Switch firmware compatibility — does the loader work on your HOS?
5 min read · accurate as of May 2026
"Will it work on my Switch's firmware version?" is the #1 pre-purchase question. Short answer: any major version from the last ~2 years works. Details below.
How to check your firmware version
- Switch home → Settings (gear) → System
- Right under "System Update" you'll see your current version
- e.g.
17.0.1
Compatibility matrix (May 2026)
| HOS version | Released | secretchat loader | Notes |
|---|
| 20.x | 2026 | ✓ Supported | Latest, recommended |
| 19.x | 2nd half 2025 | ✓ Supported | Mainstream |
| 18.x | 1st half 2025 | ✓ Supported | — |
| 17.x | 2024 | ✓ Supported | — |
| 16.x | 2023 | ✓ Supported | — |
| 15.x | 2nd half 2022 | △ Partial | 15.0.0 changed APIs — update to 15.0.1+ recommended |
| 14.x | 1st half 2022 | △ Partial | 14.1.2+ recommended |
| 13.x and below | 2021 or earlier | ✕ Not supported | Apex itself doesn't run on these |
Bottom line: any console that's been auto-updating online will work. People who've held back on old versions need to be on at least 14.1.2.
Per-model differences
| Model | Supported | Notes |
|---|
| Switch V1 (original, 2017-) | ✓ | fusée-gelée vulnerable, rich homebrew ecosystem |
| Switch V2 (HAC-001(-01), 2019-) | ✓ | Mariko line, loader works |
| Switch Lite | ✓ | Handheld-only, confirmed working |
| Switch OLED | ✓ | From 2021, looks great with Apex |
| Switch 2 (2025-) | ✕ Separate product | Different architecture; Switch 1 keys don't work |
Should I update? Or wait?
Update is fine if
- You're running stock — no homebrew at all → update freely, secretchat loader keeps up with new firmware
- Loader misbehaves on an old version → updating usually stabilizes it
- Before a new game release → most new releases require the latest firmware anyway
Wait if
- You use EmuMMC → wait for Atmosphère + EmuMMC tooling to update (usually 1-2 weeks). The secretchat loader runs on SysMMC so EmuMMC update lag doesn't apply, but Atmosphère itself still needs to support the new HOS first
- Within 24h of a new firmware release — Nintendo occasionally ships new anti-cheat detections. A 1-2 day wait is safer
Common myth
"Stay on old firmware to avoid bans" is false. Stay too old → eShop forces an update next time you connect → you have to update anyway. Ban risk is determined by how you use it (EmuMMC / DNS / VPN), not your firmware version.
If compatibility ever breaks
If a new firmware release breaks the loader (very rare), here's what happens:
- secretchat.tel announces it on the Telegram channel (usually fixed within 24h)
- Updated hbmenu.nro auto-replaces the previous one at /shop/loader/hbmenu.nro
- Your existing keys remain valid — just download the fresh loader binary
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