When you run a command, hactool automatically searches specific default directories on your operating system for a text file containing these keys. If it scans those directories and finds nothing, it throws the prodkeys does not exist error at the top of your console window and terminates the process.
Navigate to the /switch/ folder on your SD card. You will find a file named prod.keys . Copy this file to your computer. Step 2: Put the Keys in the Default Directory
The prod.keys file is a plain-text file containing a collection of encryption keys specific to your own Nintendo Switch console or a particular firmware version. These keys act as a digital "keyring," allowing hactool to decrypt files like NCA (Nintendo Content Archive) archives and extract their internal data, such as the RomFS (filesystem) or ExeFS (executable code). Without the correct keys, any attempt to decrypt a file will fail. hactool prodkeys does not exist top
This will stop hactool in its tracks. The program will refuse to run, and you'll see an explicit "Error" message. This typically occurs only when hactool is trying to perform a decrypt operation and cannot find the necessary keys. However, in most cases with hactool , a missing prod.keys file results in a warning, not a fatal error.
Can't extract NCA file from .nca folder · Issue #90 - GitHub When you run a command, hactool automatically searches
hactool prod.keys does not exist top Fix:
What are you typing into the terminal/command prompt? You will find a file named prod
bao3 commented. bao3. on Dec 27, 2020 · edited by bao3. OK. I had the same issue,but I fixed it , just put the prod.keys at $HOME/
The safest and most reliable method is to use (or its more advanced fork, Lockpick_RCM_Pro ). This is a bare-metal payload that dumps all necessary encryption keys directly from your console's hardware.
Run ls -la (Linux/macOS) or dir (Windows) to see the exact filename. Then rename it if necessary: