Hacking How to repack an NSP with custom files? Is there a manual somewhere

[Reploid]

I saw people doing cool stuff with switch games, like removing extra languages or inserting translation and graphical mods directly into the package, without relying on LFS.

I've actually tried to do something like this myself a couple of times, but never was able to correctly put an NCA file back together. But it is definitely possible, I would like to do something like this myself. Maybe there is a sensible tutorial that explains things step by step?

I want to take a game, latest update, insert some mods, delete bloated stuff and get a single customized NSP files. If you used an app like UMDgen back in the day, you prolly know what I'm talking about.

 

[fate6]

Haven't done it in some time but i recall using a combo of hactool to dump contents and hacpack to put it back together, Just make sure you remake the nca's/nsp with retail keys.
Never bothered to merge updates so IDK about that part.


Nothing like UMDGen but it did the job.

 

[Reploid]

Haven't done it in some time but i recall using a combo of hactool to dump contents and hacpack to put it back together, Just make sure you remake the nca's/nsp with retail keys.
Never bothered to merge updates so IDK about that part.


Nothing like UMDGen but it did the job.

I've tried something like that, but my problem was that when I try to put back NCA with trimmed contents back together it always appears really small, since romfs contents are never included, which is the most data. No error reporting, no nothing, so I had no idea how to fix that.

 

[fate6]

I wrote a readme for myself back then and i happen to still have it, its kinda just some random rambelings but it is what i used to do and it did produce working nsp's

Reading this back it seems I did used to merge updates into the base game, neat i guess.

Unpack NSP
./hactool.exe -t pfs0 --pfs0dir="Whatever named directory" "drag and drop nsp here"

If a "tik" file is extracted then it has the titlekey! open it in a hex editor and look for "Root-CA", under that should be the 32 digits that are the titlekey!
If there is no tif file then install game on prod and dump keys with lockpick.

Extract Largest NCA
./hactool.exe -k prod.keys -t nca --romfsdir=romfs --exefsdir=exefs --titlekey=XXXXXXXX "drag and drop largest nca file here"

Extract Controlromfs, It's in diffrent smaller nca
./hactool.exe -k prod.keys -t nca --romfsdir=controlromfs --titlekey=XXXXXXXX "drag and drop nca"

If using update then use control from the update nsp so it shows the correct version

Using hacPack GUI or CLI remake the "Program" NCA
./hacpack -o outNCA --type=nca --ncatype=program --titleid=XXXXXXXX --titlekey=XXXXXXXX --exefsdir= --romfsdir=

Once "Program" NCA is done, build "Control" NCA using the RomFS Dir to the Controlromfs
./hacpack -o outNCA --type=nca --ncatype=control --titleid=XXXXXXXX --romfsdir=

Creat a "META" NCA using the "Program" and "Control" NCA's
./hacpack -o outNCA --type=nca --ncatype=meta --titletype application --titleid=XXXXXXXX --programnca= --controlnca=

Finally build the NSP from the NSP tab.
./hacpack -o outNSP --type=nsp --titleid=XXXXXXXX --ncadir=outNCA

Extract with UPDATE
./hactool.exe -k prod.keys --romfsdir=romfs --exefsdir=exefs --titlekey="update titlekey" --basenca="drag and drop base game NCA file here" "drag and drop update NCA file here"

For UPDATE extract to work you must use a plain text version of the base main NCA

Check info for the NCA
./hactool.exe -k prod.keys --titlekey=XXXXXXXX -i "drag and drop NCA file here"

Decrypt NCA for use with UPDATE
./hactool.exe -k prod.keys --titlekey=XXXXXXXX --plaintext="name to save decrypted NCA as" "drag and drop encrypted NCA here"

 

[AinzOoalGown]

I wrote a readme for myself back then and i happen to still have it, its kinda just some random rambelings but it is what i used to do and it did produce working nsp's

Reading this back it seems I did used to merge updates into the base game, neat i guess.

Hello ,
from there I did not understand, the NCA Program I take the original one ? or I create a new Program NCA ?

I followed your instructions but there is an error ( Failed to open \main.npdm! )

hacpack.exe -o outNCA --type=nca --ncatype=program --titleid=010********** --titlekey=************* --exefsdir= --romfsdir=

hacPack v1.36 by The-4n
----> Preparing:
[WARN]: Failed to match key ..... Here this error.

Removing existing temp directory
Creating temp directory
Creating out directory
Creating backup directory

----> Processing NPDM
Failed to open \main.npdm!

Thank you -_-

 

[fate6]

Hello ,
from there I did not understand, the NCA Program I take the original one ? or I create a new Program NCA ?

I followed your instructions but there is an error ( Failed to open \main.npdm! )

hacpack.exe -o outNCA --type=nca --ncatype=program --titleid=010********** --titlekey=************* --exefsdir= --romfsdir=

hacPack v1.36 by The-4n
----> Preparing:
[WARN]: Failed to match key ..... Here this error.

Removing existing temp directory
Creating temp directory
Creating out directory
Creating backup directory

----> Processing NPDM
Failed to open \main.npdm!

Thank you -_-

It's been years since i last messed around with the switch let alone this repack stuff.

Looking at that error i assume you got the title key wrong

 

[AinzOoalGown]

It's been years since i last messed around with the switch let alone this repack stuff.

Looking at that error i assume you got the title key wrong

All right . the title key is right, i used it to extract my nsp file.
I think I found a solution, I'll do a tutorial after testing it twice.

 

[binkinator]

All right . the title key is right, i used it to extract my nsp file.
I think I found a solution, I'll do a tutorial after testing it twice.

A tut would be awesome!

I’m going down a similar path. This thread has helped a bit.

 

[CMDreamer]

All right . the title key is right, i used it to extract my nsp file.
I think I found a solution, I'll do a tutorial after testing it twice.

Please do! Thanks in advance!

 

[AinzOoalGown]

Please do! Thanks in advance!

A tut would be awesome!

I’m going down a similar path. This thread has helped a bit.

I can't put the tutorial on the site because it has forbidden words, I'll give you the link
github AinzOoalGown-fun/Nsp-XCI-Nca-unpack/blob/main/README.md

 

[binkinator]

I can't put the tutorial on the site because it has forbidden words, I'll give you the link
github AinzOoalGown-fun/Nsp-XCI-Nca-unpack/blob/main/README.md

Appreciated! Will give this an idiot test after work!

(I somehow didn’t see any bad words.)

 

[CMDreamer]

I can't put the tutorial on the site because it has forbidden words, I'll give you the link
github AinzOoalGown-fun/Nsp-XCI-Nca-unpack/blob/main/README.md

Thanks a lot!

 

[mrdude]

I can't put the tutorial on the site because it has forbidden words, I'll give you the link
github AinzOoalGown-fun/Nsp-XCI-Nca-unpack/blob/main/README.md

Just wrap your link in code tags:

https://github.com/AinzOoalGown-fun/Nsp-XCI-Nca-unpack

 

[Kiriox]

I can't put the tutorial on the site because it has forbidden words, I'll give you the link
github AinzOoalGown-fun/Nsp-XCI-Nca-unpack/blob/main/README.md

This tutorial helped me a lot but there are still a few things that I need help with already how can I use this method to create an update that only includes the files that I want to modify like this the .nsp can be shared freely also I would like to be able to change the icon and the title of the game (always just with an update file) thanks in advance

 

[masagrator]

to create an update that only includes the files that I want to modify like this the .nsp can be shared freely

You can't without using Nintendo's SDK, so it's not "legal". There is no alternative.

 

[newc22]

If I modify one file how can I repack the New file to my nsp file?! and what it's mean dump keys with lockpick? I use PC. Thx the Reply!

 

[kasai2713]

Does this work for update data alone? Since new switches can't be modded, is it possible to install mods through the update data and DLC themselves?

 

[masagrator]

Since new switches can't be modded

Wrong.

is it possible to install mods through the update data and DLC themselves?

And how do you want to install modified update or DLC with unhacked Switch?

 

[kasai2713]

Wrong.

And how do you want to install modified update or DLC with unhacked Switch?

You have to take apart your Switch if it's a newer model right? The DLC is in the update data which is stored on the SD card, but I just want to change some music and models. Is it possible to modify the update data without a hacked Switch? I have the update data from the SD card but it is packed and I do not know what file type it is. Also it looks like it is missing some bytes compared to an online dump of the same update that is in the NSP file format.

 

[BigOnYa]

The DLC is in the update data which is stored on the SD card, but I just want to change some music and models. Is it possible to modify the update data without a hacked Switch?

No it is not possible without a hacked Switch.