This is a collection consisting of modified Atmosphere, necessary programs and scripts that install everything correctly. It was created to facilitate the installation and maintenance of software on a hacked Nintendo Switch. The changes made to Atmosphere are aimed at improving the quality of using the system itself.
Main differences from vanilla Atmosphere:
Kefir versions alongside system versions
Installation of exFAT memory card driver by default when updating the system
Removal of ACID signature verification for using homebrew without patches
Removal of system logging to prevent memory card cluttering and excessive usage
Redirection of saves from internal memory to memory card when using emuNAND to reduce the probability of losing them if emuNAND fails (optional)
Kefir is not a firmware! It's a collection consisting of Atmosphere firmware and the necessary minimum of recommended programs, plugins, modules and other software.
Why do you need Kefir?
First of all, Kefir is needed to simplify the user's life. That is, if the user has the recommended version of system software and the latest version of Kefir, then everything should work for them. It can be said that the user is in controlled conditions. It's enough to name the version of the system software and Kefir, and it immediately becomes clear what is approximately installed in the system.
Signature patches. Thanks to them, you can run unsigned (read: pirated) programs and games on Atmosphere.
Bootloader hekate: Thanks to the bootloader, you can launch firmware and other payloads through a convenient menu, create and restore NAND backups, make EmuNAND, get information about the system state, mount the memory card to PC without removing it from the switch, repartition the memory card for installing other OSes, and much more
Installed modules. Modules are additional components that work inside Atmosphere and allow you to do various cool things, for example, using Xbox-compatible controllers, amiibo emulation, overclocking, etc. Unfortunately, SX OS does not support modules
sys-con - module that allows connecting almost any gamepad to the console via USB
Mission Control - module that allows connecting almost any gamepad to the console via bluetooth
Uberhand - special overlay menu for system interaction with support for custom scripts and modules
Scripts:
DBI - changing localization and updating the program
Translate Interface - additional interface translations to choose from
Semi-stock - loading into semi-stock from the menu
Reboot and Shutdown - restarting and shutting down the console from the menu
Modules:
nx-ovlloader - process for working with nro through Tesla Menu
ovlSysmodules.ovl - Module for enabling and disabling installed system modules (e.g., overclocking, emuuibo, etc.)
Instructions for installing/updating kefir
First installation or installation on a clean memory card
Copy the contents of the kefir.zip archive from the repository to the root of the console's memory card
Insert the memory card into the Switch
Launch the console into firmware, according to your hack type. payload.bin - the payload that needs to be injected when launching the console via Fusée Gelée, is located in the archive with the collection
Updating kefir or transitioning from another collection
Manual installation instructions (all OS)
Connecting the console's memory card to PC
If you are a MacOS user, follow the recommended steps to avoid problems with the memory card.
If the console is turned off, insert the memory card into the PC. If it's turned on:
Restart the console through the menu that is called by holding the (POWER) button
On the kefir splash screen, press the volume down button to get to hekate
Now you can remove the memory card from the switch and insert it into the PC.
When removing the memory card in hekate, you won't need to re-inject the payload to enter the firmware. Just insert the card into the console and launch the firmware through the Launch menu
Installing kefir (all OS)
Copy the contents of the kefir.zip archive from the repository to the root of the console's memory card
Insert the memory card back into the Switch
In hekate, select More configs -> Update Kefir
After the installation is complete, the console will boot into the firmware
You can also simply turn off the console, remove the card from it, copy kefir onto it with replacement, then insert the card back into the Switch and turn on the console. In this case, the update script will be launched automatically
Updating kefir directly on the console (kefir version 529 or higher)
Click "Update Kefir", click on "Kefir [version]", select "Download"
Wait for the download and unpacking to complete, then click "Continue". The console will reboot into the payload, after which the kefir installation process will begin
After the installation is complete, press any button to load the console into the firmware
Clean kefir installation (recommended when errors occur)
Delete everything from the card except the Nintendo and emummc folders, if they exist
Install kefir using a convenient method described above
Debugging kefir installation (recommended if a clean installation didn't help)
Copy the Nintendo and emummc folders, if they exist, to PC
Format your memory card in FAT32 and return the folders back
Install kefir using a convenient method
Troubleshooting
If you encounter a [NOFAT] error or any other problem with updating through the kefir-updater script, use the kefir installation through install.bat:
Unpack kefir.zip to any convenient location on PC, except the console's memory card
Insert into PC the console's memory card
Run install.bat from the folder where you unpacked kefir.zip and specify the letter of your memory card
Wait for the copying to complete
Insert the card into PC and launch the firmware
If you get the "Is BEK missing" error, turn off the console and turn it on again.
Launching Atmosphere
If after entering the firmware the console doesn't see the card and requires a firmware update for it to work, or simply hangs on a black screen after the Nintendo logo, then your console doesn't have exFAT drivers installed! Format the memory card in FAT32.
In hekate, autoboot is set by default. That is, when the console starts, the hekate menu will not be displayed, but the firmware will start immediately. To go to the hekate menu, hold (VOL-) during the splash screen appearance.
Important Information!
Reboot to hekate happens directly from the firmware, through the normal reboot menu. Just hold (VOL-) during the kefir splash screen
You can access your memory card without removing it from the console via MTP (DBI -> Run MTP Responder), or through hekate (does not work correctly for everyone, it is impossible to update kefir via MTP)
Installing and updating kefir are done the same way!
If you encounter the "Is BEK missing" error, turn off the console and turn it on again.
Additional Information
To work with modules (sys-con, Mission Control, etc.) in kefir, Uberhand is installed - a special overlay menu for interacting with the system. To activate it, press (L) + d-pad down + (R3)
To switch to semi-stock
From the firmware itself: go to Uberhand ((L) + d-pad down + (R3)), press right > Semi-stock
When starting the console: Navigate to hekate and select More-configs > Semi-stock (blackscreen fix)
Note that when launching from firmware, the installed theme will be disabled, which will help avoid errors if there are different versions of system software and emuNAND on the console
You can update kefir using the Kefir Updater utility
Overclocking
Enabling
To activate overclocking, go to Uberhand ((L) + d-pad down + (R3)), press right > Settings > Use overclock
Disabling
To disable overclocking, go to Uberhand ((L) + d-pad down + (R3)), press right > Settings > Disable overclock
8GB Memory Support Mode
Enabling
To enable, go to Uberhand ((L) + d-pad down + (R3)), press right > Settings > Enable 8GB support
Disabling
To disable, reinstall kefir using a convenient method
Kefir's sources moved here - bitbucket, kefir binary on releases
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