_15_2GBparts_windows" so I was worried it'd mess it up since I only have 14 parts, not 15. This last part is assuming I decide to leave auto-RCM on, by the way, as I'm well aware I won't be able to reload this if I turn off auto-RCM.

Oh, and do you know if I can still mod Super Smash Bros. Ultimate at 4.0.1 firmware? Or, well, play it at all?

 

[stephrk398]

Oh, and do you know if I can still mod Super Smash Bros. Ultimate at 4.0.1 firmware? Or, well, play it at all?

No. Smash's minimum requirement to even run the game at all is 5.1.

 

[Notshane]

No. Smash's minimum requirement to even run the game at all is 5.1.

Shoot, that was a primary reason I wanted to mod the Switch too...hmm, will 5.1 mess up anything I can do now on 2.1.0, Deja Vu aside?

 

[stephrk398]

Shoot, that was a primary reason I wanted to mod the Switch too...hmm, will 5.1 mess up anything I can do now on 2.1.0, Deja Vu aside?

They say lower is better for the hope of a better future exploit, but that's treading into territory I'm not an expert in. I was on 5.1 when I first hacked my Switch and couldn't care less about burnt fuses as I only want to play the latest games that require higher FW (like Smash, in your case). I went to 6.1 once I found out that the game GRIS wouldn't run on 5.1.

 

[crissal]

You can update via ChoiDujourNX to 6.2.0 without burning fuses (so you can downgrade to 2.1.0 AND remove cfw anytim you want, like when a coldboot will be public)

 

[DerEineee]

Yeah, I researched and finally got a bit more information about that. Hearing that using squares on OFW without booting into RCM can net an immediate ban if they're opened, I believe.

If you are afraid of getting a ban, you should not mod your Switch. Your console sends so called "telemetry data" to Nintendo, which can give hints that you somehow messed with your Switch. Even when you use CFW and Homebrew just offline, the next time you connect to the internet the telemetries will get send. You can block the servers which are affiliated with the telemetry so you can leave wifi on while you are in CFW, but the data will still be logged in your Switch...

I am however not banned yet, even after using homebrew, installing nsp etc. for over 5 months now. But this has nothing to mean. I could receive a ban every day and I actually don't care.

If you care don't hack you console.

 

[Notshane]

If you are afraid of getting a ban, you should not mod your Switch. Your console sends so called "telemetry data" to Nintendo, which can give hints that you somehow messed with your Switch. Even when you use CFW and Homebrew just offline, the next time you connect to the internet the telemetries will get send. You can block the servers which are affiliated with the telemetry so you can leave wifi on while you are in CFW, but the data will still be logged in your Switch...

I am however not banned yet, even after using homebrew, installing nsp etc. for over 5 months now. But this has nothing to mean. I could receive a ban every day and I actually don't care.

If you care don't hack you console.

I have two Switchs, maybe I should've mentioned that first. I just mentioned that for people who do it on a single unit. I have one primarily for homebrew so my main one is safe.

 

[DerEineee]

I have two Switchs, maybe I should've mentioned that first. I just mentioned that for people who do it on a single unit. I have one primarily for homebrew so my main one is safe.

Ok then I guess you should be fine. But make sure you are not linking these consoles in any way. I heard of people who switched with their Nintendo Account from a hacked switch to a clean and after this the second console also got banned. I don't know if I remembered this correctly... just be carefull (y)

 

[Notshane]

Ok then I guess you should be fine. But make sure you are not linking these consoles in any way. I heard of people who switched with their Nintendo Account from a hacked switch to a clean and after this the second console also got banned. I don't know if I remembered this correctly... just be carefull (y)

I'm not planning on linking my main account to the homebrewed Switch.