Android Ported to the Nintendo Switch

Security vulnerabilities are an interesting flavor of bugs in software as they allow those with malicious intent to harm a user or business but they can also be used to expand the feature set of a given device. One of the more famous examples was during the early days of iOS where ‘jailbreaking’ would open up Apple’s phones to a new marketplace that could enable new functionality.

If you have a Nintendo Switch, specifically most devices sold before July of 2018, a variant of Android has been ported to the device; LineageOS 15.1 now works on the device. The port comes thanks to XDA members Langer Hans and Bylaws who ported the OS to run on the Switch via an SD card.

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday — and get free copies of Paul Thurrott's Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides (normally $9.99) as a special welcome gift!

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

While Nintendo may not be a fan of this port and clearly this is only for those who like to tinker with hardware, it does open up the hardware to more experimentation. As of right now, it supports Nvidia Shield applications which means that you can play Half-Life and Portal with the hardware.

The process to get your device running Lineage OS does take a bit of work and you can find those details here. Even though this will likely remain a small project and few will actually run Android on their Switch, for those that do, Nintendo’s handheld has become a lot more functional.

Tagged with

Share post

Please check our Community Guidelines before commenting

Conversation 6 comments

  • MikeGalos

    28 July, 2019 - 7:50 pm

    <p>And why would you? Cheaper Android-compatible hardware already exists.</p>

    • Pungkuss

      29 July, 2019 - 7:05 am

      <blockquote>Maybe Paul missed the part where it dual boots. That's the only thing that makes sense. The whole purpose of the switch is the great Nintendo IP. If you could duel boot into Android for those time when you want to play something else, then maybe. I would be concerned about messing my switch up.</blockquote><blockquote><a href="#445712"><em>In reply to MikeGalos:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

  • skane2600

    28 July, 2019 - 11:56 pm

    <p>"Jeez, what a waste of machinery."</p>

  • Stooks

    29 July, 2019 - 12:41 am

    <p>Wow two things I don't want, the switch and Linux. I guess if you are bored it something to break.</p>

  • spacein_vader

    Premium Member
    29 July, 2019 - 3:52 am

    <p>I understand the motivation for the original tinkers (it's a challenge,) but don't see why anyone would want to do this past then. As others have said, there are cheaper ways of running Android </p>

    • Thom77

      29 July, 2019 - 12:55 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#445736">In reply to spacein_vader:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>There are PS1, PS2, and PSP emulators on Android that are really good and could turn your Nintendo Switch into a portable PS2 where you could play, for example, NCAA football and basketball games, that arent made anymore, on the go.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Thurrott © 2024 Thurrott LLC