Nintendo Switch Console Freezes, Locks Up, or Will Not Power Off

What to do

Which console are you using?

• Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch – OLED Model
  1. With the console undocked, attach the Joy-Con controllers.
     • How to attach Joy-Con controllers to a Nintendo Switch console
       1. Align the – Button on the left Joy-Con with the top left corner of console, and align the + Button on the right Joy-Con with the top right corner of the console.
          
       2. Use the rails on the sides of the console to slide the Joy-Con from top to bottom, until you hear a click.
          

       For more information, read How to Attach/Detach the Joy-Con Controllers from Nintendo Switch.

  2. Hold down the POWER Button for at least 20 seconds to force the console to power off, then remove any game cards or microSD cards.
     • How to remove a game card from Nintendo Switch

       Important: Remove a game card only while on the HOME Menu, or when the system is powered off. If you have suspended a software title, make sure you have closed it before removing its game card.

       1. Open the game card slot cover located on the top right side of your Nintendo Switch console.
       2. Gently push down on the inserted game card until the card clicks.
       3. Release the game card and it will partially eject.
       4. Slide the game card out of the game card slot and close the cover.

       For more information, see How to Insert/Remove Game Cards.

     • How to remove a microSD card
       1. With the console powered off, locate the microSD card slot:
          • Nintendo Switch 2: Gently swing the adjustable stand open to show the microSD card slot.
          • Nintendo Switch – OLED Model: Gently swing the adjustable stand open to show the microSD card slot.
          • Nintendo Switch: Gently swing the stand open to show the microSD card slot.
          • Nintendo Switch Lite: Gently open the microSD card slot cover.
       2. Gently push down on the top of the microSD card until you hear a click, then slide it out of the microSD card slot.

       For more information, see How to Insert/Remove microSD Express Cards on Nintendo Switch 2 or How to Insert/Remove microSD Cards on Nintendo Switch.

  3. Power on the console and perform a system update.
     • How to update to the latest system version
       1. Select System Settings on the HOME Menu.
          
       2. Scroll down to the bottom of the System Settings menu and select System.
       3. Select System Update.
          
          • If an update is available, it will begin to download.

       For more info, see either How to Perform a System Update on Nintendo Switch 2 or How to Perform a System Update on Nintendo Switch.

  4. If this issue is happening while the console is in TV mode, verify you are using the Nintendo Switch dock with LAN port (model No. HEG-007) or the Nintendo Switch dock (model No. HAC-007).
     • If a different accessory is being used, replacing it with the licensed dock may resolve the problem.

  Situation not resolved

  Power off the console again, then initialize the console without deleting save data.

  • How to power off a Nintendo Switch console
    1. Press and hold the POWER Button for at least three seconds.
    2. Select Power Options.
    3. Select Turn Off.

    
  • How to initialize the Nintendo Switch console without deleting save data

    Important: Save data, screenshots, and user information will not be deleted. However, any software saved on the microSD card will no longer be usable. Software can be redownloaded by the Nintendo Account that purchased it.

    1. Power off the system by holding down the POWER Button for three seconds, then select Power Options, and then Turn Off.
       • If the console does not respond, hold down the POWER Button for twelve seconds to force it to shut down.
    2. With the console powered off, press and hold down the volume up (+) and volume down (-) buttons, then press the POWER Button to turn the system on.
       • Keep holding down the volume buttons until the menu for Maintenance Mode appears.
       
    3. Once in Maintenance Mode, select Initialize Console Without Deleting Save Data.
       • If a Parental Control PIN has been set for the system, you will be prompted to enter it to proceed.
    4. Read through the information, then select Next and Initialize Console Without Deleting Save Data.

    For additional information, see How to Initialize Nintendo Switch Without Deleting Save Data.

  If the freezing continues to the point where it affects your gameplay, send in the console for service.

• Nintendo Switch Lite
  1. Hold down the POWER Button for at least 20 seconds to force the console to power off, then remove any game cards or microSD cards.
     • How to remove a game card from Nintendo Switch

       Important: Remove a game card only while on the HOME Menu, or when the system is powered off. If you have suspended a software title, make sure you have closed it before removing its game card.

       1. Open the game card slot cover located on the top right side of your Nintendo Switch console.
       2. Gently push down on the inserted game card until the card clicks.
       3. Release the game card and it will partially eject.
       4. Slide the game card out of the game card slot and close the cover.

       For more information, see How to Insert/Remove Game Cards.

     • How to remove a microSD card
       1. With the console powered off, locate the microSD card slot:
          • Nintendo Switch 2: Gently swing the adjustable stand open to show the microSD card slot.
          • Nintendo Switch – OLED Model: Gently swing the adjustable stand open to show the microSD card slot.
          • Nintendo Switch: Gently swing the stand open to show the microSD card slot.
          • Nintendo Switch Lite: Gently open the microSD card slot cover.
       2. Gently push down on the top of the microSD card until you hear a click, then slide it out of the microSD card slot.

       For more information, see How to Insert/Remove microSD Express Cards on Nintendo Switch 2 or How to Insert/Remove microSD Cards on Nintendo Switch.

  2. Power on the console and perform a system update.
     • How to update to the latest system version
       1. Select System Settings on the HOME Menu.
          
       2. Scroll down to the bottom of the System Settings menu and select System.
       3. Select System Update.
          
          • If an update is available, it will begin to download.

       For more info, see either How to Perform a System Update on Nintendo Switch 2 or How to Perform a System Update on Nintendo Switch.

  Situation not resolved

  Power off the console again, then initialize the console without deleting save data.

  • How to power off a Nintendo Switch console
    1. Press and hold the POWER Button for at least three seconds.
    2. Select Power Options.
    3. Select Turn Off.

    
  • How to initialize the Nintendo Switch console without deleting save data

    Important: Save data, screenshots, and user information will not be deleted. However, any software saved on the microSD card will no longer be usable. Software can be redownloaded by the Nintendo Account that purchased it.

    1. Power off the system by holding down the POWER Button for three seconds, then select Power Options, and then Turn Off.
       • If the console does not respond, hold down the POWER Button for twelve seconds to force it to shut down.
    2. With the console powered off, press and hold down the volume up (+) and volume down (-) buttons, then press the POWER Button to turn the system on.
       • Keep holding down the volume buttons until the menu for Maintenance Mode appears.
       
    3. Once in Maintenance Mode, select Initialize Console Without Deleting Save Data.
       • If a Parental Control PIN has been set for the system, you will be prompted to enter it to proceed.
    4. Read through the information, then select Next and Initialize Console Without Deleting Save Data.

    For additional information, see How to Initialize Nintendo Switch Without Deleting Save Data.

  If the freezing continues to the point where it affects your gameplay, send in the console for service.