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

 

[bodziopl]

I want to hack the vWii on WiiU so now after changing region from Japan to EU first I must use the vWii Decaffeinator to rebuild settings and then hack vWii with online tutorial (vWii.hack.guide)?

 

[lightwo]

I want to hack the vWii on WiiU so now after changing region from Japan to EU first I must use the vWii Decaffeinator to rebuild settings and then hack vWii with online tutorial (vWii.hack.guide)?

Yes. For vWii, it's merely a matter of rebuilding settings.txt, picking aggressive mode, performing an update, and using vWii Compat Title Installer to install Homebrew Launcher.

 

[JamesWA]

hey guys , I have a Japanese wii U console from a friend that was modded using this guide

He followed the guide from start to finish and he installed:

1) vWii compat installer
2) on vWii he used Patched vWii IOS80 Installer
3) on vWii he used D2x cIOS installer process with cIOS base (56/249),(57/250),(58/251)

A) He did not select aroma auto boot (payloadloader auto), he liked touching Health and safety icon to launch aroma

b) He also deleted the update folder.


So after that I helped him with this guide to region change his Wii u from JAP to USA region, and we were able to do it!

1) After the region change we got a yellow screen saying there is an update folder (so i guess that is ok that the update folder appeared again after the region change steps/process?

2) We noticed that after the region change it auto launches aroma, no more need to touch the health and safety.

QUESTION1: can we change the setting back to launch aroma touching the health and safety icon? or aroma autoboot is needed on the region changed Wii U?

QUESTION2: In this case, what are the steps i should follow in order to region change the vWii ? Is there a step by step tutorial on how to change the region of the vWii ? Some people talk about "vWii Decaffeinator "some others say "vWii Decaffeinator LIGHT", but there are no clear steps or tutorials on how to do it right, since i don´t want to mess my friends vWii.

 

[A_Random_Guy]

hey guys , I have a Japanese wii U console from a friend that was modded using this guide

He followed the guide from start to finish and he installed:

1) vWii compat installer
2) on vWii he used Patched vWii IOS80 Installer
3) on vWii he used D2x cIOS installer process with cIOS base (56/249),(57/250),(58/251)

A) He did not select aroma auto boot (payloadloader auto), he liked touching Health and safety icon to launch aroma

b) He also deleted the update folder.


So after that I helped him with this guide to region change his Wii u from JAP to USA region, and we were able to do it!

1) After the region change we got a yellow screen saying there is an update folder (so i guess that is ok that the update folder appeared again after the region change steps/process?

2) We noticed that after the region change it auto launches aroma, no more need to touch the health and safety.

QUESTION1: can we change the setting back to launch aroma touching the health and safety icon? or aroma autoboot is needed on the region changed Wii U?

QUESTION2: In this case, what are the steps i should follow in order to region change the vWii ? Is there a step by step tutorial on how to change the region of the vWii ? Some people talk about "vWii Decaffeinator "some others say "vWii Decaffeinator LIGHT", but there are no clear steps or tutorials on how to do it right, since i don´t want to mess my friends vWii.

Q1: Remove wafel_payloader.ipx but I do not recommend it if he hasn't changed his gamepad region as the Wii U might resync the gamepad and he might get locked out with the Wii U showing incorrect gamepad region connected.
Q2: Basically just load vwiidecaffeinator homebrew with Tiramisu (vwiidecaffeinator didn't worked for me using Aroma), use regenerate settings.txt option and select light mode or aggressive mode. Afterwards, do a system update so vwii can be restored and rehombrewed back.

 

[JamesWA]

Q1: Remove wafel_payloader.ipx but I do not recommend it if he hasn't changed his gamepad region as the Wii U might resync the gamepad and he might get locked out with the Wii U showing incorrect gamepad region connected.
Q2: Basically just load vwiidecaffeinator homebrew with Tiramisu (vwiidecaffeinator didn't worked for me using Aroma), use regenerate settings.txt option and select light mode or aggressive mode. Afterwards, do a system update so vwii can be restored and rehombrewed back.

that did not work
u installed vWii Decaffeinator
launched it and selected regenerate settings.txt, then i did a agressive mode
then it went to system settings, and tried to update Error 105-3102 when trying to update
then i restarted the console. went to settings and tried to update again, and it says that the console is already updated

then i went to vWii Decaffeinator again and chose "force update", and then i went to system settings and tried to update and it again says the console is already updated

so im not sure what is going on, i followed the steps you gave me

Post automatically merged: Jul 20, 2025

ok i think i found the issue, also @Lazr1026 the guide needs an update because it is not clear,
see how it mentions "Copy the wafel_payloader.ipx to sd:/wiiu/ios_plugins." but the file is called 5payldr.ipx

also the "get payloader plugin" and you mention "Read and tick the 4 boxes -> Click on Download Payloads and Download Base Aroma" -->> this is on the aroma site not on the payloader plugin site, people can get confused with that.


NOW:

as of my issue with vWii decafeinator, the console was giving errors when trying to update or always saying it was already updated! , so what i did was :

1) remove 5payldr.ipx from sd:/wiiu/ios_plugins
2) powered on console, this left me with unmodded Wii U menu
3) went to wiiuexplot.xyz, pressing X, selecting aroma, and then selecting wii U menu
4) launched vwii vwiidecaffeinator , selected regenerate settings.txt and then aggressive.
5) decaffeinator sent me back to settings, and i powered off the console
6) powered on the console, i am in stock unmodded wii U menu, and then i selected to update in settings, and FINALLY the system update kicked in and it is updating.

 

[Wholesomely]

The latest release of the Payloader plugin.

• Get the 5payldr.ipx
• Read and tick the 4 boxes -> Click on Download Payloads and Download Base Aroma

Hey everybody, the question in question is...
What boxes to tick?
I don't see any when I follow the link

 

[SDIO]

She means this:

Download​

---

Before you can download Aroma, please follow these steps:
Read the blogpost and understand the scope and limitations of this beta.
Make sure the SD card is not write protected while using Aroma, otherwise you may get error code 150-3030
Make sure to use the latest EnvironmentLoader which is provided on this page.
Aroma will receive frequent updates. See Twitter or Discord for the latest news about Aroma.

 

[Lazr1026]

When I updated the guide to remove "Manually fixing the sys_prod", alot of things were just randomly missing in the editor (yet existed fine on the published page). as a test, i published what was shown on the editor and it nuked portions of the guide and I had to rewrite them. some I noticed sooner than others, but now it should all be fixed.

 

[Wholesomely]

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!

I guess something is missing here

Also, I did proceed with guide and after this step

• Otherwise boot the console again (select Patch (sd) and boot IOS (slc)), and you should be greeted with initial setup. Success!

I'm redirected to Wii Menu app screen, Wii U logo and then black screen that asks what payload do I want to choose and only option is fw_img_loader

Could you please check?

 

[SDIO]

Sounds like you are missing the aroma files on the SD

 

[Wholesomely]

Sounds like you are missing the aroma files on the SD

yes, thanks, I missed environment loader folder
thanks so much

 

[thewanderer7]

Hello there, I'm at the end of the procedure but I don't get the last steps... after putting the SD on PC what should I do/check?

1. 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!

 

[SDIO]

there is a logfile on the sd card. You should check that log for errors.

 

[thewanderer7]

there is a logfile on the sd card. You should check that log for errors.

hello there, thanks for answering

I've found on the log this:

OpenDir /vol/sdcard/wafel_install: FFFCFFE9
Flush MLC: 0
Region already matches (P:1, G:1, C:1).
SetInitialLaunch 0: 1
Flush SLC: 0
Delete plugin: 0

Any suggestions?

 

[SDIO]

It seems like you don't have the wafel_install folder on the SD. Make sure you spelled it correctly

 

[thewanderer7]

It seems like you don't have the wafel_install folder on the SD. Make sure you spelled it correctly

Yesterday everything went well doing again the installation.

Only problem is that after the initialization phase, creating a Mii, it stucks and I have to reboot it twice.
It seems that something is boring the system. Any way to understand what to do and fix it?

 

[SDIO]

Did you check the setup log?

 

[thewanderer7]

Did you check the setup log?

Everything is 0 and correct exept the one in red down below

OpenDir /vol/sdcard/wafel_install: 0
OpenMCP /vol/sdcard/wafel_install: 0
...
Install 0005001010040200: fffcffeb
..
Flush MLC: 0
SetInitialLaunch 0: 1
Flush SLC: 0

 

[thewanderer7]

Everything is 0 and correct exept the one in red down below

OpenDir /vol/sdcard/wafel_install: 0
OpenMCP /vol/sdcard/wafel_install: 0
...
Install 0005001010040200: fffcffeb
..
Flush MLC: 0
SetInitialLaunch 0: 1
Flush SLC: 0

hi, nobody can help about this error in red?
what should i do?

 

[SDIO]

Yes re downloading the failed title (you can remind the others from the title.json and then rerunning the setup.
Also make sure you have all 52 titles