Wii U:Common Issues and Fixes

Running into Issues with homebrew? This page will show you how to troubleshoot errors during the exploit and when using apps.

FSGetMountSource failed: Please insert a FAT32 SD Card:
No SD Card detected. Re-insert the SD and try again. This could also mean that the SD card is locked (Slider is down instead of up) or the SD card label is "wiiu" (casing does not matter), which is stated in the guide causes conflict. If it's not any of these issues, try blowing into the slot (not recommended) or use compressed air. Pins may be dusty inside.

FSOpenFile failed [...] payload.elf:
Missing payload file on SD. Make sure you have payload.elf in the wiiu folder, and the wiiu folder on the root of the SD card.

FSOpenFile failed/-11 after launching Mii Maker:
Missing the Homebrew Launcher on the SD card. Make sure you have  in the   folder.

SD Mount Failed:
The console recognizes the SD card but could not mount it. Make sure it is formatted properly. Also, your SD card is more compatible with reputable brands (i.e. SanDisk, Samsung, Lexar, etc.) and less likely to have issues.

Failed to load SD:/wiiu/payload.elf. Starting the console without any modifications:
PayloadLoader could not find the payload or it doesn't detect your SD card. Reinsert it properly or try cleaning the slot. If the issue persists, try getting fresh files from the Tiramisu or Aroma site, depending on which you use.

Don't run the EnvironmentLoader twice:
Happens when you run Health and Safety or through the exploit a second time. The EnvironmentLoader can only be ran one time per boot. If you autoboot into an environment, you do not need to run Health and Safety. To change environments, hold X on boot (or Start for changing boot titles in the boot selector). If you've launched the EnvironmentLoader already, you must reboot to use it again.

Data Management asks to delete unnecessary data, what does it mean?
This refers to leftover files from incomplete installs. Always choose Yes to delete this data, as it takes up space for no good reason. If it ever stays stuck on deleting the data in an infinite loop, you can manually delete the data yourself. Use FTPiiU Everywhere or the FTPiiU Plugin and browse to  then delete any files in the folder if any exists. This is where the partial installs exist after incomplete installs. It'll be  if installed to a USB. The import folder should always be kept empty.

I put my SD card in the Wii U but it didn't give me any files. What's wrong?
Nothing is wrong. The Wii U will never give you files, because the SD card isn't used by the Wii U, which means it won't show in Data Management. You put the files on there yourself before running any exploit.

Can I install games to the SD card instead of an HDD?
No. The SD card is not used for game storage. The Wii U uses a proprietary format for drives, a format that isn't a typical format you see used(FAT32, NTFS, .etc). The SD card is primarily used for vWii(Virtual Wii mode), but also Mii Maker(for QR code creation), and Sm4sh photos.

Can I use one partition for Wii U games, and another partition for vWii games?
You cannot. The Wii U formats the entire partition. Either use a separate drive, or stick with VC injects that makes them fit all on one drive.

My HDD doesn't work or makes a weird clicking sound, what should I do?
The reason behind that is that the Wii U doesn't give enough power through one USB port to use the Hard Drive.

You can fix this by either using a powered HDD or using a Y-Cable to connect the HDD to two USB ports.

If your HDD worked for some time and then stopped working for some games/all games, it is the same issue and can be fixed with the same methods.

When extracting some of the files there are duplicates of certain ones called &, what do I do with those?
Nothing special, you can leave them there, delete them or replace them with new ones. Those files are not used in the process, therefore, won't have any impact by being or not being there.

My console suddenly lost online connectivity and I have an HDD sitting on top of the console, what should I do?
The internal antenna may have been influenced by the hard drive magnet. You can move the HDD to a different position atop the Wii U, or move it off the Wii U entirely.

I put the extracted zip onto the root and the exploit won't work. What did I miss?
If you have  as a folder on the root, you have extracted it wrong. You have to extract the  folder out of that folder to the root. That folder doesn't even belong on the SD card. Contents of the zip = wiiu folder.