Wii U:Common key - Revision history

Aep: Aep moved page Common key to Wii U:Common key: The Wii U is not the only console with a common key.

2025-12-28T01:58:45Z

Aep moved page Common key to Wii U:Common key: The Wii U is not the only console with a common key.

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:58, 28 December 2025
(No difference)

Acer51: /* macOS / Linux */

2025-09-11T10:44:55Z

macOS / Linux

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:44, 11 September 2025
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	= Using a Common Key (Wii U) =		=Using a Common Key (Wii U)=

	== What is a Common Key for? ==		==What is a Common Key for?==
	The common key is a key in hexadecimal that is the main way of decrypting things. Every Wii U has a unique one that '''can't''' be changed or modified in any way. It is located in the OTP.bin you are supposed to save once you've made the backup to all your important files.		The common key is a key in hexadecimal that is the main way of decrypting things. Every Wii U has a unique one that '''can't''' be changed or modified in any way. It is located in the OTP.bin you are supposed to save once you've made the backup to all your important files.

	== How come it is ''that'' important? ==		==How come it is ''that'' important?==
	Well, as said before, it is one of the many keys used to decrypt console files. If you find '''any way''' to modify it, you're basically locked out with the wrong key to decrypt your console's contents which means you got a hard brick. That can't be recovered. The OTP is a 1024B file that contains '''all''' the keys to your Wii U console.		Well, as said before, it is one of the many keys used to decrypt console files. If you find '''any way''' to modify it, you're basically locked out with the wrong key to decrypt your console's contents which means you got a hard brick. That can't be recovered. The OTP is a 1024B file that contains '''all''' the keys to your Wii U console.

	== Where is that key located on the motherboard? ==		==Where is that key located on the motherboard?==
	The OTP ('''O'''ne '''T'''ime '''P'''rogrammable key) is located in the SoC ('''S'''ystem '''o'''n a '''C'''hip) of the console which somehow is easily replaceable but you can't write to it... Thanks, Nintendo.		The OTP ('''O'''ne '''T'''ime '''P'''rogrammable key) is located in the SoC ('''S'''ystem '''o'''n a '''C'''hip) of the console which somehow is easily replaceable but you can't write to it... Thanks, Nintendo.

	== Any other things I should be aware of? ==		==Any other things I should be aware of?==
	In a short way, yes. In a long way, there are multiple other part of the SoC like the SEEPROM, SLC, SLCCMPT and things like that.		In a short way, yes. In a long way, there are multiple other part of the SoC like the SEEPROM, SLC, SLCCMPT and things like that.

	In my knowledge, the SLC, SLCCMPT and '''''maybe''''' SEEPROM is writable. There's also the MLC but it is not part of the SoC. It is part of the NAND.		In my knowledge, the SLC, SLCCMPT and '''''maybe''''' SEEPROM is writable. There's also the MLC but it is not part of the SoC. It is part of the NAND.

	== Why would I need this key? ==		==Why would I need this key?==
	Why? Because, for some tools that don't already have a self extracting tool to get your Common Key when redownloading for exemple, System Files (I'm watching you JNUSTool), it can be useful to have it!		Why? Because, for some tools that don't already have a self extracting tool to get your Common Key when redownloading for exemple, System Files (I'm watching you JNUSTool), it can be useful to have it!

	Here's non-exhaustive list of all the software that uses the Common Key:		Here's non-exhaustive list of all the software that uses the Common Key:

	* [https://github.com/stuff-by-3-random-dudes/UWUVCI-AIO-WPF UWUVCI] - Useful for making Wii Virtual Consoles Injects		*[https://github.com/stuff-by-3-random-dudes/UWUVCI-AIO-WPF UWUVCI] - Useful for making Wii Virtual Consoles Injects
	* [https://github.com/Maschell/JNUSTool/releases JNUSTool] - Useful for redownloading system files		*[https://github.com/Maschell/JNUSTool/releases JNUSTool] - Useful for redownloading system files

	(yes I only got 2 in mind)		(yes I only got 2 in mind)

	== But, I don't know how to extract/get it! ==		==But, I don't know how to extract/get it!==
	Calm down. There are 3 main ways for you to get the Common Key.		Calm down. There are 3 main ways for you to get the Common Key.

	# Use [https://github.com/GaryOderNichts/WiiUCommonKeyExtractor GaryOderNicht's tool] (Windows only)		#Use [https://github.com/GaryOderNichts/WiiUCommonKeyExtractor GaryOderNicht's tool] (Windows only)
	# Use [https://github.com/acer51-doctom/commonkey_extractor Acer51's tool] (Windows, macOS and Linux)		#Use [https://github.com/acer51-doctom/commonkey_extractor Acer51's tool] (Windows, macOS and Linux)
	# Manually.		#Manually.

	=== GaryOderNicht's tool ===		===GaryOderNicht's tool===
	To use GaryOderNicht's tool, when you open the app, you must click on the Open button, go too the location where your OTP.bin is, select or double click it and your Common Key will appear.		To use GaryOderNicht's tool, when you open the app, you must click on the Open button, go too the location where your OTP.bin is, select or double click it and your Common Key will appear.

	=== Acer_51's tool ===		===Acer_51's tool===
	To use Acer_51's tool (acer51-doctom on GitHub), it depends on the platform you are on.		To use Acer_51's tool (acer51-doctom on GitHub), it depends on the platform you are on.

	==== Windows ====		====Windows====
	Double click the executable. In an explorer window, drag and drop your OTP.bin into the Command Prompt window. You can also manually enter the path to it. Then, press Enter. Once you are finished, press Ctrl+C to quit. '''It will NOT automatically copy and paste.'''		Double click the executable. In an explorer window, drag and drop your OTP.bin into the Command Prompt window. You can also manually enter the path to it. Then, press Enter. Once you are finished, press Ctrl+C to quit. '''It will NOT automatically copy and paste.'''

	==== macOS / Linux ====		====macOS / Linux====
	To execute it, you must open a Terminal window in the same directory as the executable. Then, you must execute this:		To execute it, you must open a Terminal window in the same directory as the executable. Then, you must execute this:
	chmod +x commonkey_extractor && ./commonkey_extractor		chmod +x commonkey_extractor && ./commonkey_extractor
Line 48:		Line 48:
	After this, the executable with open. You can drag and drop your OTP.bin and the path will be put. No worries, even with quotes, it will still work. After, you can copy and paste the Common Key and press Ctrl+C to quit.		After this, the executable with open. You can drag and drop your OTP.bin and the path will be put. No worries, even with quotes, it will still work. After, you can copy and paste the Common Key and press Ctrl+C to quit.

	=== Manually ===		===Manually===
	Download the hex editor of your choice. Open your OTP.bin with it.		Download the hex editor of your choice. Open your OTP.bin with it.

	At byte 0E0 or 0xE0, select the first 32 bytes. Spaces do '''not''' count.		At byte 0E0 or 0xE0, select the first 32 bytes. Spaces do '''not''' count.
	WARNING: You hex editor might select 2 bytes per 2 bytes. Just a reminder, one letter = one byte.		WARNING: You hex editor might select 2 bytes per 2 bytes.

			Just a reminder, one letter = one byte.

	Copy and paste it and paste it in a notepad window for instance.		Copy and paste it and paste it in a notepad window for instance.

	And there you go!		And there you go!

Acer51 at 10:43, 11 September 2025

2025-09-11T10:43:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:43, 11 September 2025
Line 48:		Line 48:
	After this, the executable with open. You can drag and drop your OTP.bin and the path will be put. No worries, even with quotes, it will still work. After, you can copy and paste the Common Key and press Ctrl+C to quit.		After this, the executable with open. You can drag and drop your OTP.bin and the path will be put. No worries, even with quotes, it will still work. After, you can copy and paste the Common Key and press Ctrl+C to quit.

			=== Manually ===
			Download the hex editor of your choice. Open your OTP.bin with it.
			At byte 0E0 or 0xE0, select the first 32 bytes. Spaces do '''not''' count.
			WARNING: You hex editor might select 2 bytes per 2 bytes. Just a reminder, one letter = one byte.

			Copy and paste it and paste it in a notepad window for instance.

	And there you go!		And there you go!

Acer51: Final edit, finished the page

2025-07-10T12:19:18Z

Final edit, finished the page

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 = Using a Common Key (Wii U) =
@@ Line 22: / Line 20: @@
 Here's non-exhaustive list of all the software that uses the Common Key:
-* UWUVCI - Useful for making Wii Virtual Consoles Injects
+* [https://github.com/stuff-by-3-random-dudes/UWUVCI-AIO-WPF UWUVCI] - Useful for making Wii Virtual Consoles Injects
-* JNUSTool - Useful for redownloading system files
+* [https://github.com/Maschell/JNUSTool/releases JNUSTool] - Useful for redownloading system files
 (yes I only got 2 in mind)
@@ Line 30: / Line 28: @@
 Calm down. There are 3 main ways for you to get the Common Key.
-# Use GaryOderNicht's tool (Windows only)
+# Use [https://github.com/GaryOderNichts/WiiUCommonKeyExtractor GaryOderNicht's tool] (Windows only)
-# Use Acer51's tool (Windows, macOS and Linux)
+# Use [https://github.com/acer51-doctom/commonkey_extractor Acer51's tool] (Windows, macOS and Linux)
 # Manually.

Acer51: Created the page (still a work in progress)

2025-07-10T10:08:26Z

Created the page (still a work in progress)

New page

= WARNING! This is in a Work In Progress state! =

= Using a Common Key (Wii U) =

== What is a Common Key for? ==
The common key is a key in hexadecimal that is the main way of decrypting things. Every Wii U has a unique one that '''can't''' be changed or modified in any way. It is located in the OTP.bin you are supposed to save once you've made the backup to all your important files.

== How come it is ''that'' important? ==
Well, as said before, it is one of the many keys used to decrypt console files. If you find '''any way''' to modify it, you're basically locked out with the wrong key to decrypt your console's contents which means you got a hard brick. That can't be recovered. The OTP is a 1024B file that contains '''all''' the keys to your Wii U console.

== Where is that key located on the motherboard? ==
The OTP ('''O'''ne '''T'''ime '''P'''rogrammable key) is located in the SoC ('''S'''ystem '''o'''n a '''C'''hip) of the console which somehow is easily replaceable but you can't write to it... Thanks, Nintendo.

== Any other things I should be aware of? ==
In a short way, yes. In a long way, there are multiple other part of the SoC like the SEEPROM, SLC, SLCCMPT and things like that.

In my knowledge, the SLC, SLCCMPT and '''''maybe''''' SEEPROM is writable. There's also the MLC but it is not part of the SoC. It is part of the NAND.

== Why would I need this key? ==
Why? Because, for some tools that don't already have a self extracting tool to get your Common Key when redownloading for exemple, System Files (I'm watching you JNUSTool), it can be useful to have it!

Here's non-exhaustive list of all the software that uses the Common Key:

* UWUVCI - Useful for making Wii Virtual Consoles Injects
* JNUSTool - Useful for redownloading system files

(yes I only got 2 in mind)

== But, I don't know how to extract/get it! ==
Calm down. There are 3 main ways for you to get the Common Key.

# Use GaryOderNicht's tool (Windows only)
# Use Acer51's tool (Windows, macOS and Linux)
# Manually.