After copying files to your SD card from a Mac, homebrew or games misbehave, files appear duplicated or unusable, or JKSV cannot work with folders it should recognise. In most reported cases the cause is the archive bit set by macOS on copied files, and this guide gives you two steps: fixing it with Hekate, and preventing it next time.
Why Mac copies cause this
macOS sets an archive attribute on files it writes to removable media, and the Switch interprets that attribute on folders in a way that breaks normal handling — a folder flagged this way can be treated as a file. The result is confusing behaviour across homebrew that reads those folders, which is why the symptom often appears right after a Mac was used to copy JKSV, backups, or other content to the card.
Windows copies do not typically cause this problem, which is a useful diagnostic clue: if the trouble started immediately after the card was in a Mac, the archive bit should be your first suspect, ahead of reinstalling anything.
Step 1: Fix the archive bit in Hekate
Hekate, the bootloader commonly used with Atmosphère, includes a dedicated tool for exactly this problem. Boot into Hekate — the current release is v6.5.4 — open Tools, and run Fix Archive Bit. Hekate scans the SD card and clears the problematic attribute from the folders it finds.
- Boot into Hekate instead of directly into Atmosphère.
- Open the Tools section.
- Select Fix Archive Bit and let it complete its scan.
- Boot into Atmosphère and test JKSV and your other homebrew again.
This fix is non-destructive to your save data: it changes a file attribute, not file contents. Your JKSV backups in /JKSV/ remain exactly as they were, just correctly recognised again.
Step 2: Prevent it on future Mac copies
Knowing the cause makes prevention simple. After any session where a Mac writes to the SD card — copying a new JKSV.nro, moving backups, adding any content — run Hekate’s Fix Archive Bit once before judging whether anything is broken. Making it a habit after Mac copies turns a confusing class of problems into a ten-second routine.
Alternatively, transfer files using methods that do not involve the Mac writing directly to the card’s folders in the same way, if your setup offers one you trust. Whichever route you choose, test JKSV immediately after a copy session so any problem is linked to the copy in your mind, not discovered weeks later without context.
Next steps and related guides
This guide is part of our troubleshooting hub collection. Before you start, get the current build from the download page. You may also find these guides useful: JKSV not showing in menu and install JKSV correctly.
JKSV is JK’s Save Manager by developer J-D-K, released under GPL-3.0 for Nintendo Switch 1 with Atmosphère. The current release is the date-based tag 12/02/2025. Always keep a second copy of important backups on your PC or in cloud storage, and test a restore on a non-critical save before you rely on a backup for a game you care about.