How to Redownload Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch Digital Content

What to do

• How to redownload your virtual game cards (games or DLC)
  1. Connect your console to the internet.
     • How to connect Nintendo Switch 2 to a wireless home network
       1. Place the Nintendo Switch 2 console within 10 feet of the wireless router so there will be a strong wireless signal.
       2. Select System Settings from the HOME Menu.
       3. Select Internet, and then Internet SettingsConfiguración de internetParamètres InternetConfigurações de internet. Your console will automatically search for nearby wireless network signals.
       4. Select the appropriate network name (SSID) from the list.
       5. Use the onscreen keyboard to enter the network's wireless password, if one is required.
       6. The connection will be tested. Once the test is complete, select OK.
          • If the connection test fails, an error code and message will appear. Search for our support article on the error code for steps to troubleshoot the connection.

       For more details, please see How to Connect to the Internet on Nintendo Switch 2

     • How to connect Nintendo Switch to a wireless home network
       1. Place the Nintendo Switch console within 10 feet of the wireless router to ensure a strong wireless signal.
       2. Select Settings from the HOME Menu on the Nintendo Switch console.
       3. Select Internet, and then Internet Settings . The Nintendo Switch will automatically search for near-by Wi-Fi signals.
       4. Select the appropriate network name (SSID) from the list.
       5. If prompted, use the onscreen keyboard to enter the network's wireless password .
       6. The Nintendo Switch will test the Internet connection. Once the test is complete, select OK to complete the process.

       For more information, see How to Connect to the Internet Using a Wireless Network.

  2. Check the HOME Menu for the game's icon. If no icon is present, continue to the next step.
     • Game icon on the HOME Menu

       If the game already has an icon on the HOME menu, you can redownload it directly.

       1. Select the game’s icon.
       2. Select Download.
       3. The download will begin automatically. You can check the download status on the HOME Menu.
  3. Select Virtual Game Cards Tarjetas de juego virtuales Cartes de jeu virtuelles Cartões de jogo virtuais from the HOME Menu.
  4. Select the user that purchased the game or DLC.
  5. If you have enabled user verification, you may be prompted to confirm your identity by re-entering your password or entering a PIN Contraseña Code secret PIN .
     • Forgot password

       If you have forgotten your password, please follow Forgot Nintendo Account Sign-in Info.

     • Forgot  PIN Contraseña Code secret PIN  or entered  PIN Contraseña Code secret PIN  incorrectly

       If you have forgotten your user-verification PIN Contraseña Code secret PIN or you entered the incorrect PIN Contraseña Code secret PIN too many times, follow these steps:

       1. With the PIN Contraseña Code secret PIN entry screen displayed, press the + button.
       2. Select Sign InIniciar sesiónSe connecterIniciar sessão.
       3. Sign in to your Nintendo Account.
       4. A message will appear indicating that your PIN Contraseña Code secret PIN has been deleted. Select OK Aceptar OK OK .
          • Note that this will not turn off user verification, but instead switch it to requiring you to sign in to your Nintendo Account. You can change back to the PIN Contraseña Code secret PIN verification method and create a new PIN Contraseña Code secret PIN in your User Settings.

       For more information about user verification, read the User-Verification Settings Guide.

  6. Select the game or DLC you want to redownload from the list of your virtual game cards.
     • How to redownload multiple items at once

       If you want to queue multiple different games or DLC to download at once, perform the following:

       1. When in the virtual game card menu, press the X button to open the Quick Load Acciones rápidas Chargement rapide Seleção múltipla menu.
       2. Select all of the virtual game cards you want to download.
       3. Select Load Cargar Charger Carregar (or press the + button).
       4. Select OK Aceptar OK OK .
       5. The icons for the games you selected will appear on the HOME Menu and they will begin downloading.
     • How to download content without loading a virtual game card

       If you want to download a game or DLC without loading it as a virtual game card, perform the following:

       1. Select Virtual Game Cards Tarjetas de juego virtuales Cartes de jeu virtuelles Cartões de jogo virtuais from the HOME Menu.
       2. Select the user that purchased the game or DLC.
       3. If you have enabled user verification, you may be prompted to confirm your identity by re-entering your password or entering a PIN.
       4. Select the game or DLC you want to redownload from the list of your virtual game cards.
       5. Select Options Opciones Options Opções .
       6. Select Download Data Descargar datos Télécharger les données Baixar dados .
       7. The game or DLC will begin downloading automatically. You can check the download status on the HOME Menu.

       This can be useful if, for example, this console is not one of your two consoles that can load virtual game cards and you have enabled the online license setting.

     • Can't find the desired virtual game card in the list

       You may have hidden the virtual game card you are trying to download. Perform the following:

       1. When in the virtual game card menu, scroll down and select Can't Find Software? No encuentro ciertos programas Logiciels introuvables? Não consegue encontrar um software específico? .
       2. Select View Hidden Virtual Game Cards Ver tarjetas de juego virtuales ocultas Voir les cartes de jeu virtuelles masquées Ver cartões de jogo virtuais ocultos .
       3. If prompted, sign in to your Nintendo Account.
       4. Locate the game or DLC you would like to download, select it, and select Load on This System Cargar en esta consola Charger sur cette console Carregar neste console to start downloading it.
          • If you would prefer to download the game or DLC without loading the virtual game card, instead select OptionsOpcionesOptionsOpções then Download Data.

       If the above does not apply, the game or DLC may have been purchased by a different Nintendo Account. Try again with the other accounts on the system until you locate the one that was used to make the purchase.

       If you still can't find the game, read Digital Content is Missing from Nintendo Switch (Games, DLC, Etc).

  7. Select Load on This System Cargar en esta consola Charger sur cette console Carregar neste console —the game will begin downloading automatically. You can check the download status on the HOME Menu.
     • Message: Found a linked system. A system can be linked with a max of one other system.

       This message appears if you try to load a virtual game card on a console that is not one of your two consoles that can load virtual game cards. To download the game on this console, perform the following:

       1. Select Cancel.
       2. Select the game or DLC you want to download.
       3. Select OptionsOpcionesOptionsOpções.
       4. Select Download Data.
       5. The game or DLC will begin downloading automatically. You can check the download status on the HOME Menu.

       Note that in order to play your content on consoles that cannot load virtual game cards, you will need to have enabled the online license setting.

     • Game doesn't appear after download

       If the game doesn't appear on the HOME Menu after you start downloading it, try restarting your system.

       1. Hold down the POWER Button for three seconds.
       2. Select Power OptionsOpciones de apagadoOptions d'alimentationOpções de desligar.
       3. Select Restart.

       If the game still doesn't appear, read Digital Content is Missing from Nintendo Switch (Games, DLC, Etc).

• How to redownload digital content that is not a virtual game card

  Some digital content is not found in the virtual game card menu. This content can generally be redownloaded through Nintendo eShop:

  • To redownload most game demos, locate them in Nintendo eShop using your Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch and select Download.
  • Nintendo Switch Online classic game libraries can be redownloaded through the Nintendo Switch Online menu in Nintendo eShop.
  • DLC exclusive to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members can also be redownloaded through the Nintendo Switch Online menu in Nintendo eShop.
  • Game Trials can be redownloaded either through the Nintendo Switch Online menu, or by locating them in Nintendo eShop using your Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch and selecting Download.
• How to redownload games without the DLC, or DLC without the game

  When you load a virtual game card to redownload a game, any DLC you have purchased for that game will also be redownloaded.

  If you wish to redownload the game without some or all of the DLC, or only download DLC and not the game, perform the following:

  1. Locate the game or DLC that you do not want to download in Nintendo eShop.
     • How to search for digital content in the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch 2
       1. Select Nintendo eShop on the HOME Menu to launch the Nintendo eShop.
       2. If there are multiple user accounts on your system, select the account you want to use.
       3. If prompted, enter your user verification PIN or enter your Nintendo Account password.
       4. Select Search/Browse on the left.
       5. Enter a keyword into the "Enter keyword" field and select Search to search by keyword. A list of results will appear.
          • If you would like to narrow your search further, select Filter or use the sorting options dropdown to limit the search results.
       6. Select one of the search results to open the details for the game or DLC.
          • You can also locate DLC by searching for the game, opening the details, then scrolling down to the "Downloadable Content" section

       For more information, please read How to Search for Content in the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch 2.

     • How to search for content in the Nintendo Switch eShop
       1. Select Nintendo eShop on the HOME Menu to launch the Nintendo eShop.
       2. If there are multiple user accounts on your system, select the account you want to use.
       3. Select the magnifying glass in the upper-left corner to access the Search menu.
       4. Enter a keyword into the keyword field and select Search to search by the keyword. A list of results will appear.
          • If you would like to narrow your search further, you can adjust the Price Range and/or Genre to only display games within the category you set.
       5. After selecting a game title, scroll through the game details to view any available downloadable content.
     • Downloadable Content or In-Game Items

       Any DLC or In-Game Items associated with the game will also be available through the game details page. Select the individual DLC/item from the game details to open the details for the DLC.

  2. While on the game or DLC details page, press the + button or - button 5 times.
     • If performed correctly, the message "This product is currently set to not be redownloaded." will replace the message on the right about redownloading by loading the virtual game card.
       
       
       
       
  3. Repeat this process for each game or DLC you do not want to redownload—it will not be downloaded when you load the virtual game card for the game or DLC.
     • To re-enable downloading an item, return to the details page and press the + button or - button 5 times again.