The vulnerability in question, known as "fusée gelée," is a hardware-level flaw found in the Nvidia Tegra X1 chip that powers the Switch. This flaw allows a user to bypass the console's security checks and run unsigned code (custom firmware) via a "jig" placed in the right Joy-Con rail. When the Switch launched in March 2017, every unit was vulnerable. However, Nintendo was aggressive in their response. Sometime around mid-2018, Nintendo began patching the hardware at the factory level. This created a "grey area" for units manufactured during the transition period—roughly April through July 2018.
Hey fellow Switch enthusiasts!
Is My Switch Patched? (XKJ1 Top)
| Serial Prefix | Patched Status | Notes | |---------------|----------------|-------| | XAW1 (lower numbers) | Unpatched | Below XAW1008 is safe | | XAW1 (higher numbers) | Possibly patched | Check via ismyswitchpatched.com | | XAJ4, XAJ7 | Mixed | Lower XAJ4 may be unpatched | | XKW1 | Patched | All units patched | | | Patched | All units patched | | XKJ2, XKJ3 | Patched | V2, Lite, or OLED | is my switch patched xkj1 top
(often called the "red box" version, boasting better battery life) All XKJ, XKW, XJJ, and The vulnerability in question, known as "fusée gelée,"