Homebrew Is there any risk in modding my Switch 1 before transfer to Switch 2?

QuarterOfTen · 2026-08-23T22:08:22+0100

Just got a Switch 2 before the price increase, upgrading from a launch Switch 1. I know most things are still re-obtainable on the original Switch, but there are some things like my New Horizons save that will be removed from the original upon transfer. With how much telemetry goes on behind the scenes with these consoles, is there any risk of getting banned from installing Homebrew on my original Switch, backing up the saves that are one-time transfers, and then doing the Switch 2 transfer?

Hayato213 · 2026-08-23T22:18:07+0100

If you got a Nintendo account on it you risk of getting it banned by modding before transfer profile and factory reset.

QuarterOfTen · 2026-08-23T23:18:06+0100

Alright, in that case I won't risk it then. Will make sure everything is transferred and my Switch 1 is thoroughly offline before I do anything to it. Everything I've modded before has been older and hasn't had as many relays to Nintendo servers as the Switch so I want to play it safe.

lightwo · 2026-08-23T23:25:51+0100

Modding by itself is not a bannable offense. While there is a risk associated with it (especially if you, accidentally or otherwise, commit a bannable offense whilst modded), it is very low, and myself as well as many others have been using modded Switch units online.

The most likely cause of ban for a newly modded system is if emuMMC is not properly isolated from the Internet and the console uploads logs that differ from sysMMC. In other words, even if you use sysMMC online, emuMMC must be kept offline at all costs.

And, since you specifically brought up save backups, backing up saves should be safe. Modifying them, however, might not, although I've only heard that modifying saves of online games may incur a ban. And for that matter, I know that many people as of late have been getting unpatched v1 units with the express purpose of uploading a modded save to Switch 2, so it sounds like it should be safe.

BETA215 · 2026-08-24T01:00:42+0100

QuarterOfTen said:
Just got a Switch 2 before the price increase, upgrading from a launch Switch 1. I know most things are still re-obtainable on the original Switch, but there are some things like my New Horizons save that will be removed from the original upon transfer. With how much telemetry goes on behind the scenes with these consoles, is there any risk of getting banned from installing Homebrew on my original Switch, backing up the saves that are one-time transfers, and then doing the Switch 2 transfer?

You can backup your saves even without doing anything related to CFW in your console's system, nothing being installed to your console. You could just boot into Hekate, boot into TegraExplorer, copy the save partition files to your PC, and extracting the saves from that with a PC program.

Mind you, it's more complicated than using CFW on your Switch and booting a homebrew app, but this way Nintendo won't be able to tell anything happened, since you aren't modifying anything on the console (just copying), neither you're booting into Switch's OS where Nintendo has all the telemetry stuff happening.

Again, it's trickier than just doing it the easiest way where Nintendo can tell you're using CFW (even though they won't ban you for it), but personally I didn't want to risk it even if there haven't been any cases of Nintendo going against CFW users yet (except for cheaters, pirates, obvious stuff like that).

You can follow this guide if you want to do it this way: https://wiki.hacks.guide/w/index.php?title=Switch:SaveExtraction

QuarterOfTen · 2026-08-24T04:36:01+0100

I'll definitely keep that guide handy for when I do mod my Switch; if it comes down to it I can transfer my saves back to my V1 Switch to do it. Sounds like it will take more time and attention than I have right now so I'm fine with just waiting a bit (hopefully during a time where NIntendo isn't as Eye of Sauron-y about the OG Switch).

Homebrew Is there any risk in modding my Switch 1 before transfer to Switch 2?

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