Various L4T-based linux distributions are available to build.
You can use Jet-Factory to build a distribution for your Switch (still in beta, may not always work).
For official support on desktop based linux distros you can join Linux 4 Switch Official Discord
The state of each distributions available is variable here is a little table reporting the state of it (click on a distro to download):
| Distro | State | Version | Official EOL | Description | Maintainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Bionic | Active | 18.04 | ELTS: 4/2028 | Main L4T distribution | CTCaer |
| Lakka 4.X | Active | 4.X | - | L4T BSP based port | gavin_darkglider |
| Fedora | Active | 37 | STS: 12/2023 | L4T BSP based port | azkali |
| Ubuntu Jammy | Active (Beta) | 22.04 | ELTS: 4/2032 | L4T BSP based port | theofficialgman |
| - | - | - | |||
| - | - | - |
Active = Actively supported distribution.
Abandoned = No support, may be broken, please don't bother devs about these builds they exist for transparency and historical reasons.
Insert SD card to your PC
Download TegraRcmGUI for Windows and run "TegraRcmGUI_vX.X_installer.msi" to install TegraRCMGUI (follow on-screen instructions).
Launch "TegraRCMGUI" and Install The APX driver if needed. This can be located in "Setting" -> "Install Driver"
Download Hekate latest release and extract "heakte_ctcaer_X.X.bin"
Connect your switch to your PC/device via usb cable.
First, power off your Switch then insert the RCM Jig in the right joycon rail and press/hold VOLUME UP + POWER BUTTON for three seconds to enter into RCM
Find and select "heakte_ctcaer_X.X.bin" under "Select payload:" and hit "Inject payload". Then your Switch should now be in Hekate bootloader.
First time Linux installation
The process in hekate is destructive, so you need to backup your fat partition files (if they are more than 1GB total) or emuMMC.
Move the sliders as you want them and then hit next. You will have plenty of chances/warns to backup your stuff if it's needed.
bootloader
|- ini
| |- L4T-XXXXXXX.ini
|- sys
| |- l4t
|- bpmpfw_b01.bin
|- mtc_tbl_b01.bin
|- sc7entry.bin
|- sc7exit.bin
|- sc7exit_b01.bin
switchroot
|- install
| |- l4t.00 (4092 MiB parts. Last part can be 4 MiB aligned)
| |- l4t.01
| |- ...
| |- l4t.XX
|- ubuntu
|- boot.scr
|- bl31.bin
|- bl33.bin
|- uImage
|- initramfs
|- nx-plat.dtimg