Nintendo Switch Jailbreak: Everything we know so far

If you've been itching to crack into your Switch, there are some things you can already do and others that are on the horizon.

Jailbreaking a device is a very bad idea if you don't really know what you're doing. It's also a terrible idea if it's the only device you own. That being said, if you're willing to experiment, take the risk, and have a second device you can mess around with, jailbreaking could give you the ability to do some really fun and interesting things on your Nintendo Switch.

Since the Switch is a new console, so is the jailbreaking community for it. As time goes by, though, more and more talented people will unlock the Switch's operating system and share with us everything we can do with the new tools.

If you're interested in jailbreaking your Switch, here's everything we know about it so far.

What's the latest news on jailbreaking Nintendo Switch?

April 24, 2018: Un-patchable bootrom jailbreak for Nintendo Switch is public!

Over the past 24-hours, the Nintendo Switch jailbreak community was thrown into chaos. It all started when an anonymous user posted the Tegra X1 Bootrom exploit chain publicly on PasteBin. Not long after, Kate Temkin on behalf of the ReSwitched team published a vulnerability disclosure, which includes an exploit execution and proof of concept, as well as the Fusée Gelée launcher. Then, Fail0verflow released their version of the Tegra X1 exploit, called ShofEL2, which includes a Linux port. Finally, hacker Plutoo, who was part of the team that discovered the 3.0.0 exploit that created the Homebrew Launcher released the source code. Plutoo followed this release with a tweet, leaving the Switch hacking scene.

To clarify, both Fusée Gelée and ShofEL2 are based on a bootrom bug that can't be patched in any Nintendo Switch that has been sold so far (as of April 24, 2018). It does not require a modchip and appears to be somewhat simple and straightforward (I'll be jailbreaking my Switch ASAP and have a guide for you soon).

Though these exploits are now publicly available and any person owning a Switch right now can jailbreak it, there isn't a whole lot you can actually do once you've jailbroken your Switch. It's really for the love of doing it and for developers looking to create custom firmware or other cool things on Switch.

As a reminder, don't jailbreak your main Switch. Only do so on a secondary unit that you don't have any important data stored in. There is no reason for you to potentially brick your device — and jailbreaking it will surely void its warranty. Right now, there isn't much you can do with a jailbroken Switch, so don't risk losing the only one you have.

After I've had some time to go through the information, I'll publish a guide to jailbreaking your Nintendo Switch.

What does jailbreaking a Switch mean?

If you're new to the jailbreaking concept entirely, it basically means that the device's operating system is accessible in a way that was never intended by the creators and developers of the operating system.

Accessing an operating system gives people the ability to add new features, like installing Linux, downloading modifications to the Home screen, custom firmware, and other such things.

Currently, specific to the Switch, there isn't much that you can do with a jailbroken device unless you're handy with coding. If you go the route of installing the Homebrew Launcher using a Switch running software version 3.0.0 on the Switch, you can start using SwitchBrew.

If you use Fusée Gelée or SofEL2, you can use any Switch firmware, but at the time of this writing, you can't do much else except dual-boot Linux.

It also means that any warranty you have on your Nintendo Switch will be null and void because you'll be breaking the user contract you agreed to when using the Switch.

What do I need to get started with jailbreaking my Nintendo Switch?

If you want to use the HomeBrew launcher. your Switch has to be running firmware 3.0.0.

If your Switch's firmware is below 3.0.0, you can update to 3.0.0 by using a physical copy of the game Pokkén Tournament DX with the cartridge identification number 000. Some versions of Pokkén Tournament DX are numbered 001 or 002 and will update your Switch's firmware to 3.0.1. The ID number is imprinted on the back side of the game cartridge itself, so you have to open the game's box before you'll know if you have the right print run of Pokkén Tournament DX.

You'll also need a microSD card with about 32GB of storage. It's not recommended to go with a higher storage count because it might not work well with the Switch's older firmware 3.0.0.

If you want to jailbreak your Switch using Fusée Gelée or SofEL2, you'll need a computer with a USB 3.0 port (with some exceptions) and a USB-C to USB-A cable to connect your Switch to your computer. The Fusée Gelée instructions note that you'll have to short out two pins on your right Joy-Con controller in order to trigger recovery mode on your Switch.

How do I jailbreak my Switch?

I'll have a dedicated guide to jailbreaking your Switch as soon as I do so myself and understand the process well enough to explain it to you.

To be clear, you should never jailbreak your "daily driver" Nintendo Switch. What I mean by that is, you should have a second Switch that is dedicated solely to jailbreaking. If you don't have a dedicated Switch for jailbreaking, don't do it at all. It's just not worth it right now.

Can you un-jailbreak a Switch?

At this time, I haven't seen any information about how to uninstall the Homebrew Launcher, but it appears that the Fusée Gelée and SofEL2 exploits happen during the device boot and have to be rebooted every time you turn on your Switch. When I have a little more clarity on this, I'll explain it in detail.

Questions?

Remember, jailbreaking of Nintendo Switch is still in its infancy and there isn't much information available. I can answer questions about it to the best of my ability if you put them in the comments section.

Updated April 24, 2018: The un-patchable bootrom bug jailbreak is now public!