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Sending a Payload

If you are here to test if your Switch is patched

Make sure you have put your device into RCM and downloaded Hekate. Once finished, if your console is not patched, continue with the "Preparing Hekate" section at the bottom of the page.

Now that the device is in RCM, we will need to send it a payload. The methods are mostly the same but slightly differ depending on what hardware you have available.

 

What you need

  • The latest release of TegraRcmGUI (either the MSI or zip)
  • A USB-A to USB-C cable (or a standard USB-C cable if your computer natively supports USB-C)
  • The latest release of Hekate. The Hekate payload (hekate_ctcaer_(version).bin) is located in the hekate_ctcaer_(version).zip.

Instructions

  1. Install and run TegraRcmGUI.
  2. Navigate to the Settings tab, then press Install Driver and follow the on-screen instructions.
  3. Connect your Switch in RCM to your PC using the USB cable.
  4. Navigate to the Payload tab of TegraRcmGUI.
    • Your Switch should be shown as detected in the bottom left corner.
  5. Press the file button next to Inject payload, and navigate to and select the hekate_ctcaer_X.X.X.bin file.
  6. Click Inject payload to launch the payload you selected.

Driver installation with Zadig

Follow these steps if you face issues when installing the driver with TegraRcmGUI. You will need the latest version of Zadig.

  1. Launch Zadig. In the Options menu, be sure that List All Devices is enabled.
  2. Connect your Switch in RCM to your PC using the USB cable.
  3. In Zadig, select "APX" in the device list.
  4. Select libusbK (v3.1.0.0) in the driver list.
  5. Click Install Driver and wait for the installation to finish.

What you need

  • The latest release of fusee-interfacee-tk (also avaliable on the AUR)
    • If you use Arch Linux or a derivative distro, the AUR package is recommended.
  • A USB-A to USB-C cable (or a standard USB-C cable if your computer natively supports USB-C)
  • The latest release of Hekate. The Hekate payload (hekate_ctcaer_(version).bin) is located in the hekate_ctcaer_(version).zip.

Instructions

  1. Download and run the payload injector (if you're on Linux, you will need to run this program as root, use sudo, or follow the instructions at Linux injection without root).
  2. Connect your Switch in RCM to your PC using the USB cable.
  3. Wait for your Switch to be shown as found in the injector.
  4. Press Select Payload, and navigate to and select the hekate_ctcaer_X.X.X.bin file.
  5. Click Send Payload! to launch the payload you selected.

What you need

  • The latest release of Rekado
  • You will need to enable Unknown Sources in your device settings to install this
  • A USB-C cable
  • If your device has a USB-C port, you may use a C-C cable
  • If your device only has a Micro USB port, you will need a USB OTG adapter and a USB A-C cable
  • This will not work on every phone!
  • The latest release of Hekate. The Hekate payload (hekate_ctcaer_(version).bin) is located in the hekate_ctcaer_(version).zip.

Instructions

  1. Copy the hekate_ctcaer .bin file from the Hekate .zip file to a location on your phone.
    • A tool such as Amaze File Manager can do this.
  2. Launch Rekado on your phone.
  3. Navigate to Payloads (Signified by a downwards arrow with a line), then press the + button at the bottom right.
  4. Navigate to your hekate_ctcaer .bin file and tap it to add it to Rekado's menu.
  5. Optional, but recommended: Navigate to Rekado's settings in the top right and enable Hide bundled.
  6. Connect your Switch in RCM to your phone using the USB cable.
  7. If prompted, grant Rekado access to the Switch.
  8. Select the hekate_ctcaer_X.X.X.bin file in the dialog that pops up.

What you need

  • A USB-A to USB-C cable

About USB-C

If your Chromebook has a USB-C port, do note that this will not work using a C-C cable.

  • The latest release of Hekate. The Hekate payload (hekate_ctcaer_(version).bin) is located in the hekate_ctcaer_(version).zip.

Instructions

  1. Go to the injection website and scroll all the way down
  2. Select the "Upload Payload" option and upload the hekate_ctcaer_X.X.X.bin file from the Hekate .zip file.
  3. Connect your Switch in RCM to your Chromebook using the USB cable.
  4. Select "Do the thing". A pop-up will appear. Click the APX option.
  5. Press the Connect button and the payload will be injected.

If nothing happens after you send the payload

If your console's screen remains black after you've sent Hekate (or any other payload), it's possible your payload was corrupted, or that your console is patched. If your payload injector program shows that zero or 0x0000 bytes were sent, then it is patched. This isn't a one-time glitch or up for debate; it is patched. Consider an alternate method that isn't via RCM.

Preparing Hekate

We will prepare the microSD card for formatting/partitioning before going to the next page. Removing the microSD card while in Hekate is safe so turning off the console is not necessary and keeping it on will save time that would be spent reinjecting the payload.

What You Need:

  • The latest release of Hekate.
  • Your microSD card

Instructions:

  1. Without turning your Switch off, remove the microSD card from the Switch.
  2. Insert your Switch's microSD card into your computer.
  3. Extract the Hekate .zip to a location on your computer
  4. Inside the extracted Hekate folder you will find a folder named bootloader.
  5. Copy the bootloader folder to the root of your microSD card.
  6. Copy the Nintendo folder from the root of your microSD to a safe space on your device.
  7. Put your microSD card back into your Switch.
  8. Use volume up and volume down to navigate the Hekate menu. Hover over 'reload' and hit power. Your screen should now have the Hekate GUI.

Continue to choosing your CFW environment