IOS history

This page is intended to track changes in IOS ( the operating system that runs on Starlet) such as: added features, bug fixes, etc. It will also cover what different minor versions are known to exist.

Overview

The Title ID of the IOSes follow this convention "00000001-000000xx" where xx is the IOS number in hexadecimal. The "IOS number" is best thought of as a "Major" version number for the firmware, and probably corresponds to a specific version of Nintendo's (proprietary) SDK -- for example, the version of the SDK used to compile Zelda: Twilight Princess probably was tailored to run on IOS9.

In general, IOSx0 is used for the system menu (IOS20, IOS30, IOS50, IOS60). IOSx1 seems to be used for Nintendo channels (e.g. IOS31, IOS51, IOS61).

Each IOS has a 16-bit "version number" in its TMD; this version number is seen in decimal form in the filenames of IOS WADs on update partition (e.g. "IOS9-v516.wad" for version 516 (decimal)). Converted to hex, that 516 becomes 0x0204, and can be read as "2.4" -- IOS9, version 2.4.

As a rule, an existing IOS will never have new features added to it, to protect binary compatibility. This means that any updates for existing IOSes are only meant to fix bugs -- generally, security bugs.

Future of IOS

As of late 2008, Nintendo has been replacing some versions of IOS with small non-functional "place holder" IOSes. This is to prevent the reuse of the IOS "slot" for software other than official Nintendo Software which utilized that IOS number. Nintendo can come back at a later date if necessary and "reuse" an IOS slot at their own discretion by simply increasing the version number of the title and replacing it with a functional IOS once again. These IOSes have been marked as "Mothballed" on the table denoting that they could quite possibly be reused in the future if Nintendo decides to do so.

Version Table

IOS Number	Minor(s)	Version Number(s)	Notes	NUS Availability	Status
IOS3	255.0	v65280	Non-functional "stub"?	Unavailable	Mothballed
IOS4	0.3, 1.3, 255.0	v3, v259, v65280	Previous versions only had minimal drivers (lacking KD, WL, WD, SSL), and were probably used during manufacturing and/or updating. 1st Version Timestamp is Aug 10, 2006. Replaced by a stub.	v65280	Mothballed
IOS9	2.4, 2.6, 2.8, 2.9	v516, v518, v520, v521	Has only one LED pattern: blinking. First "normal" IOS version. Used by Launch Wii Menu.	v520, v521	Active
IOS10	3.0	v768		v768	Mothballed
IOS11	0.10, v1.0	v10, v256	Internal timestamp says Nov 14 2006 16:26:01	v10, v256	Mothballed
IOS12	0.6, 0.11, 0.12	v6, v11, v12	Earliest Known IOS: June 4, 2006.	v6, v11, v12	Active
IOS13	0.10, 0.15, 0.16	v10, v15, v16		v10, v15, v16	Active
IOS14	1.1, 1.6, 1.7	v257, v262, v263		v262, v263	Active
IOS15	1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.9, 1.10	v257, v258, v259, v260, v265, v266	Contains NAND BOOT PROGRAM (AKA NANDloader) -- this was probably accidental	v257, v258, v259, v260, v265, v266	Active
IOS16	1.1, 2.0	v257, v512	Initially used for Wii Backup Disc. The version on the Wii Backup Disc was infamously used by pirates, until System Menu 4.0 mothballed this IOS as of v512. The mothballed version of IOS16 was retracted from the Korean SOAP server not long after its posting for unknown reasons.	v512	Mothballed
IOS17	2.0, 2.5, 2.6	v512, v517, v518		v512, v517, v518	Active
IOS20	0.12, 1.0	v12, v256	Feb 22 2007 04:25:59	v12, v256	Mothballed
IOS21	2.2, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.10, 2.13	v514, v515, v516, v517, v522, v525	Contains NAND BOOT PROGRAM. Most debugging messages are removed. Most common for third-party titles.	v514, v515, v516, v517, v522, v525	Active
IOS22	3.4, 3.9, 3.10	v772, v777, v780		v777, v780	Active
IOS28	5.8, 5.12, 5.13	v1288, v1292, v1293	Starting with IOS28, firmware is divided into 15 modules. Added some ioctls to /dev/es.	v1292, v1293	Active
IOS30	4.13, 4.15, 4.16, 10.16, 11.0	v1037, v1039, v1040, v2576, v2816	Added USB Keyboard support. Used by many previous versions of the System Menu.	v1037, v1039, v1040, v2576, v2816	Mothballed
IOS31	4.13, 4.15, 4.16, 10.16, 12.16, 12.20	v1037, v1039, v1040, v2576, v3088, v3092		v1037, v1039, v1040, v2576, v3088, v3092	Active
IOS33	4.16, 11.14, 11.16	v1040, v2832, v2834		v1040, v2832, v2834	Active
IOS34	4.15, 12.15, 12.19	v1039, v3087, v3091		v1039, v3087, v3091	Active
IOS35	4.16, 12.16, 12.20	v1040, v3088, v3092		v1040, v3088, v3092	Active
IOS36	4.18, 12.18, 12.22	v1042, v3090, v3094		v1042, v3090, v3094	Active
IOS37	8.22, 14.25, 14.28	v2070, v3609, v3612	First to fix the signature-checking function bug	v2070, v3609, v3612	Active
IOS38	14.19, 14.20	v3609, v3610	Introduced with Animal Crossing: City Folk.	v3610	Active
IOS40	9.17, 11.19, 12.0	v2321, v2835, v3072	Present in Korean system.	v3072	Mothballed
IOS41	9.16, 11.19	v2320, v2835, v3091	Present in Korean system.	v2835, v3091	Active
IOS43	9.16, 11.19	v2320, v2835, v3091	Present in Korean system.	v2835, v3091	Active
IOS45	9.16, 11.9	v2320, v2835, v3091	Present in Korean system.	v2835, v3091	Active
IOS46	9.18, 11.11	v2322, v2837, v3093	Present in "Need for Speed Undercover" and in "Shin Chuukadaisen" Korean.	v2837, v3093	Active
IOS50	19.25, 20.0	v4889, v5120	Came with the November 17, 2008 update. Used by System Menu 3.4.	v4889, v5120	Mothballed
IOS51	18.25, 19.0	v4633, v4864	Used by a previous Shop Channel. Released at same time as fixes to remaining fakesigning bugs.	v4633, v4864	Mothballed
IOS52	22.29	v5661, v5888	Included with and used by Korean System Menu 3.5.	v5661, v5888	Mothballed
IOS53	16.17, 20.29	v4113, v5149	Comes with Need for Speed Undercover.	v4113, v5149	Active
IOS55	18.25, 20.29	v4633, v5149	Comes with Need for Speed Undercover. Seems to have changes in the DI Module.	v4633, v5149	Active
IOS56	19.26	v4890	Used by the Wii Speak Channel 2.0.	v4890	Active
IOS57	21.51	v5404	Contains new or updated modules "OHCI0 USB USB_HID USB_HUB USB_MSC USB_VEN ETH"	v5404	Active
IOS60	24.30	v6174	Used by System Menu 4.0	v6174	Active
IOS61	19.26	v4890	Used by the Wii Shop Channel update that came with System Menu 4.0	v4890	Active
IOS254	12.16	v2, v3	Distributed along with all System Menus since System Menu 3.4 as a quick fix for PatchMii. It's just copy of IOS9.	v2, v3	Preventative