| Android 8 | |
|---|---|
| File:Android8switch.png | |
| General | |
| Author | Switchroot team |
| Type | Operating systems |
| Version | 1.0-beta |
| License | Mixed |
| Last Updated | 2019/07/27 |
| Links | |
| Download | |
| Website | |
| Source | |
Switchroot has developed LineageOS 15.1 for Nintendo Switch, which is the initial Android ROM released for the device. The ROM is built on Nvidia Shield TV builds and offers a seamless and potent Android experience to users, whether they use it in handheld mode or docked mode.
Features
- LineageOS 15.1 - Android 8.1 Oreo
- Based on the Nvidia Shield TV trees
- TWRP pre-installed
- CPU and GPU performance profiles
- Works in handheld and docked mode
- Audio is supported
- Joycons connect via Bluetooth, also in handheld mode
- Reboot to Payload (NEW!). Rebooting will reboot to android and reboot to boodloader will boot hekate.
Installation instructions
To install the Android ROM for Nintendo Switch, the user needs to select the image that matches the size of their SD card.
- They can use an image that is smaller than their card, which leaves the remaining space unused.
- The image should be written to the SD card using software like balenaEtcher without extracting it. The user should keep in mind that this will overwrite any data on their card, and the progress bar/percentage in Etcher might malfunction, but the flashing process will still work. The flashing can take up to an hour based on the speed of the SD card.
- After flashing, the user should download GApps for Android 8.1 from OpenGApps, and use ARM64 NANO. The file should be placed on the first partition of the new SD card.
- If the user wishes to make their Switch identify as Nvidia Shield TV, they can download the "Shield-ifier" zip and place it on the SD card.
- Next, the user should load hekate and boot to TWRP by holding VOL+ when selecting the Android configuration. In TWRP, the user should mount /system and /vendor first. Then, they should flash the GApps zip and reboot2payload zip, and optionally flash other zips.
- After installing GApps, the user should wipe cache/dalvik as offered by TWRP. A video tutorial that shows how to access and flash zips in TWRP is available at https://youtu.be/3F6WgAb44yk.
- The user should then reboot to hekate and boot into Android. They should complete the initial setup but avoid connecting to Wi-Fi until the setup is complete. To use the Nvidia app, the user should update it from the Play Store.
Media
Switch Running Android Oreo 8.1 (LineageOS 15.1 SwitchRoot) - (Tech James)
Screenshots
Addons / Extras
- Joycon Fix: Enables L3/R3 and reports the sticks as analog, which should fix games like GTA: fix-joycon.zip
FAQ
Q: How to switch performance profiles?
A: Go to Settings -> Battery -> Power Profiles. The options are Balanced = 1 GHz CPU / 468 MHz GPU, Quick = 1.4 GHz CPU / 768 MHz GPU and Performance = 1.7 GHz CPU / 920 MHz GPU. Keep in mind that the high performance profiles use MUCH more battery.
Q: How will updates be done?
A: For updates, flashable zips will be released.
Q: Can we use TV mode?
A: Use HAL launcher from the Play Store to run apps in TV mode.
Q: Nvidia GameStream doesn’t perform well, what to do?
A: Try using Moonlight instead.
Q: Does Magisk work?
A: Yes, just flash it in TWRP
Q: I get an error about „invalid architecture“ when trying to flash GApps
A: Make sure you mounted System in TWRP
Q: Does this work on any Switch?
A: You will need to be able to boot into hekate. If you can do that, your Switch is compatible.
Known Bugs
- Deep sleep, so battery life is not great
- Auto rotation as we haven't figured out how to talk to the sensor yet
- Screen off in dock
- Charging is not detected, but console still charges
- Some apps don't handle joycon inputs correctly
- The touchscreen sometimes detects touches even when your finger is just floating over the screen
- There is a system process ANR on boot. Just click „Wait“ and it won’t happen again until next boot
- Screenshots do not work
- WiFi may randomly stop working. If this happens just reboot
- If TV looks odd and grainy when docking then redock a few times.
- No TV keyboard that can be used with gamepad
- SELinux is disabled
- You can’t access the FAT32 partition of the SD card on macOS. Windows and Linux works.
- You tell us ;)
Changelog
(v.1.0)
- First Release.
Thanks To/Credits
- The LineageOS Tegra devs, especially @Steel01
- Our testers
- Everyone who contributed