Skip Navigation

How to Sign In to a Nintendo Account

Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, Nintendo Switch - OLED Model

Steps to log in to your existing Nintendo Account with an email address, sign-in ID, passkey, Google account, or Apple Account.

Complete these steps

In most cases, you can sign in to your Nintendo Account by entering your email address and password, or your sign-in ID and password, when prompted.

There are other ways to sign in depending on the device you're signing in to and what options you have enabled. For details, select the sign-in option you want to use below.

Signing in on Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch
  • QR Code when linking a new user
    1. Use a smart device with a camera to scan the QR Code that appears on the console screen.
    2. Use your preferred sign-in method to sign in to the Nintendo Account you want to link on your console using your smart device's Internet browser.
      • If you are already signed in to a Nintendo Account on your smart device, you can select the current Nintendo Account you are signed in with or use a different account.
      • Once a Nintendo Account is linked to a user account, this link cannot be undone. If you are signed into the wrong Nintendo Account, sign out and start this process again from step 1.
    3. Enter the five-digit confirmation code you receive on your console. The confirmation code is only valid for a short time and cannot be repeatedly entered incorrectly.
      • If the confirmation code is not accepted, start this process again from step 1.
    4. Review the Nintendo Account details to confirm it is the correct account, then select Link to finish signing in.
  • QR Code in any other situation
    1. Use a smart device with a camera to scan the QR Code that appears on the console screen.
    2. Use your preferred sign-in method to sign in to the Nintendo Account you want to link on your console using your smart device's Internet browser. Once successfully signed in, your console will automatically complete the sign in process as well.
      • If you are already signed in to a Nintendo Account on your smart device, you can select the current Nintendo Account you are signed in with or use a different account.
  • Email address (or Sign-in ID) and password
    1. On the screen showing the QR code for signing in, select Sign in with a password.
    2. Enter the email address (or Sign-in ID) and password associated with your account. If your preferences are set to Sign-in ID only, you must use your Sign-in ID to sign in to your account.
    3. Click Sign in.
    4. Follow the prompts if additional verification is necessary.
      • If you have registered a passkey with your Nintendo Account, you will be prompted to sign in using your passkey instead.
      • If you have set up 2-step verification, launch the Google Authenticator app on your smart device, enter the code it displays, and click Authenticate.
        • No access to Google Authenticator

          If you do not currently have access to the app, select Use another method to verify your identityThe 'Nintendo Account 2-Step Verification' screen with 'Use another method to verify your identity' indicated. and use one of the backup codes you received and saved in a safe place when setting up the 2-step verification.

        • No access to backup codes

          If you do not currently have access to your backup codes, select Use another method to verify your identity on the "Enter backup code" screen The 'Enter backup code screen' with 'Use another method to verify your identity' indicated.. An email with a verification code will be sent to the email address associated with your Nintendo Account. Locate the code in your email and enter it in the "Verification code" box, then click Verify.

          • If you do not receive the email, but you have registered a phone number to your Nintendo Account, select Use another method to verify your identity on the "E-mail address verification" screen, then Submit. A code will be sent via text message to your phone number—enter it in the "Verification Code" box and select Submit to verify your identity.
          • If you have not registered a phone number to your Nintendo Account (or the verification text message does not arrive) and do not receive the email, please follow our steps for Did Not Receive a Nintendo Account Identity Verification Email.
        • Cannot sign into Nintendo Account with 2-step verification

          If you still cannot sign in to your Nintendo Account, read Issues with Nintendo Account 2-Step Verification Code.

      • If you're prompted to confirm your identity with a verification code, locate the verification code sent to the email address associated with your Nintendo Account, enter it in the "Verification code" box, and click Verify.
        • Verification code never arrived
          1. It may take up to 30 minutes for the verification email to arrive — if it has not yet been 30 minutes, please wait for a while longer to see if the email arrives.
          2. Check your spam/junk email folder to see if the email is there.
          3. Make sure there are no filters in your email account that may be blocking emails from @accounts.nintendo.com.
          4. Add our email address no-reply@accounts.nintendo.com to your contacts address book and safe sender list.
          5. Make sure that you are entering your email address correctly in the account creation screen, then click Resend verification code to have a new verification code email sent.

          For more information, please read Nintendo Account Verification Email Did Not Arrive.

Signing in on a website or in a mobile app
  • Email address (or Sign-in ID) and password
    1. Visit the Nintendo Account website or open the application where you want to sign in.
    2. Enter the email address (or Sign-in ID) and password associated with your account. If your preferences are set to Sign-in ID only, you must use your Sign-in ID to sign in to your account.
    3. Click Sign in.
    4. Follow the prompts if additional verification is necessary.
      • If you have registered a passkey with your Nintendo Account, you will be prompted to sign in using your passkey instead.
      • If you have set up 2-step verification, launch the Google Authenticator app on your smart device, enter the code it displays, and click Authenticate.
        • No access to Google Authenticator

          If you do not currently have access to the app, select Use another method to verify your identityThe 'Nintendo Account 2-Step Verification' screen with 'Use another method to verify your identity' indicated. and use one of the backup codes you received and saved in a safe place when setting up the 2-step verification.

        • No access to backup codes

          If you do not currently have access to your backup codes, select Use another method to verify your identity on the "Enter backup code" screen The 'Enter backup code screen' with 'Use another method to verify your identity' indicated.. An email with a verification code will be sent to the email address associated with your Nintendo Account. Locate the code in your email and enter it in the "Verification code" box, then click Verify.

          • If you do not receive the email, but you have registered a phone number to your Nintendo Account, select Use another method to verify your identity on the "E-mail address verification" screen, then Submit. A code will be sent via text message to your phone number—enter it in the "Verification Code" box and select Submit to verify your identity.
          • If you have not registered a phone number to your Nintendo Account (or the verification text message does not arrive) and do not receive the email, please follow our steps for Did Not Receive a Nintendo Account Identity Verification Email.
        • Cannot sign into Nintendo Account with 2-step verification

          If you still cannot sign in to your Nintendo Account, read Issues with Nintendo Account 2-Step Verification Code.

      • If you're prompted to confirm your identity with a verification code, locate the verification code sent to the email address associated with your Nintendo Account, enter it in the "Verification code" box, and click Verify.
        • Verification code never arrived
          1. It may take up to 30 minutes for the verification email to arrive — if it has not yet been 30 minutes, please wait for a while longer to see if the email arrives.
          2. Check your spam/junk email folder to see if the email is there.
          3. Make sure there are no filters in your email account that may be blocking emails from @accounts.nintendo.com.
          4. Add our email address no-reply@accounts.nintendo.com to your contacts address book and safe sender list.
          5. Make sure that you are entering your email address correctly in the account creation screen, then click Resend verification code to have a new verification code email sent.

          For more information, please read Nintendo Account Verification Email Did Not Arrive.

  • Passkey

    Note: If you haven't already registered a passkey, you must register one before you can use it to sign in to your Nintendo Account.

    1. Visit the Nintendo Account website or open the application where you want to sign in.
    2. Select Sign in under "Passkey Sign-in."
    3. Perform the relevant steps on your device to use your passkey.
      • Unable to sign in

        Passkeys can only be used to sign in on the device the passkey was registered on, or when signing in on a Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch while using a smart device.

        If you are not using the device associated with your passkey, you may receive one of the following messages:

        • "You can't use a passkey to sign in from this device."
        • "Couldn't complete passkey sign-in. Please use password sign-in instead."

        Use one of the other methods to sign in if the device associated with your passkey is unavailable. For more information, see Unable to sign in to Nintendo Account using a Passkey.

  • Google or Apple Account

    Note: If you haven't already done so, you must link your Google account or Apple Account to your Nintendo Account before you can use it to sign in.

    1. Visit the Nintendo Account website or open the application where you want to sign in.
    2. Click the button for the appropriate service (Google or Apple) and enter your login information, if necessary.
      • You must use your Nintendo Account e-mail address and password if you are signing in through a Nintendo mobile application on an iOS device (such as an iPhone or iPad).
      • Contact Google or Apple support if you have forgotten your sign-in information. In the meantime, use one of the other methods to sign in to your Nintendo Account.
    3. Follow the prompts if additional verification is necessary.
      • If you have set up 2-step verification, launch the Google Authenticator app on your smart device, enter the code it displays, and click Authenticate.
        • No access to Google Authenticator

          If you do not currently have access to the app, select Use another method to verify your identityThe 'Nintendo Account 2-Step Verification' screen with 'Use another method to verify your identity' indicated. and use one of the backup codes you received and saved in a safe place when setting up the 2-step verification.

        • No access to backup codes

          If you do not currently have access to your backup codes, select Use another method to verify your identity on the "Enter backup code" screen The 'Enter backup code screen' with 'Use another method to verify your identity' indicated.. An email with a verification code will be sent to the email address associated with your Nintendo Account. Locate the code in your email and enter it in the "Verification code" box, then click Verify.

          • If you do not receive the email, but you have registered a phone number to your Nintendo Account, select Use another method to verify your identity on the "E-mail address verification" screen, then Submit. A code will be sent via text message to your phone number—enter it in the "Verification Code" box and select Submit to verify your identity.
          • If you have not registered a phone number to your Nintendo Account (or the verification text message does not arrive) and do not receive the email, please follow our steps for Did Not Receive a Nintendo Account Identity Verification Email.
        • Cannot sign in to Nintendo Account with 2-step verification

          If you still cannot sign in to your Nintendo Account, read Issues with Nintendo Account 2-Step Verification Code.

      • If you're prompted to confirm your identity with a verification code, locate the verification code sent to the email address associated with your Nintendo Account, enter it in the "Verification code" box, and click Verify.
        • Verification code never arrived
          1. It may take up to 30 minutes for the verification email to arrive — if it has not yet been 30 minutes, please wait for a while longer to see if the email arrives.
          2. Check your spam/junk email folder to see if the email is there.
          3. Make sure there are no filters in your email account that may be blocking emails from @accounts.nintendo.com.
          4. Add our email address no-reply@accounts.nintendo.com to your contacts address book and safe sender list.
          5. Make sure that you are entering your email address correctly in the account creation screen, then click Resend verification code to have a new verification code email sent.

          For more information, please read Nintendo Account Verification Email Did Not Arrive.

Was this helpful?