Sending a Payload
If you were sent here directly
Make sure you've put your device into RCM, and downloaded Hekate (extract its zip file if necessary) before continuing.
Now that the device is in RCM, we will need to send it a payload. The methods are mostly the same, but slightly differs depending on what hardware you have available.
Windows
What you need
- The latest release of TegraRcmGUI (either the MSI or zip).
- The latest release of Hekate. The Hekate payload (hekate_ctcaer bin) is located in the hekate_ctcaer zip.
- A USB-A to USB-C cable (or a standard USB-C cable if your computer natively supports USB-C).
Instructions
- Install and run TegraRCMGUI.
- Navigate to the
Settings
tab, then pressInstall Driver
and follow the on-screen instructions.- If you face issues when installing the driver, follow the driver installation with Zadig section below.
- Connect your Switch in RCM to your PC using the USB cable.
- Navigate to the
Payload
tab of TegraRcmGUI.- Your Switch should be shown as detected in the bottom left corner.
- Press the file button next to
Inject payload
, and navigate to and select your hekate_ctcaer.bin
file. - Click
Inject payload
to launch Hekate.
Driver installation with Zadig
Follow these steps if you face issues when installing the driver with TegraRcmGUI. You will need the latest version of Zadig.
- Launch Zadig. In the
Options
menu, be sure thatList All Devices
is enabled. - Connect your Switch in RCM to your PC using the USB cable.
- In Zadig, select "APX" in the device list.
- Select
libusbK (v3.1.0.0)
in the driver list. - Click
Install Driver
and wait for the installation to finish.
Mac / Linux
What you need
- The latest release of fusee-interfacee-tk
- The latest release of Hekate. The Hekate payload (hekate_ctcaer bin) is located in the hekate_ctcaer zip.
- A USB-A to USB-C cable (or a standard USB-C cable if your computer natively supports USB-C)
Instructions
- Download and run the payload injector (if you're on Linux, you will need to run this program as root, use
sudo
, or follow the instructions at Linux injection without root). - Connect your Switch in RCM to your PC using the USB cable
- Wait for your Switch to be shown as found in the injector
- Press
Select Payload
, and navigate to and select your hekate_ctcaer.bin
file - Click
Send Payload!
to launch Hekate
Android
What you need
- The latest release of Rekado
- You will need to enable Unknown Sources in your device settings to install this
- The latest release of Hekate. The Hekate payload (hekate_ctcaer bin) is located in the hekate_ctcaer zip.
- A USB-C cable
- If your device has a USB-C port, you may use a C-C cable
- If your device only has a Micro USB port, you will need a USB OTG adapter and a USB A-C cable
- This will not work on every phone!
Instructions
- Copy the hekate_ctcaer
.bin
file from the Hekate.zip
file to a location on your phone - A tool such as Amaze File Manager can do this
- Launch Rekado on your phone
- Navigate to
Payloads
, then press the+
button at the bottom right - Navigate to your hekate_ctcaer
.bin
file, and tap it to add it to Rekado's menu - Optional, but recommended: Navigate to Rekado's settings and enable
Hide bundled
- Connect your Switch in RCM to your phone using the USB cable
- If prompted, grant Rekado access to the Switch
- Select your hekate_ctcaer
.bin
file in the dialog that pops up
Chromebook
What you need
- A USB-C cable
- If your chromebook has a USB-C port, do note that this will not work using a C-C cable.
Payloads you'll need for this guide:
- The latest release of Hekate. The Hekate payload (hekate_ctcaer bin) is located in the hekate_ctcaer zip.
Instructions
- Go to the injection website and scroll all the way down
- Select the "Upload Payload" option and upload the hekate_ctcaer
.bin
file from the Hekate.zip
file. - Connect your Switch in RCM to your Chromebook using the USB cable.
- Select "Do the thing". A pop up will appear. Click the
APX
option. - Press the Connect button and the payload will be injected.
If nothing happens after you send the payload
If your console's screen remains black after you've sent Hekate (or any other payload), it's possible your payload was corrupted, or that your console is patched. If your payload injector program shows that 0 bytes were sent, then it is definitely patched, so you'll be unable to proceed with the rest of the guide.