SwitchHaxing Support Thread #13: "Half-Life 3 Confirmed" Edition

How do I hack my switch?

Homebrew is available on all switch firmware versions on unpatched consoles.

For information on current exploits, check out the FAQ stickied at the top of our sub.

For loading homebrew via Atmosphere CFW on all versions, check out https://switchguide.xyz.

Alternatively, for just homebrew on or below version 3.0.0, check this guide: https://switch.hacks.guide/

What about CFW?

As of now, we have Atmosphere, which seems to be the most stable implementation of CFW, and ReiNX, which is based off of Atmosphere and has signature patches included out of the box.

I just want to load backups.

ReiNX can be used for backups, but takes a bit of work to setup. A good tutorial for using ReiNX can be found here.

If you're looking to emulate older games, RetroArch works well and is accessible through the homebrew menu. You can also use Lakka, a Linux distribution, which runs great on the switch and can emulate some consoles that cannot currently be emulated from the homebrew menu, but at the cost of not having sound output.

What firmware is the best?

As of now, there is no "best" firmware version, as most current hardware has a vulnerability and the hardware revision fixing it has not yet rolled out. However, SciresM recommends being on 4.1.0 or lower, which will enable you to softmod your console, rather than hardmod it.

By staying on a firmware that is lower then the latest, you're locked out of online functionality, no way around it.

Switches being produced/sold past July 2018 are no longer vulnerable to the BootROM exploit currently relied upon. If your switch is patched, keep it on or below 4.1.0, or risk not getting CFW.

For a more detailed thread about firmware, check here: https://gbatemp.net/threads/firmware-status.495078/

What should we know about current projects in the scene?

With the exception of the consoles with a patched BootROM, all switches are vulnerable to Fusée Gelée, and can load homebrew and CFW.
Atmosphère has finally been released and the team is currently working on Mesosphère - a reimplementation of the Switch's kernel, proper EmuNAND and a debugger for Switch applications.