Hello,
I’m totally new to the switch scene and a noob in those things.
I was wondering why there is still no tutorial for installing Team Xecutters SX OS here,
so i have done a very basic tutorial for noobs like me by my self and hope you guys will understand it too.
I made the videos short without voice recording, so you can easy pause and do it step by step.
Check also the Tutorial for backing up the NAND, since this seems important too!

Attention, use only at your own risk! There is a chance of bricking or Console if you do smethong wrong
or be banned when the CFW is used online!

Here is the Video:

Installing Switch SX OS (offline):

Spoiler: Download links for SX OS

A SX OS License (or use the free version for Homebrew!)
Trusted reseller: https://team-xecuter.com/where-to-buy/

TegraRcmGui:
https://github.com/eliboa/TegraRcmGUI

Switch SX OS (v1.4):
https://sx.xecuter.com/download/SXOS_v1.4.zip

SX Loader:
https://sx.xecuter.com/download/payload.bin

Offline Activation for SX OS:
https://sx.xecuter.com/sxos-license.html

Spoiler: Install SX OS

1. Make Sure your Switch battery is almost fully loaded!
2. Set your Switch to Airplane Mode. (Or remove the Wifi connection)
3. Turn the Switch off and remove the MicroSD-Card.​

4. Copy the Switch OS (boot.dat) file to root of your MicroSD-Card.
5. Put the card back in to your Switch and leave the Switch powered off.
6. While holding the “Volume +” press the Power Button. Nothing should now appear on your screen, the Switch is now in the RCM Mode.
7. Run the TegraRCMGui on your PC.
8. Go to the Settings Tab and press the “install Driver” Button and allow the installation. (This will Install the Switch RCM Driver to your PC.)
9. Return now to the Payload tab and connect your Switch, which should be in RCM mode, to your PC with a USB-C Cable.
10. Select the Folder Icon in TegraRCM Gui and navigate to the SX OS (payload.bin) file.
11. Choose the Inject Payload Button and your Switch should boot no into SX OS.

12. Click Boot custom FW on your Switch. When you perform the first time the boot of SX OS a license file (license-request.dat) will be created on your MicroSD cards.
13. After the booting power Off your Switch and put your MicroSD card back to your PC.
14. Visit now Team Xecuters Activation Side, upload your file from the MicroSD (license-request.dat) and manually enter your License Code.
15. Click on Retrieve License and the download of your new license file should start.
16. Copy the license.dat file to your MicroSD-Card root
17. Insert the Card in to your Switch.
18. Now you have to put the Switch back to RCM Mode again and re-send the payload.bin from TegroRcmGui. (Step 9. to 11.)
19. Now the SX OS should automatic recognize the License and boot up the Switch SX OS.

For loading games you must select the Album Icon in the Menu.

Update 1:

Enable Homebrew on SX OS:
(OUTDATED Since 1.4 need no homebrew Launcher!)

Spoiler: Download links for Homebew

Homebrew Menu:
https://github.com/switchbrew/nx-hbmenu/releases

VBA-Next :
https://github.com/RSDuck/vba-next-switch/releases

Spoiler: Homebrew installation

For Homebrew you need HBMenu installed:

-Put the "hbmenu.nro" into the root of your SD-Card

-Create a folder called "switch" to the root of your SD-Card

-Put your Homebrew folders / .NROs in "Switch" folder

-Start HBMenu by pressing the "R" button while launching the Album Icon

Update 2:

Here is the Tutorial for dumping your NAND using Hekate.
This is not mandatory but it is recommended to do a back up of your system before a custom firmware is installed.

How to back up & restore your System NAND + clear LOGs with Hekate:


You can also clear your Error Logs with this methode, before launching OFW online.
(Since this could be safer way using OFW online, but still not 100% safe!)

Spoiler: Download links for Hekate

TegraRcmGui:
https://github.com/eliboa/TegraRcmGUI

Hekate CTCaer mod Payload:
https://github.com/CTCaer/hekate/releases/

SDFiles:
https://github.com/tumGER/SDFilesSwitch/releases

Spoiler: Install Hekate

1. Make Sure your Switch battery is almost fully loaded!

2. Set your Switch to Airplane Mode.
3. Turn the Switch off and remove the MicroSD-Card.
4. Copy the files from the SDFilesxx to root of your MicroSD-Card.
5. Put the card back in to your Switch and leave the Switch powered off.
6. While holding the “Volume +” press the Power Button. Nothing should now appear on your screen, the Switch is now in the RCM Mode.
7. Run the TegraRCMGui on your PC
8. go to the Settings Tab and press the “install Driver” Button and allow the installation. (If you havn't done that yet)
9. Return now to the Payload tab and connect your Switch, wich should be in RCM mode, to your PC with a USB-C Cable.
10. Select the Folder Icon in TegraRCM Gui and navigate to the Hekate Payload (hekate_ctcaer_x.x.bin) file.
11. Choose the Inject Payload Button and your Switch should boot now into the Hekate screen.
12.Turn your Switch Sideways. You navigate with Volume + and - Button for up & down. You Choose an option with the power button.
13. Now choose “Tools” and “Dump RAW eMMC GPP”
14. It now dumps your Raw eMMC: Be patient, it took about 1-2 hours dependingfast your SD card is.
15. Choose afterwards "Dump eMMC Boot0/1 if you want to use AutoRCM
15. When its finished go back to the main menu und choose power off.
16. Copy now your rawdumb files to a save place and delete the files from the SD-Card.

Another useful function of Hekate is cleaning your error logs!
This is helpfull if you want to go online with your OFW.

1. Inject the Hektate Payload.
2. Choose from to the main menu “launch firmware”.
3. Choose the option “clear logs”.
4. Your System reboots now, with cleaned logs.​

Edit 5:
Updated to SX OS 1.4

 

[xy-maps]

I add soon the steps for the HBMenu.
The hbmenu.nro must be in the root of the SDcard then you create a folder called „switch“ where you put your Hombrew App folders or nro‘s.

Somehow the Switch(HBMenu) won‘t recognize folders that where created on macOS. You may have to do it with windows (bootcamp or VirtualMashine).

Also it seems like there is no manager yet that can connect your SD card direct to your PC.

 

[pLaYeR^^]

You are the best. May I ask, does the NRO go into its own folder or do you make a folder called "switch" and then put the NROs in there for other programs? (I know homebrew manager is an exception).

Also would you be able yo link me to a nice save manager utility and an FTP program please? Switching back and forth between my mac and taking the meory cards in and out is driving me insane.

EDIT: Oh and, when you say launch CFW, do you mean sx os or another CFW? I assume you hold R and launch photo app in SX OS to get to HBMENU?

Save manager: https://gbatemp.net/threads/checkpoint-a-simple-and-fast-save-manager.485591/
FTP program: https://www.switchbru.com/appstore/#/app/ftpd
The hbmenu.nro file must be in the root of your micro sd card, don't put it in any folder.

 

[Switchtime]

How can I use the free version of sx os os?
I'm thinking of getting the pro dongle, but would like to test the whole thing first...
(is there also a shop who get them in stock?)

 

[xy-maps]

How can I use the free version of sx os os?
I'm thinking of getting the pro dongle, but would like to test the whole thing first...
(is there also a shop who get them in stock?)

You just skip the activation process and direct boot into SX OS, but then you can use only the the HBmenu when you installed the hbmenu.nro to you micro SD-card.

For the Pro Dongle have look at axiogame.com , they may got it in stock.

 

[apfelsaft45]

Hey

really good tutorial, can you maybe do a tutorial on sx os with the NXloader or an Android phone?

that would be super cool !! =D

LG

 

[Arkangelshadow]

Thx, the videos were really helpfull.

I'm now suscribed to your channel

 

[IFunkymonkey]

Hey there guys! I followed your tutorial and i sucessfuly put SX OS on my switch (i even activated it). Now...when i want to get my XCI dumbs onto it, how do i do that? Put the switch in sleep mode and take the sd out? I think that can brick my switch...and i need to put it back into RCM and send the payload again. Is there an better way? I was thinking about this FTP homebrew app...and where do i put my XCI files on the sd card?

 

[Draxzelex]

Hey there guys! I followed your tutorial and i sucessfuly put SX OS on my switch (i even activated it). Now...when i want to get my XCI dumbs onto it, how do i do that? Put the switch in sleep mode and take the sd out? I think that can brick my switch...and i need to put it back into RCM and send the payload again. Is there an better way? I was thinking about this FTP homebrew app...and where do i put my XCI files on the sd card?

Your SD card will become unable to read by the Switch if you take it out while its on. If you ever accidentally do it, the fix is relatively simple.

Connect your sd card to a windows PC and select everything inside.
Right click, properties, advanced, disable "folder/file is ready for archiving". Done.

FTPD is by far the best way of transferring .XCI files to the Switch without removing the SD card. The other option is memloader, however there is a possibility that Windows can corrupt the Switch's NAND when using that tool. https://switchtools.sshnuke.net/

The final option is to use AutoRCM to reduce the number of times you have to manually induce RCM. To avoid AutoRCM related-battery problems, keep the Switch in sleep mode while charging and only turn it off when you need to remove the SD card.

 

[IFunkymonkey]

Your SD card will become unable to read by the Switch if you take it out while its on. If you ever accidentally do it, the fix is relatively simple.

FTPD is by far the best way of transferring .XCI files to the Switch without removing the SD card. The other option is memloader, however there is a possibility that Windows can corrupt the Switch's NAND when using that tool. https://switchtools.sshnuke.net/

The final option is to use AutoRCM to reduce the number of times you have to manually induce RCM. To avoid AutoRCM related-battery problems, keep the Switch in sleep mode while charging and only turn it off when you need to remove the SD card.

Nice, thanks for the fast and detailed awsner! This homebrew community realy is awesome around here (:

Now the only question i have left is, since i dont want to go online with my switch (i even activated SX OS offline) is there any chance of using that FTP program? I dont think so, yeah?!

 

[Draxzelex]

Nice, thanks for the fast and detailed awsner! This homebrew community realy is awesome around here (:

Now the only question i have left is, since i dont want to go online with my switch (i even activated SX OS offline) is there any chance of using that FTP program? I dont think so, yeah?!

To use FTP without Internet, you will have to host your own local server. The alternative is to use memloader, but again, you run the risk of corrupting a part of your NAND. However, if you have fully backed up your NAND, you can restore it even if memloader corrupts a part of the Switch's NAND.

 

[Vahkiti]

I just wanted to say thank you for this tutorial. Much to the contrary of the first reply, I found this to be quite necessary AND informative. Cheers friend!

 

[OrGoN3]

Not to revive old threads, but I have a dumb question. Using the offline activation method still requires you to load up CFW (SX OS) on your sysnand. Has anybody's console been banned for this reason? Is it advised to do a sysnand restore prior to going online with sysnand if i've activated a license? Is there any other way to generate the license-request.dat without running SX OS on my Switch?