How to Set Up or Adjust Nintendo Switch Parental Controls

Applies to:  Nintendo Switch Family, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite


In this article, you'll learn how to set parental controls on the Nintendo Switch system or the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls application.

Note
  • Parental controls can be set on the Nintendo Switch system or through the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls application for smart devices.
  • Parental controls are set for the system, not each individual user. The same restrictions will apply to everyone who uses the system, so they should be set with the youngest player in mind.
  • The ability to set Play-Time Limits, Bedtime Alarms, and view play activity data is only available through the free Nintendo Switch Parental Controls smart device application.
  • Nintendo eShop restrictions can only be set through the parent/guardian’s Nintendo Account profile settings on a PC or smart device (accessible by signing in to the Nintendo Account website).
  • You may also find our information on removing the Parental Controls PIN helpful.

Complete these steps

  1. Where do you want to set the parental controls?
  2. Are you setting up Parental Controls for the first time or changing existing restrictions?
    1. Link your Nintendo Switch console to the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls application.
    2. After the link is complete, start the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls application on your smart device.
    3. Select Console Settings in the upper-right corner.
      • If this is your first time launching the application after linking a system, you will be walked through how to adjust the different settings.
      • If you have more than one Nintendo Switch console linked to the app, tap the (+) icon in the upper-right corner to choose the correct system.
    4. Select each setting you want to adjust:

      Important: Nintendo eShop restrictions, including restriction of spending/purchases, must be set in the Nintendo Account settings.

      • Play-Time Limit: If you have a Play-Time Limit and a Bedtime Alarm enabled, the system will use whichever time limit comes first.
        • Play-Time Limit: Set a daily limit on the amount of time the Nintendo Switch console can be used (from No Limit up to 6 hours). You can also choose to remove the restriction for a specific day.
        • Bedtime Alarm: Set gameplay to stop at a certain time each day (between 6:00 PM - 11:45 PM).
        • Suspend Software: When this is turned on, the software on the system will be stopped when the time limit is reached. Otherwise, a notification will appear when the limit is reached, but software will still be playable.
      • Restriction Level: Choose from preset restrictions by age or select Custom Settings to manually adjust the settings. You can also manage your whitelisted titles by selecting Whitelist.
        • Whitelist settings allow you to exclude specific software titles from Parental Controls Restricted Software settings on Nintendo Switch systems updated to version 5.0 or higher.
        • Whitelisted games can be played on the system without entering a Parental Controls PIN.
        • Whitelisted games are still subject to any restrictions set for daily Play Time Limits.
        • You can remove a game from the whitelist at any time, at which point the standard restrictions you have set for the system will apply.
        • Any software titles that have been played on your system can be added to your whitelist. If the game you want doesn't appear, start it on your Nintendo Switch system and check again.
      • PIN: View or change the Parental Controls PIN for the console.
    5. Once you have adjusted the settings as desired, tap the orange check mark on the screen to confirm.
    6. The restriction(s) will be activated as soon as the Nintendo Switch console connects online.
    1. Select System Settings on the HOME Menu.
    2. Scroll down to highlight Parental Controls, then select Parental Controls Settings.
    3. You will be referred to the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app for smart devices, which offers additional options to restrict and monitor your child's play activity. Press the X Button and then select Next to continue without the smart device app.
      • If you wish to use the smart device app, download it to your Apple or Android device and follow the steps for Smart device application above.
    4. Select Restriction Level.
    5. Choose from preset restrictions by age or select Custom Settings to manually adjust the settings. Select each setting that you want to adjust:

      Important: Nintendo eShop restrictions, including restriction of spending/purchases, must be set in the Nintendo Account settings.

      • Restricted Software

        Restrict software by age based on each game’s ESRB rating category. Select Restricted software, then choose the age you would like to restrict software for (6+, 13+, etc). Additionally, videos captured using restricted software will not be viewable in the album.

      • Software Rating Organization

        Adjust the software rating organization that software restrictions are based on (ESRB, PEGI, etc). This defaults to the appropriate organization for your region.

      • Posting Screenshots/Videos to Social Media

        Disable the ability to share images and videos from Nintendo Switch on social media. Toggle between Restricted or Not Restricted.

      • Communicating with Others

        Restrict open communication between users, including chat features and exchanging messages. You can toggle between Restricted or Not Restricted for all software on the system, or adjust the settings for specific software.

      • VR Mode (3D Visuals)

        Restrict gameplay in VR mode. This option should be set to restricted if a child of 6 years or younger uses the console. Toggle between Restricted or Not Restricted.

    6. Once the restrictions are set as you want them, select Save, then select OK to confirm.
    7. Choose a PIN number (between 4 and 8 digits long), then select OK.
      • If you use the Control Stick Input (default), each direction of the Control Stick is a number (1 – 8), the Y Button is 9, and the X Button is 0.
      • If you would prefer to enter the PIN using a number pad, hold the (+) Button (Keypad Input) then use the onscreen number pad to enter your PIN.
      • If there are children in the room that you don’t want to see the PIN, you can either undock the Nintendo Switch and enter the PIN in handheld mode or use the Control Stick Input.
    8. Re-enter the PIN to confirm, then select OK.
      • If you are having issues with the PIN confirmation, try using the Keypad Input to enter the PIN and/or select Show when entering it to display it on the screen. (Note that this will be visible to anyone in the room if you enter it while in TV Mode.)
    1. Select System Settings on the HOME Menu.
    2. Scroll down to highlight Parental Controls, then select Change Settings.
    3. Enter the Parental Control PIN number for the system.
    4. Select Change Settings.
    5. Select each setting that you want to adjust:

      Important: Nintendo eShop restrictions, including restriction of spending/purchases, must be set in the Nintendo Account settings.

      • Restriction Level

        Choose from preset restrictions by age or select Custom Settings to manually adjust the settings. Additionally, videos captured using restricted software will not be viewable in the album.

      • Software Rating Organization

        Adjust the software rating organization that software restrictions are based on (ESRB, PEGI, etc). This defaults to the appropriate organization for your region.

      • Posting Screenshots/Videos to Social Media

        Disable the ability to share images and videos from Nintendo Switch on social media. Toggle between Restricted or Not Restricted.

      • Communicating with Others

        Restrict open communication between users, including chat features and exchanging messages. You can toggle between Restricted or Not Restricted for all software on the system, or adjust the settings for specific software.

      • VR Mode (3D Visuals)

        Restrict gameplay in VR mode. This option should be set to restricted if a child of 6 years or younger uses the console. Toggle between Restricted or Not Restricted.

    6. Once the restrictions are set as you want them, select Save, then select OK to confirm.

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