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No. Only the unpatched portion of the original HAC-001 (“V1”) family normally supports custom firmware through the fusee-gelee RCM exploit without a soldered modchip. Patched HAC-001 consoles look the same but generally need a modchip on current firmware. A model label or manufacturing year is not enough; check the console’s software-reported serial number.
What “V1” means
“V1” is community shorthand, not Nintendo’s official hacking category. It usually means the original standard Switch, model HAC-001, built around the first Tegra X1 (Erista) platform. Nintendo later sold several distinct models:
| Console | Common model number | No-modchip fusee-gelee route? | Typical current route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early original Switch | HAC-001, unpatched Erista | Yes | RCM and software setup |
| Later original Switch | HAC-001, patched Erista | No | Modchip, except narrow legacy-firmware cases |
| Revised battery-life Switch | HAC-001(-01), commonly “V2” or Mariko | No | Modchip |
| Switch Lite | HDH-001 | No | Modchip |
| Switch OLED | HEG-001 | No | Modchip |
The NH Switch Guide explains the model and exploit differences at Getting Started and its RCM guide.
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The important distinction: unpatched versus patched
Unpatched V1
An unpatched Erista has a bootROM flaw known as fusee-gelee. By entering Recovery Mode (RCM), it can accept a payload before Nintendo’s operating system starts. This is why an unpatched V1 can usually run homebrew or custom firmware without soldering a chip.
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- GameChat** lets you voice chat, share your game screen, and connect via video chat as you play
You still need an RCM jig or another purpose-built, safe way to trigger RCM, a payload-injection method, a compatible microSD card, correctly matched software and a recovery plan. A paperclip is not a recommended substitute for a proper jig.
Patched V1
Nintendo quietly corrected the bootROM vulnerability in later HAC-001 production runs. These consoles remain original-form-factor Erista systems and may be visually indistinguishable from unpatched units, but the free RCM route is closed.
Rank #2
- 6.2” LCD screen
- Three play modes: TV, tabletop, and handheld
- Local co-op, online, and local wireless multiplayer
- Detachable Joy-Con controllers
- Nintendo Switch is the home of Mario & friends
Some patched Erista consoles on the specific older firmware 4.1.0 had a limited historical software option. That exception does not make patched V1 systems generally software-moddable. For a normal modern owner, a patched V1 should be treated as a modchip installation unless a current, qualified guide confirms a different route.
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- Confirm the model. Read the model marking on the console or in its system information. HAC-001 means the original family and requires a further check. HAC-001(-01), HDH-001 and HEG-001 are not no-modchip fusee-gelee candidates.
- Read the serial in software. Open System Settings → System → Serial Information. The NH Switch Guide recommends this value because a used or refurbished console may have a replacement shell, sticker or board. The serial is also printed on the underside near the USB-C port, but do not rely on that label alone.
- Compare it with a current community checker or the maintained NH Switch Guide serial table. Treat the result as an indicator, not Nintendo certification.
- Interpret the result. “Unpatched” is a strong indication that the no-chip RCM route is available; “potentially patched” requires a direct exploitability check; “patched” normally means a modchip for current custom-firmware use.
Community serial ranges (indicators, not guarantees)
The following ranges are reproduced from the NH Switch Guide’s community-maintained table. Boundaries and individual units can be affected by production variation, repairs or board swaps, so a “potentially patched” result must be verified.
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- This model includes battery life of approximately 4.5 - 9 hours.
- The battery life will depend on the games you play. For instance, the battery will last approximately 5.5 hours for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (games sold separately)
- Model number HAC 001( 01)
| Prefix | Unpatched | Potentially patched | Patched |
|---|---|---|---|
| XAW1 | XAW10000000000–XAW10065000000 | XAW10065000000–XAW10120000000 | XAW10120000000+ |
| XAW4 | XAW40000000000–XAW40011000000 | XAW40011000000–XAW40012500000 | XAW40012500000+ |
| XAW7 | XAW70000000000–XAW70017500000 | XAW70017500000–XAW70030000000 | XAW70030000000+ |
| XAJ1 | XAJ10000000000–XAJ10020000000 | XAJ10020000000–XAJ10030000000 | XAJ10030000000+ |
| XAJ4 | XAJ40000000000–XAJ40044000000 | XAJ40044000000–XAJ40083000000 | XAJ40083000000+ |
| XAJ7 | XAJ70000000000–XAJ70040000000 | XAJ70040000000–XAJ70050000000 | XAJ70050000000+ |
Use the maintained table at switch.hacks.guide/user_guide/getting_started; it is community-derived rather than an official Nintendo database.
Does the firmware version decide it?
For the current RCM method, hardware exploit status matters more than simply having the newest official firmware. An unpatched V1 does not lose its bootROM vulnerability merely because it updates. However, the homebrew, bootloader and custom-firmware software used afterward must support that firmware, and features can change over time. “Any firmware works forever” is therefore an unsafe promise.
Rank #4
- This pre-owned product is not Apple certified, but has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon-qualified suppliers.
- 6.2” LCD screen.
- Three play modes: TV, tabletop, and handheld
- Local co-op, online, and local wireless multiplayer
- Detachable Joy-Con controllers
Buying a used V1: a verification checklist
- Request a photograph of System Settings → System → Serial Information, not just the box or underside sticker.
- Ask whether the software serial matches the chassis and packaging.
- For a “potentially patched” serial, require a live demonstration of the relevant exploit path or buy only with a return policy.
- Do not pay an unpatched premium on the seller’s claim that “all V1s are moddable.”
- Inspect battery health, USB-C stability, Joy-Con condition and evidence of previous repairs; a replacement motherboard can invalidate assumptions based on the original shell or production date.
- Remember that an unpatched unit may still require a jig and payload injector after a complete shutdown.
If the V1 is patched
A patched V1 can generally still be modified with a compatible modchip, but installation involves microsoldering on the motherboard. The NH Switch Guide’s modchip introduction warns about the physical skill and damage risk. Professional U.S. service examples observed in 2026 include $125 advertised by So-Cal Console Modding (chip, labor, return shipping and software setup) and $189 for installation at Handheld Space; prices, availability, warranty and included storage vary and must be confirmed with the installer.
For an unpatched V1, a chip adds cost, installation risk and warranty concerns without being necessary. Its advantages are automatic boot assistance and applicability to patched models, not superior exploitability.
Best Value
- One player can use a Joy-Con in each hand
- Two players can each take one
- Multiple Joy-Con can be employed by numerous people for a variety of gameplay options (additional Joy-Con sold separately)
- Slip a set of Joy-Con into a Joy-Con grip accessory, mirroring a more traditional controller. Or, select an optional Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.
Homebrew, piracy and Nintendo-service risks
Running homebrew is not automatically the same as using unauthorized game copies, but both can involve Nintendo’s security and service policies. Nintendo’s Intellectual Property & Piracy FAQ says modchips and related circumvention products can void warranty, damage a console, reduce functionality, interfere with online play or cause problems after network updates. It also identifies unauthorized copies as a separate infringement issue.
No responsible guide can promise that every modified console will be banned. Connecting modified system software to Nintendo services nevertheless carries meaningful account and online-play risk, so owners should understand Nintendo’s policies and follow current technical guidance for keeping legitimate and modified environments separate.
Quick Recap
The practical verdict
- Unpatched HAC-001: Generally moddable without a soldered modchip through RCM.
- Patched HAC-001: Not vulnerable to the original free exploit; normally requires a modchip on current firmware.
- “V1” without serial verification: Unknown. HAC-001, a 2017 date or an unchanged exterior does not prove exploit status.
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