This is the direct evolution of the original tool. It is functionally identical to the old Lockpick, but it uses a "signed" system module to extract keys on newer firmwares (18.0.0 and beyond) where the original fails.
You dump a partial key file from the console using an RCM tool, then use a PC's processing power to "crack" the final keys. This is often necessary for newer firmware versions where the standard derivation methods are blocked. Comparison Table Firmware Support Picklock_RCM Payload (.bin) Latest (19.0.0+) Standard key dumping for emulators. Hekate Bootloader System info and partial key derivation. Lockpick (NRO) App (.nro) Quick dumps (limited keys). PartialAesKeyCrack Mariko/OLED Deriving keys for modded newer consoles. lockpick rcm alternative
On early firmware, you could push a small RCM-like payload over WiFi (Caffeine or Nereba). From there, you could load to dump memory ranges containing keys. This is obsolete for most users—Lockpick_RCM is far simpler—but it’s a historical alternative if you lack USB-C payload injection. This is the direct evolution of the original tool
If you previously used Lockpick_RCM and synced your prod.keys to a cloud folder or another device: This is often necessary for newer firmware versions
It retains the same interface and logic as the original tool, automatically dumping keys to /switch/prod.keys on your SD card. 2. Hekate (Payload Dumping)
If you’ve started exploring Nintendo Switch homebrew or emulation (like Ryujinx or Yuzu), you’ve likely heard of . This is the gold-standard tool that dumps your console’s unique cryptographic keys (Prod.keys, Title.keys) directly from the system memory.
Lockpick_RCM was the industry standard for dumping console-unique keys (specifically the prod.keys and title.keys ) needed for emulators like Ryujinx and tools like hactool. However, with firmware updates (specifically starting around 17.0.0), the method Lockpick_RCM used to extract keys was patched, and the tool has largely been deprecated or flagged by antivirus software.