Switch v2 modchip issue – “Cannot initialize SD card” after working fine for months

[zMarco]

Hi everyone,





I have a Switch v2 where I installed a modchip a few months ago. Everything worked fine until about a month ago, when suddenly, instead of the usual “No SD card” message from the Raspberry logo (when no SD is inserted), I started getting “Cannot initialize SD card.”





Here’s what I’ve tried so far:

• Reformatted my 256GB SanDisk Ultra microSD in large FAT32 and replaced the Atmosphere files with the latest version (the SD works perfectly on PC).
• Swapped the SD daughterboard with another working one from a different Switch I have at home.
• Reflowed some of the solder points on the modchip.

None of these steps worked. However, when I removed the modchip and connected the OFW chip directly to the Switch (like in a stock setup), the SD card was correctly detected in OFW. I even tested taking a screenshot to confirm the Switch could write to the SD, and it worked.





I then reinstalled the modchip. Hekate booted once, but when I tried to launch the CFW, the console froze. Due to personal commitments, I had to put the console aside for about a month.





Yesterday I picked it up again. Hekate booted, and I connected the Switch to my PC via USB and entered UMS. I was able to update the OFW, reformat, repartition, and create a new emuMMC. Everything was working: I could boot into CFW, and I rebooted several times to make sure it wasn’t just luck.





However, I then (stupidly) decided to use UMS to transfer some NSP files. My PC didn’t detect the Switch, so I (wrongly) unplugged the cable and the console. After that… back to square one: “Cannot initialize SD card” again.





I tried repeating all the steps that worked before, but nothing fixed the issue. I’ve now reopened the console and started checking continuity on the chip.





I’m attaching a picture of the soldering. Could anyone help me figure out what I should check or re-test next?





Thanks in advance!

 

[thesjaakspoiler]

Some things like unplugging your USB cable are maybe just coincidental.
Usually is it a bad SD card reader (corrosion, dirt, bend pins) or the SD card reader not properly connected to the main PCB.
The modchip usually doesn't have much to do with it as it only launched the software that uses the Switch as-is.

If you have formatted your sd card with exFat then you might also get some weird problems due to data corruption.

 

[a_username_that_is_cool]

Also your picture is not set to public...

 

[zMarco]

I didn’t realize it wasn’t public, it should be now, can you confirm?

Post automatically merged: Jul 21, 2025

Post automatically merged: Jul 21, 2025

I’ve already tried replacing the SD card reader with one from another working Switch, but no luck.
The pictures I’m attaching show the motherboard connector.
I don’t see any broken or bent pins on it, but I’m sharing it just to be sure.

Also, I haven’t formatted the SD card in exFAT — only in Large FAT32 with Rufus, or full FAT32 format using GUIFormat (which is the current one).


(Sorry, I haven’t figured out how to reply to individual messages.)