I‘ve been modifying gaming hardware and writing expert guides for over a decade. So if you‘re yearning to play those sweet Roblox games directly on your Nintendo Switch, you‘ve come to the right place!
An Epic Journey 10 Years in the Making
Believe it or not, Roblox originally launched all the way back in 2006. Over the past 16 years, this blocky sandbox world has evolved into one of the world‘s most popular platforms for both playing and creating games.
Some mind-blowing Roblox statistics as of 2022:
- 200+ million monthly active users
- 30 million experienced developers and creators
- 1.1 billion hours of gameplay per month! (👀)
With user growth and engagement still accelerating, Roblox sits firmly among gaming titans like Minecraft, Fortnite, and ROBLOX.
Meanwhile, the Nintendo Switch has sold over 103 million units since its 2017 debut, recently surpassing the Wii to become Nintendo‘s best selling console ever.
It combines the at-home playability of living room consoles with on-the-go portability for gaming anywhere. And a huge portion of Switch players fall directly into Roblox‘s core demographic — making it seem like only a matter of time before we get an official Roblox port!
But until that fabled day…let me show you how to DIY it!
Why Can‘t I Just Download Roblox Straight From the Switch?
You might be wondering — if the Switch is so popular, and Roblox is on pretty much every other device…why has Nintendo never added support?
Truth is, Roblox‘s gaming engine and creation tools demand a ton of processing power unseen in traditional consoles. It took years just to optimize performance on lower-powered phones.
Not to mention, Nintendo intensely curates all software available on the Switch eShop storefront. They likely weren‘t willing to put in massive resources to adapt Roblox‘s dynamically updating universe.
But fear not — by creatively harnessing alternate operating systems, network manipulation, screen mirroring, and even dreaded jailbreaking — we CAN create the Roblox-Switch crossover of our dreams!
Let‘s dive right into each method, ordered by difficulty.
Method #1: Install an Android OS ("LineageOS")
Since Roblox already supports Android devices, one way to finesse it onto Switch is installing an Android-based OS in place of Nintendo‘s standard Horizon operating system.
A popular option is LineageOS, an open-source project continuing development on the old CyanogenMod codebase.
Here‘s how to transform your Switch into an Android tablet capable of running mobile Roblox.
Step 1: Check If Your Switch Can Be Hacked
First, head to https://ismyswitchpatched.com/ and input your Switch‘s serial number, located under the kickstand.
This tool checks your manufacture date to see if vulnerabilities still exist allowing custom firmware installation 🤞
If your unit is from mid 2018 or later, it likely cannot be modded. Only launch Switch consoles guarantee hackability.
Step 2: Back Up and Reformat Your MicroSD Card
Turn off your unit, remove any game cartridges, and insert your Switch‘s microSD card into your computer.
Before wiping, be sure to back up any data! Then reformat the card to the FAT32 file system. This erases everything but optimizes transfer speed for Android‘s installation.
Step 3: Download Key Software to Your Computer
With the blank SD card inserted, download the following tools to your Windows PC:
- Hekate Bootloader: Bootloader to launch custom firmware
- LineageOS 17.1: Android 10-based OS
You‘ll need to extract the sensitive IMG and BIN files using a program like 7-Zip (the default Windows tool will NOT work).
Step 4: Transfer Extracted Files Into SD Card Root
Here comes the trickiest but most crucial part. Open your file extractor and:
- Extract the
lineage-17.1-[date]-clark.img.xzfile from inside the Lineage ZIP - Copy the extracted
.IMGfile directly into your SD card‘s root folder
Repeat the process for Hekate, copying the hekate_ctcaer_[version].bin file into the root.
Step 5: Boot Into Hekate and Partition Storage
Re-insert your SD card and hold Volume Down + Volume Up + Power simultaneously while turning on your Switch.
If done quickly enough, you should see the Hekate boot menu. Navigate to:
- Tools
- Partitions
- Partition SD Card
Use the slider to allocate storage space between Horizon OS and your shiny new Lineage Android install!
Step 6: Flash LineageOS From MicroSD Storage
Still inside Hekate, select "Switchroot Android" from the "More configs" section, then:
- On the TWRP screen, Swipe to Allow Modifications
- Tap Install > Select Storage
- Select your Lineage
.imgfile and flash away!
You WILL see errors mid-install — just keep chugging until it finishes. Roblox awaits!
Step 7: Complete LineageOS Setup Wizard
That wasn‘t so bad, right? Upon first Android boot, just complete the standard setup prompts to connect WiFi and Google account.
Once you reach the home screen, install Roblox from the Play Store or sideload the .APK directly.
Login, and game on! 🎉 To revert back to Horizon, reboot into Hekate and launch standard firmware.
I‘ll admit, this does require some technical know-how. But take it slow and the end result is an Android-powered Switch running mobile Roblox flawlessly.
Method #2: Manipulate DNS to Access Roblox Sites
If going the hardcore Android route sounds too intimidating, a simpler if unreliable trick is intercepting the Switch‘s web traffic to directly access Roblox‘s website.
Here‘s how to pull off some DNS wizardry.
Step 1: Connect Your Switch Online
Hop into System Settings > Internet and get your Switch hooked up to WiFi as usual.
Step 2: Override Default DNS
Inside your network settings, override the default DNS server and instead point to:
Primary DNS: 045.055.142.122
This routes your web requests to a helper server offering expanded device support for Roblox sites.
Note: Any network using parental controls may still block access.
Step 3: Attempt to Run Roblox Titles!
Return to the main menu and launch the native web browser. Head to the following URL:
nxd.https://www.roblox.comHopefully the page loads properly! Now try launching a game.
While performance takes a major hit without dedicated mobile optimization, certain Roblox games MAY cooperate on your DNS-hijacked Switch.
Method #3: Mirror Your Phone Screen to Switch
If you have a smartphone with Roblox already installed, beaming that screen to your Switch is another wireless workaround.
Step 1: Install a Mobile Screen Mirroring App
On your Android or iPhone, download any reputable app for casting your display over WiFi:
- AirScreen
- RaviScreen
- Mirroring360
They all work pretty similarly.
Step 2: Initiate Casting Session from Phone
With mirroring app open, choose to initiate a streaming session scanning for supported receivers.
At the same time on your Switch, start discovery:
- Navigate to System Settings > Internet
- Select "Connect to a Nearby Device"
- Tap Scan to show a QR Code
Step 3: Scan Switch QR Code to Pair Devices
Point your phone‘s camera at the Switch‘s code to establish a pairing link. If successful, your mobile screen will magically beam to the Switch!
From there it‘s smooth sailing — open Roblox on your phone and enjoy big screen gaming. Not as fast as native, but surprisingly playable for most games!
Method #4: Nintendo Switch Jailbreak (Advanced Hackers ONLY)
Finally, for seasoned tech veterans willing to sacrifice online connectivity and warranty in exchange for god-mode Switch customization, we arrive at full jailbreaking via hardware modchips.
This requires in-depth research and precise execution. I EXTREMELY recommend studying up on the risks beforehand!
That said, here‘s a high level overview:
Step 1: Install a Modchip to Circumvent Nintendo Security
Chips like the SX Core physically override disk encryption, bootloaders, and digital rights management — forcing boot into custom firmware instead of Horizon.
You‘ll need to carefully disassemble the Switch to attach wires. Quality varies widely between modchips so choose reputably!
Step 2: Wrap Console in Conductive Copper Tape
Next, encasing the console‘s plastic shell in copper foil tape tricks detection sensors, guaranteeing boot into recovery mode for modifications.
Step 3: Transfer and Flash Custom OS Using Hekate
Early on in the boot sequence, hold Volume buttons to trigger the Hekate menu. From here you can:
- Partition storage space
- Transfer custom Linux distributions like Lakka via SD card
- Extract and install new OS firmware
Step 4: Install Switch Homebrews Like Roblox
Now running an open environment like Lakka (or custom Android!), hunt down Switch-compatible Roblox .NRO packages online. No more platform restrictions!
While certainly not for the faint of heart, congratulations on unlocking your Switch‘s full multi-OS potential. The world is your coding oyster!
I don‘t mind getting technical, but always stay safe and legal friends 😉 Onto the recap…
Let‘s Recap: How Will YOU Get Roblox on Nintendo Switch?
I threw a ton of detailed methods at you here, so let‘s quickly summarize using this handy comparison chart:
| Method | Difficulty | Cost | Risk | Perfomance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Android Install | Hard | Free | Medium | Excellent |
| DNS Manipulation | Easy | Free | Low | Poor |
| Screen Mirroring | Medium | Cheap | Low | Good |
| Jailbreaking | Hard | Expensive | High | Excellent |
The choice comes down to your willingness to tinker vs need for high performance. Personally, I think the middle ground sweet spot lies with wireless screen mirroring — works reliably for most games without cracking open your console!
But our Roblox early access quest offers several avenues to success. Hopefully the step-by-step instructions give you the confidence to get gaming on Switch however fits your style.
Shoot me any outstanding questions in the comments down below! Perhaps we‘ll get official support sooner than later…but until then, buckle up and let the modding begin my friends 😎
