Nintendo Wii Unofficial Channels
Below are some of the best apps you should get for your hacked Wii. These are called homebrew applications because they are not officially approved for the Wii console and are only installable through the special Homebrew Channel app.
With homebrew apps, you can do things you can't normally do on a Wii. This might include playing unlicensed games or allowing your Wii to support DVD playback, both of which a 'regular' Wii is not able to do. The idea is that you can install apps that Nintendo does not officially approve of.
How to Install These Apps
You have to have the Homebrew Channel on your Wii in order to use these apps. Install the Wii Homebrew Channel if you haven't already.
Remember that installing these apps means that your Wii console is hacked, which could void your warranty with Nintendo since you've altered the software that the console came with.
How to Watch DVDs on your Nintendo Wii. Posted by Nick Greene on April 24, 2012. It wipes out unofficial channels like the homebrew channel.
One resource for homebrew apps is WiiBrew. If you need help with any of the apps on this page, that website might also provide some support or tutorials.
The Homebrew Browser
What We Like
Easy access to the most popular Wii homebrew apps.
One-click download and installation.
Github Plex Unofficial Channels
What We Don't Like
Hasn't been updated in a while.
Requires an internet connection.
There are two ways to install new homebrew games and applications onto your Wii. You can use an SD card reader on your PC and manually copy the apps to the card (useful if you don't have an active internet connection), or you can use the Homebrew Browser.
The Homebrew Browser lists all of the major Wii homebrew software available for download, which is helpful for apps that don't have good installation instructions like WiiXplorer (see below).
If you can't get this app to work, you might need to go into the settings.XML file and change 'settings_server' from 0 to 1 so that the Wii will make the app use resources from its backup server.
Pimp My Wii
What We Like
Manually control when channels get updated.
Also compatible with Wii U.
What We Don't Like
No longer necessary for the Wii since updates are rare.
Documentation is in French.
One of the problems with running homebrew is that you're highly discouraged from allowing Nintendo to update your Wii’s operating system. However, some updates are necessary to run certain things, such as The Shopping Channel.
Fortunately, Pimp My Wii is designed to update all your channels without installing the OS updates that will wipe out your Homebrew setup.
WiiMC
What We Like
Highly customizable interface.
Browse photos and manage files on external drives.
What We Don't Like
The Wii can't play some high quality media files.
Cumbersome volume controls.
Want to watch videos on your Wii? WiiMC (Wii Media Center) is the best media player to get the job done. With a slicker interface and more features than the excellent Mplayer CE, WiiMC plays DVDs or video files on an SD card or USB drive. Like Mplayer CE, it actually plays more video formats than the PlayStation. It also supports MP3s, can be used as a picture viewer, and can access radio station services.
With a clean, well-designed interface, WiiMC is one of the most professional looking homebrew applications available for Wii homebrew and a model of how things should be done.
WiiXplorer
What We Like
Connect a USB keyboard to edit text.
Built-in music player.
What We Don't Like
Not as easy as managing files on a PC.
Only one window can be open at a time.
Sometimes there's a file on an SD card or USB drive that you need to delete, move, or rename. Sure, you could just hook the card or drive up to your PC, but with WiiXplorer you don’t have to.
You can use it to open file formats like TXT, MP3, OGG, WAV, AIFF, and XML, as well as decompress archive formats like 7Z, RAR, and ZIP. WiiXplorer also supports image file formats such as PNG, JPG, GIF, TIFF, and others.
A basic file manager for the Wii, this is yet another program that saves you the trouble of getting off the couch.
Gecko OS
What We Like
Play every Wii title on any Wii console.
Website hosts a massive database of game cheats.
What We Don't Like
Takes a while to set up.
The Gecko Cheat Code Manager could be easier to use.
Gecko OS lets you play games released in other countries. For some reason, console makers release games in Japan or Europe that only play on consoles sold in Japan or in Europe, meaning you're out of luck if a game you want to play hasn’t been released for the American market.
One example of this restriction includes Fatal Frame IV: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse. GeckoOS bypasses the Wii's country-specific coding.
Gecko OS will also run games that can't be played without a system update, although there are simpler ways to do so. It can also be used to cheat on games you're having trouble with.
Like homebrew in general, GeckoOS gives you way more control over your Wii than Nintendo wants you to have.