[TUTORIAL] Wii U: install Aroma on the latest firmware (5.5.6)

Step-by-step Nintendo Switch and Wii U tutorials: Atmosphère and hekate custom firmware, Aroma, backups, homebrews and safe updates.
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[TUTORIAL] Wii U: install Aroma on the latest firmware (5.5.6)

Post by Tgames »

Automatically translated from French.

[TUTO] Wii U : installer Aroma sur le dernier firmware (5.5.6)

Aroma is the current homebrew environment for the Wii U, successor to Tiramisu. It works on all Wii U consoles, all regions, up to the latest firmware (5.5.6 in North America, 5.5.5 elsewhere), with no hardware modification. The latest version is beta-27 (May 5, 2026).


What you need
  • An SD card formatted as FAT32 (32 KB clusters, using GUIFormat on Windows). Do not name it "wiiu".
  • Aroma's two zip files: Download Payloads and Download Base Aroma, from the official aroma.foryour.cafe site.
  • An Internet connection on the Wii U.
  • To also back up the internal memory (MLC): a card larger than this one (8 or 32 GB depending on the model).

Steps
  1. Extract the wiiu folder from both zips to the root of the SD card (the folders merge).
  2. On the Wii U, open the Internet Browser at the address wiiuexploit.xyz, launch Run Exploit! and hold B: the PayloadLoader menu opens.
  3. Launch nanddumper and set SLC, SLCCMPT, OTP and SEEPROM to Yes (MLC is optional). Start the backup.
  4. Copy slc.bin, slccmpt.bin, otp.bin and seeprom.bin (and the mlc.bin.part files) to a safe location on your PC. This is your safety net in case something goes wrong.
  5. Relaunch the exploit while holding X: the Environment Loader opens. Choose aroma, and press X on the warning message to block updates.
  6. From the Wii U menu, launch PayloadLoader Installer then Install / Update: Aroma will now start without going through the browser.
  7. Finish with the guide's "Finalizing setup" page (automatic boot, essential homebrews).

Good to know
  • A factory reset does not uninstall PayloadLoader: follow the guide's uninstallation page.
  • Aroma is still in beta: some older homebrews (.elf) only work with Tiramisu.
  • For Wii mode (vWii), see our tutorial "Hacking your Wii in 2026".

Sources and official guides: Wii U Guide · Aroma · Aroma versions

Tgames provides no games, BIOS, or keys: only use backups of your own games and your own console. Have a question? Reply to this thread.

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