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Switch Unbrick Guide

READ THIS BEFORE CONTINUING

This guide isn't called an "unbrick guide" for no reason, it shouldn't be treated as a way out of simple inconveniences and should NOT be followed without proper reason to do so. A "brick" indicates that a device is dysfunctional on a soft- and/or hardware level. The term "software brick" means that something is messed up at the internal storage/operating system level, while "hardware brick" indicates that you experience hardware failure or hardware malfunction (causing the system to not boot properly, if at all).

Reasons to NOT follow this guide include:

  • Your games don't work,
  • You run into homebrew apps crashing,
  • You experience homebrew related crashes upon booting Atmosphere,
  • A YouTube video guide told you to follow this guide.

If you experience ANY of the above or need any assistance in general, including following this guide, please ask for help in #switch-assistance-1 or #switch-assistance-2 in the NH-Discord server before doing anything and don't continue following this guide.

Please do NOT misuse this guide or any of the tools used within this guide. Additionally you should refrain from using tools like "NANDFix", "NANDFixPro" and "DowngradeFixer".

Finally; boot issues caused by recently-installed modchip installations, general hardware failure or hardware malfunction will NOT be fixed by following the steps below. Please do NOT follow this guide if you experience such issues.

Before starting - SD Preparation

This section will make sure you've got a minimalistic CFW setup on a new, separate SD card. Following this section ensures that you don't run into any issues caused by improper configurations later.

What you need:

  • The latest release of hekate (hekate_ctcaer_X.X.X.zip)
  • The latest release of Atmosphere (atmosphere-X.XX.X-master-XXXXXXXXX+hbl-X.X.X+hbmenu-X.X.X.zip)
  • The hekate config file: hekate_ipl.ini
  • A separate microSD card (preferably 64GB+) formatted as FAT32. (To format it as FAT32, follow this guide.)

Instructions:

  1. Extract the contents of the hekate .zip to the root of your SD card.
  2. Extract the contents of the Atmosphere .zip to the root of your SD card.
  3. Place the hekate_ipl.ini file in sd:/bootloader.

Once you've done this, you may continue on with this guide.

Quick reference

Types of boot errors

The tabs below contain possible fixes for "common" boot errors, these are NOT guaranteed to work on every console. Many issues can look the same but can have fundamentally different causes.

The instructions below are numbered based on level of 'severity' (low to high), please don't follow all of them if you have no reason to do so.

  • Note: The first 3 boot error sections assume you aren't booting with a custom bootloader/Atmosphere in the first place. Please keep this in mind.

Early-boot errors

My Switch seemingly does nothing when I try to boot it up normally

  1. Check if you can boot Stock sysMMC (not OFW) via hekate's Launch menu.
    • If you can, you likely have AutoRCM enabled or you have an e-fuse mismatch on your hands. Update to the latest firmware via stock or sysCFW.
  2. Restore a NAND backup if you have one.
  3. Follow everything from the MMC Rebuild section with the same firmware version as your current firmware version.
  4. If NONE of these steps worked, please ask for help in #switch-assistance-1 or #switch-assistance-2 in the NH-Discord server.

Mid-boot errors

My Switch shows the Nintendo and/or black and white atmosphere logo, then black screens

  1. Check if you can boot stock (not OFW) via hekate's Launch menu.
    • If you can boot stock but not sysCFW, you might be running too many sysmodules, try to disable some.
  2. Check if you have an exFAT formatted SD. If it's formatted as exFAT, format it to FAT32 using this guide.
  3. Check if your SYSTEM partition is mountable. This can be done via Browse eMMC > SYSTEM in TegraExplorer
  4. Restore a NAND backup if you have one.
  5. Follow everything from the MMC Rebuild section.
  6. If NONE of these steps worked, please ask for help in #switch-assistance-1 or #switch-assistance-2 in the NH-Discord server.

Late-boot errors

My Switch gets stuck at the Switch logo

  1. Check if you can boot stock (not OFW) via hekate's Launch menu.
    • If you can boot stock but not sysCFW, you might be running too many sysmodules, try to disable some.
  2. Check if your USER partition is mountable. This can be done via Browse eMMC > USER in TegraExplorer
  3. Check if your PRODINFO is fine. To do this, follow the steps below:
    1. Boot TegraExplorer,
    2. Navigate to Browse eMMC > PRODINFO,
    3. Select PRODINFO and dump it when prompted,
    4. Go back to TegraExplorer's main menu and navigate to Browse SD,
    5. Navigate to tegraexplorer > Dumps > PRODINFO,
    6. Select PRODINFO, select View hex.
      • "Intact" PRODINFO starts with CAL0 and contains your Switch serial number at offset 0x250. You should ensure that the serial number in the PRODINFO you're viewing matches the one on the bottom of your console (or underneath the kickstand on OLED consoles).
  4. Restore a NAND backup if you have one.
  5. Perform a System Wipe.
  6. Follow everything from the MMC Rebuild section.
  7. If NONE of these steps worked, please ask for help in #switch-assistance-1 or #switch-assistance-2 in the NH-Discord server.

Boot crashes

My Switch crashes on boot

  1. Check if you can boot Stock sysMMC via hekate's Launch menu or OFW via Reboot > OFW from hekate's Home menu.
  2. Make a NAND backup and perform a System Wipe
  3. If NONE of these steps worked, please ask for help in #switch-assistance-1 or #switch-assistance-2 in the NH-Discord server.

MMC Rebuild

An MMC Rebuild is an "advanced" procedure which involves generating system restoration files using the decryption keys of your Switch and your Switch firmware dump in combination with a tool called EmmcHaccGen, to (hopefully) restore your Switch back to a working state. Please keep in mind that following this section of the guide should ONLY be done if you have a valid reason to do so. Doing otherwise may cause damage to your console (unable to play online after recovery), or data loss (save game loss).

Note: An MMC Rebuild is specifically meant to be used for restoring your sysmmc to a working state, not an emummc. You can simply recreate an emummc via hekate > emuMMC > Create emuMMC > SD Partition > Part 1 if your sysmmc is functioning like normal.

Step 0: Making a NAND backup

You will want to make a NAND backup before you start modifying your Switch. To do this, follow the steps below.

Instructions:

  1. Inject the hekate payload (hekate_ctcaer_X.X.X.bin) using your desired RCM payload injector.
    • Note: If you use a modchipped Switch, you can place the hekate payload on the root of your SD card, rename it to payload.bin and turn on your Switch.
  2. Go to Tools > Backup eMMC and back up eMMC BOOT0 & BOOT1 & eMMC RAW GPP.
  3. You should now end up with BOOT0/BOOT1 and 15 parts (30 parts if on an OLED Switch) of rawnand.bin in sd:/backup/<random characters>/.
  4. Navigate to Tools > USB Tools > SD Card and connect your Switch to your PC via USB.
  5. Access your SD card and back up the backup folder on the root of your SD card to your PC.
  6. Once done, safely eject the hekate UMS device from your PC, then navigate back to hekate's Home menu.

Step 1: Generating the files and copying them to your SD card

Please verify which console model you have before continuing.

  1. Navigate to Console Info > HW & Fuses in hekate.
  2. At the top left, on the SoC: line, it will say one of the following:
    • T210 (Erista) to indicate an Erista (V1) console,
    • T210B01 (Mariko) to indicate a Mariko (V2) console.

Note: If you have an Erista (V1) console, please check if it says This unit is exploitable to the RCM bug! or This unit is patched to the RCM bug! in the bottom right. If it says This unit is patched to the RCM bug!, you have a patched Erista (V1) console.

Once you've determined which console model you have, you may continue.

What you need:

  • Your Switch's prod.keys. (This needs to be yours specifically! Decryption keys are console-unique.) If you don't have them, try to dump them via Lockpick_RCM.
    • Note: Lockpick_RCM is not linked due to legal concerns, and help is not provided with obtaining it. Please refrain from using modified versions of Lockpick_RCM, such as "Lockpick_RCM_Pro".
  • Your Switch's firmware dump (try to dump your firmware via TegraExplorer's FirmwareDump.te script).
  • A computer running Windows, Linux or macOS.

Follow the instructions for your computer's operating system below:

What you need:

  • The latest release of EmmcHaccGen (EmmcHaccGen-win-x64.GUI.exe)

Instructions:

  1. Open EmmcHaccGen-win-x64.GUI.exe, import your Switch's prod.keys and firmware folder.
  2. Configure the sliders/toggles depending on your console model:
    • V1 Unpatched consoles: Enable the Enable AutoRCM and, if applicable, the ExFAT Support toggles.
    • V1 Patched consoles: Disable the Enable AutoRCM toggle and, if applicable, enable the ExFAT Support toggle.
    • V2/Mariko consoles: Enable the Generate Mariko Firmware and, if applicable, the ExFAT Support toggles.
  3. Click Generate and select any location on your PC to save the generated files to.
  4. Once done, boot hekate (if you aren't already in hekate/Nyx), navigate to Tools > USB Tools > SD Card and connect your Switch to your PC via USB.
  5. In EmmcHaccGen GUI, click Prepare SD Card and select/open the root of your SD card.
  6. Once done, click Yes to proceed with copying/downloading files to the MMCRebuild and bootloader folders on the root of your SD card.
  7. Once finished, safely eject the hekate UMS device from your PC, then navigate to hekate's Home menu > Payloads > TegraExplorer.bin.

What you need:

  • The latest release of EmmcHaccGen (EmmcHaccGen-linux-x64.GUI)

Instructions:

  1. Open EmmcHaccGen-linux-x64.GUI, import your Switch's prod.keys and firmware folder.

    You may need to make the EmmcHaccGen-linux-x64.GUI file executable before being able to open it.

    To do this, you can do one of the following:

    1. Use the terminal command: chmod +x path/to/EmmcHaccGen-linux-x64.GUI and then open it from your file manager or,
    2. On most (modern) Linux distributions you can right click the file from your desired file manager and enable Executable as Program or Allow executing file as program or something along those lines in the properties of the executable and open it from your file manager.

  2. Configure the sliders/toggles depending on your console model:

    • V1 Unpatched consoles: Enable the Enable AutoRCM and, if applicable, the ExFAT Support toggles.
    • V1 Patched consoles: Disable the Enable AutoRCM toggle and, if applicable, enable the ExFAT Support toggle.
    • V2/Mariko consoles: Enable the Generate Mariko Firmware and, if applicable, the ExFAT Support toggles.
  3. Click Generate and select any location on your PC to save the generated files to.
  4. Once done, boot hekate (if you aren't already in hekate/Nyx), navigate to Tools > USB Tools > SD Card and connect your Switch to your PC via USB.
  5. In EmmcHaccGen GUI, click Prepare SD Card and select/open the root of your SD card.
  6. Once done, click Yes to proceed with copying/downloading files to the MMCRebuild and bootloader folders on the root of your SD card.
  7. Once finished, safely eject the hekate UMS device from your PC, then navigate to hekate's Home menu > Payloads > TegraExplorer.bin.

What you need:

  • The latest release of EmmcHaccGen (EmmcHaccGen-osx-x64-app.zip or EmmcHaccGen-osx-arm64-app.zip)

Instructions:

  1. Extract the contents of the EmmcHaccGen-osx-x64-app.zip or EmmcHaccGen-osx-arm64-app.zip to a location on your mac, double click EmmcHaccGen.app to open the app and import your Switch's prod.keys and firmware folder.

    You will need to 'trust' the EmmcHaccGen.app executable before being able to open it.

    To do this, you can do the following:

    1. Open a terminal window.
    2. Enter the following command: xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /path/to/EmmcHaccGen.app (replacing /path/to with the actual path to the executable).
    3. You should now be able to double click the app to open it from Finder.

  2. Configure the sliders/toggles depending on your console model:

    • V1 Unpatched consoles: Enable the Enable AutoRCM and, if applicable, the ExFAT Support toggles.
    • V1 Patched consoles: Disable the Enable AutoRCM toggle and, if applicable, enable the ExFAT Support toggle.
    • V2/Mariko consoles: Enable the Generate Mariko Firmware and, if applicable, the ExFAT Support toggles.

  3. Click Generate and select any location on your PC to save the generated files to.

  4. Once done, boot hekate (if you aren't already in hekate/Nyx), navigate to Tools > USB Tools > SD Card and connect your Switch to your PC via USB.
  5. In EmmcHaccGen GUI, click Prepare SD Card and select/open the root of your SD card.
  6. Once done, click Yes to proceed with copying/downloading files to the MMCRebuild and bootloader folders on the root of your SD card.
  7. Once finished, safely eject the hekate UMS device from your mac, then navigate to hekate's Home menu > Payloads > TegraExplorer.bin.

Step 2: Flashing the files

Instructions:

  1. Navigate to Browse SD > MMCRebuild > SystemRestoreV3.te.
    • Note: Navigation in TegraExplorer on Normal/OLED Switch models can be done using the volume buttons + power and/or your joycons while navigation on Switch Lite consoles can only be done using the volume buttons + power.
  2. Select Launch Script > Apply on Sysmmc > Restore Both.
  3. After the script has finished, try to boot sysCFW from hekate's Launch menu.
    • Note: If you lack the sysCFW boot entry in your Launch menu, please replace the hekate_ipl.ini file in sd:/bootloader with with this one. The sysCFW boot entry is called Atmosphere PKG3 sysMMC.
    • Note: If you have an unpatched Switch, AutoRCM will be enabled! You will need to use a custom bootloader (hekate/fusee) to be able to boot.
  4. If your Switch does not boot (correctly), perform the System Wipe section below.

System Wipe

System Wipe

This will wipe EVERYTHING from your system, including; game save data, installed games/titles, all user data and everything else. Be safe and always have a NAND backup.

What you need:

Instructions:

  1. Place the downloaded TegraExplorer.bin in sd:/bootloader/payloads, replacing the existing payload if it exists.
  2. Inject the hekate payload (hekate_ctcaer_X.X.X.bin) using your desired RCM payload injector.
    • Note: If you use a modchipped Switch, you can place the hekate payload on the root of your SD card, rename it to payload.bin and turn on your Switch.
  3. Navigate to Payloads > TegraExplorer.bin
  4. Navigate to SystemWipe.te and select Wipe sysmmc to wipe your sysmmc.
  5. Confirm using the Power button or the A button of your joycon.
  6. Try to boot sysCFW from hekate's Launch menu.
    • Note: If you still cannot boot, please ask for help in #switch-assistance-1 or #switch-assistance-2 in the NH-Discord server.