After applying Fix 1, 2, 3, or 4, you should be able to run hactool without errors. For example:
A Nintendo Switch capable of running Custom Firmware (CFW/Atmosphere). Tool: Use Lockpick_RCM to dump your keys. Process: Place Lockpick_RCM.bin on your SD Card. Boot your Switch into RCM mode and launch the payload. Select "Dump keys".
Lockpick_RCM will bypass the console's security and save your keys to your SD card. The file will be saved to sdmc:/switch/prod.keys .
: Always use the -k flag: hactool -k prod.keys — this bypasses all search path confusion and loads your keys file directly. hactool prod.keys does not exist
The error occurs for three main reasons:
If the file is blank, filled with unreadable symbols, or missing the master keys, the file is corrupted and needs to be re-dumped. Summary Checklist Dump your own prod.keys using .
The tool will automatically derive the keys and save them to your SD card. After applying Fix 1, 2, 3, or 4,
If you are more interested in installing game mods rather than deep-diving into file extraction, this homebrew app runs directly on your Switch and handles the heavy lifting for you.
🔴 Confusing for beginners – 3/10 🟢 Clear once explained – 8/10 🛠️ Ease of fix – 9/10 (with correct keys)
If you prefer not to use the default system folders, you can explicitly tell hactool where your keys are located using the -k or --keyset flag during execution. Command Example hactool -k path/to/your/prod.keys -t nca encrypted_file.nca Use code with caution. Process: Place Lockpick_RCM
To protect its software from piracy and unauthorized modification, Nintendo secures Switch files using multiple layers of encryption. Hactool is capable of bypassing this encryption, but it does not include the necessary decryption keys built into its code. Including those keys would violate copyright laws and result in immediate legal takedowns.
For Windows (using hactool.exe):