This paper explains the concept of a BIOS in the context of the Nintendo Switch, clarifies how the Switch’s firmware and boot process differ from a traditional PC BIOS, outlines legitimate and illegitimate uses of Switch firmware components, summarizes security and hacking implications, and provides clear guidance for researchers, developers, and end users about safe, legal, and constructive approaches to working with Switch system software.
The Switch does not have a traditional PC-style BIOS; it uses an SoC-specific boot ROM and a chain-of-trust in the Tegra X1 (and later variants) to initialize hardware and verify signed boot stages. That boot ROM (in read-only on-chip memory) is the root of trust and controls Recovery Mode (RCM) behavior, USB-based code loading, and signature checks that normally prevent arbitrary code execution. bios nintendo switch
Do you own an unpatched V1 Switch? Have you backed up your NAND yet? Let us know in the comments below. This paper explains the concept of a BIOS