This thread is outdated
A lot of information in this thread is heavilly out of date.
If you have time, and have Staff permission, feel free to edit this thread and remove this statement once necessary.

Some information that needs to be addressed:

• SX OS and Atmosphere now supports proper LayeredFS, instructions for using it has changed since this tutorial was made
• Supported Firmware information is out of date
• LFSKit needs to be updated to properly support non 5.x.x firmware
• Compatability chart needs to be re-made

-PRAGMA

WARNING

• DO NOT GO ONLINE WHEN DOING THIS (YOU WILL BE BANNED)

How to use LayeredFS for Backup Loading

Firmware Supported: ONLY 5.x.x
Use the PRAGMA LFS Kit below.

PRAGMA's LFS Kit

DOWNLOAD
SOURCE

• Go from NOTHING in your SD Card to playing a game backup in a few clicks!
• Decrypt .XCI -> romfs/exefs folder with main.nmpd auto edited aswell as folder's name auto renamed to donor titleid
• Download NOTHING except LFSKit!

ENJOY!

Picking a Donor Title and getting Donor TitleIDRunning Game Backups!

1. 
   
   1. A donor title is the application we will run to open the backup.
      Pick a game you don't care about (Download a Demo or a free game from eShop, for example Octopath Demo)
      saves are something no one knows much about, we don't fully know where or how they are stored.
      They might overwrite the donor titles save, so seriously pick a game you DONT care about, not a game you rarely play.
      
      
   2. I also recommend picking a donor title/game combo that has been tested and reported working just so you know if YOU did something wrong or not.
   3. Find the TitleID of the donor title you chose from http://nswdb.com or http://switchbrew.org/index.php?title=Title_list/Games
      Region must be the same, choose the TitleID for the base-game NOT for the update title, even if your updated.
2. 
   
   1. Once again, boot into Hekate-IPL (Step 1).
   2. Enter "Launch firmware" and select "RomFS".
   3. Your now in your system's home menu.
   4. Open the Donor Title you set the TitleID of on that folder and .npmd file earlier.
   5. The game will load up flawlessly.
      If you opened the Title lets say, Fortnite, and Fortnite booted, the titleid of the folder in sd:/atmosphere/titles/{fortnitetitleid} doesnt exist, or doesnt start with 0100.
      If it gives you an error screen, either you didnt edit the main.npmd properly, or its an incompatible title/donor combo.
   To see which games work and which dont using which donor titles, look below.
   If you notice that you used a combination of Game and Donor title that isnt in the list below, post in the thread and I will add it. (look under to see what I need to add to chart).
   

Troubleshooting

• Black Screen/Infinitely Loading
  Leave it for around 5 minutes then press the home button and go back into the game without closing it. Often this can do the job.
• Freeze when Loading
  Close the game and try again, its a common occurence, you may have to try up to 4-5 times before getting it to work, sometimes you may even have to reboot between retries.

 

[Draxzelex]

With these SD files and patched kernel, sleepmode bug exists again?

nope

For 3.X users, the sleep mode fix has not been implemented yet.

 

[PatrickJr]

I updated ahah

also

Game: Skyrim
Donor: Octopath Traveler Demo
Boot: Yes
Save: Yes

 

[halcyonknight]

Game: Runner3
Target: Pokemon Quest
Status: Works, sort of. Crashed after completing the first level, deleting Pokemon Quest's save and trying again didn't help.
Save: ???

Game: Dragon Quest Builders
Target: Pokemon Quest
Status: Works!
Save: Nope.

 

[Olif]

Game: Fifa 18
Donor: Oceanhorn Demo
Status: Works perfectly
Saves: Yes

Edit: can't load a career save after switch reboot

 

[Space Dog]

Target: Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Trilogy
Loaded Game: 1 2 Switch
Work: don't work launch error

 

[PatrickJr]

I see Monster Hunter XX has been tested and works, but does it work online?

 

[icefox]

overcooked & saving work w/ Pickle Lines DX demo

snipperclips & saving work w/ oceanhorn demo

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

1-2-switch not working with pinball arcade

South Park not working with VOEZ demo

 

[Shinolink]

I see Monster Hunter XX has been tested and works, but does it work online?

If you want to be banned like instantly try it

 

[icefox]

question: kernel patching--what does this step do and is it necessary? I seem to be able to run just as well with a downloaded kernel-patched.bin file.

The same goes for the keys. Some say the keys are unique to machines but I have found some posted keys and they match mine 100%.

 

[runetoonxx2]

have any of u actually got bayonetta 1 working??
I still cant seem to get it away from black screen

 

[skywindz]

Target: Pokemon Quest
Loaded Game: Arms
Work: It works perfectly fine.
Saves: It doesn't save. However, my nintendo switch crashes and forces me to restart after quitting the game while in the main menu screen and re opening the game.

 

[leerpsp]

Target: Fortnight
Loaded game: GalGun 2
work: no it will boot the switch screen then set on black screen then give error message.

 

[jek7]

I was able to make bayonetta work with fortnite as donor. try to delete its game data first

 

[MightyMoe]

Finally got FIFA 18 fully working with saves!

Donors that didn't work (all freeze on black screen after switch logo):
Fallout Shelter
Stern Pinball
Pinball Arcade
Pokemon Quest (boots but glitch and no saves)
Rocket League
NBA Playgrounds
Infinite Golf
Pacman Vs
Stardew Valley
----------
Works flawlessly with saves and everything with Octopath Demo as a donor
5.1.0

 

[runetoonxx2]

I was able to make bayonetta work with fortnite as donor. try to delete its game data first

I’ve never opened fortnite so I don’t think there should be game data to delete

 

[annson24]

question: kernel patching--what does this step do and is it necessary? I seem to be able to run just as well with a downloaded kernel-patched.bin file.

The same goes for the keys. Some say the keys are unique to machines but I have found some posted keys and they match mine 100%.

Sharing keys and kernel is illegal, that's why the OP's tutorial covers how you can obtain one yourself. But if you downloaded it already then you don't need to do the steps for those anymore.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

 

[x0x0]

Finally got FIFA 18 fully working with saves!

Donors that didn't work (all freeze on black screen after switch logo):
Fallout Shelter
Stern Pinball
Pinball Arcade
Pokemon Quest (boots but glitch and no saves)
Rocket League
NBA Playgrounds
Infinite Golf
Pacman Vs
Stardew Valley
----------
Works flawlessly with saves and everything with Octopath Demo as a donor
5.1.0

Nice what is id for Octopath demo? Did you try super Mario Odyssey with this? Nvm i found.

 

[darktabris4212]

Atelier Lydie & Suelle: The Alchemists and the Mysterious Paintings working with kitten squad in 5.1.0 saves work too

 

[serenewarfare]

Honestly not sure if there's a donor that will work for Xenoblade.

In addition to the OP listed titles, I also tried Octopath Demo (infinite Switch splash screen), Puyo Puyo Tetris (black screen), and Tropical Freeze (black screen).

 

[ninjadudexp]

Disgaea 5 Working,
FW 5.1 ,
Donor: Octopath Demo
Saves: Yes


Side Note: weird online error comes up saying restricted not sure if its because its a EU title on a US console or the fact its not in the right game. Either way its not a ban i can still download on eshop