Install LineageOS on
Nintendo Switch v1 [Android TV]

Basic requirements

1. Read through the instructions at least once before actually following them, so as to avoid any problems due to any missed steps!
2. Make sure your computer has adb and fastboot. Setup instructions can be found here.
3. Enable USB debugging on your device.
4. Make sure that your model is actually listed in the “Supported models” section here (exact match required!)
5. Boot your device with the stock OS at least once and check every functionality.
6. LineageOS is provided as-is with no warranty. While we attempt to verify everything works you are installing this at your own risk!

Pre-Install Information

LineageOS builds for this device support the following device configurations:

Configuration 1:

• An original, exploitable “v1” Nintendo Switch with your preferred JoyCons attached during installation
  info_outline

  Note: This can usually be identified by the model number ‘MOD.’ on the rear of the device. Most HAC-001 models are exploitable (you can check if your particular device is compatible here), while HAC-001(-01), or any other model number is not, and therefore you must use Configuration 2.
• An RCM Jig such as this one)
• Hekate v6.1.0 or newer loaded via a Fusee launcher such as this one
  warning

  Warning: This configuration requires that the Fusee launcher be ran every time you wish to boot Android! With this in mind, Configuration 2 is heavily preferred.

Configuration 2:

• A hard-modded (often called “ModChipped”) Switch v1 / v2 / Lite / OLED with your preferred JoyCons attached during installation
• Hekate v6.1.0 or newer on your SD Card, and loaded by your ModChip

Additionally, we support two installation locations:

• SD Card
  warning

  Warning: This installation location requires a high quality, high speed SD Card to function.
• eMMC
  warning

  Warning: This installation location requires space be taken from HOS (the stock Switch OS), so please tread carefully.

This guide will detail SD Card installation, if you wish to install Android to the eMMC, you will need to consult external resources.

Additionally, this guide will not detail exploiting or ModChipping your Switch, or the installation of Hekate, so please go select the applicable/preferred installation configuration to your device, and come back when Hekate v6.1.0 or newer is booted on the device.

Partitioning the System

1. Please back up ALL data on the SD Card before proceeding with installation, as all data/games/save data stored on the SD Card will be erased in the process of installation.
   warning

   Warning: Upgrades, or dirty-installs from any unofficial build will NOT function, please start with a freshly partitioned system.
   warning

   Warning: Please note that the files you have just copied in prior steps will be backed up and restored onto the SD Card by Hekate.
2. In Hekate, select “Tools” in the top-center of the screen, then “Partition SD Card”, then click “OK” when prompted.
3. Now, make your partition scheme selections based on your needs, as well as any other operating systems you may plan to install alongside Android.
   info_outline

   Note: Please give Android no less than roughly 10 GB to ensure that enough space is present.
4. When content with your selections, click “Next Step” in the bottom-right of the screen, then when ready click “Start”, and the safety pause period is complete, press the Power Button to proceed.
   warning

   Warning: Please ensure that you select ‘Dynamic: Android 13+’ when prompted.
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   Warning: If you were on ANY prior Switchroot/Unofficial release of ANY version, you MUST repartition your SD Card, there is no upgrade path.
5. When this process completes, you will be presented with several options, select “SD UMS” when prompted.

Preparing the SD Card

1. Connect your device to your PC, and navigate to your SD Card once it is mounted.
2. Please download the following files from here and place them in the noted folders (which you will potentially have to create) on your device’s SD Card:
   • boot.img -> switchroot/install/boot.img
   • recovery.img -> switchroot/install/recovery.img
   • nx-plat.dtimg -> switchroot/install/nx-plat.dtimg
   • bl31.bin -> switchroot/android/bl31.bin
   • bl33.bin -> switchroot/android/bl33.bin
   • boot.scr -> switchroot/android/boot.scr
   warning

   Warning: Please ensure that the name, path, and case of these files all match the above list identically.
3. Please download the following files and place them in the noted folders (which you will potentially have to create) on your device’s SD Card:
   • bootlogo_android.bmp -> switchroot/android/bootlogo_android.bmp
   • icon_android_hue.bmp -> switchroot/android/icon_android_hue.bmp
4. Create a new text file called android.ini at bootloader/ini/android.ini and populate it with the following:

   [LineageOS]
   l4t=1
   boot_prefixes=switchroot/android/
   id=SWANDR
   icon=switchroot/android/icon_android_hue.bmp
   logopath=switchroot/android/bootlogo_android.bmp
   r2p_action=self
   usb3_enable=1
   alarms_disable=0
   

5. Safely eject the SD Card from your PC’s file browser, then click “Close” on the device, then the “X” icon in the top right of the screen, and finally the “Home” button in the top-left of the screen.
6. Now select “Flash Android”, go through the process, then when asked if you’d like to reboot into recovery, click “No”.
7. When the process is complete, navigate to the Hekate’s main menu by clicking “X Close” in the top right of the screen.
8. In Hekate, select “Nyx Settings” in the bottom-left of the screen, then “Dump Joy-Con BT” from the top-right.
9. Click “OK” once a message indicates success, the message will look like this:

   Success!
   Found 2 out of 2 Joy-Con Pairing data!
   Both pairing data are HOS based!
   

   info_outline

   Note: You must have booted HOS (the stock Nintendo Switch OS) with your preferred JoyCons attached prior to doing this, or it will likely not succeed. You may boot to HOS at this point if necessary, and re-run this specific step after reboot.
10. When the process is complete, navigate to the Hekate’s main menu by clicking “X Close” in the top right of the screen. Then select “More Configs”, hold the Volume Up button, and select the “LineageOS” option to boot into recovery. Do not release the Volume Up button until you see the LineageOS splash screen.
    info_outline

    Note: If you followed every step correctly, you will see ‘USB3 Enabled’ in the top left of the LineageOS splash screen. If it is not present please start again and follow the guide more carefully.

Installing LineageOS from recovery

1. Download the LineageOS zip file that you would like to install or build the package yourself.
2. If you are not in recovery, reboot into recovery:
   • Boot to Hekate, then select “More Configs”, then hold Volume Up and select the LineageOS entry.
3. Now tap Factory Reset, then Format data / factory reset and continue with the formatting process. This will remove encryption and delete all files stored in the internal storage, as well as format your cache partition (if you have one).
4. Return to the main menu.
5. Sideload the LineageOS .zip package but do not reboot before you read/followed the rest of the instructions!
   • On the device, select “Apply Update”, then “Apply from ADB” to begin sideload.
   • On the host machine, sideload the package using: adb -d sideload filename.zip.
     check

     Tip: Normally, adb will report Total xfer: 1.00x, but in some cases, even if the process succeeds the output will stop at 47% and report adb: failed to read command: Success. In some cases it will report adb: failed to read command: No error or adb: failed to read command: Undefined error: 0 which is also fine.

Installing Add-Ons

1. Click Apply Update, then Apply from ADB, then adb -d sideload filename.zip for all desired packages in sequence.
   When presented with a screen that says Signature verification failed, click Yes. It is expected as add-ons aren’t signed with LineageOS’s official key!

All set!

Once you have installed everything successfully, you can now reboot your device into the OS for the first time!

• Click the back arrow in the top left of the screen, then “Reboot system now”.