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How to Unlink Consoles That Can Load Virtual Game Cards

Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, Nintendo Switch - OLED Model

Follow these steps to unlink one of the consoles that can load virtual game cards for your Nintendo Account.

Note: Each Nintendo Account can have two consoles that can load virtual game cards at a time. If you already have two, unlinking one of them will allow you to use a different console to load your virtual game cards.

Complete these steps

  • Unlink using your consoles (recommended)

    If you have access to both of your existing consoles that can load virtual game cards, along with a new console you want to use to load virtual game cards, you can link one of your existing consoles with the new one—during this process, you will be able to choose which of your existing consoles you want to unlink.

    1. Link your Nintendo Account to a user on the new console you want to link, if you have not already done so.
    2. On the new console, select Virtual Game CardsThe Virtual Game Cards icon shown on the Nintendo Switch HOME Menu. Tarjetas de juego virtualesEl icono de tarjetas de juego virtuales se muestra en el menú HOME de Nintendo Switch. Cartes de jeu virtuellesL’icône  des Cartes de jeu virtuelles affichée sur le menu HOME de la Nintendo Switch. Cartões de jogo virtuaisO ícone dos Cartões de jogo virtuais exibido no Menu HOME do Nintendo Switch. from the HOME Menu.
    3. Select a virtual game card you would like to load on the new console.
    4. Select Load on This System Cargar en esta consola Charger sur cette console Carregar neste console .
    5. Select Next Seguir Suite Próximo .
    6. A message will appear indicating that you have already linked two consoles. Select Next Seguir Suite Próximo .
    7. Review the information about your two consoles that are currently linked, and select Unlink Desvincular Désynchroniser Desvincular next to the one you want to unlink.
    8. Select Unlink Desvincular Désynchroniser Desvincular again.
      • Message: The system you want to unlink is offline.

        If you have access to the console you want to unlink, make sure it is turned on and connected to the Internet, then try again.

        If you do not have access to the console you want to unlink, follow the steps below for unlinking through the Account Home website.

    9. Select OK Aceptar OK OK .
    10. Bring the consoles that will now be linked close together and select Systems Are Close Enough Las consolas ya están cerca. Les consoles sont suffisament proches Os consoles estão próximos o suficiente .
    11. On the existing console that can load virtual game cards, select Virtual Game CardsThe Virtual Game Cards icon shown on the Nintendo Switch HOME Menu. Tarjetas de juego virtualesEl icono de tarjetas de juego virtuales se muestra en el menú HOME de Nintendo Switch. Cartes de jeu virtuellesL’icône  des Cartes de jeu virtuelles affichée sur le menu HOME de la Nintendo Switch. Cartões de jogo virtuaisO ícone dos Cartões de jogo virtuais exibido no Menu HOME do Nintendo Switch. from the HOME Menu.
    12. Select your user.
    13. If you have enabled user verification, you may be prompted to confirm your identity by re-entering your password or entering a PIN Contraseña Code secret PIN .
      • Forgot password

        If you have forgotten your password, please follow Forgot Nintendo Account Sign-in Info.

      • Forgot  PIN Contraseña Code secret PIN  or entered  PIN Contraseña Code secret PIN  incorrectly

        If you have forgotten your user-verification PIN Contraseña Code secret PIN or you entered the incorrect PIN Contraseña Code secret PIN too many times, follow these steps:

        1. With the PIN Contraseña Code secret PIN entry screen displayed, press the + button. The Help option called out on the user-verification PIN screen. Opción ‘Ayuda’ en la pantalla del PIN de verificación de usuario. L’option ‘Aide’ affichée sur l’écran de vérification du code PIN de l’utilisateur. A opção ‘Ajuda’ foi exibida na tela do PIN de verificação de identidade.
        2. Select Sign InIniciar sesiónSe connecterIniciar sessão.
        3. Sign in to your Nintendo Account.
        4. A message will appear indicating that your PIN Contraseña Code secret PIN has been deleted. Select OK Aceptar OK OK .
          • Note that this will not turn off user verification, but instead switch it to requiring you to sign in to your Nintendo Account. You can change back to the PIN Contraseña Code secret PIN verification method and create a new PIN Contraseña Code secret PIN in your User Settings.

        For more information about user verification, read the User-Verification Settings Guide.

    14. Select Link Vincular Synchroniser Vincular .
    15. The linking process will begin. Select OK Aceptar OK OK when it is complete.
    16. If prompted, select Load on This System Cargar en esta consola Charger sur cette console Carregar neste console to load the virtual game card on the newly linked console.
  • Unlink using the Account Home website

    Important: Unlinking a console through the Account Home website can only be done once per year. If at least one of your consoles that can load game cards is available along with the new console you want to link, we recommend unlinking using your consoles as described above.

    1. Using a web browser, visit the Account Home (accounts.nintendo.com/portal) website.
    2. Sign in to the Nintendo Account with the console you want to unlink.
    3. Select Game SystemsThe 'Game Systems' option called out on the Nintendo Account Overview website ConsolasLa opción 'Consolas' que aparece en el sitio web de Información de la cuenta Nintendo Consoles de jeuL'option « Consoles de jeu » indiquée sur le site Web Informations sur le compte Nintendo ConsolesA opção 'Consoles' é exibida no site Informações da conta Nintendo .
    4. Select Systems Sharing Virtual Game CardsThe 'Systems Sharing Virtual Game Cards' option called out on the Nintendo Account Overview website Consolas que comparten tarjetas de juego virtualesLa opción 'Consolas que comparten tarjetas de juego virtuales' que aparece en el sitio web de Información de la cuenta Nintendo Consoles sur lesquelles les cartes de jeu virtuelles peuvent être utiliséesL'option « Consoles sur lesquelles les cartes de jeu virtuelles peuvent être utilisées » indiquée sur le site Web Informations sur le compte Nintendo Consoles que compartilham cartões de jogo virtuaisA opção 'Consoles que compartilham cartões de jogo virtuais' é exibida no site Informações da conta Nintendo .
    5. Select Unlink Desvincular Désynchroniser Desvincular below the console you want to unlink.
      • Message: Can't unlink right now

        This indicates that you have already used the Account Home website to unlink a console in the past year. You can only unlink once per year using the website.

        If you have one of your consoles that can load game cards along with a new console you wish to link, you can unlink this console by following the process to link the other two.

        If you have already unlinked through the website in the past year and you do not have access to any of your consoles that can load virtual game cards, please contact us for support.

    6. Select NextSeguirSuitePróximo.
    7. Select Unlink Desvincular Désynchroniser Desvincular again to confirm.

Additional information

When a system is unlinked, all virtual game cards loaded on that system will be ejected. Your save data will remain on the system, and you will retain your software licenses.

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