Nintendo’s Switch is one of the greatest handheld consoles of all time. However, Nintendo’s closed ecosystem leaves very little in the name of modding. That said, developers have come up with custom firmware and solutions that will let you change your Switch inside out.
In this article, we’re talking about a fatal error that occurs when running Atmosphere, a custom firmware for the Switch. We’ll be going over the reasons this error happens and what you can do to fix the problem.
What causes the “a fatal error occurred when running Atmosphere” issue?
There are several reasons why you might run into this problem including:
- Incorrect flashing method
- The firmware wasn’t installed correctly
- Corrupt or missing files during the bootup process
- Corrupt SD card
Also read: How long does it take for Switch controllers to charge?
How to fix the “a fatal error occurred when running Atmosphere” issue?
Based on the approach you took to install Atmosphere, deleting the folder with the titleid from the error will fix your problem. You’ll find this folder in the atmosphere/contents subdirectory. The same also applies to your edizon folder. Deleting both or either of these folders based on what appears in your Atmosphere installation’s file structure and restarting the entire boot process can fix the issue.
A corrupt SD card is also often the cause of such errors. If deleting folders didn’t do the trick, insert the SD card into your PC and check it for file system errors. Alternatively, you can just format the SD card in the right partition or swap it out completely.
Last but not least, if the process doesn’t work, your best bet is to restore your Switch to factory settings and start the installation process from the beginning.
Also read: Nintendo Switch dock not working: 6 Fixes
