Nintendo Accounts on Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch (FAQ)

What can I do with a Nintendo Account on Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch?

A Nintendo Account is an account that provides access to certain features on Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch, including access to the Nintendo eShop, the Nintendo Switch Online membership service and online play, and the My Nintendo rewards program.

Additionally, on Nintendo Switch 2, a Nintendo Account is also required to use GameChat.

How many Nintendo Accounts can I have on one console?

Up to 8 Nintendo Accounts can be linked to a Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch console at a time.

Can I link my Nintendo Account to more than one console?

You can link your Nintendo Account to multiple Nintendo Switch 2 and/or Nintendo Switch consoles. You can play your virtual game cards on up to two consoles, and anyone else that uses those consoles can also play them. For information about playing your games on more than two consoles, please read How to Play Your Games Across Multiple Consoles.

Can I play my games on more than one console?

You can play digital games that you've purchased with your Nintendo Account on up to two consoles if you load them as virtual game cards, or on any console if you enable the Online License setting.

Your digital purchases can be played by anyone that uses a console where you have loaded the game as a virtual game card. Other players will not be able to access your digital games on a console that does not have the game loaded as a virtual game card.

Physical games can be played on any console you like. Save data for physical and digital titles can be transferred between consoles using Save Cloud Data backup (available to Nintendo Switch Online members) or the save-data transfer process on console.

Can other people play my games?

All user accounts on your consoles can play your virtual game cards.

Why do children under certain ages have to join a parent's Nintendo Account?

In compliance with verifiable parental consent laws such as COPPA or Law 25, Nintendo does not knowingly collect personal information from children. Children whose ages make them subject to these laws can only have a Nintendo Account if they are added to an existing Nintendo Account by a parent or guardian.

Once you complete the registration process, you can add Nintendo Accounts for up to 5 children to your account, and manage the settings for each child that you add.