Adding a Nintendo Account to Your Family Plan: A Comprehensive Guide
So, you’ve got a Nintendo Switch Online Family Membership and you want to add another player to the fun? Excellent choice! Sharing the joy (and the cost!) of Nintendo’s online services is a smart move. Adding a Nintendo Account to your Family Plan is a straightforward process, provided you’re the administrator of the family group. Here’s the step-by-step guide:
- Log in to the admin Nintendo Account. This is the account that purchased the Nintendo Switch Online Family Membership. If you don’t yet have a Nintendo Account, visit the official Nintendo website to create one.
- Access your Account Settings. Click on “Nintendo Account” usually found in the upper-left corner of the screen (when logged in on a computer or device).
- Navigate to Family group. Select “Family group” from the options available.
- Add a member. Click the enticing “Add member” button.
- Choose an adding option. Select “Add a child account” if you’re adding an account for someone under 16, or “Add member” if it’s an existing account for someone 16 or older.
- Follow the on-screen instructions. For child accounts, you’ll typically need to enter their date of birth and agree to the terms. For existing accounts, the other account holder will need to accept an invitation.
And that’s it! You’ve successfully added a member to your Nintendo Switch Online Family Membership. Let’s dive deeper into some common questions that arise during this process.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
H3 1. Can I Add Existing Accounts to a Nintendo Family Plan?
Absolutely! Existing Nintendo Accounts for users aged 13 and older can be effortlessly added to a Nintendo Account family group by the group’s admin. It’s a fantastic way to bring friends or family into your online gaming sphere. Once added, a parent/guardian in the family group can set them as a supervised account.
H3 2. Can I Link 2 Nintendo Switch Accounts to a Family Account?
A Nintendo Account family group graciously allows up to 8 Nintendo Account users to connect together into one harmonious group. This impressive number includes a delightful mixture of general accounts, watchful parent/guardian accounts, and supervised accounts.
H3 3. How Many Accounts Can You Have on a Nintendo Family Plan?
A family membership unlocks the Nintendo Switch Online service for everyone residing within the purchaser’s family group, accommodating a generous total of up to 8 people. These family memberships are conveniently available in 12-month increments only.
H3 4. Does Each Family Member Need Their Own Nintendo Account?
Not necessarily! If the parent account purchases an Individual Membership, then only the parent account can use Nintendo Switch Online. However, if the astute parent account opts for a Family Membership, any Child Accounts thoughtfully added to the Family Group can then effortlessly access and enjoy the service.
H3 5. Can You Share Games on a Switch Family Plan?
Digital games are steadfastly tied to the Nintendo Account that originally purchased them. However, all users on a system will be able to joyfully play games purchased by any Nintendo Account that has wisely registered the system as their primary console.
H3 6. Can 2 Nintendo Accounts on the Same Switch Share Online Access?
Nintendo Switch Online is thoughtfully designed to be per user. Yet, any other users cheerfully present on your switch console can certainly share and revel in the nostalgic delights of the NSO SNES/NES games. For those seeking more than one online game profile, certain immersive titles like Splatoon 2 may gently encourage multiple switch online accounts (under a family plan, of course!).
H3 7. Can Multiple Accounts Play the Same Game on Switch Simultaneously?
Anyone who skillfully utilizes your primary Nintendo Switch console will be fully empowered to play games diligently purchased with your Nintendo Account. Just keep in mind that you can only designate one console per Nintendo Account as your primary console.
H3 8. Can 2 Switches Play the Same Game with One Account?
Unfortunately, you can’t dive into the same game concurrently on both consoles with the same account. That’s due to Nintendo’s DRM, which doesn’t permit such simultaneous gameplay. You can, however, play the game one at a time unless you possess a physical copy for the other console.
H3 9. Can You Stack Nintendo Family Membership?
If you happen to be a cherished member of a family group blessed with a user who still has 35 precious days remaining on their family membership, and you decide to purchase a brand new family 12-month membership, worry not – both memberships will lovingly run concurrently and won’t simply vanish into the ether. Only the generous user who initially purchased the original membership retains the special power to extend it with an additional family membership.
H3 10. Do I Need to Buy 2 Games if I Have 2 Switches?
Yes, to be exceedingly specific, in order to play locally ON THEIR OWN CONSOLES, each player will indeed need two games. However, provided the consoles aren’t Switch Lites, you can elegantly Dock the one console featuring the game and play harmoniously on the TV with the JoyCons. Plus, any digitally purchased game can be gracefully “shared” to other switches.
H3 11. How Do I Let Other Accounts Play Games on My Switch?
You can only embark on the delightful journey of gamesharing on your Switch by tenderly sharing your Nintendo account with another console, so your games must be digitally associated to partake in this magic, or unfortunately, they can’t be shared. With this harmonious concept in mind, you’re now fully prepared to commence gamesharing, but before diving in, you’ll need to deregister your Nintendo Switch as your primary console.
H3 12. What Does Linking a Nintendo Account Do?
Each individual player on Nintendo Switch possesses the magical ability to create their own unique user account, managing personal settings and precious save data. Linking a Nintendo Account to a user account unlocks access to thrilling online features like online multiplayer, global rankings, and coveted DLC!
H3 13. Why Can’t I Play a Game on My Switch on a Different Account?
This rather bothersome error message may indicate that you’re currently not using the primary console diligently designated for the Nintendo Account that bravely purchased the game. On a non-primary console, the game can only be courageously started by the player who rightfully owns the game.
H3 14. How Many Times Can You Change Primary Switch?
A single Switch can proudly serve as the primary console for as many accounts as your heart desires, but each account can solely designate one Switch as its primary. So, choose wisely!
H3 15. Can You Have Two Users on One Nintendo Account?
Up to 8 user accounts can be created on one console. On the HOME Menu, select “System Settings” → “Users” → “Add User”. Select how you’d like to add a user. If you’ve already linked a Nintendo Account with a user on another console, you can select “Import User Data from Another Console”.
Adding members to your Nintendo Switch Online Family Membership is a simple process that unlocks a world of shared gaming experiences. By following these steps and addressing common questions, you can ensure everyone in your family group enjoys the benefits of Nintendo’s online services.
For more information on games and learning, visit the Games Learning Society website: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. Sharing a Nintendo Switch Online Family Membership provides the Nintendo Switch Online service to everyone in the purchaser’s Nintendo Account family group, allowing up to 8 Nintendo Account users to enjoy. Family memberships can be purchased by anyone aged 18 or over.