Key takeaways
- According to user reports, boot your Wii U to prevent memory corruption issues.
- Some Wii U consoles may be experiencing memory failures due to lack of power.
- The Wii U community is working on a fix for the memory failure, but it's not a simple fix.
Nintendo Wii U Owners may have to start booting their console again due to possible system death. The Wii U has been around since 2012, so understandably, there may be some lingering concerns about its lifespan.
Some consider the system a general failure compared to its successful predecessor, the Wii, due to the extreme difference in sales between the two consoles. Not to mention, the platform also had a smaller list of games available than its contemporaries, most of which are now available on other systems as well. With many now thinking that Wii U games should be ported to the Switch 2, there may naturally be less reason for owners to boot their consoles. However, a new report may force Wii U owners to take another look at their systems.

related to
Nintendo fans scored to preserve the game before the 3DS and Wii U servers shut down
Nintendo fans come together to create the SpotPass Archive Project, which preserves 3DS and Wii U gaming content after servers are shut down.
A tweet by Patrick B of Retro Blast encouraged users to plug in their Wii U immediately. Based on their experience, the system suffered from memory corruption due to prolonged power outages. While it was said that other error codes differed for some users, the codes all meant a system memory problem. The Wii U's memory chips were made by Toshiba, Samsung, and Hynix, with the latter reportedly being the most prone to failure. After Nintendo previously announced that it had run out of replacement parts for the Wii U, gamers experiencing memory failures on their systems may be out of luck. However, it is important to note that Nintendo has not commented on this situation. There is still the possibility that other factors can trigger these errors.
How can Wii U owners fix the problem?
Retro Blast advises owners to play games and load apps while the system is booting, as effects can sometimes be delayed. The user also shared a possible solution called NAND-AID created by Twitter user Voltar. NAND-AID is a physical ENIG interface that replaces failed eNAND and acts as a replacement. It looks like the platform may have a chance to survive as the Wii U community can come up with many creative solutions to solve the problem. However, the solution is still not as easy as the current plug-and-play, as it deals with internal chipsets.
Still, this seems like a valid concern for many console owners in the modern age. Retro Blast questioned why consoles like the N64 from 1996 are more durable than the Wii U, which was released a decade earlier. With the modern features that come with new systems, the possibility of more problems to worry about can also increase. Collectors of older consoles like the Wii U may need to check on their systems and take them out of their display cases once in a while.

Nintendo Wii U
The Nintendo Wii U was the original successor to the Nintendo Wii and featured upgraded motion controls as well as a new controller that featured a touch-screen tablet interface. It was part of the eighth generation of console wars and went toe-to-toe with Xbox One and PS4.
- brand
- Nintendo
- Original release date
- November 18, 2012
- Original MSRP (USD)
- $299Deluxe sets: $349
- weight
- 3.3 lbs