Install Haxchi CFW on Wii U (eShop DS Game Required)
This guide will show you how to install Haxchi CFW on your Wii U. This will unlock the greater potential of the console and allow you enjoy benefits such as playing game backups, emulators, importing save files and more.
Haxchi can be configured to run on boot (Coldboot Haxchi), enabling you to have a permanent custom firmware on your Wii U that persists after reboot.
Haxchi CFW requires a DS Game installed and purchased from the Nintendo eShop in order to be installed on your Wii U:
- Animal Crossing: Wild World
- Big Brain Academy
- Brain Age
- DK: Jungle Climber
- Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training
- Kirby: Canvas Curse
- Kirby: Mass Attack
- Kirby: Squeak Squad
- Kirby: Mouse Attack
- Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
- Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
- Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
- Mario Kart DS
- New Super Mario Bros.
- Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of the Sky
- Pokemon Ranger
- Pokemon Ranger: Guardian Signs
- Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia
- Starfox Command
- Super Mario 64 DS
- Wario: Master of Disguise
- WarioWare: Touched
- Yoshi’s Island DS
- Yoshi’s Touch & Go
Required Downloads:
- Rufus
- config.txt (from wiiu.hacks.guide)
- Homebrew App Store (
wiiu-extracttosd.zip
) - Homebrew Launcher Installer (
payload.zip
) - Haxchi and CBHC
- Homebrew Launcher (v1.4) (
homebrew_launcher.v1.4.zip
) - Homebrew Launcher Channel (
homebrew_launcher_channel.zip
)
- NNU-Patcher
- WUP Installer GX2
Wii U on Firmware 5.5.4
- The Wii U browser exploit requires firmware 5.5.4 or lower
- Update to 5.5.4 for greater compatibility with homebrew
SD Card (64B or larger recommended)
- An SD card is required to install the homebrew files on your Wii U console
- The SD card must be formatted to FAT32
Wi-Fi Internet Connection
- The browser exploit can be launched by visiting
wiiuexploit.xyz
oru.wiidb.de
on your Wii U - An internet connection is also required to download from the homebrew app store
Haxchi Compatible DS Game from eShop
- Haxchi CFW requires a DS Virtual Console game from the Nintendo eShop
- This is a list of the Haxchi compatible eShop DS gamesDO NOT use a DS game that is NOT installed from the eShop, it will lead to a bricked Wii U.
Formatting SD Card
- Select your MicroSD as the [Device]
- Set [Boot selection] to [Non bootable]
- Set [Partition scheme] to [MBR]
- You may name your SD card with [Volume label]
- Set [File system] to [Large FAT32]
- Set [Cluster size] to the Default settingSD Cards with 128GB or larger capacity may require a [Cluster size] of 64 kilobytes
- Select [Show advanced format options] and uncheck [Create extended label and icon files]
- Select [START] -> [OK] and wait for the process to complete
Preparing SD Files
- Extract the contents of
wiiu-extracttosd.zip
(Homebrew App Store) to the root of your SD card - Extract the contents of
homebrew_launcher.v.1.4.zip
to the root of your SD card - Extract the contents of
nnupatcher.zip
to the root of your SD card - Extract the contents of
wup_installer_gx2.zip
to the root of your SD card - Extract the contents of
Haxchi.zip
to the root of your SD card - Extract the contents of
CBHC.zip
to the root of your SD card - Copy
config.txt
to the/haxchi/
folder on your SD card (overwrite the existing file) - Extract the contents of
payload.zip
(Homebrew Launcher Installer) to the/wiiu/
folder on your SD card - Create a folder named
install
in the root of your SD card - Create a folder named
hbc
inside the/install/
folder - Extract the contents of
homebrew_launcher_channel.zip
to the/install/hbc/
folder on your SD card - Insert your SD into your Wii U and power it on
Install Haxchi CFW
- Launch the [Internet Browser] on your Wii U and visit
wiiuexploit.xyz
- Select [Run Homebrew Launcher]
- Select Haxchi Installer in the Homebrew Launcher
- Select the DS Virtual Console game then press [A] and wait for the process to complete
- Your Wii U will reboot and the DS game will be replaced with Haxchi
Congratulations, you’ve successfully installed the Haxchi CFW. You will need to launch Haxchi from the Wii U Menu to load the CFW patches every time you reboot your console.
Hold [A] while Haxchi is loading to access the Homebrew Launcher menu
Now that you have activated Haxchi custom firmware, you can enjoy the extra benefits such as:
- Download and Install Game Backups
- Play Wii Games from USB HDD (NGC + N64 VC Included)
- Backup and Import Save Files
- Emulators via RetroArch (Play GBA, SNES, SEGA and more)
You can configure Haxchi to be persistent even after reboot with Coldboot Haxchi. This will assign your DS game (Haxchi) to load on boot instead of the System Menu. The procedure is short and simple but it is advised to consider the risks before proceeding as a mistake can result in a bricked, unusable Wii U.
Coldboot Haxchi (Permanent CFW After Reboot)
- Do not move your DS game to external USB HDD or your Wii U will brick
- Do not reinstall or delete the DS game or your Wii U will brick
- Do not use a DS game or backup that is not directly from the eShop or your Wii U will brick
- Do not format your Wii U system storage or your Wii U will brick
- Do not deleted the user account or NNID that purchased the DS game or your Wii U will brick
- Launch Haxchi and hold [A] while it is booting to load the Homebrew Launcher menu
- Select Coldboot Haxchi Installer
- Select the DS Virtual Console game then press [A] and wait for the process to complete
- Your Wii U will reboot
- Launch the replaced Haxchi system icon to load the Coldboot Haxchi menu
- Set [Autoboot: ] to [System Menu]
- Select [Boot System Menu] to reboot the Wii U
- Manually reboot the Wii U to ensure that Coldboot Haxchi is working as intended
- Once you’ve rebooted, move the Coldboot Haxchi system icon to the final page to avoid tampering
Congratulations, you’ve now installed Coldboot Haxchi for a Wii U with permanent custom firmware features even after reboot.
Install Homebrew Launcher Channel
To access the Homebrew Launcher menu without the browser exploit:
- Haxchi users must launch Haxchi and hold [A] while it boots to load the Homebrew Launcher
- Coldboot Haxchi must press [Home] while it is autobooting to access the menu and select [Boot Homebrew Launcher]
To Install the Homebrew Launcher Channel that can be accessed from the Wii U Menu:
- Load the Homebrew Launcher
- Select WUP Installer GX2
- Select [hbc] -> [Install] and wait for the process to complete
- Press the [Home] button to return to the Wii U Menu and find the Homebrew Launcher Icon
Block Updates via DNS
It is advised to block Nintendo’s servers via DNS settings to prevent automatic updates. Run NNU-Patcher from the Homebrew Launcher to access the eShop temporarily until reboot.
- From the Wii U Menu, go to [System Settings] -> [Internet] -> [Connect to the Internet]
- Press [X] to see your saved networks
- Select your current network connection -> [Change Settings]
- Select [DNS] -> [Do not auto-obtain]
- Set [Primary DNS] to
168.235.092.108
- Set [Secondary DNS] to
081.004.127.020
- Select [Confirm] -> Press [B] -> [Save] -> [End]
- You will now receive an error if you attempt to access the Nintendo eShop