This article will show you how to play a game on a Wii console that is stored on a flash drive. Note that this can be done on the classic Wii, but not on the Wii U. To play from a flash drive, the Wii must have a Homebrew channel, which will void the Wii warranty and violate Nintendo's terms of use. Once you've installed everything you need, copy the game from disc to flash drive, then you can play from the drive instead of the disc.
Steps
Part 1 of 7: Preparing for Installation
Step 1. Make sure you have everything you need
You will need the following:
- SDHC Card - A card with a capacity of up to 8 GB is required to install Homebrew and other tasks.
- Flash drive - the game will be recorded on it.
- Wii Remote - If you have a newer (black) Wii model, you will need a Wii Universal Remote.
Step 2. Format the flash drive with the FAT32 file system
To do this, in the Formatting window, select FAT32 (or MS-DOS (FAT) on a Mac) from the File System menu.
Keep in mind that formatting a flash drive will erase all files on it, so first back up important data and copy it to your computer or other flash drive
Step 3. Remove the game disc from the Wii (if necessary)
Step 4. Connect the Wii to the Internet
This is necessary to install the required files.
Step 5. Install Homebrew on Wii
This channel allows you to install custom mods, one of which will allow you to play from a flash drive.
Step 6. Format the SD card
When you install Homebrew from your SD card, format it to write the files you want.
As with a flash drive, select "FAT32" (or "MS-DOS (FAT)" on a Mac) as the file system
Part 2 of 7: Create a Wii Flash Drive
Step 1. Use a Windows computer
Unfortunately, you can't create a Wii flash drive on a Mac. If you don't have access to a Windows computer, try using your school or friend's computer.
Step 2. Determine the bitness of Windows
You need to find out if Windows is 64-bit or 32-bit in order to download the corresponding file.
Step 3. Open the WBFS Manager website
Go to https://wbfsmanager.codeplex.com/ in a web browser.
Step 4. Click on DOWNLOADS
It's an option at the top of the page.
Step 5. Click on the download link
It depends on the bitness of the system:
- 64-bit - Click WBFSManager 3.0 RTW x64 under OTHER AVAILABLE DOWNLOADS (Other Available Downloads).
- 32-bit - Click WBFSManager 3.0.1 RTW x86 under RECOMMENDED DOWNLOAD.
Step 6. Open the downloaded archive (ZIP file)
To do this, double click on it.
Step 7. Double click on the setup
You will find it in the open archive. An installer window will open.
Step 8. Install the program
For this:
- Check the box next to “I agree” and click “Next”.
- Click Next twice.
- Click Install.
- Uncheck the "Show Readme" box.
- Click Finish.
Step 9. Connect the flash drive to the USB port on your computer
Step 10. Launch WBFS Manager
To do this, double-click on the Wii console icon on a blue background.
This icon should be on your computer desktop
Step 11. Click OK when prompted
The main WBFS Manager window will open.
Step 12. Select your flash drive
Open the "Disk" menu in the upper left corner of the window, and then click on the drive letter (usually "F:").
If you don't know the drive letter of your flash drive, open This PC window and find it under Devices and Drives
Step 13. Format your flash drive
Click Format at the top of the window, then click Yes> OK when prompted.
Step 14. Remove the USB stick
Click on the flash drive icon in the lower right corner of the screen, select Eject from the menu and disconnect the drive from your computer.
You may need to click on "^" to display the USB flash drive icon
Part 3 of 7: Downloading the installation files
Step 1. Insert the SD card into your computer
Insert it into the SD card slot with the sticker facing up.
If your computer doesn't have an SD card slot, buy a USB SD card adapter
Step 2. Open the site from which you will download the file
Go to https://app.box.com/s/ztl5x4vlw56thgk1n4wlx147v8rsz6vt in a web browser.
Step 3. Click Download
It's a blue button in the middle of the page. The archive (ZIP file) will be downloaded to your computer.
Step 4. Extract the files
On a Windows computer, double-click the archive, click Extract at the top of the window, click Extract All in the toolbar, and then click Extract when prompted. The files will be extracted to a regular folder, which will open when the process finishes.
On a Mac, just double-click the zip file to open it
Step 5. Open the Files folder
To do this, double-click the “USB Loader GX” folder and then double-click the “Files” folder.
Step 6. Copy the files
Click on any file in the folder, press Ctrl + A (Windows) or ⌘ Command + A (Mac) to select all files, and then press Ctrl + C (Windows) or ⌘ Command + C (Mac) to copy the files.
Step 7. Click on the name of your SD card
You will find it in the left pane of the window.
Step 8. Paste the files
Click in an empty space in the SD card window and then press Ctrl + V (Windows) or ⌘ Command + V (Mac). The files will be copied to the SD card.
Step 9. Remove the card
Do this when copying is complete:
- Windows - Click on the Manage tab at the top of the SD card window and then click Eject in the toolbar.
- Mac - Click the upward arrow to the right of the SD card name in the left pane.
Part 4 of 7: Installing the IOS263 software
Step 1. Insert SD card into Wii
Insert the card into the slot on the front of the console.
Step 2. Turn on the Wii
Press the power button on the Wii or on the remote control.
The Wii Remote must be turned on and synced to the console
Step 3. Press A when prompted
The main menu will open.
Step 4. Start the Homebrew channel
From the Wii Main Menu, select the homebrew channel and then select Start when prompted.
Step 5. Select IOS263 Installer
It's an option in the middle of the menu. A menu will open.
Step 6. Select Load when prompted
You will find this option at the bottom and center of the menu.
Step 7. Press button 1
The "Install" option will be selected.
If you're using a GameCube controller, press the Y button instead
Step 8. Select (Boot IOS from NUS)
It's an option at the bottom of the page.
If you don't see this option, highlight the text in brackets at the bottom of the screen and press Right until you find it
Step 9. Press A when prompted
IOS263 base will be installed on Wii. This process can take up to 20 minutes.
Step 10. Press any button when prompted
You will be taken to the Homebrew menu.
Part 5 of 7: Installing cIOSX Rev20b Software
Step 1. Select cIOSX rev20b Installer
It's an option in the middle of the Homebrew menu.
Step 2. Select Load when prompted
The installer menu will open.
Step 3. Scroll left to the "IOS236" option
The IOS236 file that you installed earlier will be selected.
Step 4. Press A to confirm your choice
Step 5. Agree to the terms of use
To do this, press "A" on the controller.
Step 6. Select the IOS version
Press "Left" until you see "IOS56 v5661" in parentheses, and then press "A".
Step 7. Select a custom IOS slot
Press "Left" until you see "IOS249" in parentheses, and then press "A".
Step 8. Select the network installation
Press "Left" until you see "Network installation" in brackets.
Step 9. Start the installation
To do this, press "A".
Step 10. Press any button when prompted
You will proceed to the next step of the installation.
Step 11. Choose another version of IOS
Press "Left" until you see "IOS38 v4123" in parentheses, and then press "A".
Step 12. Choose another slot
Press "Left" until you see "IOS250" in parentheses, and then press "A".
Step 13. Use the network installer
Select "Network installation" and press "A" and then wait for the installation to complete.
Step 14. Press any button when prompted, and then press button B
The Wii will reboot.
Part 6 of 7: Installing USB Loader GX
Step 1. Go to the next page
To do this, press the right arrow on the Wii Remote D-panel.
You can also click the "+" button
Step 2. Select WAD Manager
This is the second option on the page.
Step 3. Select Load when prompted
The WAD Manager installer will launch.
Step 4. Press A to accept the terms of use
Step 5. Select "IOS249" to download
Press "Left" until you see "IOS249" in parentheses, and then press "A".
Step 6. Disable the emulator
Select "Disable" in brackets and press "A".
Step 7. Select your SD card
Select "Wii SD Slot" in parentheses and then press "A". A list of files on the inserted SD card will open.
Step 8. Scroll down and select WAD
It's an option at the bottom of the screen.
Step 9. Select USB Loader GX
Scroll down to select "USB Loader GX-UNEO_Forwarder.wad" and then press "A".
Step 10. Install WAD Manager
Press "A" when prompted.
Step 11. Press any button when prompted, and then press the Home ⌂ button
The Wii will reboot and you will be taken back to the second Homebrew channel page.
Part 7 of 7: Launching Games from a Flash Drive
Step 1. Press the Home button again
You will find it on the Wii Remote. The main menu will open.
Step 2. Select Shutdown
It's an option at the bottom of the menu. The Wii will turn off.
Wait for the Wii to turn off completely
Step 3. Insert the flash drive into the USB port on the back of the Wii
Step 4. Turn on the Wii
To do this, press the power button.
Step 5. Press A when prompted
The Wii Main Menu will open and look for the “USB Loader GX” option (to the right of the Homebrew channel).
Step 6. Select USB Loader GX
It's an option on the right side of the page.
Step 7. Select Start
USB Loader GX starts up.
- This process can take several minutes, especially when you start the program for the first time.
- If the message “Waiting for your slow USB” appears, try plugging the flash drive into a different USB port on the back of the Wii.
Step 8. Insert the disc with the game you want to copy to the flash drive into the Wii
Step 9. Select Install when prompted
Reading the contents of the disc will begin.
Step 10. Select OK when prompted
Copying the game from the disc to the flash drive will begin.
This process will take quite a long time, and the progress indicator may freeze for a while. Do not remove the flash drive or reboot the Wii while copying
Step 11. Select OK when prompted
The recording process will be completed.
The game disc can now be ejected from the Wii
Step 12. Start the game
Click on the name of the game, and then click on the spinning disk icon in the middle of the window.
Advice
- You can use an external hard drive instead of a flash drive.
- A single Wii game is typically around 2 gigabytes in size, so buy a flash drive with sufficient capacity.
- When you are on the main page of USB Loader GX, press the "1" button to update the cover of each game on the flash drive.
Warnings
- Do not turn off the Wii while installing the software mentioned in this article.
- Copying games as described is against Nintendo's terms of use and laws in general.