Downgrading Wii Firmware

Lots of the homebrew applications, Tools, system files and WADs needs a firmware version of 3.2 to function correctly. Many users downgrade Wii firmware to provide compatibility with lots of tools that require a specific version of the Firmware Menu such as 'Star Fall' which require firmware v3.2.

This method will also allow you to change to a different region firmware so you can convert your Europe Wii into a US Wii. The main homebrew software that needs v3.2 is called backup launcher that will allow you to play downloaded Wii games from the internet and never buy a Wii game again.

You need several downgrading software to downgrade Wii firmware. The process has lots of steps. You can't downgrade Wii firmware directly, There are lots of steps to perform.

The first file you need is called "IOS36-64-v1042.wad" and there are lots of sources to get it, some are legal and others are not. IOS36-64-v1042.wad is a file that carries copyrights and it is illegal to download it directly. There are two ways to get this file legally.

The first method and most reliable is to join Wii homebrew sites and get a folder named "Wii-Fix-tools". This "Wii Fix Tools" folder has all downgrading files that will help you downgrade Wii firmware. Also you will get the other necessary downgrading software.

The other method needs the Wii game of SSBB "Super Smash Brothers Brawl" (other games may work) and use other homebrew software called "WUFE" (Wii Update File Extractor) to extract the "IOS36-64-v1042.wad" file. This method is hard to perform and you need other software that this game will not provide.

There was another files called "IOS37-64-v2070.wad", this is an old version of "IOS36-64-v1042.wad"file. Please do not use "IOS37-64-v2070.wad", use only "IOS36-64-v1042.wad" file because this is the top and most reliable WAD file.

*** Some file names varies with the actual file names that is provided by Wii homebrew sites.

In general the software provided by Wii homebrew sites will connects your Wii to Nintendo site and download this file from its official site. Below is a full free tutorial to downgrade Wii firmware.

If you like full Wii downgrading site that provide all the downgrade and homebrew software and all application, I highly recommend www.homebreware.com. This site is the top Wii hombrew site in all internet that provide lots of tutorials and update their contents and software quite frequently. This site was the first Wii softmod site that offers softmodding Wii v3.x to v4.0 without Zelda.

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1. Unplug any unnecessary Wii disks, keyboards, USBs and other because it might interfear with the installation process.
   
   
2. This process requires the Wii has the Wii Homebrew Channel installed and ready to use. Visit How To Softmod Nintendo Wii v3.x to v4.0 Tutorial.
   
   
3. You will need lots of downgrading software. Get them from www.homebreware.com
   
   
4. You will need Wi-Fi or any internet connection for Wii.
   
   
5. Formatted SD card with FAT16 file system.
   
   
   • For Windows users go to the official SD formatting program at http://www.sdcard.org/consumers/formatter, this is an official program to format SD cars for Windows users only. Just install the application and select format with FAT (not FAT32) and you are done.
     
     
   • For Mac OS X users, in finder click GO select UTILITIES and open DISK UTILITIES. Your SD card should come up as two entries choose the second one. From volume format in erase tab select FAT16. Then click erase and confirm then you are done.

Although downgrading Wii firmware is fun, important and has lots of benefits some small details must be thoroughly implemented. The greatest enemy of downgrading Wii firmware is updating Wii system. I highly recommend installing the Wii homebrew software called starfall immediately after downgrading Wii firmware which will block all updates from disks and internet. Do not update your firmware at any cost. If you did, your Wii might brick. Please see the Q&A section for more details.

The IOS file system is like an operating system for the Wii there are lots of versions from IOSs. Some files controls channels some controls games others controls the WAD installation. The first thing you will discover is, you are unable to install WADs and some Homebrew Apps will not work correctly (such as Any Region Changer and Firmware Downgrade). First we have to fix the operating system and then fix the downgrade Wii firmware.

Many people think that installing the" "IOS36-64-v1042.wad" file is all what it needs to downgrade Wii firmware. That is wrong. There are lots of steps to downgrade Wii firmware. Here are step by step tutorial to do that...

The Wii homebrew sites will give you a package of files in a compressed folder named "Wii Fix Tools". Use WINRAR or WINZIP to decompress it. You will end up in a folder named"Wii fix Tools".

Inside this folder there are two folders named "apps" and "WAD". Copy those two folders to the root of your SD card. See images below.

Place the SD card on Wii and power up Wii console to begin downgrading Wii firmware.

Start up Wii homebrew Channel on your Wii.
Open WAD manager.
Press "A" on the Wii remote once, the Wii will detect the SD card at this point.
Press "A" again on Wii remote to see a list of WAD files on SD card.
Now use your D-pad and select "IOS16-64-v257.wad" from the list.
Press "+" to begin installation.
Once the WAD has been installed, press the home button to restart Wii.

Start up Wii homebrew Channel on your Wii.
Open custom WM IOS16 (custom WAD Manager designed to work with IOS16) in the Wii Homebrew Channel.
Press "A" on the Wii remote once, the Wii will detect the SD card at this point.
Press "A" again on Wii remote to see a list of WAD files on SD card.
Now use your D-pad and select " cIOS_Fix.wad" from the WAD list.
Press "+" to begin installation.
Once the WAD has been installed, press the home button to restart Wii.
* If the installation fails use the WAD manager instead of Custom Manager.

Use the "Wii Homebrew Channel", open "cIOS Downgrader" (custom IOS Downgrader). In this step you will not really downgrade wii firmware, this step is needed for step four. Just follow the instructions, and wait until it finishes installing the necessary IOSs. Press the home button to restart Wii.

After you run the downgrader the Wii shop Channel will stop and needs to re-install to work. Do not think that updating the firmware will solve the problem. Follow these steps to make Wii Shop Channel work again.

Fire up Wii and go to "Wii Homebrew Channel" and open "Install Shop IOS51".
Use your D-Pad and Select "Yes" for installing the "IOS51" by pressing "A"
Use your D-Pad and Select "Yes" for Patching IOS fix by pressing "A"
Use your D-Pad and Select "No" for the "Wii Shop Channel". The reason you say no is, you have already installed the "Wii Shop Channel" and it won't make any difference.

If this didn't work the first time (116 error), keep trying. It may take a couple of times to do the trick. Restart your Wii...

Startup your Wii go to "Wii Homebrew Channel" and open "WAD Manager". At this moment you can install all your favorite WADs with no trubles.

Use the Wii Homebrew Channel and select WAD Manager. Then install the "WAD Manager v1.3", this is the latest version of WAD Manager.

All what we did until now is fixing the Wii operating system so that you can install WAD files and prepare to downgrade firmware. The following steps will downgrade the Wii firmware...

I highly recommend updating the cIOS-Fix that was previously installed. If this is not the first time you homebrew Wii and you were using some homebrew apps like backup loaders such as "Backup Loader" or "Backup Launcher" or "Wii Gator" you will need to update cIOS_Fix in order for these homebrews to work.

Or if this is the first time you homebrew Wii, I also recommend doing this step as follows...

Fire up your Wii system and open Wii Homebrew Channel.
From the Homebrew Channel choose cIOS_installer and install it on your system.
This file will update the cIOS_Fix that was previously installed on Wii firmware.

The Wii homebrew site will provide you with a compressed folder named "cIOS Downgrader V1.2". Use WINZIP or WINRAR to extract it, you will end up with a folder named "cIOS Downgrader 1.2". Copy and paste this folder inside the "apps" folder in your SD card. See images below...

Plug SD card to your Wii and turn on your console. go to your favorite "Wii Homebrew Channel" and open "cIOS Downgrader" or sometimes it called Firmware Downgrader.

On your Wii remote press "A", a list will be presented to you containing a list of different firmware versions.

3.2U=US/Canada Firmware
3.2E=Europe Firmware
And
3.2J=Japanese Firmware

Select one by pressing "A"

***IMPORTANT if you are planning to change your region, for example from 3.3E to 3.2U, then you must say "YES" when a dialog box asks you to change some region settings. Otherwise your Wii may brick.

Press the "Home" button on the Wii Remote to restart the Wii.

At this moment you will be on version 3.2. You can check by going to Wii menu and go to Wii settings, choose console settings and then update console.

There is a surprise for you because you will be unable to use the "Wii Shop Channel" after the previous step so in order to use it you have to re-install it again by the following steps.

Installing "Shop IOS51" Again - Final Step

Again!!! Here we go again. Fire up Wii console and launch "Wii Homebrew Channel". Go open "Install Shop IOS51".
Use your D-Pad and Select "Yes" for installing the "IOS51" by pressing "A"
Use your D-Pad and Select "Yes" for Patching IOS fix by pressing "A"
Use your D-Pad and Select "Yes" for the "Wii Shop Channel" by pressing "A". Say yes because you are re-installing the channel.

If this didn't work the first time (116 error), keep trying. It may take a couple of times to do the trick. Restart your Wii...

***Many people try to update their Wii console after downgrading their firmware because the Wii Shop Channel did not work after downgrading firmware. if you updated your Wii after downgrading firmware it might end up bricked.

If you like full Wii downgrading site that provide all the downgrade and homebrew software and all application, I highly recommend www.homebreware.com. This site is the top Wii hombrew site in all internet that provide lots of tutorials and update their contents and software quite frequently. This site was the first Wii softmod site that offers softmodding Wii v3.x to v4.0 without Zelda.

>>>Click here to Visit Homebreware.com<<<

OR

>>>Read Full Homebreware.com Review Here<<<

If you would like to read exclusive tutorials, information about Nintendo Wii system, please visit the Wii homepage and read high quality contents about Wii, I bet , you will not find anywhere else.

>>>> Visit Wii Homepage <<<<

Q: How to Stop Nintendo Wii from Updating Itself from Disks and Internet?

A: This is the most important step after downgrading Wii firmware and it can be done by installing homebrew software called starfall as follows. The Wii homebrew site will give you starfall software with the homebrew package. Launch the Wii Homebrew Channel, now you should see software called Starfall, by installing starfall it will prevent your Wii from updating via discs and internet. You may have to access it via the "WAD Manager" if you can`t see it directly on your Wii Homebrew Channel. When installing it, say "yes" to the "skip disc update" option.

Q: I've heard of new channels or updating Wii will solve Wii problems or it will erase duplicated channels or solving other problems.

A: There are no new Wii channels and updating Wii will cause major problems. Users always try to stay on older version of Wii firmware. They are dispread to avoid updating their Wii. Whatever you heard, whatever you do, do not update your Wii firmware whether you decided to softmod or not at any cost. Updating softmodded Wii might brick your system.

Q: I've heard of my friends or some sites that updating Wii will not affect anything on wii, are you sure that I shouldn't update Wii?

A: Are you trying to cause me a heart attack, forget everything you see or hear about updating Wii firmware. There are several reasons that made users update Wii and cause major problems to their system. The main reason is the Wii shop channel. The Wii shop channel will stop working after downgrading Wii firmware. To fix it you just need to re-install it (see final step above). The second reason is duplicated channels and can be fixed by a homebrew software called Wii Duplicated Channel Remover. The third reason is playing Wii games that carry updating files inside. Other reasons are manually updating from internet, installing old versions or files that you do not know what they do, plus other reasons.

Q: Is there any warranty or guarantee for using these homebrew apps and software?

A: No body in the whole world will take any responsibility for your actions or give a real guarantee. There is no guarantee for using those software.