Tutorial  Updated

How to install Android 8.1(LineageOS) to your Nintendo Switch

Before following this guide. Please note that you will need to have some prior experience with both Switch Hacking, and Android in order to install this properly. As this guide will assume you already know how to enter RCM mode and push payloads, and do basic recovery mode tasks

Requirements:
  • A hackable Nintendo Switch(Non iPatched Unit) To check if your Nintendo Switch is hackable. Please follow Step 2 on this page
  • A dedicated SD card(16gb minimum)
  • A way to push access RCM mode and push Payloads(Hekate)
These are not my screenshots. These have been taken from the XDA Thread
https%3A%2F%2Fpbs.twimg.com%2Fmedia%2FD9HtBVIWwAAaQ_Z.jpg%3Alarge

https%3A%2F%2Fpbs.twimg.com%2Fmedia%2FD9Lf0aJWwAAelCo.jpg%3Alarge
https%3A%2F%2Fpbs.twimg.com%2Fmedia%2FD9NEUN6W4AEySOS.jpg%3Alarge

Download and install BalenaEtcher to set up your SD card. Click here to download BalenaEtcher

Go to XDA release thread here, and download the image for your SD card size. For example, I am using a 32gb SD Card so I will need to download the 32GB Image. DO NOT EXTRACT THE DOWNLOADED IMAGE!

Open BalenaEtcher, and select the image you just downloaded. Once the image is selected, go ahead and select your SD card if it was not automatically selected. Please double check that the correct drive is selected before clicking "Flash" as this will erase whatever drive is selected. Once you have confirmed that the correct drive is selected click "Flash"

k0vgWsA.png


Once you click flash you will need to wait upwards to an hour and a half for the image to flash and validate. If this process takes longer than an hour something may have gone wrong. Please start from step 1 and try again. Sometimes changing SD cards will help. You may also have a window pop up asking to format one of your disks. Just close out of these windows.

Once the flash is complete navigate to this XDA release thread again and download the "shield-ifier" zip file and place this zip file on the first partition of the now flashed SD card. For me, this was located at "F:/"

Next, you will need to Download GApps for Android 8.1, with Arm64 from here. Once this file is downloaded. Place this on your SD Cards first partition right alongside your "Sheild-ifier" zip file. Like I did below. Once again for me, this directory was "F:/"

Now close this spoiler and move onto Section 2!

Requirements:
Learn how to access and use RCM Mode. To learn about RCM mode, how to access it please check out this page here.
Hekate Payload
A way to push the hekate payload. To learn how to go about this, please check out this page

Now that the most difficult part of the process is complete, we can now learn how to both boot into our new Android installation, but what we need to do to set it up before it will work properly!

If you have not already, please take your SD card out of your PC and insert it into your Nintendo Switch. From here you will now need to access RCM mode and push the Hekate payload.

Once Hekate launches on your Nintendo Switch. Select Launch by scrolling with the volume buttons, and selecting it by pressing the power button. Then scroll and select "More Configs..."

Before you scroll and select "Switchroot Android" on this screen, get ready to hold your "volume up" button as you will need to press and hold this, the same time that you select "Switchroot Android" Once you're ready. Do this and wait until you see the TWRP menu. Once you see this you can let go of "volume up" Please note, that if you do not enter this TWRP menu first. You may need to reset up your SD Card as GAPPs need to be installed prior to first boot since this is a Beta release. Otherwise, you may not be able to complete the setup.

Once in TWRP you will receive a message asking you to allow TWRP to keep the system as read only or not. Swipe right to allow TWRP to make it's modifications

From here select Mount by touching it on the touchscreen, and check the checkbox next too "system" it may take a few seconds for any paritions to appear. Once the box is selected tap the back button. If this step is not done you will be unable to install Open GAPPS

Now select install, and navigate up a lever in the folder selection on the page, then scroll down and select "external_SD"

From here you will see your two ZIP files from the previous selection. Please select these zip files one at a time starting with "open_gapps" and install each of them. If the system asks you to swipe prior to installation. Go ahead and do so. You will also be asked to wipe the cache/dalvik after installation. Again go ahead and do so. Once complete you can go ahead and click the back button to both leave the installation screen for the next step. Or install the "shield-ify" zip if you choose to use it.


Once you go back to the main menu, you may be asked to install TWRP. If you are asked to do so, go ahead and install it, and wipe the cache/dalvik. Otherwise, go ahead and reboot your system into Hekate and select "Switchroot Android" like before. However this time you will not need to hold "Volume-up" unless you want to access the TWRP menu again. If you're not asked to install TWRP you will need to do so manually if you want root access on your device. Otherwise go back to the Main Menu, select reboot, and tap the "Power off button"

Now enter RCM mode and boot into Hekate again

Once in Hekate, navigate too "Switchroot Android" again and select it without holding "Volume up". Once this is complete, you will begin to boot into LineageOS. Because this is your first boot it may take upwards to 10min for it to boot completely and allow you to set up the android system. Reboots after this initial setup will be faster.

Once booted and setup, you should now have a fully functional Android Tablet! You can now go ahead and set up any emulators or apps as you would normally on a normal Android device. You may even update and use the Nvidia app for in-home streaming if you installed the "Shield-ifier" zip file!

First, download the latest stable build of MAGISK from their XDA Thread here

Then transfer the magisk zip file, too the first partition of your SD Card. For me, this was "F:/"

Insert the SD card back into your Switch, and boot into the TWRP recovery menu by holding "Volume up" while Android is booting

Now mount your system partition as you've done before, navigate to the install menu and install your MAGISK zip file. Much like you did with the GApps zip file when you installed Android. If asked to wipe the cache/dalvik go ahead and do so.

Once MAGISK is installed, boot into Android like normal and download the Magisk Manager APK found here using your internet browser of choice and install it from Android. You may need to enable Unkown sources from within your Device settings before you can install this.

Once this APK has been installed go ahead and open your newly installed Magisk Manager app to verify that you have successfully obtained root access. If you see 4 green checkmarks than that means you've successfully rooted your device!

  • LineageOS 15.1 - Android 8.1 Oreo
  • Based on the Nvidia Shield TV trees
  • TWRP pre-installed
  • CPU and GPU performance profiles
  • Works in handheld and docked mode
  • Audio is supported
  • Joycons connect via Bluetooth, also in handheld mode
Known bugs:
  • Deep sleep, so battery life is not great
  • Auto rotation as we haven't figured out how to talk to the sensor yet
  • Screen off in dock
  • Charging is not detected, but console still charges
  • Some apps don't handle joycon inputs correctly
  • The touchscreen sometimes detects touches even when your finger is just floating over the screen
  • There is a system process ANR on boot. Just click „Wait“ and it won’t happen again until next boot
  • Screenshots do not work
  • WiFi may randomly stop working. If this happens just reboot
  • If TV looks odd and grainy when docking then redock a few times.
  • No TV keyboard that can be used with gamepad
  • SELinux is disabled
  • You can’t access the FAT32 partition of the SD card on macOS. Windows and Linux works.

Credits for part of this FAQ goes to the original XDA thread about this release. As I ammended the end of it with new questions moving forward.

Q: How to switch performance profiles?
A: Go to Settings -> Battery -> Power Profiles. The options are Balanced = 1 GHz CPU / 468 MHz GPU, Quick = 1.4 GHz CPU / 768 MHz GPU and Performance = 1.7 GHz CPU / 920 MHz GPU. Keep in mind that the high-performance profiles use MUCH more battery.

Q: How will updates be done?
A: For updates, flashable zips will be released.

Q: Can we use TV mode?
A: Use HAL launcher from the Play Store to run apps in TV mode.

Q: Nvidia GameStream doesn’t perform well, what to do?
A: Try using Moonlight instead.

Q: Does Magisk work?
A: Yes, just flash it in TWRP

Q: I get an error about „invalid architecture“ when trying to flash GApps
A: Make sure you mounted System in TWRP

Q: Does this work on any Switch?
A: You will need to be able to boot into hekate. If you can do that, your Switch is compatible.

Q: I get a blank notification window saying "Process system isn't responding" that looks like this
YekiGOt.png

A: This is normal, tap the "wait" button

Q: Does the "Pro controller" or other bluetooth controllers work?
A: Yes they do, simply open the bluetooth settings and connect them like any other bluetooth device!

Of course, if there is anything that I should elaborate on, or if you have any questions/concerns in regards to this process. Please do not hesitate to ask or reach out.
 
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Cyan

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why would you pick a lower image than your SD card size?
the image are meant for SD card size, not for "android image size".
the remaining space is unformatted/unallocated so it can't be used.

if your card is 32GB, choose the image specifically created for "32GB SD Card", which contains a 31GB image.

if you want, you can resize the userdata partition using gparted to fill the rest of your SD card.

Anyway to extend memory? I have 256gb microsd choose the 128gb image only have 2gb accessible and all of the options are grayed out in disk management.
only 2GB even though you picked the 128GB image?
The 2GB is the FAT32 partition, which is probably seen as "sdcard-ext". It's not your userdata space where the apk get installed to.

Android is 5GB, the rest of the image is the "userdata" partition size.
the 16GB SD card image is actually 15GB (to fit the 16GB Sd card), contains 2GB FAT32, 5GB of android and 9GB or userdata.

128GB image contains : 2GB of FAT32, 5GB of android, 120GB of userdata partition to install apk.


if you want a bigger FAT32 partition, you can follow half of this guide : https://gbatemp.net/threads/setup-g...id-with-emummc-bigger-fat32-partition.544981/
but it's for experimented users because it requires linux and write each partition one by one
 
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natron

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Any fix for ps4 remote play it runs great but r2 and l2 stick games respond as they are pressed all the time
 

voxware

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so is there anything I should do with a 256gb card or can I not do this because there's not an image for that. I'd like it to take up as little space as possible.
 

SaffronXL

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so is there anything I should do with a 256gb card or can I not do this because there's not an image for that. I'd like it to take up as little space as possible.
The 128GB image will work, you will only have access to half of your card's space, though.
 

notimp

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so is there anything I should do with a 256gb card or can I not do this because there's not an image for that. I'd like it to take up as little space as possible.
*rolleyes*

There are several images meant for use with an sd card of that size. 256GB is not one of them yet.

The images then create a special boot table, and several partitions that are formated in 'linux only' (more or less, its easier to explain it that way | Android = linux kernel based) filesystems.

The largest of those serves as the "sdcard" that android sees - and will never be seen by any stock Windows, or MacOS PC, whatsoever. Thats the partition that 60+GB of empty space on the 64GB install image will end up at.

There also is a 2GB fat 32 partition, thats used to let you copy packages onto the SDcard via a PC - that also can be accessed in android or TWRP.
That partition you could also quite easily install Lakka on.

You cant easily use an sdcard - to also use a CFW or Horizon on - because that would require a large fat32 (or exfat, but fat32 preferred) partition - which none of the installer packages give you.

If you edit the partition sizes on a conventional partition manager, it will overwrite the boot table, with a more conventional one - making the card unreadable for the switch. (Until you reflash- its not permanently broken.)

Editing the partition sizes manually - in a more granular approach is theoretically possible, but not streamlined for 'needs easy' users yet. Lets wait for a few releases - lets see how everything including a potential updating infrastracture, and possibly them changing the fileformat for their system partitions once more - pans out - and then _maybe_ attempt to create installations on one sdcard with trippleboot support.

What you'd like to have doesnt matter. (If you cant go the granular route of creating the partitions one after the other in linux, thats mentioned above.) For now get an extra 64GB (or lower (because of price)) sdcard, and use the 64GB package. Or whatever size you like - but use a seperate sd from your main switch sdcard.

Also if you plan on starting out with only your main sdcard - dont. Flashing the packages, will of course wipe everything thats on there.
--

If you are proficient at using Linux - here is another person that got a trippleboot workin. ;) https://gbatemp.net/threads/the-onl...unand-and-android-on-the-same-sd-card.545208/ Fun. This one is with SXOS. ;)
 
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you can also pentaboot.
with a card using this layout :
a big FAT32 usable for switch (OFW/CFW/Emu), for example 160GB where you can install nsp, xci, homebrew, etc.
Android (5GB)
emuMMC (32GB)
Linux L4T (2GB, or bigger), you might even consider creating another 2GB partition for swap.


you can launch :
Horizon (stock/CFW)
Horizon (emuMMC Atmosphère)
Lakka
Android
Linux L4T

You can't (for now) : SXOS EmuMMC.
because SXOS overwrite the GPT table, but it might be possible with a trick, depends how hekate/android/l4t are working.


you need to create each partition one by one and write each android's partition image one by one too, linux partition image, and if you have it MMC image too (or let hekate dump your MMC to partition).
then, once the GPT table is created, you need to add the FAT32 (and emuMMC if you don't have an image to write yet) to MBR. there is a linux tool which does it, but personally I don't find it too hard or complicated to do it manually with hexeditor once you know how MBR table works.
https://gbatemp.net/threads/setup-g...id-with-emummc-bigger-fat32-partition.544981/, guide not written yet, only the video is available but it's a good one (except the first part where there's a partition size error but it's corrected on part2). be sure to watch it and understand it entirely before attempting to do the same.
 
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Cyan

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if you can launch RCM payloads (hekate) with pegaSwitch or PegaScape then it's possible.
I don't know these exploit enough to answer, but I suppose pegascape let you run any RCM payload, just be careful and don't edit boot0 (briicme/autorcm) or write to system memory.
 
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hellogbatemp

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Hi,

I have a 720p TV and I think the display wants to come out in 1080p.
. the display does not work (black and white, flicker)

can I force the 720p dock mode?
 
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LucasM3

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if you can launch RCM payloads (hekate) with pegaSwitch or PegaScape then it's possible.
I don't know these exploit enough to answer, but I suppose pegascape let you run any RCM payload, just be careful and don't edit boot0 (briicme/autorcm) or write to system memory.

Yes, I did more research today and it is possible. I am glad. People said that if I buy a new switch in north america the max firmware will be 4.1 right now. Hopefully they will be right
 

AkGBA

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Guys really weird question here, does this erases the Sysnand on Switch?, cus Hekate seems not to show the usual Lauch options as before.

Nothing is erased / written on sysnand.
Did you use another sdcard, as intended ? If yes, then Hekate's options you normally use are on your first sd.
You have to know that Hekate's options are stored on the sd card. So if you create another sd card only for Android, you will not have your usual launch options in there.
 

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I have flashed my 128gb sd card with Etcher but when it is finished the computer keeps prompting me to format the sd card. Any ideas on how to stop this? It won't let me transfer any files to the card unless i format it but that then deletes the android image.
 

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you can try to unassign letters to unknown partition, from the device manager menu (where you see disk and their partitions).
or there should be an option in windows to not ask to unknown format partition. but assigning letters is easier.
do NOT delete the partition, only choose "unassign letter" or "assign letter" and click remove.

I'm sure there's a way to block this prompt permanently without removing the letter (only when trying to access it), but google fails me today.
Maybe by disabling "autorun" or "autoplay" (disable all autoplay video option too!) on all connected drives ? so it doesn't try to access it at plug time, only if you manually try to access it?
but some people says it didn't work for them, but maybe because they kept autoplay option enabled.
 
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AkGBA

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I have flashed my 128gb sd card with Etcher but when it is finished the computer keeps prompting me to format the sd card. Any ideas on how to stop this? It won't let me transfer any files to the card unless i format it but that then deletes the android image.

Windows just wants you to format the ext4 partition. Don't do it. You can still transfer files to the fat32 partition.
You'll be nagged everytime you put the sd card on Windows. But just cancel it.
 

Fife Dawg

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Windows just wants you to format the ext4 partition. Don't do it. You can still transfer files to the fat32 partition.
You'll be nagged everytime you put the sd card on Windows. But just cancel it.
Okay thanks, next question - I have Hekate running but when I hold volume + and select the android instal in the more config option I just get a black screen, am I missing something?
 

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