Patched
In the case that your V1 is patched or you have a Mariko Switch, your Switch will require a modchip to be soldered onto the motherboard of your Switch in order to homebrew.
What now?
Section titled “What now?”Doing this soldering job yourself is not recommended unless you have the necessary tools and experience to do it.
Modchips
Section titled “Modchips”Modchips can be sourced from Aliexpress, just make sure you get the right model that matches the model of your Switch. If you have a Lite, do not get a modchip meant for the OLED and vice versa. The difference between modchip models themselves ( think PicoFly / HWFly / Instinct ) is negligible.
If you have the necessary tools and experience, or you’ll willing to take the risk and try it anyway, continue reading.
You can source the modchips mainly from Aliexpress, get the right one for your model of the Switch.
There are some tools and things you need that you may or may not already have, including:
- iFixit Y00 Screwdriver.
- iFixit PH00 Screwdriver.
- Spudger.
- Plastic Opener Tool.
- Paper Towel / Cleaning Cloth.
- ReLife RL1000 PCB Cleaner / Isopropyl Alcohol ( 99% ).
- Kester 275 Lead Free Solder 0.4mm ( .015” ).
- Amtech NC-559-V3-TF Flux.
- MaAnt D1 Mini Grinder.
- Tweezers.
- Bent Nose Plier.
- GD900 Thermal Paste.
- Hakko FX-951 Solder Station with T12-BC1 Tip.
- Surgery Scalpel #20.
- Ul10064 AWG63 Wire.
- Kapton Tape ( 5mm & 5cm ).
- 3M 9448A 10mm width, 0.15mm thick.
- Modchip.
- Eakins Autofocus Microscope 180x Magnification 0.5x Barlow Lens.
- Sunshine Plier SS-109.
- Sunshine SS-022B Double Head Brush.
- PCB Holder Mijing T23-Pro.
Look up some tutorials for methods to install the modchip of your choice in the console that you have and go from there. More than that we can’t say as this is supposed to be a guide for the software side of things.
If you do not have the necessary tools, nor the experience nor are you willing to take the risk, continue reading.
The main way you can still homebrew your Switch is if you get someone else to do the job for you. This will cost more due to having to pay for the job but is much easier for yourself since it requires no tools nor experience.
There are multiple ways you can find someone that may be able to install a modchip for you, including:
- Asking around family and / or friends.
- Looking around locally on marketplaces for anyone that does repairs.
- Looking around locally physically for any repair shops that also do Switches.
- Using a mail-in service from Etsy.
- Buying a pre-modded Switch from someone selling it, either local to you or on a site like eBay, Sthetix or Etsy.
That being said, go with your gut and look around for something / somewhere trustworthy, that’ll do a good soldering job and won’t just take your Switch. Ask around and weigh out the price, pros and cons. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is, if you’re unsure about someone, better to be safe than sorry. Stay vigilant.
Continue
Section titled “Continue”Now, if you have a modchip installed in your unit, continue to Mariko.