When the Fusee Gelee vulnerability was discovered a few years ago, Nintendo quickly patched the hack. And subsequent Switch models did not have this exploit.
So, how do you know if you’re one of those lucky individuals who have that Switch? Surprisingly enough, your unit’s serial number is all you need to find out: is my switch patched? But how do you find out your serial number?
Is my switch patched?
Finding out if your Switch is patched is significant for some people. How do you know if you have the patched version or not? There are a few very simple techniques that you can use to detect whether your Nintendo Switch is patched.
Check by serial number
The easiest way to check if your Nintendo Switch is patched is through the serial number. Below are the steps to find the device’s serial number:
Flip your Nintendo Switch on its back so that you can see the barcode sticker. Check for the serial number on this sticker and write it down.
Now that you know the serial number of your Nintendo Switch, you can easily look for it on this list:
| Serial Number Prefix | Patched | Unpatched | Potentially Patched |
|---|---|---|---|
| XAW1 | XAW10120000000 and up. | XAW10000000000 to XAW10074000000 | XAW10074000000 to XAW10120000000 |
| XAW4 | XAW40012000000 and up | XAW40000000000 to XAW40011000000 | XAW40011000000 to XAW40012000000 |
| XAW7 | XAW70030000000 and up | XAW70000000000 to XAW70017800000 | XAW70017800000 to XAW70030000000 |
| XAJ1 | XAJ10030000000 and up | XAJ10000000000 to XAJ10020000000 | XAJ10020000000 to XAJ10030000000 |
| XAJ4 | XAJ40060000000 and up | XAJ40000000000 to XAJ40046000000 | XAJ40046000000 to XAJ40060000000 |
| XAJ7 | XAJ70050000000 and up | XAJ70000000000 to XAJ70040000000 | XAJ70040000000 to XAJ70050000000 |
| XJW1, XKJ1, XJW1, XWW1 | All | None | None |
Check by system settings
Here’s another way to check if the Nintendo Switch patches through the system settings:
- First, go to the System Settings on your console.
- Under “System,” look for Serial Information, which will display your serial number.
- Next, check the serial number with the list above.
Pros of a patched Switch
- One of the biggest pros of having a patched Switch is you can freely play online without risking a ban. But, on the other hand, the server might flag you as suspicious activity.
- Another benefit of using a patched Switch is you can play online without the risk of removal from the server.
Cons of a patched Switch
- The biggest con of using a patched Switch is that you cannot use the hardware exploit that started it all. However, you can access Switch games that are not yet available in your region with an unpatched Switch.
- Paying for games. Some people are completely on board with the idea of paying for their games, but some games are costly in certain regions.
Switch modding
While using a hackable Nintendo Switch is beneficial for many users, some significant caveats come with modding your Switch. Modding your Switch means jailbreaking it and taking advantage of the exploit in unpatched models. Here are just a few of the many risks you must consider.
Risks of modding your Switch
There are a few risks while modding your Switch, such as:
Bricking Your Switch
One of the most common issues is bricking. In the case of a hackable Nintendo Switch, this will usually manifest as a boot loop. So, the Switch keeps booting but won’t go further than start-up.
Voided Warranty
If you decide to mod your switch, don’t expect Nintendo to allow you to make a warranty claim. Warranty claims require no hardware tampering. But when you mod your device, you’re essentially rendering the warranty void. Therefore, if you’re going to mod your Nintendo Switch, do so after the warranty period has expired.
No Service for Modded Devices
Like the warranty claim, Nintendo may also refuse to repair a hackable Nintendo switch. So, if you mess up the modding process, there won’t be professional help available to help you.
Online Account Banned
If Nintendo suspects you of having modded your device, then it could ban you permanently from its online services. Hence, you never get to play the jailbroken games you have. But that’s not even the worst part. It also means that you can’t play the games you legitimately bought. This is a significant issue as you spent money on the Switch but won’t be able to play any of the games on a hackable Nintendo switch.
Nintendo Switch Banned
Another scenario could occur where Nintendo bans your console from their online services. You won’t have access to the Nintendo Switch portal or any online games.
How to mod an unpatched switch
Now comes the real deal: hacking your Nintendo Switch. The process is quite tricky – if it wasn’t, everyone would be doing it. But we’ll give you step-by-step guidance in this article.
If you want to hack your Nintendo Switch, you’ll need the following items:
- An unpatched Switch which is moddable.
- An RCM jig (grounding your right JoyCon’s PIN10) or any other suitable material.
- A cable to connect your Nintendo Switch to your computer or Android device. The Nintendo Switch uses a USB-C cable, whereas your computer could use a USB-A or USB-C cable. Most Android devices like smartphones and tablets use USB-C or USB-Micro B.
- A 64 GB or higher microSD card.
You can use several exploits, but the best and easiest one is the Fusee Gelee exploit, which you can use on all variants of Switch’s firmware.
Now that you have everything you need, here’s how to hack your Nintendo Switch:
Step 1: Prepare the Console
Aside from confirming the Switch’s vulnerability, the first thing you must do is prepare the console. This means downloading at least one game from the eShop or any application or game demo. You can also run the “homebrew” (custom) firmware from any game cartridge.
Step 2: Access the RCM
The next step is to access the RCM. RCM stands for Recovery Mode. It’s a state in which Nintendo can send commands to the Switch to execute. This is where the exploit begins. If you can transfer a payload and copy it to the memory buffer, you can access all the games.
To enter the RCM, first, turn off the Switch. Then, you’ll need your RCM jig to short pin 10 on your right JoyCon. Be sure not to short-pin 4.
Hold down the Volume Up button and now press the Power key. You should enter the RCM now. Then, you can remove the jig.
Step 3: Download Your Custom Firmware
You’ll first need to send a payload and partition the microSD card to do this. To send a payload on Windows devices, you’ll be needing TegraRcmGUI and the Hekate payload. You’ll also need the latest version of TegraExplorer for partitioning the microSD card.
Here’s a video guide that best describes the process:
Next, it’s time to partition the microSD card. Be warned that this will completely erase all of the data present in the microSD card. That’s why it’s recommended to use a formatted FAT32 microSD card with at least 32 GB of space. Once you’ve done that, you can move on to downloading the Custom Firmware you like.
Step 4: Make a NAND Backup
Next, you’ll need to make a NAND backup. The backup is vital as it will return your Switch to its regular working state.
After you’ve made the backup, you should keep it secure. Compressing the backup into a .zip file or any other compressed archive is highly recommended.
Step 5: Grab the Console’s Unique Keys
You’ll need to get your console’s unique keys. These are the keys to returning your console to its former state if anything goes wrong. You’ll be using these together with the NAND backup you previously made.
Step 6: Boot into the RCM
The next step is to boot into the RCM. I explained how to do this in step 2, so I won’t detail it here. Once in the RCM, you’ll need to inject your payload. Again, refer to step 2 above.
Step 7: Launch Your Custom Firmware
Finally, it’s time to launch your Custom Firmware! Boot into the RCM and inject your Hekate payload. Then, find the “Launch” button and press it using your touch screen.
Here, you’ll find a program indicating your Customer Firmware. The program can take on many names depending on the firmware. For example, if you download the Atmosphere firmware, the program will be called the “Atmosphere FSS0 EmuMMC”. Launch it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my Switch is patched?
The easiest way to know is to look for the serial number. You can easily find the serial number on the back of the Switch. Once you find it, compare it against the patched and unpatched Switches list and determine if yours is patched.
Conclusion
Finding out if your Nintendo Switch has been patched or not is a very simple task. All you need to know is your device’s serial number, and you can compare it with the list of patched Switches. But beware: modding the Switch is quite risky and should never be done without knowing the caveats. So did you find out, is my switch patched? Drop a comment below, and we’ll respond to you soon.
