63 lines
3.1 KiB
Markdown
63 lines
3.1 KiB
Markdown
# Wii U Hacks Guide
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A guide collaboration between Nintendo Homebrew's Helpers and Staff, from stock to Tiramisu custom firmware.
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?> **Discord Help**
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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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> If you appreciate this guide, we accept [donations](donations).
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> For complete guides to homebrew and custom firmware for other devices, check out [hacks.guide](https://hacks.guide).
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### Homebrew
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Homebrew applications are custom, user-made software, which haven’t been authorized by Nintendo. This can include save editing tools, games, emulators, and more.
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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.
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### Custom Firmware
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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.
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CFW can be set up on any console on the latest version.
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### Homebrew & CFW Uses
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Among other things, it allows you to do the following:
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- Use “ROM hacks” for games that you own.
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- Backup, edit and restore saves for many games.
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- Play games for older systems with various emulators, using RetroArch or other standalone emulators.
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- Play out-of-region games.
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- Dump your Wii U game discs to a format that can be installed on your internal or external Wii U storage drive.
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### End Goal
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This guide has the end goal of taking a completely unmodified Wii U from stock to custom firmware.
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### Before Starting
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!> 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!**
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>
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> 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.
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>
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> You will need the following in order to successfully follow this guide:
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>
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> - An SD Card.
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> - A device such as a computer to place files onto the SD Card.
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> - A Wii U with internet access.
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>
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> A 32GB SD Card will be enough for most use-cases. A Micro SD Card in an adapter will work fine.
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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).
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Keep your device plugged in throughout the entire process to avoid data loss or damage from an unexpected power-off.
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After following this guide, CFW will be loaded and enabled on boot, unless you choose to not follow the Autobooting Tiramisu section.
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It is advised that you read the entire guide from start to finish one or more times before actually running through the guide with your system.
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---
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### [Continue to Tiramisu](tiramisu/sd-preparation) {docsify-ignore}
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