Tutorial  Updated

How to use LayeredFS for Backup Loading + What Games Work/Don't

This thread is outdated
A lot of information in this thread is heavilly out of date.
If you have time, and have Staff permission, feel free to edit this thread and remove this statement once necessary.

Some information that needs to be addressed:
  • SX OS and Atmosphere now supports proper LayeredFS, instructions for using it has changed since this tutorial was made
  • Supported Firmware information is out of date
  • LFSKit needs to be updated to properly support non 5.x.x firmware
  • Compatability chart needs to be re-made
-PRAGMA


WARNING
  • DO NOT GO ONLINE WHEN DOING THIS (YOU WILL BE BANNED)


How to use LayeredFS for Backup Loading

Firmware Supported: ONLY 5.x.x
Use the PRAGMA LFS Kit below.

PRAGMA's LFS Kit

DOWNLOAD
SOURCE

  • Go from NOTHING in your SD Card to playing a game backup in a few clicks!
  • Decrypt .XCI -> romfs/exefs folder with main.nmpd auto edited aswell as folder's name auto renamed to donor titleid
  • Download NOTHING except LFSKit!
ENJOY!

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Picking a Donor Title and getting Donor TitleIDRunning Game Backups!


    1. A donor title is the application we will run to open the backup.
      Pick a game you don't care about (Download a Demo or a free game from eShop, for example Octopath Demo)
      saves are something no one knows much about, we don't fully know where or how they are stored.
      They might overwrite the donor titles save, so seriously pick a game you DONT care about, not a game you rarely play.

    2. I also recommend picking a donor title/game combo that has been tested and reported working just so you know if YOU did something wrong or not.
    3. Find the TitleID of the donor title you chose from http://nswdb.com or http://switchbrew.org/index.php?title=Title_list/Games
      Region must be the same, choose the TitleID for the base-game NOT for the update title, even if your updated.

    1. Once again, boot into Hekate-IPL (Step 1).
    2. Enter "Launch firmware" and select "RomFS".
    3. Your now in your system's home menu.
    4. Open the Donor Title you set the TitleID of on that folder and .npmd file earlier.
    5. The game will load up flawlessly.
      If you opened the Title lets say, Fortnite, and Fortnite booted, the titleid of the folder in sd:/atmosphere/titles/{fortnitetitleid} doesnt exist, or doesnt start with 0100.
      If it gives you an error screen, either you didnt edit the main.npmd properly, or its an incompatible title/donor combo.
    To see which games work and which dont using which donor titles, look below.
    If you notice that you used a combination of Game and Donor title that isnt in the list below, post in the thread and I will add it. (look under to see what I need to add to chart).


Troubleshooting

  • Black Screen/Infinitely Loading
    Leave it for around 5 minutes then press the home button and go back into the game without closing it. Often this can do the job.
  • Freeze when Loading
    Close the game and try again, its a common occurence, you may have to try up to 4-5 times before getting it to work, sometimes you may even have to reboot between retries.
 
Last edited by PRAGMA,

CoolSonicFan

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i've been trying to get Taiko running for a couple days now and every game i've tried as a donor ether stays on the loading screen or it just stays at a black screen, games i've tried

Mario Odyssey
Splatoon 2
Pinball FX3
Fortnite
Mario Kart 8
Sonic Mania (i knew this wasn't gonna work but i tried it anyway)
Pokemon Quest

i haven't tried Fallout Shelter yet but i have a feeling that's not gonna work ether... theres gotta be one game that works with it, will continue testing
 

MonMonz

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guys am trying to get xenoblade 2 to work with octopath traveler demo as a donor but i have no luck it gives me error and force my switch to reboot !
am using latest sd files with hekate 3.2 and old layerdFS mode
any help will be appreciated
 

Mat37

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guys am trying to get xenoblade 2 to work with octopath traveler demo as a donor but i have no luck it gives me error and force my switch to reboot !
am using latest sd files with hekate 3.2 and old layerdFS mode
any help will be appreciated
Try the new layeredFS, it works for me
 
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Zumoly

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Does DLC work with LayeredFS?

DLC is hit or miss (most probably miss). What's confirmed to work for now is the Update.

i've been trying to get Taiko running for a couple days now and every game i've tried as a donor ether stays on the loading screen or it just stays at a black screen, games i've tried

Mario Odyssey
Splatoon 2
Pinball FX3
Fortnite
Mario Kart 8
Sonic Mania (i knew this wasn't gonna work but i tried it anyway)
Pokemon Quest

i haven't tried Fallout Shelter yet but i have a feeling that's not gonna work ether... theres gotta be one game that works with it, will continue testing

Try Kitten Squad (a highly compatible Donor Title)
 

LFPereira

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It worked flawlessly :D thank you so much

By the way, is there any reason why some people seem to be able to load Mario kart with Captain toad demo's and others can't?

Great!

I do not know, but some games work best on Older LayeredFS
I suggest using the tumGER files, and check compatibility table.

github.com/tumGER/SDFilesSwitch/releases

awesome-table.com/-LFDcC2m8HJCLBPe-7e0/view?filterA=captain%20toad,Captain%20Toad%20Treasure%20Tracker,Captain%20Toad%3A%20Treasure%20Tracker&filterC=Working%20-%20Saves
 

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