The Switch Flashcart Thread (Mig Switch etc.)

[ccfman2004]

Stupid question, but the MIG is still undetectable on Switch 1 right?

If you use trimmed dumps and <=1.1.9 MIG is absolutely detectable. Other than that only Nintendo truly knows.

What MIG could wind up being forced to do is release a new hardware revision that uses microSD Express for faster reads. The other thing they may have to do is to have new format for the microSD card where each ROM is on its own partition that is sized to mimic the ROM that's inside it. That would require software to add/remove ROMs.

With read speeds, even legit carts can have issues and have slow speeds due to various factors such as dirty contacts on both the cart and cart reader. Game cart reader is starting to fail, thermal issues.

 

[Locutus73]

I'm talking for straight up piracy, the MiG is fairly inconvenient, which helps it's legality I suppose.

If you’re sailing the high seas you’re on your own and you may sink…

 

[umanno]

If you have auto nogc set to enable no switch cart will work.

I'm glad I found this message, I was about to return my mig!

 

[josete2k]

Just bought one of these ( just to have it / potentially use it with Switch 2 if I feel like getting banned) I already have a banned Switch V1 with atmosphere...

I don't know if a banned console could download data for the GameKeyCards...

 

[ccfman2004]

I'm glad I found this message, I was about to return my mig!

You are not the only one to have that bite you. I had it bite me too.

Post automatically merged: Jun 25, 2025

BIG WARNING ABOUT SWITCH 2 BANS:



This renders the system bricked upon factory reset.

 

[jasapolis]

I mean sure if you are using as intended. Nintendo seems to be banning people for using their backups so they can't update games though, at least on switch 2.
You could go rent / resell used games and back then up, but that is pretty scummy. I'm talking for straight up piracy, the MiG is fairly inconvenient, which helps it's legality I suppose.

It is possible to update Switch 1 games on Switch 2. I’m using an OLED atmos with 18.1.0 | AMS 1.7.1 | E, and have updated several games like Zelda BOTW and Pokémon Violet.

Edit: clarifying that I used Mig Switch and local update on switch 2

 

[littlejoe_gilbert]

After Reading about 20 pages of this thread This is my understanding of the current situation.

Mig on Switch 2: People were getting banned at release. Now mig has an update to 1.2.0 and works on switch 2 but it may still be detectable by N. We wait to see if bans come down to see what is up.

Mig on switch 1: People were getting banned for a time but updating the mig to >1.1.9 has stopped the bans for now. Fears of a new detection method on switch 1 lead to caution and like the switch2 we wait to see if bans come down.

If this is not right please correct me
Also hi this is my first post after about 8 years of lurking. Thank you

 

[Locutus73]

After Reading about 20 pages of this thread This is my understanding of the current situation.

Mig on Switch 2: People were getting banned at release. Now mig has an update to 1.2.0 and works on switch 2 but it may still be detectable by N. We wait to see if bans come down to see what is up.

Mig on switch 1: People were getting banned for a time but updating the mig to >1.1.9 has stopped the bans for now. Fears of a new detection method on switch 1 lead to caution and like the switch2 we wait to see if bans come down.

If this is not right please correct me
Also hi this is my first post after about 8 years of lurking. Thank you

AFAIK no one has been banned on Switch 1 when using the appropriate precautions (untrimmed personal non shared dumps), despite 1.1.9 being detectable (on S1) when using trimmed dumps and 1.2.0 being always detectable (still on S1). I might be wrong tho, I don’t know what happened with ancient firmware revisions.

 

[littlejoe_gilbert]

I am not sure when using untrimmed dumps became a standard safety precaution and I have some questions.

Does the mig usb dumper only make trimmed dumps? If so what are the steps for using my dumps? if possible at all.

When you say that 1.1.9 and 1.2.0 are detectable on switch 1 and 2. is that known due to reverse engineering and not bans?

How are these versions detectable or is that known?

Can you or anyone explain the updates made in mig version 1.1.9 and 1.2.0?
I was under the impression that 1.1.9 faked the untrimmed dump (making trimmed "safe") and 1.2.0 made the mig work on switch 2 but not yet confirmed that it was undetectable.

Thank you for taking the time <3

 

[Gorkensnorkel]

Are all games playable on the Mig flashcart or are there games that do not play on it? I have always used a hacked switch in the past but I like fun tech and was thinking of buying a mig since I have an extra 1.5TB SD card laying around.

Are there issues running the latest updates for games on the Mig cart?

Do I use a hacked switch to dump game carts to XCI or something to use on the Mig cart?

 

[ccfman2004]

Are all games playable on the Mig flashcart or are there games that do not play on it? I have always used a hacked switch in the past but I like fun tech and was thinking of buying a mig since I have an extra 1.5TB SD card laying around.

As far as I am aware as long as you use properly dumped games that are not trimmed they will work. Of course the usual warnings are not to use dumps of games you didn't personally dump yourself. Do not share any game dumps online. Be aware that if used on a Switch 2 you will get banned. On a Switch 1, using trimmed dumps is detectable but as far as I know no one has been banned for using trimmed dumps. Using publicly shared dumps or mismatched dumps will get you banned. If your Switch 1 is already banned then using publicly shared complete dumps won't matter.

 

[xps2]

Mig Switch firmware for Cart AND Dumper 1.2.1

 

[ccfman2004]

For those interested in the 1.2.1 change log:

Today we bring you firmware 1.2.1 with:

- Improved logic to make MigFlash behave even more identical to game card
- Improved logic for MigFlash V1
- Improved support for trimmed roms

We want to specially thank TotalJustice for helping us improve MigFlash.

We have created a dedicated testing rig to compare MigFlash with firmware 1.2.1 against many real gamecards, situations and edge cases, to detect if there is any behavior different between them.

After rigorous testing, we have not found any difference between them. We feel confident to claim that MigFlash with firmware 1.2.1 is virtually undetectable from a real gamecard.

But we are not perfect, and therefore we decided to set up a bounty for anyone from this great community to grab if they can detect MigFlash and help us improve our product.
If you think you are able to detect MigFlash, please send us verifiable proof and details by email: contact AT migflash DOT com or by using our contact form.
You can request to remain anonymous, or tell us the name/alias we can quote in our following update to patch our firmware.
Under our discretion and depending on severity, we will offer up to 1 (one) Ethereum to be credited to the wallet you supply to us as a thank you for your contribution on behalf of all MigFlash users.

Disclaimer: Although we are confident that any legit MigFlash user will not be banned when using our product under our terms as a backup/convenience and game preservation device, we can not offer a guarantee against banning. We will not be held responsible and will not offer any compensation or refund in the event of a ban, regardless of the evidence the user will provide us.

 

[bbsan2k]

Hmm now it's gonna get interesting I assume...

 

[MSco]

I have a question about the MIG dumps.

I have dumped lots of original cartridge games with my original switch to nsp format (with atmosphere and nxdumptool). I would like to play those games with the mig on my switch 2. I have read that the risk of being banned has been lowered with v1.2.1.

Will I be able to use them with the Mig Module? In the screenshots here, I saw that .xci files are used. Will I have to convert them all to .xci format? Would it be safer to redump them with the MIG flasher hardware?

 

[ccfman2004]

I have a question about the MIG dumps.

I have dumped lots of original cartridge games with my original switch to nsp format (with atmosphere and nxdumptool). I would like to play those games with the mig on my switch 2. I have read that the risk of being banned has been lowered with v1.2.1.

Will I be able to use them with the Mig Module? In the screenshots here, I saw that .xci files are used. Will I have to convert them all to .xci format? Would it be safer to redump them with the MIG flasher hardware?

You will have to redump them as not only do you need the rom to be in XCI format (cannot be NSP to XCI) but you need other supporting files from the cartridge. I still would advise not using a MIG Flash on a Switch 2 for now.

You need the following files from each cart.

• "XXX.xci"
• "XXX (Initial Data).bin"
• "XXX (Certificate).bin"
• "XXX (Card ID Set).bin"
• "XXX (Card UID).bin"

 

[Razorbacktrack]

I've tried the new firmware with a hacked (CFW) Switch, and I noticed that it often throws an error and the card can't be recognized.

 

[ccfman2004]

I've tried the new firmware with a hacked (CFW) Switch, and I noticed that it often throws an error and the card can't be recognized.

Do you have the "nogc" option in Hekate turned on? That will prevent the Gamecard reader from working.

EDIT: I just checked on my Hacked Switch and a 1.2.1 updated MIG Flash works fine. Also Sphaira no longer throws a trimmed error when going to dump a trimmed game from the MIG Flash. At least that part seems to be fixed.

 

[bbsan2k]

Does nxdumptool still recognize it as MiG?

 

[djcraze]

I've tried the new firmware with a hacked (CFW) Switch, and I noticed that it often throws an error and the card can't be recognized.

I'm actually seeing this too. It seems pretty random-ish. I'm getting it on BOTW and MK8 only. Everything else works fine. I have to take the card out and put it back in a couple of times to get it to read properly.