Homebrew games on a modded Switch install to the SD card in a folder structure that mirrors official Nintendo games, but in a separate section your system recognizes as custom content.

When you run homebrew on a modded Nintendo Switch, the games themselves live in a folder called Nintendo/Contents on your SD card — the same place official eShop games go. However, homebrew uses a different naming system for its game folders, and your Switch displays them separately from licensed titles. The exact folder path is SD:/Nintendo/Contents/[Game ID], where the Game ID is a unique identifier the homebrew developer assigns.

The key difference from official games is that homebrew doesn't go through Nintendo's servers, so it doesn't create the same licensing records. Your Switch still organizes it in the Contents folder, but the system knows it's not an official purchase. This separation happens automatically — you don't manually sort them into different directories.

Key Takeaways

  • Homebrew games install to SD:/Nintendo/Contents, the same location as official eShop games, but use custom Game IDs instead of Nintendo's official ones.
  • Your Switch automatically displays homebrew separately from licensed games on the home screen, even though they're in the same physical folder structure.
  • Each homebrew game needs its own folder with a unique Game ID; if two games share the same ID, one will overwrite the other.
  • Deleting a homebrew game means removing its entire folder from the Contents directory; the system won't leave behind save data or cache files in the same way it does for official titles.

How the Folder Structure Actually Works

The SD card uses a strict folder hierarchy that your Switch reads automatically. At the root of the SD card, you have a Nintendo folder. Inside that is Contents. Inside Contents are individual game folders, each named after a 16-character hexadecimal Game ID — something like 0100ABC123DEF456.

Inside each game folder are two more directories: code (which holds the game's executable files) and data (which holds assets, graphics, and other resources). Homebrew follows this exact same structure. The only difference is that homebrew developers choose their own Game IDs rather than receiving them from Nintendo, so you might see IDs like 0100001000000001 or 0100DEADBEEF0001 — patterns that don't match official Nintendo games.

If you're installing multiple homebrew games, each one gets its own folder with its own unique ID. If you accidentally give two games the same ID, the second one you copy to the SD card will overwrite the first. This is why homebrew installation guides always specify which Game ID to use for each title.

Where to Find Homebrew After Installation

Once you've copied the game folders to your SD card and inserted it into your Switch, the games appear on your home screen in a section separate from your official library. They show up as custom tiles with whatever icon the developer assigned them. You launch them the same way you launch any other game — by pressing the tile.

Your Switch doesn't create a separate "Homebrew" category; instead, it straightforward recognizes that these games don't have official licensing data and groups them visually. If you have 20 official games and 5 homebrew games, all 25 appear on your home screen, but the homebrew ones look slightly different (usually with a generic or custom icon rather than official artwork).

Save data for homebrew games goes into a different location than official game saves. Official saves live in SD:/Nintendo/save, but homebrew saves typically go into the game's own data folder within its Contents directory, or sometimes into a separate homebrew-specific save location depending on how the developer coded it. This means deleting a homebrew game folder will also delete its save data, whereas deleting an official game leaves saves behind.

Managing Multiple Homebrew Games on One SD Card

You can install as many homebrew games as your SD card has space for. A 64 GB card holds dozens of games; a 256 GB card holds hundreds. The limiting factor is storage, not the folder structure. Each game folder can range from 50 MB to several GB depending on the game's complexity and assets.

When you're adding new homebrew, make sure you're not reusing a Game ID that's already on your card. Most homebrew installation guides list the correct Game ID for each game. If you're unsure, you can open your SD card on a computer, navigate to Nintendo/Contents, and see what IDs are already there. Then name your new game folder with a different ID.

Removing a homebrew game is straightforward: plug your SD card into a computer, navigate to Nintendo/Contents, find the folder with that game's ID, and delete it. The game disappears from your Switch's home screen the next time you restart the system. Unlike official games, there's no uninstall process or lingering data to clean up — deleting the folder is complete removal.

Why Homebrew Uses Custom Game IDs

Nintendo's official games have Game IDs that are registered in their system. When you buy a game on the eShop, Nintendo's servers record that purchase and link it to your account. Your Switch checks those records to verify you own the game and have permission to play it.

Homebrew games don't go through Nintendo's servers, so they don't have official IDs. Developers assign their own IDs to avoid conflicts with other homebrew. This is why the same homebrew game might have different IDs on different websites — some developers change the ID to avoid collisions, or different versions of the same game use different IDs.

The Game ID itself doesn't affect how the game runs or how much space it takes up. It's purely an organizational label. Your Switch uses it to keep track of which folder belongs to which game, and to store that game's save data in the right place.

Common Problems When Installing Homebrew

The most frequent issue is a Game ID conflict. If you copy a homebrew game folder to your SD card and it has the same ID as a game already there, the new one overwrites the old one. You'll think the installation failed, but actually the old game got replaced. Always check your Contents folder before installing a new game, or use a unique ID if you're installing a modified version of something you already have.

Another common mistake is putting the game folder in the wrong location. The path must be exactly SD:/Nintendo/Contents/[Game ID]. If you accidentally create SD:/Nintendo/[Game ID] or SD:/Contents/[Game ID], your Switch won't find it. Use a file manager on your computer to verify the folder structure before inserting the SD card into your Switch.

If a game doesn't appear on your home screen after installation, restart your Switch completely (not just putting it to sleep). The system scans the SD card for new games during startup. If it still doesn't appear, check that the folder contains both a code and data subdirectory, and that the Game ID in the folder name matches what the installation guide specified.

Backing Up and Moving Homebrew Games

Because homebrew games are just folders on your SD card, backing them up is straightforward. Plug your SD card into a computer and copy the entire Nintendo/Contents folder to an external drive. If your SD card fails or you want to move games to a larger card, you can copy the entire Contents folder to the new card and everything will work.

You can also selectively copy individual game folders. If you want to move just one homebrew game to a different SD card, copy its folder (the one with the Game ID name) to the same location on the new card. Save data moves with it automatically because saves are stored inside the game folder.

This flexibility is one advantage homebrew has over official games — you have direct access to the files and can back them up or move them without going through Nintendo's system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have homebrew and official games on the same SD card?

Yes. Both go into the same Nintendo/Contents folder, and your Switch displays them together on the home screen. Official games and homebrew use different Game ID formats, so there's no risk of them overwriting each other. You can have dozens of each type on one card.

What happens to my save data if I delete a homebrew game folder?

The save data is deleted along with the game folder. Unlike official Nintendo games, which store saves separately, homebrew saves are typically stored inside the game's own data directory. If you want to keep the save, copy the entire game folder to a computer before deleting it from your SD card.

Do I need to format my SD card a certain way for homebrew?

No. Your SD card should be formatted as FAT32 or exFAT (exFAT is standard for cards larger than 32 GB). Your Switch handles this automatically when you first insert a new card. Just make sure the card is compatible with your Switch model and has enough free space for the games you want to install.

Can two homebrew games have the same Game ID?

Technically yes, but it will cause problems. If you copy a second game with the same ID as one already on your card, it will overwrite the first game's folder. Always use unique Game IDs for each game, or check your Contents folder before installing to make sure you're not creating a duplicate.

Where do homebrew game updates go?

Homebrew games don't receive updates through Nintendo's system. If a developer releases a new version, you manually read it and replace the old game folder on your SD card with the new one. As long as you use the same Game ID, your save data will carry over to the updated version.