Run exploit on your Wii U

January 26, 2021 - 1 min read

This guide will help you enable an unmodified Wii U to run homebrew applications and backup games. The exploit does not make permanent changes to your console, so there is no risk of damaging it. However, you will need to run the exploit again after rebooting the console or opening the System Settings app.

If you want to immediately run the exploit, click the Run Exploit button below. Otherwise, proceed to the Preparation section for step-by-step instructions.

Preparation

What you'll need

  • Wii U with firmware version 5.5.x

  • SD card and SD card reader

    Format your SD card to FAT32 if it is not recognized by the Wii U.

  • Computer with internet access

Prepare SD card

Download wiiu-sd.zip and extract its content to the root of the SD card. Your SD card folder structure should look like this:

└── wiiu/
    ├── apps/
    │   ├── homebrew_launcher/
    │   ├── mocha/
    │   ├── ufdiine/
    │   └── wupymod/
    └── payload.elf

Insert the SD card into the Wii U console and turn on the console.

Run exploit

Open http://wiiuexploit.xyz in the Wii U Internet Browser and click the Run Homebrew Launcher! button on the page. You should see the Homebrew Launcher (HBL) screen in a few seconds.

There is a small chance that the exploit might fail and the console freezes. In that case, shut down the console (press and hold the power button for 4 seconds) and try again.

Once the exploit is run, press the HOME button to return to the Wii U Menu. To reopen HBL, simply launch the Mii Maker app.

If you open the System Settings app or reboot the console, you will need to run the exploit again to start HBL.

Homebrew apps

HBL can list and run homebrew apps on the SD card. Below are some built-in apps and their functions:

Mocha CFW

Open Mocha CFW, it will disable region and signature checks, and then return to HBL.

WUP Installer

WUP Installer allows you to install backup games, updates, and DLC on your Wii U. You can install content to the console’s internal memory or external flash/hard drive.

Prepare content for installation

The Wii U titles section allows you to download content from the Wii U CDN to your computer. Move the downloaded install folder to the root of the SD card. The SD card folder structure should look like:

├── install/
│   ├── 0005000000000000/
│   ├── 0005000c00000000/
│   ├── 0005000e00000000/
│   └── ...
└── wiiu/
    ├── apps/
    │   ├── homebrew_launcher/
    │   ├── mocha/
    │   ├── ufdiine/
    │   └── wupymod/
    └── payload.elf
It's illegal to download games that you don't own.

Install

You may need to run Mocha CFW if you want to install titles from different regions than your console. Open WUP Installer and follow on-screen instructions to install.

UFDiine

UFDiine blocks system updates to prevent the exploit from being patched.

Block updates

Open UFDiine and press the A button to delete the update folder. Confirm that it says Update folder is deleted. System updates are now blocked. Press the HOME button to return to HBL.

Re-enable updates

Open UFDiine again to recreate the update folder if you ever need to perform a system update.

Install additional homebrew apps

You can install additional homebrew apps by copying their files to the /wiiu/apps folder on the SD card.

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