Hacker installs Windows 10 on Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch has soared in popularity over the past few years, and due to this many gamers have tried to jailbreak it. While we've seen instances of certain hackers running Linux on the platform, another individual managed to install Windows 10. Keep in mind that this isn't the full Windows 10 client, but the ARM variant which can run on low-end hardware.

While this is an interesting project, it's not clear of issues. First surfaced in a report by Windows Latest, the developer posted a series of images on Twitter in which he jokingly asked Microsoft and Nintendo support for help getting past the "Blue Screen of Death."

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Eventually, the developer managed to get to the Windows logo before the operating system boots, but it seems like that's where progress has stalled a little. It'll take time to fix and tweak the device to run Windows 10, with the functionality of the current implementation unclear. We'll keep you posted as soon as we know more, but if you're considering working on your Nintendo Switch, you'll probably want to hold off in the meantime.

This hack was made possibly by the well-known Tegra processor exploit. Getting Windows 10 on Nintendo Switch is a sweet trick, but its viability is uncertain. How will certain apps perform? Will the operating system even work with the touchscreen? We'll just have to wait for the developer to keep on fixes the issues in the months and years to come.

Asher Madan

Asher Madan handles gaming news for Windows Central. Before joining Windows Central in 2017, Asher worked for a number of different gaming outlets. He has a background in medical science and is passionate about all forms of entertainment, cooking, and antiquing.