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How to play Nintendo Switch with Raspberry Pi Pico W


Using hid‑forwarder on a Pico W with Playability (Bluetooth Mode)



This guide explains how to flash and configure the hid‑forwarder firmware on a Raspberry Pi Pico W so that it can forward Bluetooth HID events. The Pico W will then pair with the Playability interface (or Playability.gg client) to receive and process these HID events.


1) Requirements



  • Raspberry Pi Pico W
    (Note: This guide assumes you are using the Pico W, which supports wireless connectivity.)
  • USB-C Cable
    (For connecting the Pico W to your computer.)
  • hid‑forwarder Firmware (Bluetooth‑enabled)
    (Download the latest UF2 file from the hid‑forwarder GitHub repository.)
  • Playability Interface
    (Installed on your PC or device to connect via Bluetooth.)



2) Flashing the hid‑forwarder Firmware onto the Pico W



  1. Download the Firmware UF2 File


  • Ensure you download the version of the firmware that is configured (or can be configured) for Bluetooth HID forwarding.
  1. Enter Bootloader Mode on the Pico W:


  • Press and hold the BOOTSEL button.
  • While holding the button, connect the Pico W to your computer using the USB‑C cable.
  • The Pico W will appear as a mass storage device (named RPI-RP2).
  1. Copy the UF2 File:


  • Drag and drop the UF2 file onto the RPI-RP2 drive.
  • The Pico W will automatically reboot into the hid‑forwarder firmware.



3) Activating Bluetooth Pairing



  1. Activate Pairing Mode on the Pico W:


  • If not automatic, press the designated button (or use the configured method) on the Pico W to enable Bluetooth pairing.
  • The device should advertise itself as a Bluetooth HID device.
  1. From the Playability Interface:


  • Open the Playability or Playability.gg client on your PC or smartphone.
  • Use the Bluetooth scan/search function to look for nearby devices.
  • Select the Pico W (it may appear with a name set in the configuration) and pair with it.
  1. Confirm Pairing:


  • Once paired, the Pico W’s status (or its onboard LED) should indicate a successful connection.


4) Enable serial output and connect with PlayAbility



  1. Connect
  • If the Pico W is set up to capture events from an external HID device, ensure it is connected via the appropriate interface (this may involve a USB host adapter if the device is not Bluetooth).


  1. Use a PlayAbility profile with gamepad output




5) Troubleshooting



Bluetooth Pairing Issues


  • Device Not Discoverable?
  • Ensure the Pico W is in pairing mode.
  • Reboot the Pico W and try again.
  • Playability Doesn’t Detect the Device:
  • Verify that the Pico W’s Bluetooth is enabled in the firmware configuration.
  • Check for any interference or other active Bluetooth connections.


HID Data Not Forwarding


  • Confirm that your HID device is correctly connected and that the Pico W firmware is configured to read its events.
  • If using a configuration file, double-check that all parameters (such as report descriptors) are correct.
  • Use the serial console (if available) to view debug logs from the Pico W.


Re-Flashing or Reverting


  • To update or revert the firmware, simply repeat the flashing process described in Section 2 with the appropriate UF2 file.


Conclusion



By following these steps, you can


Updated on: 16/02/2025