Tinfoil, a handy app for Nintendo Switch, helps you handle and add games and apps to your console.
Like any software, it may encounter errors that can hinder the gaming experience.
The error ‘Failed To Write To Placeholder’ is a common problem faced by Tinfoil users.
The full error message usually reads: “Failed to write to place holder! This is usually caused by not having enough available space on your SD card or NAND. It is also caused by corrupted exFAT SD cards (which you should not be using).”
In this article, we will explore the potential causes of this error and explore effective solutions to fix it.
Why Is “Failed To Write To Placeholder” On Tinfoil?
If you see ‘Failed to write to placeholder’ on your Nintendo Switch when using Tinfoil to install games, it means there’s a problem.
This could be because you don’t have enough space on your SD card, the game files are messed up, your Tinfoil app isn’t right, or some other issues.
This error stops the installation process from working properly because it can’t create a temporary file called a placeholder.
Luckily, we were able to find some workarounds that might help you fix this issue.
If these workarounds do not resolve the problem, it is recommended that you contact the support team for further assistance.
How To Fix “Failed To Write To Placeholder” On Tinfoil?
To resolve the issue of “Failed to write to placeholder” on Tinfoil, you should ensure that you have sufficient space on the SD card, make sure that sigpatches are up to date, and, lastly, if nothing else works for you, then uninstall and reinstall Tinfoil.
We have discussed the fixes in greater detail below.
1. Check The Available Space On The SD Card
First, check how much space is left on your SD card.
If it’s running low on space, you might see that error message.
To fix it, just delete some stuff from the card to free up some space.
2. Check For Update Sigpatches
If your games aren’t running smoothly, it’s important to check if your sigpatches are using the latest version.
Sigpatches help you bypass Nintendo’s security and make homemade apps work.
If your sigpatches are outdated, it can mess up game compatibility and cause issues while using.
To update sigpatches for Tinfoil, users can follow these steps:
- Users can search for sigpatches online or download them from a trusted source like GitHub.
- Users can download the sigpatches that correspond to their current Atmosphere version and Switch firmware.
- Users can extract the downloaded sigpatches and copy the contents to the root of their Switch SD card.
- If users already have sigpatches on their SD card, they can replace them with new ones.
3. Uninstall And Reinstall Tinfoil
Lastly, if none of the above solutions has worked for you, try uninstalling Tinfoil from your device and then reinstalling it from the official website.
Once the application is reinstalled check if the error still persists or not.
Here are the steps to uninstall and reinstall Tinfoil:
- Go to the home screen of the Nintendo Switch.
- Select “Data Management” from the System Settings menu.
- Select “Manage Software.”
- Find Tinfoil in the list of installed software and select it.
- Select “Delete” to remove Tinfoil from the Switch.
- Download the Tinfoil Installer homebrew application from a trusted source like an official website or GitHub.
- Copy the Tinfoil Installer .nro file to the root of the Switch SD card.
- Launch the Tinfoil Installer from the homebrew menu on the Switch.
- Follow the prompts on the Tinfoil Installer to install Tinfoil on the Switch.
- Delete the old Tinfoil installation if it still exists on the SD card.
4. Contact Tinfoil Support
If the previous solutions didn’t work, it’s best to reach out to Tinfoil support for assistance.
They can give you personalized guidance and solutions that are more suitable for you.