hactool looks inside a hidden directory named .switch located in your user profile folder. Open Windows Explorer.
Fixing this issue involves two main phases: and putting them in the right place . Phase 1: Obtaining Your Keys hactool prod.keys does not exist
| Mistake | Consequence | |---------|-------------| | Renaming keys.txt to prod.keys without correct format | hactool reads but fails to decrypt | | Running hactool from a different directory | Error because prod.keys not in that folder | | Using outdated hactool version | May not support newer key format | | Forgetting --keyset when file is elsewhere | Error persists | hactool looks inside a hidden directory named
Place hactool.exe (or the Linux/macOS binary) and prod.keys in the same directory. Phase 1: Obtaining Your Keys | Mistake |
In short: hactool is a lock. The prod.keys file is the key. You need both.
hactool searches for keys in your operating system's user profile directory. You must place your prod.keys file in the correct location based on your platform: C:\Users\ \.switch\ Linux: /home/ /.switch/ macOS: /Users/ /.switch/ How to set this up on Windows: Open File Explorer. Navigate to C:\Users\ . Right-click, select New > Folder . Name the folder .switch (include the dot at the beginning).
: Move the file to /Users/ /.switch/prod.keys (or ~/.switch/prod.keys )