How to transfer User account between Switch Consoles?

[Eye-V-Sore]

I recently had to wipe and restart one of my unpatched Switch consoles, and it lost my primary User account as a result. And now, I can't access my save data in Checkpoint because I don't have the corresponding account.

I have another unpatched switch that has this primary user account on it, so I assume I just need to copy it over to the second system again. Problem is, I will get banned if I connect to the internet. I've always used sysnand only on my consoles, and I don't know how to setup or work with a clean emunand.

So, what are the steps I need to take, with no existing emunand setup on either console, to copy this account over?

Or if I'm misunderstanding why I can't access my save data on Checkpoint, that could help too!

 

[Hayato213]

Do you have your data, if you have original user data you might be able to decrypt it.

 

[thesjaakspoiler]

And now, I can't access my save data in Checkpoint because I don't have the corresponding account.

That is because your save data is stored in your user account folder.
If the user account is deleted/wiped, then so is your save data.
Your save data is not linked/encrypted/encoded with your user account.

So the basic procedure is :
1. export the save files from the unpatched Switch : if it has a CFW, use checkpoint/JKSV; if you don't have a CFW, put Hekate on an SD card, boot it, make a NAND backup, mount it with nxnandmanager on your PC and extract the save files from the account folder USER partition.
2. use the same SD card with Hekate on the Switch you wiped and make a NAND backup
3. mount that NAND backup with nxnandmanager
4. put back the save files (only the save files)
5. boot up Hekate on the Switch you wiped
6. put back the NAND back up to which you added the save files.

If you mistakenly put back the wrong NAND backup, your Switch can never properly run OFW with online features/ the eshop anymore.
Do not copy over the entire account because I do not know if that will work.
I can't find any guides on that.
If your unpatched Switch is clean, just create a new account and copy over the save files.

I also would recommend to :
- make backups of all keys for both Switches.
- copy the NAND backups for both Switches in a safe place on your PC.
Proceed with caution and if needed ask here for advice or read up on how other people proceed.
Good luck.