How to homebrew a switch lulz
DATE: 2025-10-30
Author: halbg0tt
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1. what the fuck is homebrew?
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So homebrew's are basically programs that written by
third-party developers and sideloading it on the switch.
Thats are Homebrew programs.

Actually the real meaning (my opinion) of Homebrew is:
its basically like a jailbreak. You just get somehow
access to the console itself and youre able to give the 
console other instruction how it behave and youre able
to run like .dol(wii, gamecube), .nro (switch) or .nds (nds).

For example: On the switch rev 1 you had/have a hardware vuln.
It was the Tegra X1 Exploit (secure boot) where is was 
possible to intercept the boot process and you were able 
to give the BootROM different instruction and load for example
hekate(bootloader).

Nintendo released a new rev of (HAC-001) and patched the vuln. 
And newer switch models like oled or lite are not hackable 
with the bootROM exploit cuz it was fixed with the new board
rev.


2. what are the options to homebrew a switch?
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if you have a switch rev 1. (You need to have a special S/N)
Where the bootROM is existant.
If you have a newer rev, oled or lite and skills in soldering
then you could solder a mod chip into the switch which basically
doing the same thing. Its literally a RP2040.


3.1 how to homebrew you switch rev 1.
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its basically very easy. 
You just need: 
- SD Card (FAT32)
- Bootloader
- e.g. TegraRCMLoader and a OTG or directly RCM Loader.
- paperclip or jig (basically the same) to short the 
  pin 1 and 10 on the right joycon side of the switch
- Laptop.
- firmware (e.g. Atmosphere, ReiNX or SXOS). There many 
  forks of Atmosphere like DeepSea (packed with HB's)


3.2 prepare sd card.
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move the downloaded firmware to the 
root of you sd coard.
the content should be(/): 
[ hbmenu.nro, atmosphere/, bootloader/ ]

You could also add a payload/ folder for payloads
like fusee.bin

3.3 prepare injection.
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download for windows a TegraRCM Loader for 
payload injection.
or just use a RCM Loader(if available).


3.4 inject and load the firmware.
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Short pin 10 and GND(PIN 1) and keep it in this position.
Press and hold PWR ON and VOL+ on the Switch and if the 
screen keeps black then you should be in the RCM or 
your battery is empty.

And at TegraRCM you can choose you 
payload (either hekate or directly fusee.bin).

and inject it. or just put a rcm loader at the USB-C Port.

depending which Payload you injected you should be in 
the bootloader or booting atmosphere with fusee.bin.


3.5 press on the album on the home screen.
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And it should open the hbmenu.nro from the / 
of your sd card.


3.6 homebrews programs.
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You should see nothing hbmenu if you dont have any 
apps installed.

The homebrews are located on the / of you sd card 
in switch/ (if not created, create it).

You download homebrews or directly the 
homebrew store (requires internet)

Few cool homebrews:
- HBStore
- Tinfoil
- Goldleaf
- FTPD 
- choidujournx


INFO:
If you connect to the Nintendo Server the chance
is very high that youre receive a ban for going
online with homebrewed switch.

You have 2 options:
1. You use just Atmosphere 
   and stay offline and additional 
   you change you dns to 90DNS.
- Primary DNS: 163.172.141.219 (EU)
- Second DNS : 207.246.121.77 (EU) 

90DNS: [ https://switch.hacks.guide/extras/blocking_nintendo.html ]

2. You could use emuNAND to have both. 
- 1 Partition for Stock FW.
- 1 Partition for Atmosphere.


Disclaimer: Im not responsible for any breaks of law. its for education purpuse only. So do it at your own risk