Launch

Launch the Hackmii Installer (or launch other homebrew without HBC)

This is the first thing you will do when hacking your Wii. It is also needed if you somehow deleted your HBC. There are many methods described on this page and the one you should use depends on what you have done previously. Click the scenario that describes your setup to find out what methods are available. Names of the actual hack you will be using are in parentheses after each description.

There is currently a new method that works on all 4.3 Wiis which doesn't need particular games called LetterBomb. Find it below in the 4.3 Wii section.

What you need to know

The installation method used may differ depending on your Wii's firmware version. To find your Wii's firmware version, go to the Wii's Settings Menu and look in the top right. It should be listed as something like "4.2U". In this case, 4.2 is your firmware version and the U represents the US region. Other regions are E for Europe and other PAL regions, J for Japan and K for Korea.

Now, pick the method which describes your setup. Note that if this is your first install of homebrew, you should skip to the methods starting with "None of the above apply".

I still have a working Homebrew Channel (HBC)

Show me these instructions.

Follow the steps on the Homebrew Channel page for updating the Homebrew Channel.

I don't have the HBC, but I still have a working forwarder channel (forwarder)

Show me these instructions.

1. Download HackMii Installer v0.8 or later from this page.
2. Unzip Hackmii Installer and save boot.elf to the directory where the forwarder looks for executables
   • E.g., if you installed the Forwarder from this tutorial, you would put the file in sd:/apps/usb-loader/boot.elf (and rename or move any other boot.dol or boot.elf temporarily)
3. Launch the forwarder
4. If the Hackmii Installer launches, follow the remaining instructions in the Homebrew Channel steps.
   • If it didn't launch, try renaming boot.elf to boot.dol and launching again
   • If that still fails, download LoadMii from this page, and:
     1. Open the zip file and copy loadMii.dol to the directory where the forwarder looks for executables and rename it to boot.dol.
     2. Save boot.elf from the HackMii Installer to somewhere on the SD card that you can easily find (sd:/boot.elf perhaps)
     3. Launch the forwarder
     4. If the Hackmii Installer launches, follow the remaining instructions in the Homebrew Channel steps.
5. Once you are done, put the app you want the forwarder to launch back.

I don't have the HBC, but I still have a working BootMii installed into boot2 (BootMii)

Show me these instructions.

1. Download HackMii Installer v0.8 or later from this page.
2. Unzip Hackmii Installer and save bootmini.elf to sd:/hackmii.elf
   • Note change of filename
3. Turn on the Wii and access BootMii
   • Remember that to use BootMii, you need to use either a Gamecube controller, or the Power button on the Wii console to move the cursor and the Reset button to accept options.
4. Choose the SD logo
5. Navigate to hackmii.elf and select it to launch it
6. Follow the remaining instructions in the Homebrew Channel steps.

None of the above apply and I have a Wii on firmware 4.1 or less from any region (BannerBomb)

Show me these instructions.

What to download

• BannerBomb. Get aad1f_v108.zip from this page.
  • If the above page is down, it is mirrored here.
• HackMii Installer v0. or later from this page.

Installation procedure

1. If your SD card has an sd:/private directory, rename it to something else (e.g., privateold)
2. Rename or remove sd:/boot.dol and/or sd:/boot.elf if they exist.
3. Unzip the contents of aad1f_v108.zip into the sd:/ root directory
   • Thus, you should now have a file at sd:/private/wii/title/aktn/content.bin
4. Unzip HackMii Installer and copy boot.elf to the root directory of the SD card (sd:/)
5. Press (Wii), Data Management, Channels, SD.
   • Read this step carefully. It does not mean you should go the SD card channel menu
6. A dialog should pop up saying "Load boot.elf?".
   • If not, download other BannerBomb versions from here and try again until one works.
7. Select "Yes"
8. Follow the remaining instructions in the Homebrew Channel steps.
9. After installing the HBC, delete the private directory you created, and rename the old one back if you already had one.

None of the above apply and I have a Wii on firmware 4.2 from any region (BannerBomb)

Show me these instructions.

What to download

• BannerBomb. Get abd6a_v200.zip from this page.
  • If the above page is down, it is mirrored here.
• HackMii Installer v0.8 or later from this page.

Installation procedure

1. If your SD card has an sd:/private directory, rename it to something else (e.g., privateold)
2. Rename or remove sd:/boot.dol and/or sd:/boot.elf if they exist.
3. Unzip the contents of abd6a_v200.zip into the sd:/ root directory
   • Thus, you should now have a file at sd:/private/wii/title/aktn/content.bin
4. Unzip HackMii Installer and copy boot.elf to the root directory of the SD card (sd:/)
5. Press the SD card icon (for the SD channels menu). Then insert the card.
   • Read this step carefully. The card should not be plugged in before starting this step.
6. A dialog should pop up saying "Load boot.elf?".
   • If not, download other BannerBomb versions from here and try again until one works.
7. Select "Yes"
8. Follow the remaining instructions in the Homebrew Channel steps.
9. After installing the HBC, delete the private directory you created, and rename the old one back if you already had one.

None of the above apply and I have a Wii on firmware 4.3 from any region (LetterBomb)

Show me these instructions.

This method, Letterbomb, works on all 4.3 Wiis. However, it requires you to use the Internet to send your Wii's MAC address to generate a specific file for your Wii. The site can be trusted with this information. However, if this worries you, check the alternate methods below which require particular games to be owned instead.

Installation Procedure

1. If there is an sd:/private directory on your SD card rename it to sd:/privateold.
2. Navigate to your Wii Settings via clicking the Wii button on the menu then selecting Wii Settings with A.
3. Go to the second page of options and select Internet and then select Console Information with A.
4. Your Wii's MAC Address will be displayed. Write it down (or leave the screen on your TV).
5. Go to this page and follow the prompts using the following substeps:
   1. Select your System Version region (4.3E=PAL, 4.3U=US, 4.3J=JAPAN, 4.3K=KOREA)
   2. Enter your MAC Address into the 6 boxes that start off as AA-BB-CC-DD-EE-FF with two characters per box.
   3. Leave the check box for bundling the Hackmii Installer checked
   4. Copy the displayed Captcha text
   5. Click either the "Cut the red wire" or "Cut the blue wire" button. They do the same thing.
   6. Download the zip file provided to you. If you entered the wrong text for the Captcha box, you will need to fill in the whole form again.
      • Do not attempt to use FlashGot or other download accelerators with this download as they probably won't work.
6. Unzip LetterBomb.zip and copy the contents (or at least the private folder and boot.elf file) to your SD card
7. Return the SD card to your Wii and go to the Message Board by clicking the envelope icon at the bottom right.
8. Navigate from the current date and the previous two days until you find the LetterBomb message.
   • The message is a red envelope with a bomb inside it.
9. Click the message and wait, you should be taken to the Hackmii Installer
   • If it doesn't work, reset the Wii by holding down the power button and try again. If it still doesn't work, check the alternate methods below.
10. Follow the remaining instructions in the Homebrew Channel steps.
11. After installation of the HBC, delete the private directory you created and rename privateold back to private if you renamed it before.

Alternate 4.3 and beyond techniques

The following techniques will work on any Wii of firmware 4.3 or below and will probably work in future firmwares too. They all require specific games to be bought or rented from the region of your Wii. The following table summarises which games with hacks are available in which regions.

Game	US	PAL	Japan	Korean
Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures	Yes	Yes	No	No
Lego Batman	Yes	Yes	No	No
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga	Yes	Yes	No	No
Super Smash Bros. Brawl	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's: Wheelie Breakers	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World	Yes	Yes	Yes	No

My Wii region is US or PAL and I have or can rent Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures from my region. (Indiana Pwns)

Show me these instructions.

What you need

• SD card (≤ 2GB, not SDHC) formatted as FAT16 or FAT32. (The game, and therefore the exploit, can only read SD cards, not SDHC)
  • The SD card that comes with a 3DS is suitable

What to download

• Indiana Pwns exploit from this page.
• HackMii Installer v0.8 or later from this page.

Installation Procedure

1. If you haven't beforehand, play Lego Indiana Jones at least once so that there is a save on your Wii.
2. If you want to keep your old save, copy it to the SD card with the Wii.
3. If there is an sd:/private directory on your SD card rename it to sd:/privateold.
4. Unzip the Hackmii Installer and find boot.elf within the zip. You will need this file during the procedure
5. Unzip the exploit and copy the "private" directory to the root of your SD card.
6. Enter the Wii settings, and copy the save from the SD card to the Wii, overwriting the one that is there.
7. Start the game and load the savegame.
8. When the game loads, you will be in Barnett College. Walk to the Art Room (through the Courtyard), approach the left character on the podium.
9. When it zooms on him, choose the switch to option (two silhouettes, staggered, with an arrow pointing between them).
10. Follow the remaining instructions in the Homebrew Channel steps.
11. After installation of the HBC, delete the private directory you created and rename privateold back to private if you renamed it before.
12. If you want to restore your old save game, copy it back to the Wii using Wii Settings. Otherwise, delete the save stored on the Wii.

My Wii region is US or PAL and I have or can rent Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga from my region. (Return of the Jodi)

Show me these instructions.

What you need

• SD card (≤ 2GB, not SDHC) formatted as FAT16 or FAT32. (The game, and therefore the exploit, can only read SD cards, not SDHC)
  • The SD card that comes with a 3DS is suitable

What to download

• Return of the Jodi exploit from this page.
• HackMii Installer v0.8 or later from this page.

Installation Procedure

1. If you haven't beforehand, play Lego Star Wars at least once so that there is a save on your Wii.
2. If you want to keep your old save, copy it to the SD card with the Wii.
3. If there is an sd:/private directory on your SD card rename it to sd:/privateold.
4. Unzip the Hackmii Installer and find boot.elf within the zip. You will need this file during the procedure.
5. Unzip the exploit and copy the "private" directory to the root of your SD card.
6. Enter the Wii settings, and copy the save from the SD card to the Wii, overwriting the one that is there.
7. Start Lego Star Wars and load the first savegame.
8. Go to the bar on the right and choose the character named "Return of Jodi" and press "A".
9. Follow the remaining instructions in the Homebrew Channel steps.
10. After installation of the HBC, delete the private directory you created and rename privateold back to private if you renamed it before.
11. If you want to restore your old save game, copy it back to the Wii using Wii Settings. Otherwise, delete the save stored on the Wii.

My Wii region is US or PAL and I have or can rent Lego Batman from my region. (Bathaxx)

Show me these instructions.

What you need

• SD card (≤ 2GB, not SDHC) formatted as FAT16 or FAT32. (The game, and therefore the exploit, can only read SD cards, not SDHC)
  • The SD card that comes with a 3DS is suitable

What to download

• Bathaxx exploit from this page.
  • A direct download link is here
• HackMii Installer v0.8 or later from this page.

Installation Procedure

1. If you haven't beforehand, play Lego Batman at least once so that there is a save on your Wii.
2. If you want to keep your old save, copy it to the SD card with the Wii.
3. If there is an sd:/private directory on your SD card rename it to sd:/privateold.
4. Unzip the Hackmii Installer and find boot.elf within the zip. You will need this file during the procedure.
5. Unzip the exploit and copy the "private" directory to the root of your SD card.
6. Enter the Wii settings, and copy the save from the SD card to the Wii, overwriting the one that is there.
7. Start Lego Batman and load the first savegame.
8. You are now in the batcave, take the elevator on the right side.
9. In the trophy room, go to the upper corner and go through the door in order to enter the "Wayne Manor"
10. Now you can select a character. Choose the last enabled one in the lowest row. (i.e., the bottom-right one)
11. Follow the remaining instructions in the Homebrew Channel steps.
12. After installation of the HBC, delete the private directory you created and rename privateold back to private if you renamed it before.
13. If you want to restore your old save game, copy it back to the Wii using Wii Settings. Otherwise, delete the save stored on the Wii.

My Wii region is PAL or Korean and I have or can rent Super Smash Bros. Brawl from my region. (Smash Stack)

Show me these instructions.

What you need

• SD card (≤ 2GB, not SDHC) formatted as FAT16 or FAT32. (The game, and therefore the exploit, can only read SD cards, not SDHC)
  • The SD card that comes with a 3DS is suitable

What to download

• The w/save version of the Smash Stack exploit from this page.
  • The v1 version direct link is here.
• HackMii Installer v0.8 or later from this page.

Installation Procedure

1. Start Brawl, create a save if you haven't already and then go into the Stage Builder
2. Move any existing custom stages on Brawl to your SD card and exit the Stage Builder. Smash Stack will not work if the console has any custom stages on it, even the three samples that come with a new file
   • You still need the save file to be there, just without stages
   • The stage downloaded via the Smash Service must also be removed if you downloaded it. Wait 24 hours without using WiFi if you have been playing Smash online today.
3. Unzip the Hackmii Installer and copy boot.elf to sd:/boot.elf (i.e., copy to the root directory).
4. Delete or rename any boot.dol file in the root directory.
5. Connect the SD card to your computer and rename the "private" folder to "privateold" in the root of the SD card.
6. Create a directory tree of the following names depending on your region:
   • For PAL, use the directory tree SD:/private/wii/app/RSBP/st
   • For Korean, use the directory tree SD:/private/wii/app/RSBK/st
7. Put the .bin file you downloaded for Smash Stack into the directory you created.
8. Insert the SD card into the Wii.
9. Go to the stage builder and the .elf file will load.
10. Follow the remaining instructions in the Homebrew Channel steps.
11. After installation of the HBC, delete the private directory and rename privateold back to private.

My Wii region is US or Japan and I have or can rent Super Smash Bros. Brawl from my region. (Smash Stack)

Show me these instructions.

What you need

• SD card (≤ 2GB, not SDHC) formatted as FAT16 or FAT32. (The game, and therefore the exploit, can only read SD cards, not SDHC)
  • The SD card that comes with a 3DS is suitable

What to download

• Smash Stack exploit from this page.
  • Make sure you get the correct region.
• HackMii Installer v0.8 or later from this page.

Installation Procedure

1. Start Brawl, create a save if you haven't already and then go into the Stage Builder
2. Move any existing custom stages on Brawl to your SD card and exit the Stage Builder. Smash Stack will not work if the console has any custom stages on it, even the three samples that come with a new file
   • You still need the save file to be there, just without stages
   • The stage downloaded via the Smash Service must also be removed if you downloaded it. Wait 24 hours without using WiFi if you have been playing Smash online today.
3. Unzip the Hackmii Installer and copy boot.elf to sd:/boot.elf (i.e., copy to the root directory).
4. Delete or rename any boot.dol file in the root directory.
5. Connect the SD card to your computer and rename the "private" folder to "privateold" in the root of the SD card.
6. Copy the "private" folder from the Smash Stack download to the root of the SD card.
7. Insert the SD card into the Wii.
8. Go to the stage builder and the .elf file will load.
9. Follow the remaining instructions in the Homebrew Channel steps.
10. After installation of the HBC, delete the private directory and rename privateold back to private.

My Wii region is US or Japan and I have or can rent Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's: Wheelie Breakers (遊戯王 5D's ウィーリーブレイカーズ) from my region. (Yu-Gi-Vah)

Show me these instructions.

What you need

• SD card (≤ 2GB, not SDHC) formatted as FAT16 or FAT32. (The game, and therefore the exploit, can only read SD cards, not SDHC)
  • The SD card that comes with a 3DS is suitable

What to download

• Yu-Gi-Vah exploit from this page.
• HackMii Installer v0.8 or later from this page.

Installation Procedure

1. Play Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's at least once so that there is a save on your Wii.
2. Unzip the Hackmii Installer and copy boot.elf to sd:/boot.elf (i.e., copy to the root directory).
3. Delete or rename any boot.dol file in the root directory.
4. If you want to protect the Yu-Gi-Oh save, use Wii settings on the Wii to copy it to the SD card.
5. If you have a directory called sd:/private on the SD card, rename it to sd:/privateold
6. Unrar the Yu-Gi-Vah rar file and copy the private directory and its contents to the root of the sd card (sd:/)
7. Enter the Wii settings, and copy the save from the SD card to the Wii, overwriting the one that is there.
8. Start Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's until it tries to load your save game, but instead it will start launching the HackMii Installer
9. Follow the remaining instructions in the Homebrew Channel steps.
10. After installation of the HBC, delete the private directory and rename privateold back to private.
11. If you want to restore your old save game, copy it back to the Wii using Wii Settings. Otherwise, delete the save stored on the Wii.

My Wii region is PAL and I have or can rent Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's: Wheelie Breakers from the PAL region. (Yu-Gi-Owned!)

Show me these instructions.

What you need

• SD card (≤ 2GB, not SDHC) formatted as FAT16 or FAT32. (The game, and therefore the exploit, can only read SD cards, not SDHC)
  • The SD card that comes with a 3DS is suitable

What to download

• Yu-Gi-Owned! exploit from this page.
• HackMii Installer v0.8 or later from this page.

Installation Procedure

1. Play Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's at least once so that there is a save on your Wii.
2. Unzip the Hackmii Installer and copy boot.elf to sd:/boot.elf (i.e., copy to the root directory).
3. Delete or rename any boot.dol file in the root directory.
4. If you want to protect the Yu-Gi-Oh save, use Wii settings on the Wii to copy it to the SD card.
5. If you have a directory called sd:/private on the SD card, rename it to sd:/privateold
6. Unzip the Yu-Gi-Owned! zip file and copy the private directory from 50Hz version or 60Hz version and its contents to the root of the sd card (sd:/)
   • Use the 50Hz Version if your Wii is set to use 576i resolution (PAL). If it is set to 480i or 480p, you should use the 60Hz version. You can check or change your current screen type setting in the Wii Settings.
   • After this step, you will have an sd:/private/wii/title/ryop directory.
7. Enter the Wii settings, and copy the save from the SD card to the Wii, overwriting the one that is there.
8. Start Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's until it tries to load your save game, but instead it will start launching the HackMii Installer
9. Follow the remaining instructions in the Homebrew Channel steps.
10. After installation of the HBC, delete the private directory and rename privateold back to private.
11. If you want to restore your old save game, copy it back to the Wii using Wii Settings. Otherwise, delete the save stored on the Wii.

My Wii region is PAL, US or Japan and I have or can rent Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World from my region. (Eri HaKawai)

Show me these instructions.

What you need

• SD card (≤ 2GB, not SDHC) formatted as FAT16 or FAT32. (The game, and therefore the exploit, can only read SD cards, not SDHC)
  • The SD card that comes with a 3DS is suitable

What to download

• Eri HaKawai exploit for your region from this page.
  • For Japanese Wiis/games, there are two versions. Look at the back central ring of the disc for a code written in small type.
    • If the code is RVL-RT4J-0A-0 JPN use v1
    • If the code is RVL-RT4J-0A-1 JPN use v2
• HackMii Installer v0.8 or later from this page.

Installation Procedure

1. If you haven't beforehand, play Tales of Symphonia at least once so that there is a save on your Wii.
2. Unzip the Hackmii Installer and copy boot.elf to sd:/boot.elf (i.e., copy to the root directory).
3. Delete or rename any boot.dol file in the root directory.
4. If you want to protect the Tales of Symphonia save, use Wii settings on the Wii to copy it to the SD card.
5. If you have a directory called sd:/private on the SD card, rename it to sd:/privateold
6. Extract the exploit file and copy the private directory and its contents onto your SD card.
   • After this step, you will have an sd:/private/wii/title/RT4X directory, where X is either E, P or J depending on region.
7. Enter the Wii settings, and copy the save from the SD card to the Wii, overwriting the one that is there.
8. Start Tales of Symphonia and when you see a dog waving, press + to enter the game's menu.
9. Scroll down to "Status" and press A.
10. Then scroll down to highlight the second character and press A.
11. Follow the remaining instructions in the Homebrew Channel steps.
12. After installation of the HBC, delete the private directory and rename privateold back to private.
13. If you want to restore your old save game, copy it back to the Wii using Wii Settings. Otherwise, delete the save stored on the Wii.