Is it actually possible to hack your switch to download any game for free?

[BasedNate]

I heard today from a friend that his friend said it was possible and that he did it to his. I have never heard of doing such a thing and wanted to know if it was indeed possible or if this was an exaggeration on my friend's part?

 

[Tsukiru]

Technically, yes. Homebrew allows for installing game backups onto your system, albeit depending on your method you cannot access Nintendo servers or will find yourself banned. However, it's not advised/allowed to link to these backups on the forums. Have to do your own legwork.

 

[BasedNate]

Technically, yes. Homebrew allows for installing game backups onto your system, albeit depending on your method you cannot access Nintendo servers or will find yourself banned. However, it's not advised/allowed to link to these backups on the forums. Have to do your own legwork.

I'm fine doing my own legwork. But is it like theoretically possible or practically possible?

Like once done can I download any new game that comes out for free automatically. Or is more a case where I can download if certain conditions are met first.

For example, if someone hacks the new game and upload a save file to a repository, then I can download the game for free. Mind you I have no idea the process but I'm just giving a hypothetical to explain the difference in case it wasn't clear of theoretical and practical application.

 

[impeeza]

Buddy, read one of the so many guides about hacking a Switch and/or read the post #2 and you get your answer.

The short one is "Yes!"

For the long one and the "how" read the guides an/or the post #2

 

[BasedNate]

Buddy, read one of the so many guides about hacking a Switch and/or read the post #2 and you get your answer.

The short one is "Yes!"

For the long one and the "how" read the guides an/or the post #2

Sorry if I was being annoying, I'm new to this like I said. Just wanted to make sure their weren't any caveats. Thanks.

 

[Tsukiru]

I'm fine doing my own legwork. But is it like theoretically possible or practically possible?

Like once done can I download any new game that comes out for free automatically. Or is more a case where I can download if certain conditions are met first.

For example, if someone hacks the new game and upload a save file to a repository, then I can download the game for free. Mind you I have no idea the process but I'm just giving a hypothetical to explain the difference in case it wasn't clear of theoretical and practical application.

Practically possible, I only say theoretically because piracy isn't advised.

 

[Dust2dust]

Just wanted to make sure their weren't any caveats. Thanks.

There are caveats. First you need to find out if your Switch is vulnerable to the RCM exploit. If it isn't, the process will be much more laborious. Read a few guides.
https://rentry.co/SwitchHackingIsEasy
https://switch.homebrew.guide/

 

[Fugelmir]

Yes, GBATemp exists to promote piracy and circumvent software security. You've come to the right place. As mentioned, you need to look at a few guides to figure out which switch consoles are vulnerable to exploits.

You can't play online without huge risk of being banned, but local play works flawlessly.

You also have access to the vast category of homebrew applications like ports, emulators and applications.

 

[BasedNate]

Yes, GBATemp exists to promote piracy and circumvent software security. You've come to the right place. As mentioned, you need to look at a few guides to figure out which switch consoles are vulnerable to exploits.

You can't play online without huge risk of being banned, but local play works flawlessly.

You also have access to the vast category of homebrew applications like ports, emulators and applications.

Your first two sentences sounded like sarcasm but the rest sounded sincere lol.

 

[impeeza]

This is a noob question. Should go on that thread. Para remove the "tutorial" tag

 

[wiindsurf]

Sorry if I was being annoying, I'm new to this like I said. Just wanted to make sure their weren't any caveats. Thanks.

There's plenty of caveats... You cannot hack just any switch, you need to hunt down some very specific older models. If you bought yours new/retail post 2018 it is very likely unhackable, unless you consider modchipping, but you may have a hard time sourcing parts these days...

 

[Viri]

As long as your Switch is old enough and exploitable, you can pirate all the free games on Switch that your SD card can hold.

If you're unlucky, and your Switch is "too new", then you'll have to solder a chip onto your Switch.

 

[Manu10MGG]

if your switch is hackable yes you can download goldleaf and quark and install them from there

 

[Plazorn]

Download NSP files from one of the many sites around the web, and use homebrew apps like Tinfoil, Tinwoo, or Goldleaf to install them.
It is really as simple as that.

 

[Draxzelex]

I heard today from a friend that his friend said it was possible and that he did it to his. I have never heard of doing such a thing and wanted to know if it was indeed possible or if this was an exaggeration on my friend's part?

The simple answer is yes but it involves a lot of steps from having a hackable console to being able to perform the exploit.

 

[CompSciOrBust]

You can use this to check if it can be hacked easily.
https://ismyswitchpatched.com/

If it is patched then you can still hack it but you will need to buy a mod chip and installation is difficult if you've never done any soldering. That said piracy is illegal so if you hack it you should only hack it for legal things like using custom home menu themes.