WE'RE CLOSED AGAIN, GO TO REINX.GUIDE​

ReiNX: It just works.​

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So, you want to install ReiNX?​

Good, you probably should. Now that it has working sigpatches, ReiNX is the most effective free CFW on the market right now! But you're gonna need to get into the thing, so that's where this helpful guide comes into play. You'll need a few things before we get started:

If you brick your Switch somehow- which would be impressive, honestly- I'm not responsible for that. If you follow these instructions to the letter, you'll have a working and more importantly sexy custom firmware on your system that will suit all your legal needs!
Installing NSP files is going to get you banned. This is only for people who are indifferent about being banned or have been banned already. You were warned.

Spoiler: Hardware

• A Nintendo Switch console
• An SD Card that's been formatted to be used by your Nintendo Switch
• A USB C to USB A cable
• Some way to get into RCM mode, please consult this comprehensive list of ways to enter RCM mode.
• The sheer willpower and hype to take your console to the next stratosphere!

Now that you have all the hardware, you'll need some software, too.
There's a file called Darth Meteos' Super Special SD Stash v5.0.zip, that has sigpatches in it to allow you to run NSP backups. Please grab it here. The zip file has everything you need for the installation ahead. It also contains the following homebrew:​

• Tinfoil (to install NSP files)
• Retroarch (all the best emulators)
• FTPD (for moving files between your PC and your Switch)
• NX-Shell (a basic file manager)
• EdiZon (for backing up/restoring/editing savegames)
• The Homebrew App-Store (for getting even more homebrew)

The zip file will also contain a bin payload to boot the CFW. However, if you've never connected your Switch to a computer, you'll need to do a couple of things first, to get the drivers playing fair. This guide is assuming that you've already done that, but if you're brand new to the scene- welcome, by the way- you'll need to do some one-time setup.​

Spoiler: First-Time Installation

You'll need these things:

• TegraRCMSmash GUI with the original TegraRCMSmash by @rajkosto and GUI additions done by @eliboa. Download the portable zip file from the latest release
• Zadig USB driver installer
• This test payload to try it out!

1. Once you've got those, connect your Switch in RCM mode to your computer. Windows will recognize an APX device. This is good!
2. Run Zadig with admin privileges. On the dropdown menu, find APX. That's your Switch!
3. Next to a green arrow, there will be a series of driver types that you can cycle through. Choose libusbK (v3.0.7.0), and do it carefully, because this is the most important step.
4. Click the big button. Congratulations, your Switch is now ready to run payloads!
5. Extract the folder from the TegraRcmGUI_vX.X_portable.zip that you downloaded, (with X.X being the version, mine is 2.1) and open TegraRCMGUI.
6. To run payloads, simply click the folder icon and browse to the testpayload.bin and inject the payload. Congratulations on running your first payload!

This only works on Windows, because that's what I have. Mac users, check elsewhere.

Now, for the main installation.

1. Power off your Switch and connect your Switch's SD Card to a computer of your choice.
2. Extract the contents of the zip file you downloaded. There'll be a bin file, an SD Files folder, as well as a little readme with more information. Check the spoilered text for what it should look like:
   Spoiler: Image

   
3. Go into the SD Files folder and drag the contents onto the root of your SD Card. Overwrite everything.
   NOTE: If you don't know your firmware, you can find it in the system settings menu. The latest (as of this writing) is 5.1.0.
4. If your card was empty except for the Nintendo folder beforehand, you should have a layout like the one in the spoiler:
   Spoiler: Image

   
5. Now that the SD Card is set up, please return it to your Nintendo Switch and enter into RCM mode through the method of your choice.
6. Using TegraRCMGUI, inject the ReiNX.bin Payload from the Stash package to get into your Switch.
7. After the splash screen vanishes and you see the Nintendo Switch logo, you can disconnect the Switch from your computer. You're in!

Accessing the homebrew menu is easy, just open the album! Inside will be the Tinfoil NSP installer and the Homebrew App Store, which in turn has basically everything you could ever want. Keep an eye on the 'Temp, though, for future updates~

When inside the homebrew menu, you can use Tinfoil to install nsp files, by placing them into the /tinfoil/nsp/ folder on your SD Card. All homebrew goes into the /switch/ folder.
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IF YOU NEED NOGC, PLEASE MAKE A FILE CALLED NOGC IN THE REINX FOLDER
READ THE FUCKIN' F.A.Q BEFORE POSTING, IF YOUR QUESTION IS ANSWERED IN THE F.A.Q, IT WILL NOT BE ANSWERED OUTSIDE OF A SNIDE REMARK, POSSIBLY

Thank you so much for making the choice to use ReiNX!
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[Mylink5]

If I install dlc and updates with hekate will they work when booted on reinx?

 

[Olmectron]

Yeah hollow knight, and dead cells

It's strange. I mean, yes, Octopath requires 5.1, but those other games are kind of old already (2+ months old). They work on 4.1, and shouldn't ask you to update.

Let's hope someone else could help. I already updated accidentally to 5.1.

 

[Ghassen-ga]

Update without burn fuse.

I don't want to really, auto rcm is buggy for now and I can't have a full backup of my nand because I don't have the exfat update..

 

[Kioku]

I don't want to really, auto rcm is buggy for now and I can't have a full backup of my nand because I don't have the exfat update..

AutoRCM is buggy?

 

[Ghassen-ga]

AutoRCM is buggy?

Heard it drains the battery even when the system is off or something.

 

[Olmectron]

Heard it drains the battery even when the system is off or something.

If you let it always in sleep mode, it's not an issue.

 

[Kioku]

Heard it drains the battery even when the system is off or something.

Then it works as intended. Just a side effect. You're responsible for ensuring your console is fully turned off. Oddly enough "Power Off" doesn't do ITS job.

 

[Draxzelex]

Nswdb.com has a complete list of games as well as the required firmware version to play them.

 

[Znuf]

AutoRCM work great. and i don't have exfat patch neither but a nandbackup on my 32go card work well.
And you can use Hacdiskmount to backup you switch without SD card.

 

[Ghassen-ga]

AutoRCM work great. and i don't have exfat patch neither but a nandbackup on my 32go card work well.
And you can use Hacdiskmount to backup you switch without SD card.

Is there a tutorial for that?

 

[Priyam]

After the last bricked fiasco, a nand backup step should be mandatory because this guide is for taking a new unhacked switch to a switch running cfw. Newbies will be put to a great risk otherwise

 

[harmbasi]

I got some requests for NAND Backup assistance on the Discord. I'll update the tutorial... Tomorrow. I'm sleepy.

I'm pretty sure it's just to SD for now. Tinfoil is a pretty new release, so it's being updated frequently.
どういたしまして

Yes, please do a tutorial for a NAND Backup. I searched on this site, doesn't seem to be one yet.

 

[Draxzelex]

Yes, please do a tutorial for a NAND Backup. I searched on this site, doesn't seem to be one yet.

Did you?
https://gbatemp.net/threads/switch-hacking-101-how-to-launch-the-homebrew-menu-on-all-fw.504012/
and
https://gbatemp.net/threads/rcm-payload-hekate-ctcaer-mod.502604/

 

[harmbasi]

Did you?
https://gbatemp.net/threads/switch-hacking-101-how-to-launch-the-homebrew-menu-on-all-fw.504012/
and
https://gbatemp.net/threads/rcm-payload-hekate-ctcaer-mod.502604/

I was searching for Nand Backup and all these threads showed up that had nothing to do with actually backing up the NAND. Thanks for the links.

 

[slaphappygamer]

Great tutorial, but honestly, I like the FAQ better. Lol. Thank you!

 

[LightOffPro]

Great tutorial! Currently using ReiNX over SXOS. I can't refuse Rei-senpai's content.

Using the Freeshop-esque with ReiNX as well, works like a charm. A tutorial on that can already be made, if you so desire OP.

FreeShopNX is already available. (apparently BETA, but it works.)

As some rouge-payloads are in the wild (i read about a payload that's supposedly a "SXOS Crack" that bricks your switch), maybe the best course of action is to provide the "Freeshop-esque" tutorial as fast as possible before people start loading payloads that they shouldn't.

People will search for it no matter what, might as well spare a few working switches in the process.

 

[machinoman]

Then it works as intended. Just a side effect. You're responsible for ensuring your console is fully turned off. Oddly enough "Power Off" doesn't do ITS job.

how do you turn it off correctly, holding the physical power button? if so thats cool because thats how i already turn it off.

 

[mitcha]

I don't want to really, auto rcm is buggy for now and I can't have a full backup of my nand because I don't have the exfat update..

hekate reconize exfat sd card and you can do a full backup ,just format your fat32 to exfat and go to hekate to backup you rawnand.

 

[DEMONDICE]

Awesome, going to switch over to this tomorrow. I read your FAQ, but a few things were unclear. What are the chances of a ban if I use the NSPs? Just want to be sure before I update, thanks!

 

[Ghassen-ga]

hekate reconize exfat sd card and you can do a full backup ,just format your fat32 to exfat and go to hekate to backup you rawnand.

Wah I didn't know that.. Imma try