Troubleshooting

Common problems and how to fix them. If something isn't listed here, use the beta tester page on the website to submit a bug report.

For installation, Switch IP, sys-botbase, save-folder tips, and SmartScreen, start with Getting Started.

Connection Problems

Can't Connect to Switch

• Check the IP address — Go to Switch Settings > Internet > Connection Status and confirm it matches what you entered in SDT
• Same Wi-Fi — Your PC and Switch must be on the same network
• sys-botbase installed? — The file should be at SD:/atmosphere/contents/430000000000000B/exefs.nsp. Reboot your Switch after installing. Step-by-step: Getting Started → Install sys-botbase.
• ACNH running? — Animal Crossing needs to be open on your Switch
• Character outside — Your character should be standing on your island, not in a building
• Restart both — Restart the Switch and try again
• Port — Default is 6000. Don't change it unless you know yours is different.
• Firewall — Your PC firewall might be blocking the connection. Try adding an exception for SDT.
• Only one app at a time — Only one program can connect to sys-botbase. Close ACNHPokerCore or any other tool first.

Connection Keeps Dropping

• Check your Wi-Fi signal strength
• Move the Switch closer to the router
• Use 5GHz Wi-Fi if available
• Set a static IP for your Switch in your router settings (prevents the IP from changing). Getting Started has tips for tracking IPs on multiple consoles.

Gate Automation Problems

Gate Opening Stops or Glitches

• Don't touch the controller — Any button press can interfere with automation
• Check anchors — Make sure all 4 are set correctly. Clear furniture or decorations near them.
• Increase Console Speed — In Island Settings, try increasing the delay. Start at 300-500ms.
• Internet Wait — If it fails while "connecting to internet," increase the Internet Connection Wait (try 60+ seconds)
• Airport Wait — If it fails during loading, increase the Airport Wait (try 30+ seconds)

Character Walks Into a Wall

• Re-set the Airport Entrance anchor — stand outside the airport, facing diagonally toward the door (same guidance as Getting Started and Island detail panel → Anchors)
• Clear any furniture near the airport entrance

Wrong Dialogue Selected

• Increase Console Speed
• Re-set the Orville anchor — make sure you're directly facing him
• Don't have other NPCs near the counter

No Dodo Code After Opening

• Wait a moment — the code may still be loading
• Check the Activity Log for errors
• Disconnect and reconnect
• Try opening the gate again

Character Stuck in a Wall or Object

Open Anchor Setup and use Fix Indoor or Fix Outdoor (you need to have set these safe points beforehand). That teleports your character to a safe position.

Map Freezing Problems

Items Not Going to Visitor Pockets

• Increase freeze rate — In Island Settings > Map Freeze, try 500ms or higher. Higher = more reliable but slower respawn.
• Use a map file — A .nhf3 file from ACNHPokerCore is more reliable than live capture
• Tell visitors to wait — Picking up items too fast can cause issues. Wait 1-2 seconds between pickups.

Freeze On But Items Not Respawning

• Make sure the freeze button is actually filled in (active)
• Try stopping and restarting the freeze
• Check that items were placed on the ground, not just dropped

Game Stutters or Lags During Freeze

• Increase the freeze rate (higher number = less frequent refreshes)
• Use a map file instead of live capture
• Check your network connection quality

Website Problems

Website Shows "Offline" (But Island Is Open)

• SDT running? — The website runs inside SDT. If it's closed, there's no data.
• Island connected? — At least one island needs to be connected
• Tunnel still on? — If using Cloudflare Tunnel, check it's still running. Restart if needed.
• Hard refresh — Tell visitors to try Ctrl+F5 to clear their browser cache

Public URL / Tunnel Won't Start

• The tunnel needs SDT (or HostHelper) to be running
• First time? It may need to download cloudflared. Wait for it to finish.
• Check your firewall — allow the program and cloudflared through
• Close and reopen the program, then try again

DodoBuilder Site Shows Old Data

Your custom website gets live data from HostHelper. SDT and HostHelper must stay running. The exported website files don't store data — they fetch it live every time.

Netlify Says "Page Not Found"

• Make sure you uploaded a file named index.html in the root of your folder
• File names are case-sensitive — match exactly what DodoBuilder exported

HostHelper Problems

HostHelper Says "No Islands"

• Start SDT first — HostHelper reads from SDT. If SDT isn't running, there's nothing to show.
• Firewall — Your firewall might be blocking the connection between programs. Add exceptions for both SDT and HostHelper.
• Refresh — Click the Refresh button on the Islands tab

HostHelper Won't Start (Start Button Grayed Out)

• Super Dodo Terminal needs to be running first
• Use Test Mode if you just want to explore the interface

Discord Problems

Webhook Messages Not Sending

• Verify the URL is correct (starts with https://discord.com/api/webhooks/)
• Check the channel still exists in Discord
• Try creating a new webhook

Bot Not Connecting

• Copy the token fresh from the Discord Developer Portal
• Make sure the bot is actually in your server
• Check the Server ID (Guild ID) is correct
• Verify Intents are enabled (Message Content + Server Members) in the Developer Portal

DMs Not Sending

• The player must be linked to their Discord ID first
• The bot must share a server with the player
• The player may have DMs disabled — there's nothing you can do about that

Queue Reactions Not Working

• Bot needs "Add Reactions" permission
• Bot needs "Read Message History" permission
• Check the queue channel ID is correct

Game-Specific Problems

Visitor Wearing Wetsuit Crashes the Session

On flat treasure islands, visitors in wetsuits can dive off edges and crash the game. This isn't something the program can fix. Use maps with cliffs around the edges, or ask visitors not to wear wetsuits.

"Drumsticks" Error / Unexpected Crash

If SDT closed unexpectedly while connected, the Switch might have leftover commands. SDT tries to clear them automatically next time. If problems persist, fully restart your Switch and try again.

General Problems

App Running Slowly

• Close other apps on your PC
• If you're freezing multiple maps at once, that uses more resources
• Try restarting the program

Settings Not Saving

• Make sure you click Save after making changes
• Check that the folder isn't read-only
• Don't run the program from a compressed/zipped folder — extract it first

Island Migrator or Save Confusion

If the Island Migrator misreads your folders or saves get mixed up, use the Recommended file organization section in Getting Started (named consoles, per-console folders, base saves).

Windows SmartScreen Warning

Click More info, then Run anyway. Because the program is new, Windows 11 may sometimes block it completely — you may need to adjust SmartScreen in Windows settings. This is normal for programs that are not yet widely signed. More detail: Getting Started → Download Super Dodo Terminal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is sys-botbase?

A tiny background program that runs on your modded Switch. It lets PC apps communicate with the Switch over Wi-Fi. No visible indicator — it works silently.

Is this safe for my Switch?

When used properly, yes. sys-botbase reads and writes game memory — it doesn't modify system files. Standard CFW safety practices apply.

Will I get banned by Nintendo?

SDT automates existing game functions (opening gates, reading memory). It doesn't create impossible items or modify save data. That said, no guarantee can be made — use at your own risk.

Does this work with physical games?

Yes, both physical and digital copies of ACNH work.

Can I use this on Switch Lite?

Yes, as long as you have CFW and sys-botbase installed.

How many visitors can I have?

ACNH allows up to 7 visitors at once (8 total including you).

Can I kick a specific visitor?

Not directly through SDT. You'd need to close the gate (which removes everyone) or use in-game methods.

What happens if I close SDT while the map is frozen?

The freeze stops and items return to normal. Always stop freezing before closing the program for the cleanest results.

Can multiple apps connect to sys-botbase at once?

No — only one connection at a time. Close other tools (like ACNHPokerCore) before connecting SDT.

Do items actually go to visitor pockets during freeze?

Yes! Even though items appear to stay on the ground after pickup, they ARE in the visitor's pockets. The items on the ground are the "respawned" copies.

What ports does SDT use?

• sys-botbase: Port 6000 (default, on the Switch)
• Built-in website: Port 7070 (on your PC)
• HostHelper API: Port 8090 (on your PC)

Still Stuck?

Re-read Getting Started for anything that happens before day-to-day hosting (IPs, anchors, first gate).

Use the beta tester page on the website to submit a report. Include:

• What you were trying to do
• What happened instead
• Any error messages
• Screenshots if possible