60 lines
2.8 KiB
Markdown
60 lines
2.8 KiB
Markdown
# Wii U Hacks Guide
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A guide collaboration between Nintendo Homebrew's Helpers and Staff, from stock to CBHC custom firmware.
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?> **Discord Help**
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For live support with this guide please visit us in **#wiiu-assistance** on the [Nintendo Homebrew Discord](https://discord.gg/C29hYvh) and ask, in English, for assistance. Please read the FAQ first to see if your question has already been answered.
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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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>
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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 (“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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>
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> Among other things, it allows you to do the following:
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>
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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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>
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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 firmware 5.5.4 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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> Your SD Card should preferably be 32 gigabytes large, as a full NAND backup for the console will take up around 8 or 30 gigabytes depending on your model.
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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, NNID, saves, 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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With the exception of CBHC, Custom Firmware is not permanent with current methods and will be unloaded upon rebooting the system.
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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 Choose a CFW](cfw-choice) {docsify-ignore}
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