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How to Manage Approved-Friend Settings for GameChat

Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch Parental Controls

Follow these steps to adjust which Nintendo Switch 2 friends are approved to use GameChat together with you.

Note: Both users need to approve each other to use GameChat together. If you approve a friend but they have not approved you, they will not receive your invitations, and will be unable to invite you.

Before you start

  • If you have not gone through first time setup for GameChat yet, you’ll need to follow those steps before you can manage your chat-approved friends.
  • A Nintendo Switch Online membership and persistent internet connection are required to use GameChat.

Complete these steps

  • For users aged 16 or older

    This setting can be managed on Nintendo Switch 2 or in the Nintendo Switch App for smart devices.

    On Nintendo Switch 2
    1. Press the C Button The C Button highlighted on the right Joy-Con 2 controller, Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, and Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube Controller botón C The C Button highlighted on the right Joy-Con 2 controller, Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, and Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube Controller bouton C The C Button highlighted on the right Joy-Con 2 controller, Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, and Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube Controller botão C The C Button highlighted on the right Joy-Con 2 controller, Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, and Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube Controller to open the C Menu.
    2. Select your user.
    3. Select Settings. The 'Settings' option highlighted in the C Menu outside of a GameChat room. The 'Settings' option highlighted in the C Menu outside of a GameChat room. The 'Settings' option highlighted in the C Menu outside of a GameChat room. The 'Settings' option highlighted in the C Menu outside of a GameChat room.
    4. Select Chat-Approved Friends. Chat-Approved Friends' highlighted in GameChat settings. Chat-Approved Friends' highlighted in GameChat settings. Chat-Approved Friends' highlighted in GameChat settings. Chat-Approved Friends' highlighted in GameChat settings.
    5. Scroll through the list and toggle the approval for friends you want to adjust. Several friends toggled as approved for GameChat. Several friends toggled as approved for GameChat. Several friends toggled as approved for GameChat. Several friends toggled as approved for GameChat.
    6. Once you’re finished, select OK.
    In the Nintendo Switch App
    1. Open the Nintendo Switch App on your smart device.
    2. Select the Friends tab.
    3. Select a friend you would like to adjust the approval for.
    4. Select the three dots menu, then either Approve for GameChat or Block from GameChat.
      • If you're blocking the other user from GameChat, a confirmation will pop up. Select Block to confirm.
  • For users under the age of 16, to request chat approval on Nintendo Switch 2
    1. Press the C Button The C Button highlighted on the right Joy-Con 2 controller, Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, and Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube Controller botón C The C Button highlighted on the right Joy-Con 2 controller, Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, and Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube Controller bouton C The C Button highlighted on the right Joy-Con 2 controller, Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, and Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube Controller botão C The C Button highlighted on the right Joy-Con 2 controller, Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, and Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube Controller to open the C Menu.
    2. Select your user.
    3. Select Settings. The 'Settings' option highlighted in the C Menu outside of a GameChat room. The 'Settings' option highlighted in the C Menu outside of a GameChat room. The 'Settings' option highlighted in the C Menu outside of a GameChat room. The 'Settings' option highlighted in the C Menu outside of a GameChat room.
    4. Select Chat-Approval Requests. Chat-Approval Requests' highlighted in GameChat settings. Chat-Approval Requests' highlighted in GameChat settings. Chat-Approval Requests' highlighted in GameChat settings. Chat-Approval Requests' highlighted in GameChat settings.
    5. Scroll through the list and toggle the approval for friends you want to adjust.
    6. If you want to approve a friend to chat with you, you will be prompted to send a request to your parent or guardian. Select Send.
    7. Ask your parent or guardian to follow the steps below to approve the request.
  • For parents/guardians, to handle friend approval requests

    You can manage your child's chat-approved friends in the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app for smart devices.

    1. Open the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app on your smart device.
    2. Select GameChat.
    3. Select the user to manage chat-approved friends for.
    4. Select New chat-approval requests. A user selected in the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app, with a new chat-approval request available. A user selected in the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app, with a new chat-approval request available. A user selected in the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app, with a new chat-approval request available. A user selected in the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app, with a new chat-approval request available.
    5. Perform the following steps to review each request and decide whether to approve or deny chat approval:
      1. Select the user.
      2. Ask your child about this friend.
      3. Decide whether to approve the friend.
      4. If you approve them, make a note to keep track of who the user is and why they were approved.
      5. After entering a note, select Finish, then select OK.
  • For parents/guardians, to withdraw approval for your child's friend

    You can manage your child's chat-approved friends in the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app for smart devices.

    1. Open the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app on your smart device.
    2. Select GameChat.
    3. Select the user to manage chat-approved friends for.
    4. Select that user you want to withdraw chat-approval for.
    5. Select Withdraw GameChat Permission at the bottom.
    6. Select Withdraw Permission in the pop-up.
    7. If your child sends another chat-approval request for this user, the app will indicate the day you withdrew approval when you review the request.

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