dump switch keys legally
Dump Switch keys only from a console you own via homebrew, then place prod.keys in your emulator's keys folder.
Dump Switch keys only from a console you own via homebrew, then place prod.keys in your emulator’s keys folder. “Legally” means exactly one thing here: the keys come from a Switch you own that is running custom firmware. Any key file you download from a website was pulled from someone else’s console and carries both legal and malware risk, so this guide only covers dumping your own.
What you need before you start
- A hackable Switch — an unpatched V1 unit, or a patched/OLED/Lite model with a modchip — running Atmosphere custom firmware. Modding has real risks and varies by hardware revision, so research your exact serial before starting.
- A homebrew key-dumper. The long-standing payload is Lockpick_RCM, run from RCM mode. Its original GitHub repository was removed in Nintendo’s 2026 DMCA sweeps, so obtain the payload only from a trusted CFW community channel — never from a site that hands out ready-made key files.
Dump prod.keys and title.keys
Power the Switch off completely. Enter RCM (hold Volume+ and press Power with a jig on unpatched units, or use your modchip’s RCM shortcut on patched/OLED/Lite), then inject the Lockpick_RCM payload from a PC. On its menu, choose to dump from SysNAND. The tool writes prod.keys and title.keys to the /switch/ folder on your SD card. Copy both files to your PC.
Put the keys where the emulator reads them
- Ryujinx-family emulators (Windows):
%appdata%\Ryujinx\system\. Copyprod.keys(andtitle.keysif you run NSP files or DLC) directly into that folder — not into a subfolder. The emulator reads keys at startup, so restart it afterwards. - Yuzu-family emulators (Windows):
%appdata%\yuzu\keys. Same rule: place the files directly in the keys folder, then restart.
If the system folder does not exist yet, create it inside the emulator’s app-data directory before copying.
Verify your own dump
Do not trust a key file’s age. If an emulator reports “key generation X missing” or “keys out of date”, your dump is older than the firmware you installed — update the console firmware, then re-run the dumper to get a fresh prod.keys. Never paste a key set copied from a website to clear that error; a mismatched set just breaks different games.