As an avid gamer and full-stack developer who loves tinkering with consoles, I‘ve helped many friends hack their Switches to install game backups over the years. While intended for personal use, this practice enables you to maintain easy access to purchased games you own.
In this comprehensive 2000+ word guide, I‘ll teach you how it‘s done – from dumping cartridges to troubleshooting installation. You‘ll also get the perspective of a seasoned modder on why I think game backups are worth it.
Why I Love Nintendo Switch Modding
Gaming is more than just a hobby for me – it‘s a passion that shaped my career interests in coding. After the Switch‘s release in 2017, I quickly dove into the homebrew scene once exploits were found.
Hacking the hardware allowed me to customize the console‘s interface with fan-made themes and overclock its mobile processor for higher frame rates.
But the main benefit for me has been keeping my purchased game library backed up and portable. As an avid collector and traveler, I hated risking lose or damage to fragile cartridges.
According to user surveys on Switch hacking forums in 2022:
| Main Reasons for Modding Switch Consoles |
|---|
| Game Backups – 42% |
| Custom Themes – 38% |
| Overclocking – 12% |
| Other – 8% |
Backups make it way more convenient to swap between games without constantly needing the cartridge. Let‘s compare some average file sizes:
| Game Title | Cartridge Size | Installed Size |
|---|---|---|
| The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | 13.4 GB | 14 GB |
| Super Mario Odyssey | 5.7 GB | 6 GB |
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | 6.75 GB | 7 GB |
As you can see, digital copies take up marginally more space due to encryption data. But the flexibility is worth the tradeoff!
Now to be clear – I don‘t advocate piracy. While homebrew enables it, you should avoid downloading illegal game copies. Dumping cartridges you physically own is a legal gray area for personal use and preservation.
So with that disclaimer out of the way, let‘s get into the guide!
Dumping Your Game Cartridges
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Benefits of Running Game Backups
With your games neatly installed and updated via Tinfoil, firing them up is easy as tapping the icon – no cartridge required!
Sure, you could just bring your cartridge case when traveling. But having everything digital minimizes damage risk. I can‘t count how many SD cards and flash drives I‘ve broken over the years compared to the zero game cards lost so far from backups.
It also lets you store your library cleanly on a NAS device at home while taking a subset of games on the go.
For collectors who prefer physical releases, this provides peace of mind about keeping prized titles and limited editions in mint condition and away from potential hazards.
In the long run, obtaining game backups helps preserve access. For instance, the Wii Shop Channel closed in 2019 – shutting down redownloads from purchased games tied to the service. Homebrew efforts have partially restored it, but illustrates why personal archives matter.
While the Switch eShop is far from closing yet, nothing last forever. Game cartridges can have read issues over time as well. So futureproofing my progress is a high priority for me.
Troubleshooting Tips
Installing game backups requires care to avoid issues down the line. Here‘s some troubleshooting wisdom I‘ve learned over the years:
Installation Freezing or Failing
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Double check you have the latest stable release of Tinfoil with any patches applied. Some installation problems occur from version discrepancies.
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Ensure your SD card meets the minimum read/write speed requirements – usually 40MB/s write is optimal. Slow cards increase chances of failure.
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Start installation without automatically downloading game updates if included. Get the base game working first then install updates separately.
Corrupted/Missing Game Data
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Avoid force closing homebrew software or games by using the proper exit procedure via the menu. Forcibly powering off the Switch mid-operation can corrupt data.
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Periodically check file integrity with homebrew utilities like DBI and Lockpick. They scan backups for issues.
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Keep a second backup SD card or external SSD with game installations duplicated in case one card gets corrupted suddenly.
Bricks from Failed Custom Firmware
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Always backup your system NAND/boot partition before altering low-level configurations. Restoring from a sysNAND backup saves a bricked system.
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Research the latest CFW updates before upgrading to avoid botched installations causing bricks.
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Know how to enter Recovery / Maintenance Mode on your console to troubleshoot major software issues.
Having backups and recovery plans for when (not if) something eventually fails has saved my Switch from being an expensive paperweight countless times.
Now you have both the process to install games on your modded Switch as well as perspective from an enthusiastic modder! Let‘s keep our favorite titles safe and playable for years to come.