How to Start, Join, or Leave a GameChat Room

Complete these steps

• First time setup
  1. Press the C Button botón C bouton C botão C to open the C Menu.
  2. Select the user account you want to set up GameChat for.
     • Prompted to link Nintendo Account

       A Nintendo Account is required to use GameChat. If none are linked to the system, you will be prompted to link one.

     • Prompted to enter Parental Controls PIN

       When parental controls are set up on the system, the parental controls PIN must be entered when selecting an older user who does not have GameChat parental controls applied to them. This is to help prevent a child from selecting a different account to avoid parental control restrictions.

       The person setting up parental controls on the system should share the parental controls PIN with any older users that they don't need to set restrictions for.

       If you aren't sure what the current parental controls PIN is, please read Forgot Parental Controls PIN on Nintendo Switch 2.

  3. A server connection test will be performed to ensure that GameChat is usable in your network environment.
     • Test unsuccessful/received an error code

       Look up the specific error code you received to troubleshoot the issue with your network connection. If you have a smart device, you can scan the QR code that appears with the error code to search for it.

  4. Once the test is complete, select Start.
     • Prompted to have parent or guardian join you for the setup process

       If you are under the age of 16, a parent or guardian must set up a few additional things before you can get started with GameChat. Please follow our guide for parents.

  5. Review the information about GameChat on screen, then select Next.
  6. Review the Terms of Service.
  7. After reviewing the terms, select I’ve Read the Terms, check the "Accept" box, and then select Next.
  8. Verify your registered phone number via text message. Once you receive the text message, enter the authentication code in the message into your Nintendo Switch 2 console.
     • If you have not registered a phone number to your Nintendo Account yet, you will be prompted to do so. If you have a smart device, you can scan the QR code that appears to go right to the Nintendo Account website.
  9. After completing verification, select OK to continue.
  10. Review the information about approving friends for GameChat, then select Next.
  11. Approve any friends that you would like to use GameChat with, then select OK.
      • Please note that they also need to approve you before you can chat together. You can adjust these approval settings later.
  12. Review some important reminders about using GameChat. Select Next after reading each page.
  13. Setup is complete! Once you’re ready to try the feature, continue with our steps below for how to start or join a GameChat room.
• Starting a GameChat room
  1. Press the C Button botón C bouton C botão C to open the C Menu.
  2. Select the user that will be using GameChat.
  3. Select Create Chat.
  4. Select the friends you want to invite, or press the X Button to invite users from your chat history.
     • You can invite up to 11 friends for a total of 12 users participating in the room.
     • If the room is started with fewer than the maximum number of members, you can invite more friends in the GameChat Settings.
  5. Once you’ve chosen friends to invite, select Next, then Start Chat.
     • Prompted to enter Parental Controls PIN

       When parental controls are set up on the system, the parental controls PIN must be entered when selecting an older user who does not have GameChat parental controls applied to them. This is to help prevent a child from selecting a different account to avoid parental control restrictions.

       The person setting up parental controls on the system should share the parental controls PIN with any older users that they don't need to set restrictions for.

       If you aren't sure what the current parental controls PIN is, please read Forgot Parental Controls PIN on Nintendo Switch 2.

• Joining a GameChat room
  1. Press the C Button botón C bouton C botão C to open the C Menu.
  2. Select the user that will be using GameChat.
  3. Select Chat List.
  4. Select the chat room you want to join.
     • Can’t find a chat

       If you aren't able to find a chat that you think you were invited to, there are a few possibilities:

       • The room may include friends that you have not approved to chat with you.
       • The room may include a user that you have blocked.
     • Unable to join a specific chat from the list

       When GameChat parental controls are set up for your user, you will be restricted from joining some chats depending on the other users who are invited:

       • If the room includes friends that have not been approved to chat with you, you can send an approval request to your parent. If that request is approved, you will be able to join the chat.
       • If the room includes a user who is not on your Friend List, you will be unable to join the chat.
  5. Select Join Chat.
     • Prompted to enter Parental Controls PIN

       When parental controls are set up on the system, the parental controls PIN must be entered when selecting an older user who does not have GameChat parental controls applied to them. This is to help prevent a child from selecting a different account to avoid parental control restrictions.

       The person setting up parental controls on the system should share the parental controls PIN with any older users that they don't need to set restrictions for.

       If you aren't sure what the current parental controls PIN is, please read Forgot Parental Controls PIN on Nintendo Switch 2.

• Leaving a GameChat room
  1. Press the C Button botón C bouton C botão C to open the C Menu.
  2. Navigate to the red "Leave Chat' icon and select it.

  As long as one member remains in the room, you can rejoin it at any time. Once all users have left the room, it will close and someone will need to start a new room to chat again.