The way I used to do it was tedious and was quite complex, however with the v2.0 release of the wafel_setup_mlc plugin, region changing has become much simpler.

It is identical to just rebuilding the MLC, but this has region changing specific notes added.

This does not change the region of the Gamepad, however you can still use an out-of-region gamepad with Aroma, which can be loaded with the wafel_payloader Stroopwafel plugin, so you don't need to worry about getting a Gamepad from the region you are changing to. If you do want to change the Gamepad region, there is a section at the end of the guide with instructions.

It also does not change the vWii region. If you want to region change the vWii as well, use vWii Decaffeinator on Light Mode to region change. I think you also need to regenerate the setting.txt.

Following this guide will wipe the MLC. You should back up any saves you care about before following. Its possible to do it without wiping the MLC, but you're on your own should you ta

Keep an OTP and SEEPROM backup. Nothing should go wrong, but it is better to have the most important backups and not need them vs. need them and not have them.

DO NOT UNINSTALL ISFSHAX AFTER ERASING THE MLC AND DELETING THE SCFM UNTIL YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY REBUILT THE MLC AND CONFIRMED EVERYTHING IS WORKING.
I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE IF YOU FAIL TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS PROPERLY.
If you need support, you can join my server and ask in #help

What you need

• Install isfshax. This is a requirement. You cannot region change without it. (You can also use de_Fuse, but at that point you probably already know what you are doing.)
  
  • Stop at the "Booting" section.
• The release of the MLCRestorerDownloader for your OS.
• The latest release of the MLC setup plugin.
• The latest release of the Payloader plugin.
  • Get the 5payldr.ipx.
• The latest Aroma files (If you have Aroma already, ignore this.)
  
  • Read and tick the 4 boxes -> Click on Download Payloads and Download Base Aroma

Downloading the MLC Titles

1. Extract the MLCRestorerDownloader you downloaded.
2. Copy the otp.bin into the extracted folder.
   
3. Open a command prompt / terminal (Linux/Mac only).
4. cd into the directory with the MLCRestorerDownloader (ie. cd /Downloads/MLCRestorerDownloader) (Linux/Mac only).
5. Run the application (ie .\MLCRestorerDownloader for Linux/Mac users). Windows users can just double click the .exe
6. Type in 1 the for MLC titles.
7. Type in the number for the region you want to change to (ie 2 for USA).
   
8. Wait for it to finish downloading. You can do part of the next section while you wait.

SD Setup

1. Copy the wafel_setup_mlc.ipx to sd:/wiiu/ios_plugins.
2. Copy the 5payldr.ipx to sd:/wiiu/ios_plugins.
   
3. Copy the two wiiu folders from the Aroma .zip files to the root of the SD.
4. Make a folder called wafel_install on the root of the SD and copy all 52 MLC titles here.

Region Changing

1. Boot the console.
   
   • If it does not automatically go into minute_minute, go install isfshax.
2. Navigate to Backup and Restore.
3. Select Erase MLC and then press EJECT to confirm.
   • If it tells you MLC Erase not allowed!, go install isfshax.
4. Select Delete scfm.img and press EJECT to confirm.
   • If it tells you SCFM delete not allowed!, install isfshax and quit trying with no safety measures.
5. Go back to the main menu and select Patch (sd) and boot IOS (slc).
   • During the setup you won't use the screen and stay at the GO GO GO minute message. You have to go by the power led.
6. Wait for the LED to start blinking blue, this means the setup has started. Wait for it to stop blinking, that is when the setup has finished.
7. Shut off the console and put the SD back into your PC.
   • Almost everything should have returned 00000000.
   • SetInitialLaunch will have returned 1.
   • If Set Region to X returned error FFFBFFEE, ask for help. That should not happen.
   • Otherwise boot the console again (select Patch (sd) and boot IOS (slc)), and you should be greeted with initial setup. Success!

Region Changing the Gamepad

1. Download the latest release of DRXUtil and copy it to sd:/wiiu/apps.
2. Launch DRXUtil from the Wii U Menu.
   • If it doesn't show up, press L + DPAD Down + Select on the Gamepad and set the "Hide all .rpx" configuration in the "Homebrew on Wii U Menu Plugin" to false.
3. Select Flash firmware.
4. Select Built-in Firmware Patches. Read the warning, then select Continue.
5. Read the second warning, then select Continue.
   • With the patched firmware, the Gamepad will now show "Modified Firmware" while booting up.
6. Select Set region and select the target region.
   • Note that Japan/Americas/Europe are the only regions that are actually used.
7. Press A to confirm. Press B to go back to the main screen.
8. Select Show DRC/DRH information and verify that the region under DRC info has been set to the one you selected.
9. Press B to go back to the main screen and select Flash firmware.
10. Select Original Firmware. Read the warning then select Continue.
11. Read the second warning, then select Continue.
12. Wait for the firmware to flash. Press B once finished and go back to the Wii U Menu.
13. Launch System Settings, select Console Information (Icon with a red Console/Gamepad), select Set System Language, and select the target language. This will change the Gamepad language.
14. Once it's finished, you're done!

After Region Changing

You can keep isfshax installed, or you can uninstall it. I would keep it, so you can load Aroma on boot without needing to install PayloadLoader, or as some form of 'brick protection'. You can set up autobooting in minute to have it automatically load IOSU. Instructions for that are on the isfshax guide.

Credits

@SDIO: isfshax setup guides, the wafel_setup_mlc plugin, help get the PoC to work, cleaning up my code, making the region fixer more sane...
@shinyquagsire23: de_Fuse, minute_minute, and stroopwafel
@GaryOderNichts: Also help me get the PoC working, DRXUtil
@rw-r-r_0644: Finding isfshax and implementing it

 

[Wholesomely]

Hey guys, could you please help me with the Wii U not working?

I proceeded with the guide (the only thing that I didn't do in accordance to guide is not deleting wafel_setup_mlc.ipx following the logic that if I have an error FFFBFFEE, then I can't proceed with step 9, since it's stating "if everything looks right" and "everything should have 8 zeros, except for one 1".

So, without deleting it, after proceeding with sys_prod procedure and entering serial numbers of my console and desired region, my console stuck with Wii U booting logo and blinking blue light. Wii U works without SD card and the region is changed to desired, but it has purple light when turned on and when I got to Settings and go back to Menu, light changes to blue, then to purple, then to red, then to purple, it shuts down and starts once again.
So following some advice, I deleted wafel_setup_mlc.ipx and then accidentally chose Patch SLC and boot IOS (SLC). After that I chose Patch (sd) and boot IOS (slc) and I got stuck in infinite bootloop and I proceeded with instruction from ISFShax page.

After changing payload.elf I've got black screen and purple light after Patch (sd) and boot IOS (slc) option

Could you please help, is the problem with new payload.elf?
Or maybe I can just proceed with Region Changing section of this guide once again?

And I've got another thing that looked kinda suspicious is that it states 98%, 99% downloaded when downloading MLC. Does it matter? Maybe I got MLC downloaded not correctly? Or is it normal behaviour?

Thanks in advance

P.S. I've got full NAND backup just in case

 

[badger_vm]

Take a look at this thread:
https://gbatemp.net/threads/sync-di...d-to-console-method-work.608970/post-10194047

U don't need region change the gamepad, just change the TV remote app language, though u still need the "infamous" system config tool.

I tried it and it worked.

Hi, I don't know what I could be doing wrong, but it seems as I am not able to change the language on the controller. The quickmenu and the TV controller are still on japanese, even though everything else is in spanish.

I followed the guide with the Sysnand SCT, it seems I had some problems, beacause the app was telling me the language could not be changed on the DRC. or the TV controller function becoming unusable (blue strange screen), but after some retrying it told me that the language was succesfully changed (but didn't)

 

[neverendsDull]

Hi, I don't know what I could be doing wrong, but it seems as I am not able to change the language on the controller. The quickmenu and the TV controller are still on japanese, even though everything else is in spanish.

I followed the guide with the Sysnand SCT, it seems I had some problems, beacause the app was telling me the language could not be changed on the DRC. or the TV controller function becoming unusable (blue strange screen), but after some retrying it told me that the language was succesfully changed (but didn't)

Maybe the process was interrupted? Make sure the downloaded language files are complete. How about just do it again. Note you should SCT on archive.org uploaded in 2021, at least that is the one I used.

 

[SDIO]

@Wholesomely erase the mlc and scfm again, run the setup again and then delete the wafel setup before booting again.

 

[Wholesomely]

@SDIO it didn't work for me unfortunately

Post automatically merged: Aug 25, 2024

I've got black screen and purple light after booting intro Patch (sd) and boot IOS (slc) again.

 

[SDIO]

Show the setup log.

 

[Wholesomely]

@SDIO here it is

OpenDir /vol/sdcard/wafel_install: 0
OpenMCP /vol/sdcard/wafel_install: 0
InstallInfo 0005003010017209: 00000000
Install 0005003010017209: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b1004f000: 00000000
Install 0005001b1004f000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b1005c000: 00000000
Install 0005001b1005c000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b1005f000: 00000000
Install 0005001b1005f000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b1006c000: 00000000
Install 0005001b1006c000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10042300: 00000000
Install 0005001b10042300: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10042400: 00000000
Install 0005001b10042400: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10050000: 00000000
Install 0005001b10050000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10051000: 00000000
Install 0005001b10051000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10052000: 00000000
Install 0005001b10052000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10053000: 00000000
Install 0005001b10053000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10054000: 00000000
Install 0005001b10054000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10056000: 00000000
Install 0005001b10056000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10057000: 00000000
Install 0005001b10057000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10058000: 00000000
Install 0005001b10058000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10059200: 00000000
Install 0005001b10059200: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10063000: 00000000
Install 0005001b10063000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10065000: 00000000
Install 0005001b10065000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10067200: 00000000
Install 0005001b10067200: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10068000: 00000000
Install 0005001b10068000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001b10069200: 00000000
Install 0005001b10069200: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500101004a200: 00000000
Install 000500101004a200: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500101004b200: 00000000
Install 000500101004b200: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500101004c200: 00000000
Install 000500101004c200: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500101004d200: 00000000
Install 000500101004d200: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500101004e200: 00000000
Install 000500101004e200: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500101005a200: 00000000
Install 000500101005a200: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500301001a10a: 00000000
Install 000500301001a10a: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500301006d20a: 00000000
Install 000500301006d20a: 00000000
InstallInfo 00050030100112ff: 00000000
Install 00050030100112ff: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500301001020a: 00000000
Install 000500301001020a: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500301001120a: 00000000
Install 000500301001120a: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500301001220a: 00000000
Install 000500301001220a: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500301001320a: 00000000
Install 000500301001320a: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500301001420a: 00000000
Install 000500301001420a: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500301001520a: 00000000
Install 000500301001520a: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500301001620a: 00000000
Install 000500301001620a: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500301001720a: 00000000
Install 000500301001720a: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500301001820a: 00000000
Install 000500301001820a: 00000000
InstallInfo 000500301001920a: 00000000
Install 000500301001920a: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001010040200: 00000000
Install 0005001010040200: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001010041200: 00000000
Install 0005001010041200: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001010043200: 00000000
Install 0005001010043200: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001010044200: 00000000
Install 0005001010044200: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001010045200: 00000000
Install 0005001010045200: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001010047200: 00000000
Install 0005001010047200: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001010048200: 00000000
Install 0005001010048200: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001010049200: 00000000
Install 0005001010049200: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001010062200: 00000000
Install 0005001010062200: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005001010066000: 00000000
Install 0005001010066000: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005003010010209: 00000000
Install 0005003010010209: 00000000
InstallInfo 0005003010011209: 00000000
Install 0005003010011209: 00000000
Flush MLC: 0
SetInitialLaunch 0: 1
Flush SLC: 0

 

[SDIO]

and this is from the install you did after erasing the mlc? You saw the led blinking and waie until it was done?

 

[Wholesomely]

and this is from the install you did after erasing the mlc? You saw the led blinking and waie until it was done?

yes

Post automatically merged: Aug 26, 2024

@SDIO how do you think, if I uninstall isfshax, will it boot normally? Since it's region changed, I don't really need isfshax

 

[Mayyi13]

It is a complicated thing to do, is there a video tutorial on this?

Post automatically merged: Aug 28, 2024

It is a complicated thing to do, is there a video tutorial on this?

 

[SDIO]

if I uninstall isfshax, will it boot normally? Since it's region changed, I don't really need isfshax

No, don't uninstall ISFShax until you made sure it can boot. If it can't boot you have no way to fix it without ISFSHax..
Dump the system crash logs in backup and reset, maybe we can see there what's wrong, since the install log looked good. Also you still have the wafel_core and the isfshax patch in the ios_plugins, right?

 

[Wholesomely]

No, don't uninstall ISFShax until you made sure it can boot. If it can't boot you have no way to fix it without ISFSHax..
Dump the system crash logs in backup and reset, maybe we can see there what's wrong, since the install log looked good. Also you still have the wafel_core and the isfshax patch in the ios_plugins, right?

I have both these files in ios_plugins folder
I redownloaded Aroma with all 3 payloads and now it boots in Aroma payloader and from there I can boot into menu. However, the light is still purple on the menu and when I exit settings, there is minute loading once again and it's booting in aroma payloader. Is this expected behaviour?
I dumped logs and there are 99 logs and none of them are dated today

 

[core2lee91]

Thanks, this worked perfect for me! de_fuse, 512GB MLC and a EUR firmware on my JAP Wii U. Now to have a go at using DRXUtil to change the gamepad region and also the vWii region.

 

[haingo]

Hey guys, is it safe to delete the wafel_install folder after changing my Wii U region following the steps in the first post?

 

[VdeVaporeta]

Thanks for this, now my JAP Wii U is EUR! awesome job.

 

[ikn0w1]

Thanks for the well written guide. Got an acquaintance to bring along a Japanese Wii U and the region change to NA along with rest of the isfshax setup was done within an hour or so.

 

[salmi01]

Hi folks. I am getting stuck at Dumping to IOS... GO GO GO! I tried to recopy the plugins (wafel_payloader.ipx and wafel_setup_mlc.ipx). Also also tried an older release of wafel_payloader.ipx. Also tried to download the folders of other region... Can somebody support what could be the issue? Many thanks.

 

[Xantisonist]

Hello guys, I have a question. I have Japanese Wii u with hynix eMMC.
Its updated. Hasn't give me an error code just yet.

I want to add MLC2SD. Do I normally follow MLC2SD guide then after, follow this region change guide? Trying to avoid a brick.

 

[SDIO]

You install ISFShax first. Then you install the MLC2SD and then you rebuild with the right region.
Also if your eMMC still works, it might be just fine...

 

[Beber666]

this worked great thank you so much for this great step by step !

I’ve been able to switch my Jap wii u to EUR

The crazy thing is that my Jap gamepad was automatically detected without any region change on it… any idea why?