DowngradeFixer Switch

DowngradeFixer
General
Author	sthetix
Type	Payloads
Version	1.0.0
License	GPL-2.0
Last Updated	2025/11/20
Links
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DowngradeFixer is a Nintendo Switch RCM payload by sthetix that repairs common issues caused by downgrading firmware (e.g. broken Wi‑Fi/BT, NAND mismatch), intended to be launched via Hekate or a payload injector.

Features

• Automated Fix - Performs both key dumping and file deletion in one operation
• Silent Key Derivation - Keys are derived and saved without verbose output
• Flexible NAND Selection - Choose to fix SysNAND, EmuNAND, or both
• Safe Operation - Validates each step and reports status
• No Horizon OS Required - Runs as a bare-metal payload for maximum compatibility
• Multiple Reboot Options - Launch Hekate, custom payload, or power off

Important Notes

• Backup First: Always keep backups of your NAND and important files
• One Purpose: This tool is specifically designed for the downgrade fix process
• Clean Operation: Only performs the two essential operations - no extras

What It Does

DowngradeFixer automates two essential steps needed after downgrading your Nintendo Switch firmware:

1. Dumps prod.keys - Extracts encryption keys required for various homebrew tools
2. Deletes file 8000000000000073 - Removes the problematic save file from the SYSTEM partition that can cause issues after downgrading

Usage

1. Recommended: Place Minerva on your SD card for optimal performance. You can get it from the latest Hekate release:

   /bootloader/sys/libsys_minerva.bso

2. Launch DowngradeFixer.bin using your preferred payload injector or chainloader.

3. Select "Fix Downgrade" from the main menu, then choose:

   • Fix SysNAND only - Process only the system NAND
   • Fix EmuNAND only - Process only the emulated NAND (if available)
   • Fix Both - Process both SysNAND and EmuNAND

4. The payload will silently:

   • Derive encryption keys and save prod.keys to /switch/prod.keys
   • Use those keys to access the encrypted SYSTEM partition
   • Delete the file 8000000000000073 from the SYSTEM/save partition
   • Display the results for each step

5. Reboot using one of the menu options:

   • Reboot to Hekate - Boots bootloader/update.bin if present
   • Reboot to Payload.bin - Boots payload.bin from SD root if present
   • Power off - Safely powers down the console

When to Use This

Use DowngradeFixer when:

• You've downgraded your Nintendo Switch firmware
• You're experiencing boot issues or system instability after downgrade
• You need to extract prod.keys and remove the problematic save file

Mariko-Specific Keys

Mariko units (V2 and Lite models) contain unique keys in protected keyslots. For these keys, you'll need to:

1. Use /switch/partialaes.keys file
2. Use a brute-forcing tool like PartialAesKeyCrack

See the original Lockpick_RCM documentation for detailed instructions on Mariko key extraction.

Screenshots

Changelog

v1.0

• First Release.

Credits

This project is a streamlined version built upon:

• sthetix - Lockpick_RCM_Pro
• THZoria - Lockpick_RCMaster base
• shchmue - Original Lockpick_RCM
• CTCaer - Hekate bootloader and libraries
• Atmosphere-NX - Falcon keygen
• ReSwitched community - Development support

External links

• Github - https://github.com/sthetix/DowngradeFixer