?> **Discord Help** For live support with this guide please visit us in **#wiiu-vwii-assistance** on the [Nintendo Homebrew Discord](https://discord.gg/C29hYvh) and ask, in English, for assistance. Please read **#faq-wiiu**, as well as our [Frequently Asked Questions](faq) page beforehand to see if your question has already been answered.
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> For complete guides to homebrew and custom firmware for other devices, check out [hacks.guide](https://hacks.guide).
### Homebrew
Homebrew applications are custom, user-made software, which haven’t been authorized by Nintendo. This can include save editing tools, games, emulators, and more.
Homebrew can be run on your Wii U as long as you have a way to put files on an SD Card and your Wii U is updated to the latest version for your region.
### Custom Firmware
Custom firmware (often abbreviated as "CFW") enables you to use more advanced hacks that userland homebrew can’t easily do. For instance, installing game modifications with ease. CFW can be set up on any console on the latest version.
### Homebrew & CFW Uses
Among other things, it allows you to do the following:
- Use “ROM hacks” for games that you own.
- Backup, edit and restore saves for many games.
- Play games for older systems with various emulators, using RetroArch or other standalone emulators.
- Play out-of-region games.
- Dump your Wii U game discs to a format that can be installed on your internal or external Wii U storage drive.
### End Goal
This guide has the end goal of taking a completely unmodified Wii U from stock to custom firmware.
### Before Starting
!> Before beginning the guide, you must know the risks of Wii U hacking: **EVERY** time you modify your system, there is always the potential for an **UNRECOVERABLE** brick. They’re rare but still a possibility so make sure you follow **ALL** directions **EXACTLY!**
> This guide will work on all Wii U consoles in all regions on the latest firmware (5.5.6 for North American consoles, 5.5.5 for all other regions) or below.
If everything goes according to plan, you will lose no data and end up with everything that you started with (games, saves, NNID, etc, will be preserved).
Keep your device plugged in throughout the entire process to avoid data loss or damage from an unexpected power-off.