Being true to their promise, switchroot has released their highly anticipated method of bringing Android to your Nintendo Switch console. This marks the first public release of LineageOS 15.1, and is based on a build of Android that runs on the Nvidia Shield TV. By flashing the installation image to your micro SD card, you can use Android 8.1 Oreo on the Switch, in both handheld and docked mode. Some of the features include audio support, allowing the Joy-Cons to connect through bluetooth, offering CPU and GPU performance profiles, and more.

As this is a beta release, you should be aware that there are a few bugs. Some notable issues are that sleep mode battery life is lacking, certain apps have problems with being controlled with the Joy-Cons, the screenshot function is disabled, wifi can be spotty, and a few other quirks.

If you're interested in playing around with this release, you can follow the instructions below to get started, with the download links being available in the source.

LineageOS 15.1 for Nintendo Switch by switchroot. This is the first publicly available Android ROM for the Nintendo Switch. Based on the Nvidia Shield TV builds it brings a smooth and powerful Android experience to your Switch in both handheld and docked mode.

1. Pick the image that corresponds to the size of your SD card. You can use an image that is smaller than your card. You’ll end up with the remaining space unused on your card.
2. Write the image to your SD card with e.g. balenaEtcher Do not extract the image, Etcher can handle the compressed image just fine! WARNING: This will overwrite any contents on your card! The progress bar/percentage might go haywire in Etcher, but you can ignore that. The flashing will still work and Etcher will let you know when it’s done. It can take up to an hour depending on your SD card’s speed. Also make sure not to format any of the partitions when Windows prompts you to after flashing.
3. Download GApps for Android 8.1. from OpenGApps, use ARM64. Put the file on the first partition of your new SD card
4. If desired download the "Shield-ifier" zip and place it also on the SD card. This will make your Switch identify as Nvidia Shield TV and install the Nvidia app.
5. Load hekate and boot to TWRP by holding VOL+ when you select the Android config.
6. Flash GApps zip, optionally flash other zips
7. Reboot to hekate and boot into Android
8. Complete the inital setup. For the Nvidia app to work make sure to update it from Play Store!

Source

 

[The Real Jdbye]

From the linked release page

• Joycons connect via Bluetooth, also in handheld mode

I see. I thought the Bluetooth would be disabled when the JoyCons are docked. Guess they figured out a way around that.

 

[71r3n]

Hell if its just Android bluetooth, maybe we can pair android dinput controllers? Like say the 8bitdo ones.

Really curious how bluetooth input lag will be, often a struggle on Android.

The 8Bitdo ones i know, are all pairable with anything i own. Ps3, Switch, Android, PC and Xbox. So i think they will work one way or another.

 

[Mythical]

Ayoo ready for this. Hope it can run Zenonias and Dark Meadow

 

[Buszu92]

work with SX OS?

btw, that's awesome news!

 

[Andalitez]

work with SX OS?

btw, that's awesome news!

Well you need to boot hekate

 

[DinohScene]

I wonder how laggy the Switch will become once I load up me springfield in TSTO.

 

[Seelbreaker]

This requires a dedicated SD card, correct ?

Yes

 

[wurstpistole]

Does this have gapps and allow play store access? As which device does it identify in play store? I'm curious about Netflix, prime video and phone destroyer.

 

[leon315]

Can we use bluetooth mouse/keyboard?

 

[KingVamp]

lol It finally happened. I remember so many threads about this. In fact, I think people were hoping for this when it was the NX.

 

[stewacide]

DL server seems to be

work with SX OS?

To launch it with my SXOS dongle I put the SX bootloader and Hekate on the fat32 partition, then loaded Hekate from SX, and then Android from Hekate. All worked totally smoothly. Got Gapps installed currently doing initial setup...

 

[Andalitez]

Does this have gapps and allow play store access? As which device does it identify in play store? I'm curious about Netflix, prime video and phone destroyer.

You have to load gapps via TWRP

 

[Deleted User]

thanks so much for the news!

 

[phillyrider807]

Installing now. Had a spare 32gb lying around. Using the 16gb img so i can some space to test how native files on the card work.


Really interested to test out geforce now/moonlight and netflix. Even at 420p i'll probably use netflix on my switch over then my ps3 in my room while im in my bed.

Currently 19mins into flashing a 16gb img on my 32gb memory card and it still says 12 mins left. Can only imagine how long a 128gb img would take to flash lol.

 

[Andalitez]

thanks so much for the news!

Are you going to do a vid for us? xD

 

[Blaze Uchiha]

I wonder if I could spoof PoGo using this

 

[HaloEffect17]

Finally, a REAL Fire Emblem game on the Switch. Can't wait to play Heroes!

Nah, Thracia is where it's at.

 

[Liv2MsTrb8T]

Switch is forcing shutdown to rcm after flashing gapps.

 

[Andalitez]

How do we connect the joycons?

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Switch is forcing shutdown to rcm after flashing gapps.

So it it fail to flash?

 

[EmulateLife]

Any updates on working emulators?