WiiFlow

In this guide, you will be setting up WiiFlow, a simple option for a USB loader that allows you to backup and load games on an external hard drive. Additionally, you can load channels, homebrew apps, and more.

If you are using a USB hub, then all italicized text is specifically for you.

If you are NOT using a USB hub, then all bolded text is specifically for you.

What you’ll need

• A USB drive formatted as FAT32, NTFS, exFAT, or FAT16. If you don’t have a USB hub, then you will need to use the same drive that you use to load games, forcing you to use FAT32. If you are using a USB hub, then you can use any format you want, as you do not need to use the same drive for homebrew apps as you do for games.

• A Wii Mini with cIOS installed.

• A way to transfer files to your USB device

• WiiFlow (Direct Download)

Setting up WiiFlow

Plug in your USB drive to whatever device you are using to transfer files.

Plug in your USB drive designated for apps into your device used to transfer files.

Extract the WiiFlow.zip file that you downloaded earlier. Windows users can simply double click and drag the apps folder inside to merge or add to your USB drive. Linux or MacOS users must first extract the archive and drag the aforementioned apps folder to your USB drive to either add it or automatically merge it.

Eject your USB drive, and remove it once prompted by your operating system.

Plug your USB drive into the back of your Wii Mini

Plug your USB hub into your WIi Mini, and then plug both your games and apps USB drives into your USB hub.

On your Wii Mini, open the Homebrew Channel, and launch WiiFlow. Once you launch it, you should see the WiiFlow splash-screen, followed by a loading screen. You will be brought to a screen that says “Hello! I am WiiFlow. I have not found any games. Choose from the options below.”

WiiFlow is now ready for use.

Backing up games to your USB drive

Backing up Wii games is relatively simple in any USB loader. Once in WiiFlow, simply click the Install Game button at the games not found prompt. Choose USB. It will begin ripping the inserted disc to your USB drive.

Before ripping games, be sure you have chosen the right drive. Insert both of your USB drives in order, leaving no USB drive in-between. Choose USB1 if your games drive is inserted first. Choose USB2 if your games device is inserted second.

Downloading covers (requires USB hub)

WiiFlow will show you covers once you have downloaded them, but before that, you will be shown a big white ? on the cover of each game. We can fix that.

Press the home button. Then, click Settings The Download Covers option is the first one. You will have many choices for customization. If you want only stock covers for your console’s region, then just click Go without changing anything. If you want to spice it up, then you can set the preferred covers to Custom. Or, you can change the region as desired.

You’ll need the Internet for this process, something that can only be done with a USB ethernet adapter, and thus can’t be done with no USB hub.

You are done with WiiFlow.

You can now continue on to some things to keep in mind when running homebrew on the Wii Mini