Making Essential Backups and dumping keys

Important

It is critical to make these backups. Do not skip these steps.

 

Making a NAND Backup

Important

A NAND backup is crucial. They can be used to restore the device to a working state in case of emergencies.

Once the backup is finished, keep it somewhere safe. The best backup is the one you have but never need, and the worst backup is the one you need but never made. To save space, it's recommended to compress the end-result with a .zip file or something similar.

It's highly recommended that you use an SD card that is formatted to FAT32 and has at least 32 gigabytes of space free. This will still work on smaller cards, but it's not ideal.

What you need:

  • The latest release of Hekate (Download the hekate_ctcaer_(version).zip release of hekate)
  • The latest release of Lockpick_RCM (Download the Lockpick_RCM.bin release of Lockpick)
  • A microSD card with free space of least 32 gb

Instructions

  1. Copy the bootloader folder from the Hekate .zip file to the root of your SD card
  2. Copy Lockpick_RCM.bin to the /bootloader/payloads folder on your SD card
  3. Enter RCM and inject the Hekate payload
  4. Use the touch screen to navigate to Tools and then Backup eMMC
  5. Tap on eMMC BOOT0 & BOOT1
  6. This may take a few minutes
  7. Tap on Close to continue, then tap on eMMC RAW GPP
  8. This will take a long time
  9. On FAT32 SD cards or cards that have less than 32 gigabytes of space available, the NAND will be split into 1 or 2 gigabyte parts.
    • Hekate will stop producing these parts when it runs out of space. When this happens, do the following:
    • Power off your system
    • Insert your SD card into your PC
    • Move all files from the backup folder on your SD card to a safe location on your PC
    • Insert your SD card into your Switch
    • Enter RCM again, inject Hekate again, and continue the backup by tapping on Tools > Backup eMMC > eMMC RAW GPP
    • Repeat the process until the NAND is completely dumped
  10. Press Close > Home > Power Off
  11. Insert your SD card into your PC
  12. Copy the backup folder on your SD card to a safe location on your PC

 

 

Getting your Console's Unique Keys

Important

These keys are critical to have. In an extreme emergency, they can be used in conjunction with your NAND backup and other tools to restore your console to a working state.

  1. Enter RCM and inject the Hekate payload.
  2. Tap the Payloads option, then press Lockpick_RCM.bin.
  3. If Lockpick_RCM asks you to select between SysNAND and emuMMC, choose SysNAND by navigating with the volume buttons and pressing the power button. If not, continue with step 4.
  4. If Lockpick_RCM prompts you to Reboot to Sept, press power or either volume button to do so. A "sept by Atmosphere" logo will then display, followed by Lockpick_RCM starting again. If it does not prompt you, continue on to step 5.
  5. Lockpick_RCM should now inform you that your keys have been saved to /switch/prod.keys on the SD card.
  6. Press any button to return to the main menu.
  7. Navigate to 'Power off' with the volume buttons and select it with the power button.
  8. Insert your SD card into your PC.
  9. Copy prod.keys from the switch folder on your SD card to a safe location on your PC (it is suggested to copy it to the same place that you copied your NAND backup to).