How to Connect an External Hard Drive to the Wii

By Marshal M. Rosenthal

Updated September 22, 2017

Items you will need

  • Windows-based computer

  • Internet access

  • Web browser

  • SD card reader

  • SD memory card

  • Wireless home network

  • USB cable

i Scott Barbour/Getty Images News/Getty Images

The Nintendo Wii doesn’t have a hard drive like other game consoles do. The Wii’s operating system does not allow for an external USB hard drive to be used, but this can be changed once the Wii has been modified (or “moded"). A moded Wii can have its operating system adjusted so that an external USB hard drive can be used for storage purposes. The adjustment does not require opening up the Wii or changing any of its electronics, but still violates the Nintendo warranty, although doing so is not illegal. You will be able to continue using your Wii as you normally do, but now storage space will be significantly increased.

Download a USB loading program to the desktop of the PC, for example, the USB loader program (see Resources). Double-click on the USB loading program once it has downloaded to decompress it to a file on the desktop.

Download a Custom I/O installer to the desktop of the PC, for example, the clOS installer program (see Resources). Double-click on the Custom I/O installer program once it has downloaded to decompress it to a file on the desktop.

Download a title deleter program to the desktop of the PC, for example, the "AnyTitle Deleter" program (see Resources). Double-click on the title deleter program once it has downloaded to decompress it to a file on the desktop.

Download a Wii manager program to the desktop of the PC, for example, the WBSF manager program that is available from an Wii moding website. Double-click on the Wii manger program once it has downloaded. Follow the menu prompts to install the program onto the PC’s hard drive. Restart the PC.

Insert the SD memory card into the memory slot of the SD card reader. Plug the USB cord of the SD card reader into a USB port on the PC. Wait for the icon of the SD memory card to appear on the PC’s desktop.

Double-click on the icon of the SD memory card to open its window. Right-click in the window and select “New folder” from the pop-up menu. Name the folder “Apps.”

Drag the USB loading file and the Custom I/O installer file and the Title deleter file into the “Apps” folder inside of the SD memory card’s window. Wait for the files to copy to the SD memory card. Close the window once the files have copied by clicking on the “X” in the upper-right corner.

Attach one end of the USB cable to the USB port on the external USB hard drive. Attach the other end of the USB cable to a USB port on the PC. Wait for the icon of the external USB hard drive to appear on the desktop.

Double-click on the Wii manager program’s icon to launch it. Select the name of the external USB hard drive from the “Devices” drop-down menu on the Wii manager program’s main screen. Click on “Yes” in the confirmation window that appears. Wait as the external USB hard drive is formatted. Quit the Wii manager program once the external USB hard drive has been formatted.

Right-click on the icon of the external USB hard drive that is on the desktop. Select “Eject” from the pop-up menu. Remove the external USB hard drive’s USB cable from the USB port on the PC.

Attach the USB cable from the external USB hard drive to a USB port on the Wii. Insert the SD memory card into the memory card slot on the Wii.

Select the “homebrew channel” icon from the Wii’s "Home" menu. Click on “Start” in the window that appears.

Click on the Title deleter file in the window that appears. Delete any “ISO 249” files that appear in a new window. Exit the Title deleter file.

Click on the Custom I/O installer file. Follow the menu commands to install the program. Exit the program.

Click on the USB loading program. Follow the menu commands to install the program. Click on the “Reboot” button to restart the Wii.

Tips

An external USB hard drive that has its own power supply will put less of a strain on the Wii.

Warnings

The external USB hard drive must be turned on before the Wii or the Wii won't be able to "see" that it is there.

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