Homebrew Whats the best method of transfering games to SD for Softmodded Switch?

[Centrix]

Sorry if this has already been covered else where, if it was, I was unable to find it. I have softmodded my brothers Switch today. and seem to be struggling with finding a simple solution for getting NSP files on to his microsd. I know there is FTP, and USB. I'm also asking this because when ever I pull the SD out of the system to add more games I get a screen with bunch of error codes. IS there no way to just take out my sd with out the system freaking out? my Wii U and 3DS could do it why can't the switch. Any help would be great guys, whats the best and simplest way of getting games on the SD?

 

[xavier11773]

Sorry if this has already been covered else where, if it was, I was unable to find it. I have softmodded my brothers Switch today. and seem to be struggling with finding a simple solution for getting NSP files on to his microsd. I know there is FTP, and USB. I'm also asking this because when ever I pull the SD out of the system to add more games I get a screen with bunch of error codes. IS there no way to just take out my sd with out the system freaking out? my Wii U and 3DS could do it why can't the switch. Any help would be great guys, whats the best and simplest way of getting games on the SD?

You can use your computer to send the game file using a usb-c cable and install it without needing to put the file on your sd card. I personally use ns-usbloader to send the file and on the switch I have Awoo-Installer to install the file so i don't need to put the file on my sd card before installing it.

 

[coffinbirth]

Don't take out or insert SD card unless it's powered off! Decent chance of corrupting your card doing this!

 

[TheCasualties]

I've been taking the SD card out while in Hekate for a long while now, mainly when switching between Switch (HOS) and Ubuntu sd cards.

If you're just installing games, use the method xavier posted.

If you want to drop some small files onto your card, nx-mtp works well. If you want to modify files or install larger homebrew, Hekate has a great USB tool.

 

[Daggot]

I've been using Awoo Installer and NS-USBLoader recently. The install over network function is pretty much the same as the old network install option FBI has on the 3ds.

 

[Centrix]

I use gold leaf but it keeps telling me "invalid nca might mean missing sigpatches", no idea how to fix this. I would really like to start playing switch games. I just downloaded the new paper mario.

Thanks guys for the help!

 

[TheCasualties]

I use gold leaf but it keeps telling me "invalid nca might mean missing sigpatches", no idea how to fix this. I would really like to start playing switch games. I just downloaded the new paper mario.

Thanks guys for the help!

If it's just sigpatch issues, you need to install the sig patches. If using fusee-primary, use these . If using a package that sets up Hekate for you (SD Setup, etc) these should work

 

[Centrix]

thank you for the help guys, I now have him up and running. Paper Mario runs like a champ. Also, one last question. Is there some way to instead of formatting my brothers exFAT microsd to FAT32 leave it as exFAT and still create an emuMMC on it?

 

[TheCasualties]

I mean, you could leave it as exFAT but it'll probably start corrupting games as some point.

Any reason you don't want to format to Fat32? You can backup all the data and put it back on after formatting. Installed games get broken up into 4gb parts anyways, so that's not an issue.

 

[Centrix]

its not so much for me as it is for my brother, he's the one that would like it at exFAT if possible. I'm going to leave it as FAT32 and he can deal with it lol I've been softmodding since the PSP and have softmodded a ton of consoles since, he'll just have to deal with it, hell, the Wii's WBFS format was like that as well. To me, the Switches softmod seems to be part, 3DS, and part Wii U/Wii with how it handles things.

 

[TheCasualties]

its not so much for me as it is for my brother, he's the one that would like it at exFAT if possible. I'm going to leave it as FAT32 and he can deal with it lol I've been softmodding since the PSP and have softmodded a ton of consoles since, he'll just have to deal with it, hell, the Wii's WBFS format was like that as well. To me, the Switches softmod seems to be part, 3DS, and part Wii U/Wii with how it handles things.

Yeah I'd just tell him to deal with it lol. There's no real good reason to use exFat anyways. The only files that might be over the 4gb limit are game nsp/xci, and he can install those from USB or internet.

If he absolutely MUST put 4gb+ files on the SD card, there are file-splitters to do this. Pretty sure ns-usbloader has this functionality too.

It's much better to just start on Fat32 instead of dealing with corrupt games and having to reformat later on.

 

[sudeki300]

i only use the pc and sd card on fat32, convert to nsp if it's xci, split with nspsplitty and install with goldleaf without issue. always had problems with Awoo installer and tinfoil.

 

[ecesar]

For some time, I used nxmtp to mount the SD, transfer the files and install them locally.

Then, I met NUT Server and never looked back. It's so much easier.

For both, an USB connection to the PC is required. No need to turn off airplane mode.

 

[Centrix]

is there a tutorial on how to setup and use ns-usbloader?

 

[TheCasualties]

There's kind of a tutorial on the github page

Just scroll down to the usage part, find your operating system and follow the directions. Then there is a section on how to use it.

There might be some youtube video if you look for ns-usbloader, but I've not checked.

 

[Centrix]

There's kind of a tutorial on the github page

Just scroll down to the usage part, find your operating system and follow the directions. Then there is a section on how to use it.

There might be some youtube video if you look for ns-usbloader, but I've not checked.

lol, "kind of".

So I switched (no pun intended) to lithium and tinfoil, not sure why I need tinfoil as it never seems to want to load, I am liking lithium though. I also like that it has a delete function after install and that you can transfer games over usb. I still find myself taking the SD card out of the switch to put new apps on it though. I wish there was a simpler method, as big as the switch homebrew scene is you'd think there'd be one lol

 

[TheCasualties]

[snip]
I still find myself taking the SD card out of the switch to put new apps on it though. I wish there was a simpler method, as big as the switch homebrew scene is you'd think there'd be one lol

Check out nx-mtp, or you can reboot to hekate and go into the usb section. There's a 'mount USB' option in there somewhere.

With these 2 usb tools, I've not had to take my sd card out at all. (Except when switching to my Linux sd card.)

 

[Centrix]

Check out nx-mtp, or you can reboot to hekate and go into the usb section. There's a 'mount USB' option in there somewhere.

With these 2 usb tools, I've not had to take my sd card out at all. (Except when switching to my Linux sd card.)

so I went and looked for the nx-mtp and none of the pages have a download link ( can you post yours here), one the pages says "Abort" on it lol. and how do you reboot into hekate? I have autorcm so we never have to turn off the switch. having to do that rcm jig is annoying everytime the system is powered off.

 

[TheCasualties]

That 'Abort' release is the one I've been using. Not sure why it's called that lol.

For rebooting to hekate: If you are chainloading fusee-primary, you can press Vol - (or maybe +, idr) during the first atmosphere boot screen and it'll boot to hekate instead. Otherwise you can use some reboot to playload homebrew. I think there is even a tesla overlay to choose which payload to reboot to, not used it tho.

Or just plug it to your pc while in RCM and inject the hekate.bin

 

[Centrix]

That 'Abort' release is the one I've been using. Not sure why it's called that lol.

For rebooting to hekate: If you are chainloading fusee-primary, you can press Vol - (or maybe +, idr) during the first atmosphere boot screen and it'll boot to hekate instead. Otherwise you can use some reboot to playload homebrew. I think there is even a tesla overlay to choose which payload to reboot to, not used it tho.

Or just plug it to your pc while in RCM and inject the hekate.bin

so with nx-mtp do you just put it with the rest of your apps then plug in the usb and bam your good to go? lol

Thank you by the way for helping me out, I usually don't need this much help, but it seems like the switch homebrew scene is kinda all scattered every where lol.