Modders release first version of Android for Nintendo Switch

Modders bylaws and Langer Hans have put their first release of Android for the Nintendo Switch online. A significant part of the functionalities of the console and the OS work. Android boots from an SD card and the Switch’s original OS remains intact.

Running custom firmware on the Nintendo Switch requires exploiting a leak in the bootrom of the Nvidia Tegra X1 soc. Shortly after announcing this vulnerability, Nintendo released a new hardware revision of the game console, which does not have the vulnerability. It reportedly started around July 2018.

According to the devs, the OS works in both handheld and docked mode, although sometimes it has bugs and the console’s screen won’t turn off when docked. The joy-cons do work, but not in all situations; some games don’t recognize the analog sticks as such yet. TWRP recovery is also included and users can install Google apps through that route, including the Play Store. That is not standard with Lineage OS. Running on Android also allows installing a browser and watching Netflix in lower resolution.

According to the topic, what doesn’t work yet is rotation, deep sleep and screenshots. Also sometimes the wifi wants to drop out, but a reboot can just fix this. The developer further notes that there may be more problems lurking and that the battery life is not excellent.

This is a port of LineageOS 15.1, which is based on Android 8.1 Oreo. The modders attribute their success in part to the developer who is working on the Lineage ROMs for the Nvidia Shield Tablet and Shield TV. Those devices run on the same Tegra X1 soc. The risk of a ban from Nintendo is probably very small, because Android does not contact Nintendo servers.