I have 2 Nintendo Switches.
The 1st switch is my main one and is currently on firmware 5.1.0.
The 2nd switch is brand new, has never been used, and is on firmware 4.1.0.
I use the 1st switch as intended by Nintendo with a Nintendo account associated to it.
I intend to use the 2nd switch for homebrew, emulators, and backups via SX Pro (currently pre-ordered) without a Nintendo account associated to it (unless required in order to obtain game updates.)
I have a 256GB micro sdxc card for use in the 2nd switch.
I need to decide if I should format it to format to FAT32 or exFAT.
Safest / most practical methods and least chance for a ban/brick is ideal.
I have been searching and reading posts over the course of a few days so I can get closer to making an informed decision and this is what I have learned:
- exFAT supports files over 4 GB
- speed of using exFAT is faster vs using FAT32
- FAT32 requires splitting of files greater than 4GB as 4GB is the limit
- games requiring a system firmware higher than 4.1.0 cannot be played unless a system update to the required firmware version is performed
- in order to easily and safely install the exFAT driver, a system update must be performed, thus installing the current system firmware of 5.1.0 as of the time of this writing
- alternately, I can install the exFAT driver using the tutorials on this forum, however, it may be prone to detection/ban as it modifies the sysnand
- the plus side of manually updating the exFAT driver is that I get to keep system firmware version 4.1.0 installed
- staying on 4.1.0 would allow me to warmboot in the distant future (is this even a big deal if my switch is rarely powered off?) What are the side effects of not having warmboot?
Based on the information provided and current solutions, would you manually update the drivers to support exFAT, would you stay on 4.1.0 and use FAT32, or would you perform a system update to easily obtain exFAT support while also obtaining the latest firmware and support for the latest games requiring a higher firmware (while losing the potential option to warmboot?)
Feel free to reply to any portion of this message with additional information that may help myself and others come to an informed decision.
Thank you in advance!
-morrison22
The 1st switch is my main one and is currently on firmware 5.1.0.
The 2nd switch is brand new, has never been used, and is on firmware 4.1.0.
I use the 1st switch as intended by Nintendo with a Nintendo account associated to it.
I intend to use the 2nd switch for homebrew, emulators, and backups via SX Pro (currently pre-ordered) without a Nintendo account associated to it (unless required in order to obtain game updates.)
I have a 256GB micro sdxc card for use in the 2nd switch.
I need to decide if I should format it to format to FAT32 or exFAT.
Safest / most practical methods and least chance for a ban/brick is ideal.
I have been searching and reading posts over the course of a few days so I can get closer to making an informed decision and this is what I have learned:
- exFAT supports files over 4 GB
- speed of using exFAT is faster vs using FAT32
- FAT32 requires splitting of files greater than 4GB as 4GB is the limit
- games requiring a system firmware higher than 4.1.0 cannot be played unless a system update to the required firmware version is performed
- in order to easily and safely install the exFAT driver, a system update must be performed, thus installing the current system firmware of 5.1.0 as of the time of this writing
- alternately, I can install the exFAT driver using the tutorials on this forum, however, it may be prone to detection/ban as it modifies the sysnand
- the plus side of manually updating the exFAT driver is that I get to keep system firmware version 4.1.0 installed
- staying on 4.1.0 would allow me to warmboot in the distant future (is this even a big deal if my switch is rarely powered off?) What are the side effects of not having warmboot?
Based on the information provided and current solutions, would you manually update the drivers to support exFAT, would you stay on 4.1.0 and use FAT32, or would you perform a system update to easily obtain exFAT support while also obtaining the latest firmware and support for the latest games requiring a higher firmware (while losing the potential option to warmboot?)
Feel free to reply to any portion of this message with additional information that may help myself and others come to an informed decision.
Thank you in advance!
-morrison22
Last edited by morrison22,








