How to download and install Signature Patches for Atmosphere CFW 1.x – 12.1.0
In this short tutorial, I will teach you how you can download and install the latest signature patches for the Nintendo Switch. Signature patches are needed to allow unsigned code to be installed on the console. For example, if you try to install an .nsp file but get an error message, it may be because you don’t have the signature patches installed or the signature patches that you’re using may be outdated and may not support the firmware version that you’re using.
Please note that you will need to have a Nintendo Switch running the Atmosphere Custom Firmware for this guide. If you want to know how to install a custom firmware on the Nintendo Switch, please read this guide first.
Table of Contents
Step 1: Downloading the signature patches on your PC
First of all, you will need to download the signature patches on your PC.
If you use the fusee-primary.bin file to boot to Atmosphere, you can simply head over to this GitHub page and download the latest signature patches by downloading the “fusee.zip” file.
If you’re using Hekate to boot to Atmosphere, you need to download the “hekate.zip” file, which includes the right signature patches.
In both cases, put the .zip file that you downloaded somewhere on your desktop for easy access.
Step 2: Transferring the signature patches to your Switch
Once you have downloaded the .zip file containing the signature patches, please power off the Nintendo Switch (or reboot to Hekate to avoid having to use an RCM jig later on in the tutorial). Once powered off or in the Hekate menu, eject the microSD card from your Switch and insert in into your PC using an SD adapter.
Now, open up Windows File Explorer and locate your microSD card. You will see folders named “atmosphere, bootloader, sept, switch” and possibly more if you have already modified your Nintendo Switch and installed some homebrew stuff on the Switch.
To transfer the signature patches to the Switch, you want to open up the .zip file downloaded in step 1 and paste the “atmosphere” and “bootloader” folders into the root directory of the microSD card (replace any existing files if necessary).
Step 3: Booting to Atmosphere
After copying the signature patches to the microSD card, you can eject the microSD card from your PC and plug it back into the Switch. You may have to use an RCM jig to reboot to the recovery mode if you powered of the Nintendo Switch. If you rebooted to Hekate, you can simply insert the microSD card and Hekate will reload. Simply boot to Atmosphere like you normally would, either through Hekate > Launch > CFW (EmuMMC or Sysnand) or by injecting the fusee payload directly.
Step 4: Checking whether the patches are installed correctly
To test the signature patches and to make sure that they are compatible with the CFW that you’re running, you want to use either Tinfoil or Goldleaf (or any other title manager for that matter) and check whether you can install .nsp files to your Switch. If you followed this guide and if your firmware is supported by the signature patches, the .nsp file should install successfully.
You can then return to the home screen of the Nintendo Switch and launch the title that you just installed. If the signature patches are installed correctly, the game should launch and you should be able to play it!
If you get an error message, then you may have to double-check whether you installed the signature patches correctly and that the system version that you’re using is actually supported by the developer who created the signature patches.
In any case, if you run into trouble following this guide, you can always join the public Discord server and ask for help! You can find the invite link for the Discord server on the Contact page.
