This is a very common mix-up. You have the prod.keys file, but hactool can't find it because it's not in one of the locations the tool checks.
Boot your Switch into RCM (Recovery Mode) and inject the Lockpick_RCM payload.
: Move your key file to %USERPROFILE%\.switch\prod.keys . Linux/macOS : Move your key file to $HOME/.switch/prod.keys . hactool prodkeys does not exist top
If you don't have the file at all, you must dump it from your own Nintendo Switch using a tool like Lockpick_RCM : Launch via a payload injector like Hekate. Select the option to dump keys from SysNAND .
hactool automatically looks for a file named prod.keys (or sometimes keys.txt ) in a specific user folder. Moving your keys here is the most permanent fix: This is a very common mix-up
The tool will save your prod.keys to the /switch/ folder on your SD card. How to get Switch Keys for Hactool/XCI Decrypting - GBAtemp
On some systems, hactool defaults to searching your user profile directory. : Move your key file to %USERPROFILE%\
If you try to run a command and see the error hactool prodkeys does not exist (or a similar prompt at the top of your terminal output), it means the program cannot find your Nintendo Switch encryption keys.
According to multiple reports from users and developers, this [WARN] is often a red herring. The keys you need may be present in the file, but hactool may not require them for the specific task you're performing. As one GBAtemp user succinctly put it, “It’s a harmless warning. Those keys exist in your prod.keys file but hactool has no use for them.” Another source confirms, “'prod.keys does not exist' warning indicates that the tool did not find the key file in the default path; it does not affect basic operations like NSO decompression.”
By explicitly declaring the location of your keys using -k , hactool will completely ignore its internal default directory checks, bypassing the prodkeys does not exist error entirely. Troubleshooting Common Issues