Hactool, by default, often looks for prod.keys in the same folder you are running the command from.
Copy the Lockpick_RCM payload to your SD card or your payload injector payload folder.
Even after following the steps above, you may run into issues. Here’s how to fix them: hactool prod.keys does not exist
: The warning is likely harmless—check if your extraction is working correctly. If not, verify your keys file is complete and up-to-date for your firmware version.
Using the -k parameter is considered the best practice as it's explicit and eliminates all ambiguity about which file is being used. Hactool, by default, often looks for prod
If you are delving into the world of Nintendo Switch homebrew, game extraction, or file analysis, you have almost certainly encountered the command-line tool hactool . Hactool is an essential utility for decrypting, extracting, and inspecting Nintendo Switch file formats (such as NCA, NRO, NSO, and XCI).
hactool --keys=./prod.keys game.nca --outdir=extracted Here’s how to fix them: : The warning
If you are using the Windows Command Prompt, PowerShell, or macOS/Linux Terminal and are executing hactool commands manually, you can simply drop the prod.keys file in the where your hactool executable is located.
If you are working across different environments, many users rename their prod.keys to keys.dat or keep a backup of title.keys in the same folder. While hactool primarily wants prod.keys , having a complete prevents further errors during complex extractions. To help you get this running, let me know: Are you on Windows, macOS, or Linux ? Do you already have your keys dumped from your console? Are you trying to extract a game (.nca) or a system update ?