Introduction

If you’ve been using Hekate Switch with traditional sigpatches to run custom firmware and homebrew, it’s time to upgrade. Legacy sigpatches are slowly being phased out, and the Sys Patch system offers a more modern, automatic, and reliable way to apply patches directly on boot.

In this guide, we’ll explain how to switch from legacy sigpatches to Sys Patch, what makes Sys-Patch superior, and how to integrate it seamlessly with your Hekate setup  ensuring better stability, easier updates, and smoother gameplay.

1. What Is Sys Patch?

Sys Patch is a dynamic patching tool that replaces the old method of manually updating sigpatches every time your firmware changes. It automatically applies necessary patches at runtime, making it compatible with new firmware updates and Atmosphere versions without manual intervention.

Key Benefits:

• No more manual sigpatch updates
  
• Automatic compatibility with new Atmosphere releases
  
• Better error handling and faster boot times
  
• Compatible with both sysMMC and emuMMC setups
  

2. Why You Should Switch from Legacy Sigpatches

Legacy sigpatches are static  meaning you have to replace them every time you update your firmware or CFW. This can lead to:

• Boot errors
  
• Incompatibility with new Atmosphere builds
  
• Missing patches for newer games
  

Sys Patch, on the other hand, adapts automatically. Once installed, it keeps your system compatible with the latest versions of Atmosphere without needing manual patch files.

3. Preparing Your Hekate Setup

Before installing Sys Patch:

1. Update Atmosphere to the latest version.
2. Update Hekate Switch to the newest bootloader build from the official GitHub.
   
3. Back up your SD card data and NAND using Hekate’s backup options.
   

Keeping your bootloader and firmware current prevents patching conflicts.

4. Installing Sys Patch

1. Download the Sys Patch .zip package from its official repository.
2. Extract the files and place them in the root of your SD card.
3. Boot your Switch into Hekate → Launch → CFW (sysMMC) or CFW (emuMMC).
4. Once Atmosphere loads, run Sys Patch from the homebrew menu.
   
5. Follow the on screen instructions to apply patches.
   

Sys-Patch will now load automatically each time you boot into CFW  no more manual file replacements.

5. Removing Legacy Sigpatches

To ensure clean operation:

1. Delete your old bootloader/patches or atmosphere/patches folders.
   
2. Reboot your Switch through Hekate.
   
3. Confirm that Sys Patch runs successfully at startup.
   

This prevents old sigpatch files from conflicting with Sys Patch’s dynamic system.

6. Common Issues and Fixes

Game won’t launch after switching:
→ Ensure Atmosphere and Sys Patch are updated to their latest versions.

Sys-Patch doesn’t appear in the homebrew menu:
→ Check your SD card path  make sure the switch/SysPatch folder exists.

Boot error in Hekate:
→ Reinstall the latest Hekate Switch files and re inject your payload.

Conclusion

Migrating from legacy sigpatches to Sys Patch is one of the smartest upgrades you can make for your Hekate Switch setup. It simplifies patch management, ensures compatibility with future updates, and eliminates the hassle of constant manual file changes.

Once configured, Sys Patch will handle everything automatically  letting you enjoy a cleaner, faster, and more stable custom firmware experience every time you boot your Switch.