Switch not booting into hekate even though it worked before.

daneclark · May 24, 2026

I booted into Hekate normally using standard method for jailbreaking. When I removed SD card while it was on it warned me not to do that, and it restarted. So when I did the standard jailbreaking technique again the same time within the same hour, it didnt work-- it resulted in switch going into RCM with a black screen (even with no LCD backlight on) but didn't boot into Hekate. I tried Fusee.bin and it didnt work either.

What is this issue?

master801 · May 24, 2026

v1 or v2 - foremost

thesjaakspoiler · May 24, 2026

Can you see the files on the SD card on a PC?
Sometimes with exFat formatted SD cards, ejecting the SD card while the Switch is running can result in data corruption on the SD card.

Beatsmodeatl · May 24, 2026

Last time I removed sd card and plugged it into my pc to move files it did the same. I had to format my sdcard from my pc then flash hekate again then I pretty much had to redo everything. Format>create emummc then so on. Then it worked

CMDreamer · May 24, 2026

daneclark said:
When I removed SD card while it was on it warned me not to do that, and it restarted.

The warning was issued for a good reason.

You SD card most probably is corrupted.

daneclark · May 25, 2026

thesjaakspoiler said:
Can you see the files on the SD card on a PC?
Sometimes with exFat formatted SD cards, ejecting the SD card while the Switch is running can result in data corruption on the SD card.

I was able to see SD card on PC, and when I reformatted, placed files back exactly as I had it before. It still resulted in same scenario.

Beatsmodeatl · May 25, 2026

daneclark said:
I was able to see SD card on PC, and when I reformatted, placed files back exactly as I had it before. It still resulted in same scenario.

Plug the sdcard to pc and reformat to exfat32. Then flash hekate only. Then you should be able to boot into hekate. Format the sdcard in the hekate, and flash emunand. Connect switch to pc via usb tools in hekate then copy over atmosphere and everything else or a hats pack

daneclark · Friday at 5:32 AM

Beatsmodeatl said:
Plug the sdcard to pc and reformat to exfat32. Then flash hekate only. Then you should be able to boot into hekate. Format the sdcard in the hekate, and flash emunand. Connect switch to pc via usb tools in hekate then copy over atmosphere and everything else or a hats pack

Like no GUI is popping up at all. Even with those steps no GUI happens. Once I enter RCM the PC recognizes it is in RCM, but when injecting the payload of hekate it does not work.

Beatsmodeatl · 2026-06-03T23:16:12+0100

daneclark said:
Like no GUI is popping up at all. Even with those steps no GUI happens. Once I enter RCM the PC recognizes it is in RCM, but when injecting the payload of hekate it does not work.

Try another sd card

thesjaakspoiler · 2026-06-04T01:12:08+0100

Get a hold of lockpick_rcm and try to inject that.
it does not need anything on the SD card so it is helpful to check if the injection process works.
If that works, maybe something is wrong with your SD card reader.
Sometimes the connectors that connect the reader with the mainboard go bad or the reader board itself broke.
Check for dust/gunk/ bent pins with a flashlight.

Switch not booting into hekate even though it worked before.

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