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How to Insert/Remove Game Cards on Nintendo Switch 2

Nintendo Switch 2

Follow these steps to insert a game card into, or remove a game card from, a Nintendo Switch 2 console.

Note: This article is about physical game cards. For information about virtual game cards, please read the virtual game card guide.

Information

The following types of physical software can be played on Nintendo Switch 2:Game Cards for Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch games, side by side.

  • Game cards for Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive software, including game-key cards.
    • What is a game-key card?

      Game-key cards are different from regular game cards, because they don’t contain the full game data. Instead, the game-key card is your "key" to downloading the full game to your system via the internet.

      After it’s downloaded, you can play the game by inserting the game-key card into your system and starting it up like a standard physical game card.

      For more information, please see Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Card Overview.

      Note: Do not store game-key cards next to magnets or magnetic objects. Leaving them close for long periods of time can affect the components inside the game-key card and cause it to malfunction.

  • Game cards for the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Nintendo Switch software.
    • What is "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition"?

      This is Nintendo Switch 2 software that adds new elements to software originally released for Nintendo Switch, such as improved graphics and gameplay unique to Nintendo Switch 2.

      If you already own a Nintendo Switch game that has a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, you can purchase the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade pack for that game from the Nintendo Switch 2 eShop or Nintendo Store.

      The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games sold in stores and the software you purchase by adding the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade pack to your existing Nintendo Switch game both contain the same content.

  • Game cards for compatible Nintendo Switch software.

Complete these steps

  • How to insert game cards
    1. Open the game card slot cover located on the top right side of your Nintendo Switch 2 console.
    2. Hold the game card so that the label of the game card faces in the same direction as the Nintendo Switch 2 screen.A Game Card being inserted into a Nintendo Switch 2 console with its label facing the same direction as the screen
    3. Slide the game card into the game card slot until it clicks into place. If the game card seems difficult to insert, remove it and verify that it is facing in the correct direction.
    4. Once inserted, the software icon of the inserted game card will be displayed on the HOME Menu. The software icon for Mario Kart World being highlighted on the Nintendo Switch 2 HOME Menu screen
  • How to remove game cards
    Important: Remove a game card only while on the HOME Menu, or when the console 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 2 console.
    2. Gently push down on the inserted game card until the card clicks. A Game Card being ejected by being pushed into the Nintendo Switch 2 console until it 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.

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