How do I deactivate my switch as primary?
To deactivate your Nintendo Switch as primary, you can do so by visiting the Nintendo Account website, signing in to your account, selecting the Shop Menu, and then choosing Deregister Primary Console. This process allows you to remove the primary console designation from your current Switch, enabling you to set another Switch as the primary console for your Nintendo Account.
Understanding Primary Console Designation
The primary console is the Switch that is linked to your Nintendo Account and allows you to play digital games without needing to be connected to the internet. When you deactivate a Switch as primary, you will no longer be able to play digital games on that console without an internet connection.
FAQs
Q1: What happens when you deactivate a Switch account?
When you deactivate a Switch account, the digital games associated with that account will remain, but they will be unplayable. However, physical games will still be playable, unless you have DLC (Downloadable Content), in which case it will prompt you to delete the unusable DLC.
Q2: Can I unlink my Nintendo account from my Switch?
Once a Nintendo Account is linked to a user account, this link cannot be undone, and the associated user account must also be deleted to unlink the Nintendo Account from the Nintendo Switch console.
Q3: Does deleting a user from a Switch delete the Nintendo Account?
Deleting a user from a Switch does not delete the associated Nintendo Account, but it will remove access to software purchased with that account until the Nintendo Account is re-linked to a new user account.
Q4: How many times can you change primary Switch?
A single Switch can be the primary console for as many accounts as you want, but each account can only set one Switch as its primary.
Q5: Can you have two primary Nintendo Switch consoles?
You can have one primary console at a time for your Nintendo Account, and the first Nintendo Switch console you use to connect to the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch will become your primary console.
Q6: Why can’t other accounts on my Switch play my games?
Other accounts on your Switch cannot play your games because you can set one console per Nintendo Account as your primary console, and only the primary console can play downloadable content without an internet connection.
Q7: How do I change my Nintendo Account on Switch?
To change the user account on your Switch, press the HOME Button to return to the HOME Menu, then select (Y) Change User.
Q8: Can I play the same game on two Switches?
You can redownload games or content you want to access on each Nintendo Switch console, but you will not be able to use the same Nintendo Account to access games on multiple consoles simultaneously.
Q9: How long should a Switch last?
The lifespan of your Nintendo Switch is approximately 6-10 years if you take good care of it, with no expected wear and tear or issues with internal components before then.
Q10: How do you know when a Switch is bad?
If your Switch is functioning incorrectly, you may notice flickering or dimming of the screen, or the console may only turn on after several attempts, indicating a bad Switch.
Q11: How long does a 100% charged Nintendo Switch last?
The battery life of a fully charged Nintendo Switch varies depending on the model and software application, but it can last approximately 4.5 to 9 hours.
Q12: When should a Switch be replaced?
You should consider replacing your Switch if it makes a strange sound, feels hot to the touch, has a delay between turning on and off, or is excessively dirty, cracked, or loose.
Q13: Can two Switches share a game card?
Save data for games on the Switch is saved to the console itself, not the game cartridge, so you can swap the same physical game between any number of consoles and each console will have different save data.
Q14: Can I get a digital copy of a game I already own on Switch?
You can purchase and download a digital copy of a physical game you own, but the physical game does not give you rights to a free digital copy.
Q15: Can I share my digital Switch games with family?
Yes, you can gameshare on your Nintendo Switch, allowing you to share digital games with friends and family across different Switch consoles, including the original Switch, Switch OLED, and Switch Lite.