Q&A for How to Play Wii Games from a USB Drive or Thumb Drive

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Question

How do I play games from my USB drive when the screen goes black?

Community Answer

If the Wii is stuck on the black screen, your console may have crashed. If you cannot force a shutdown, the only way is to unplug the Wii's power. If the screen goes black and returns to the Wii menu, you'll need to install a cIOS.

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Question

What if I have already 'hacked' my Wii? Do I just skip home-brewing again?

Community Answer

Yes, you should skip that step as you already hacked it and already can install homebrew apps.

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Question

How do I format my hard drive to play Wii games?

Community Answer

Use a tool such as WBFS manager or WiiBackup Manager to format your hard or USB drive to be used for Wii games.

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Question

Is it necessary that I format the SD card after installing the homebrew channel?

Community Answer

After homebew is installed, you only need to delete the files on your SD card. Formatting the card is not required.

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Question

Can I download a game, copy it to a USB drive, and then run it with the USB loader?

Community Answer

Unfortunately, that's not possible. You can install Wii ISOs from the internet, and then put it on your USB with the Wii backup manager.

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Question

I hacked my Wii and used Wii Backup manager and opened USB Loader GX. The image of the installed game worked, and I thought the gameplay worked, but it didn't it always send me back to the Wii menu. Why?

Milos Tosic

Community Answer

Did you try to load another game? It may be because the WBFS for that game is broken.

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Question

How do I turn my controller back on? On parts 3 and 4 it turns off and won't turn back on.

Community Answer

If you are using a black or any non-white Wii remote, it has the motion plus controller in it. Those Wii remotes will not work. Try using the generic white Wii remote. If that does not work, try plugging in the generic GameCube controller.

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Question

Regarding steps 4 and 5: it appears that the newer version of the files don't include the program from the second screenshot (the one in blue). Is it no longer necessary?

Community Answer

No. You only need to install the Homebrew Channel and USB Loader GX. Nothing else is needed.

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Question

Near the end of step 5, I close the "dop-mii," but the screen where I am supposed to press left until IOS36 does not pop up, and I am returned to the home screen. Is it successfully installed or did I do something wrong?

Community Answer

This guide is outdated. You just need to install the Homebrew Channel and use a Homebrew app called USB Loader GX. Some guides will recommend you format the drive with WBFS Manager, but this is unnecessary. Don't install cIOS's or use DOP-mii since those tools can ruin your Wii. If your Wii still works, don't try to install anything else!

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Question

How do I cheat in games? Can I cheat in online games?

B0ihelpz

Community Answer

You can mod games with a Homebrew App called Riivolution. You cannot cheat in online games, as Nintendo shut down their WiFi services for Wii.

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Question

Can I store multiple games on one disk?

MSG2

Community Answer

Yes, you can, but you will need a lot of space on your disk drive to do so.

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Question

I am stuck at 2.5%. What should I do?

Community Answer

Just plug the USB into another port on the Wii. This may help. If not, shut the Wii down and switch it back on again.

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Question

If I already have WBFS files, can I just put them into the WBFS folder on the hard drive and run the game from a USB loader?

Community Answer

You need to convert them with WBFS to ISO first, then convert it back with WBFS Manager since it recognizes only ISO and RAR formats.

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Question

Can I play downloaded ISOs and WBFS files on my Wii?

Community Answer

Yes, you can - just add to your USB stick with WBFS Manager.

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Question

I have a modded Wii that I found. It has Homebrew on it, but it didn't have the SD card in it. What do I do now to use emulators?

B0ihelpz

Community Answer

Get an SD card, format it as FAT32, create an "apps" folder (without quotes) and move Homebrew apps into that folder.

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Question

When I try to install a game on the USB, it freezes at 0.89%.I've been waiting for about 10 minutes now. Is that supposed to happen?

Milos Tosic

Community Answer

Yes, if you are not connected to the Internet. You can skip this step if you don't want a cover and move onto the game.

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Question

Can I use Japanese games on my hacked Wii?

Community Answer

Yes. Japanese games, along with any other region of games will work. Just make sure to adjust settings to fit the region, otherwise it won't work properly.

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Question

Can I put a game ISO on a Wii using the SD card instead of a disc?

Community Answer

Not on the SD card. You can, however, use a USB and use that for it instead.

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Question

Can I mod a Wii game if the CD is not working?

Community Answer

Yes; follow the steps above to play the game off a USB drive.

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Question

Is there any way I can install everything without connecting my Wii to the internet?

Community Answer

The process requires internet connectivity, as the Wii downloads necessary files.

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Question

How do I launch my USB launcher using the Wii?

Community Answer

Select the Homebrew Channel and hit "start". Find "USB Loader GX", click it, and click "Load".

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Question

What do I do if the loading bar isn't working when trying to play Wii games on a thumb drive?

Community Answer

When using a thumb drive, make sure it's in order and not damaged. This may affect your protocol.

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