Can I Add a Child Account to My Nintendo Account?

Yes, you can add a child account to your Nintendo Account, allowing you to manage and supervise their gaming experience, with users aged 18 and older able to create and add up to five Nintendo Accounts for children (age 17 and under) to their Nintendo Account. To do this, simply select “Family group” from the menu on the left, then “Add member,” and finally “Create an account for a child” to add a child under 12 to your family group.

Understanding Nintendo Account Options

Creating a child account on your Nintendo Account is a straightforward process that enables you to oversee your child’s gaming activities, restrict certain features, and ensure a safe gaming environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

1. Can you add a child to your Nintendo Account? Nintendo Accounts can only be created by users age 13 and older. However, Nintendo Account users age 18 and older can create and add up to five Nintendo Accounts for children (age 17 and under) to their Nintendo Account.

2. Can 2 users share a Nintendo Account? Purchasing a Nintendo Switch Online Family or Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack Family membership provides the Nintendo Switch Online service to everyone in the purchaser’s Nintendo Account family group (up to 8 Nintendo Account users).

3. Does Nintendo charge to add a child account? A one-time charge of $0.50 is required for the first Nintendo Account for a child that is added to a parent/guardian’s Nintendo Account. This verifies that a parent or guardian has granted permission for the child to have a Nintendo Account.

4. Can you add an existing Nintendo Account to a family account? Yes. Existing Nintendo Accounts for users aged 13+ can be added to a Nintendo Account family group by the group’s admin. Once added, they can be set as a supervised account by a parent/guardian in the family group.

5. Does each family member need their own Nintendo Account? As with a Nintendo Switch Online membership, each Nintendo Account needs an Individual Membership or needs to be part of a Family Membership to access Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack benefits.

Managing Child Accounts

6. How many child accounts can you have on Nintendo Switch? A parent or guardian’s Nintendo Account can be used to manage up to seven child accounts.

7. Can a child account play my games on Switch? Digital games are tied to the Nintendo Account that purchased them. All users on a system will be able to play games purchased by any Nintendo Account that has registered the system as their primary console.

8. What happens to Nintendo child account when they turn 13? A child account can be created for any child under the age of 18. Please note that once a child account is created, it will not turn into a general Nintendo Account even once the user turns 18.

Purchases and Online Services

9. Can a Nintendo child account buy games? The parent/guardian account can restrict Nintendo eShop purchases on the child’s Nintendo Account. Use a credit card or prepaid Nintendo eShop Funds card to add a specific amount to the child’s Nintendo Account.

10. Can you use the same Nintendo Account on two Switch profiles? You can link your Nintendo Account to multiple consoles. You can play digital games you’ve purchased on any Nintendo Switch console that has been linked to your Nintendo Account.

11. Can you use one Nintendo online account for two profiles? Yes, you can. Even if your family members are using their accounts on different Nintendo Switch consoles, if you have a Family Membership and create a Family Group, then each account can use the Nintendo Switch Online services.

Sharing and Family Features

12. Can 2 accounts share Nintendo Switch Online? Up to 7 additional members can be added to a Nintendo Account family group. When any member of a family group purchases a Nintendo Switch Online family membership, the Nintendo Switch Online service is available to everyone in the family group.

13. Can kids share a Nintendo Switch? You can play together online or in the same room using one system or multiple systems*. Specific features vary by game, such as voice chat or split-screen play, but sharing fun with friends and family is a key focus for Nintendo Switch.

14. How do I add my child to My Nintendo Switch Online? Click Nintendo Account in the upper-left corner of the screen to access your account settings. Select Family group. Select Add member.

15. How do I change my child account to adult on Switch? Select “Family group.” Select the Nintendo Account that you want to stop supervising. Select “Lift parental controls restrictions.” This restriction cannot be lifted for users who are under the age of 16 OR who have not yet registered an email address to their Nintendo Account (age 16 and over only).