Wii Hacks Guide

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🇭🇺 Magyar
🇰🇷 한국어

🇺🇸 English

🇭🇺 Magyar
🇰🇷 한국어

Appearance

Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection ​

Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection was an online multiplayer gaming service for the Wii, allowing free online play. This service was discontinued in 2013, but there are reverse-engineered servers that you can connect to which restore this functionality. This guide provides details on two trusted services, WiiLink WFC and Wiimmfi - for most users, we recommend Wiimmfi for their larger userbase (especially with Mario Kart Wii).

WiiLink WFC is an open-source service created by the WiiLink team that restores online play, with less support and less players than Wiimmfi (listed below). In some cases, WiiLink WFC server code may already be utilized in a game mod - such as with Mario Kart Retro Rewind. Instructions on how to use WiiLink WFC are listed below, or can alternatively be found on the WiiLink WFC setup page.

Automatic Disc Patching via Homebrew Channel ​

Details

A method for WiiLink WFC patching which runs on retail disc games, but must be manually launched via the Homebrew Channel.

Requirements ​

Instructions ​

  1. Simply extract the apps folder in this archive to the root of your SD card or USB drive.
  2. Insert your SD Card into your Wii, and launch WiiLink WFC Patcher from the Homebrew Channel.
  3. Insert the game disc (if it is not already inserted), wait for the patch to complete, and the game should start.

Wiimmfi ​

WARNING

If you get error 23904 while connecting to Wiimmfi, then you are using an outdated patch and must update to continue playing online. Follow the steps below for the method you're using to connect to Wiimmfi again.

See the Wiimmfi patcher update page for an explanation on why an update is needed.

Wiimmfi is a closed-source service created and maintained by Wiimm and Leseratte, which restores online play to a significant amount of games that support this functionality on the Wii. A list of games with currently online players can be found on the Wiimmfi status page. In some cases, Wiimmfi support may already be built into a game mod - such as with CTGP-R. Instructions on how to use Wiimmfi are listed below, or can alternatively be found on the Wiimmfi patcher page.

Automatic Disc Patching via Priiloader ​

Details

A method for Wiimmfi patching which runs on retail disc games automatically via the Disc Channel.

Requirements ​

  • A Wii with an Internet connection, on System Menu version 4.3
  • Priiloader 0.9 or later

Instructions ​

  1. Hold the RESET button while turning on your Wii. If you are using a Wii mini, plug in a USB keyboard and hold Escape while turning it ON.

  2. You should see the Priiloader menu.

  3. Go to System Menu Hacks.

    INFO

    If you used a USB drive to install Priiloader, make sure you do not have an SD card inserted at the same time. This will cause Priiloader to be unable to find the hacks_hash.ini file.

  4. Make sure the Wiimmfi patch v4 hack is enabled.

  5. Scroll to Save Settings and save your changes.

  6. Return to the main menu, and press System Menu to return to the Wii Menu.

  7. Launch your game through the Disc Channel - it should now be patched with Wiimmfi.

WARNING

If the Wiimmfi Patch displays as anything other than v4, you do not have the latest version of the hacks_hash.ini file and the patch will not work. You must reinstall Priiloader, the guide to which can be found in the requirements section.

Automatic Backup Patching via USB Loader ​

Details

A method for Wiimmfi patching which automatically patches game backups in the latest versions of USB Loader GX or WiiFlow Lite.

Requirements ​

Instructions ​

  1. Open the game or global settings for your specific USB loader and search for the Private Server option. By default, it will be set to Off.
  2. Set the option to Wiimmfi and save the settings. By default, games should now be automatically patched for Wiimmfi.

Automatic Disc Patching via Custom DNS ​

Details

A method for Wiimmfi patching which runs on retail game discs automatically through the usage of a custom DNS server. While convenient, it only works with a small selection of games including Mario Kart Wii and SSBB. Due to the nature of this process, it can be run on Wiis without homebrew.

Requirements ​

  • A Wii with an internet connection

Instructions ​

  1. Go to Wii Settings > Internet > Connection Settings and select whatever connection you are using. Then, Change Settings > Auto-Obtain DNS NO > Advanced Settings. Set your primary DNS to 95.217.77.181, and your secondary DNS to 1.1.1.1.
  2. Let the connection test finish, and do not perform a Wii System Update.
  3. Launch your game through the Disc Channel - it should now be patched with Wiimmfi.

WARNING

If you get error 20100 or 20110, the game you are trying to play is not supported by this method.

If you get error 23400, your ISP or network is blocking the use of a custom DNS. To resolve this issue, Wiimmfi has a custom DNS server that can be ran on your PC - you can read about it on the Wiimmfi website.

Manual Disc Patching via Homebrew Channel ​

Details

A method for Wiimmfi patching which runs on retail disc games, but must be manually launched via the Homebrew Channel.

Requirements ​

Instructions ​

  1. Simply extract the apps folder in this archive to the root of your SD card or USB drive.
  2. Insert your SD Card into your Wii, and launch Auto Wiimmfi Patcher from the Homebrew Channel.
  3. Insert the game disc (if it is not already inserted), wait for the patch to complete, and the game should start.

Manual Disc Patching via EULA User Agreement ​

Details

A method for Wiimmfi patching which runs on retail game discs, but must be manually launched via the EULA User Agreement (derives from str2hax). Due to the nature of this process, it can be ran on Wiis without homebrew.

Requirements ​

  • A Wii with an internet connection

Instructions ​

  1. Insert your game disc.

  2. Go to Wii Settings > Internet > Connection Settings and select whatever connection you are using. Then, Change Settings > Auto-Obtain DNS NO > Advanced Settings. Set your primary DNS to 95.217.77.151, and your secondary DNS to 1.1.1.1.

  3. Let the connection test finish, and do not perform a Wii System Update.

  4. Go back twice to Internet, and press User Agreements. Then, confirm that you would like to use WC24 and the Wii Shop Channel.

  5. The Wiimmfi patcher page should now display. If it doesn't, and you still see the default license agreement, your router might not be compatible with this method.

  6. Wait a while for the patcher to load (usually about 1.5 minutes) and the inserted game should boot with a Wiimmfi patch.

Manual Disc Patching via Internet Channel ​

Details

A method for Wiimmfi patching which runs on retail game discs, but must be manually launched via the Internet Channel (derives from Flashhax). Due to the nature of this process, it can be ran on Wiis without homebrew. This method is generally more reliable, and is recommended instead.

Requirements ​

  • A Wii with an internet connection, running in 60Hz mode
  • The Internet Channel

Instructions ​

  1. Open the following webpage in the Internet Channel: http://chadsoft.co.uk/wiimmfi
  2. Add the page to the browser favorites by clicking the Star icon, then the Add Favorite button.
  3. Exit back to the Wii Menu.
  4. Open the Internet Channel again and access the favorite you just made.
  5. The Wiimmfi patcher should begin. Be patient, as Flashhax can be very unreliable - it may take several tries to get right.

WARNING

If you run into UPnP-related issues (such as the patcher getting stuck at "Init network..." or "add UPnP port forward" steps for more than 10 seconds), you can press the - button on your Wii Remote, or the Y button on your GameCube controller as soon as the patcher loads to circumvent this.

Manual WiiWare Patching via PC ​

Details

A method for Wiimmfi patching which runs on WiiWare games, but must be manually run on a PC via a script.

Requirements ​

Instructions ​

  1. Extract the .zip of the latest version of WiiWare Patcher, and put your WAD in it.
  2. Run the patch script for your OS: usually it will end in .bat for Windows and .sh for Mac/Linux. If you're using the RiiConnect24 Patcher, select your device (Wii, vWii, or Dolphin) and choose the WiiWare patcher.
  3. If it completed successfully, install the WAD that was made in wiiware-wads with YAWM ModMii Edition.

Manual Disc Image Patching via PC ​

Details

A method for Wiimmfi patching which runs on game disc images, but must be manually run on a PC via a script.

Requirements ​

  • A Linux/macOS/Windows PC with an internet connection
  • A copy of the game you want to patch - supported formats are ISO, WDF, WIA, CISO (=WBI), WBFS, GCZ, and FST - NKIT is NOT supported
  • Wiimmfi ISO Patcher

Instructions ​

  1. Download the patcher and extract the .zip file.
  2. Open the extracted folder and copy your Wii game images into it.
    • If you're on Windows, double-click the patch-images.bat file (this may also be displayed as "patch-images" Batch File). If you run into Cygwin-related issues, try the patch-images-32.bat file instead.
    • If you're on macOS, open a command line prompt in the current folder, make the shell script executable through the command chmod +x *.sh and then execute ./patch-images.sh.
    • If you're on Linux, double-click the patch-images.desktop file (this may also be displayed as "Patch Images") or execute the ./patch-images.sh file in a terminal after making it executable through the command chmod +x *.sh.
  3. If the above was successful, you should see a window pop-up that displays the patching process. Once the process finishes, you will find the patched images in a folder called wiimmfi-images.

TIP

Continue to Recommended Homebrew

This guide provides a selection of homebrew that highlights some of the things you can now do with your Wii. These include emulators, game hacks, and more.