How To Link Your Nintendo Account To Your Second Switch: A Comprehensive Guide
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So, you’ve got a second Nintendo Switch! Excellent choice. More Switches mean more gaming opportunities, whether it’s for family fun, travel entertainment, or just because you deserve it. But how do you ensure your digital games and Nintendo Switch Online access are available on both devices? The key lies in linking your Nintendo Account, and that’s what we’re going to explore in detail.
In short, linking your Nintendo Account to a second Switch involves creating a user profile on the new console, then linking that profile to your existing Nintendo Account through the System Settings. You’ll need to sign in using your Nintendo Account credentials.
Linking Your Nintendo Account: Step-by-Step
Let’s dive into a more detailed, step-by-step guide to ensure a smooth linking process:
- Power On Your Second Switch: Ensure your second Nintendo Switch is powered on and connected to the internet. This is crucial for communicating with Nintendo’s servers and verifying your account.
- Create a User Account:
- From the HOME Menu, select “System Settings”.
- Scroll down to “Users” and select “Add User.”
- Choose an icon and a nickname for the new user. This user account will eventually be linked to your Nintendo Account.
- Access Profile Settings: Once the user account is created, return to the HOME Menu and select “System Settings” again.
- Scroll down to “Users” and select the user account you just created.
- Select “Profile”.
- Link Nintendo Account: Within the Profile settings, you’ll see the option “Link Nintendo Account”. Select it.
- Sign In to Your Nintendo Account: You’ll be prompted to sign in to your Nintendo Account. You can do this using your email address and password, or through a linked social media account (if you’ve set that up). Alternatively, you can use a sign-in code generated on another device.
- Confirmation: After successfully signing in, your Nintendo Account will be linked to the user profile on your second Switch.
- Designating Primary Console: Understand that only ONE Switch can be registered as the primary console for your account. The FIRST Switch you signed in to is usually the Primary Console. To allow access for other profiles on the console, you will need to make sure it is set as the primary console. This console can access your purchased digital games without an internet connection. Your second Switch (and any subsequent Switches) will be considered non-primary consoles.
- Downloading Your Games: On your second Switch, access the Nintendo eShop using the linked user profile. You can then redownload any digital games you’ve purchased with your Nintendo Account.
- Playing Your Games: Now, select your downloaded game from the HOME Menu to begin playing on that system.
Understanding Primary vs. Non-Primary Consoles
The primary console designation is crucial for understanding how your digital games can be accessed.
- Primary Console: Allows anyone using the console to play your downloaded games, even without an internet connection. Your account needs to be registered on the console.
- Non-Primary Console: Requires an active internet connection to verify your Nintendo Account before playing downloaded games. Only the user linked to the Nintendo Account that purchased the games can play them on a non-primary console.
If you want to switch which console is primary, you will need to de-register the current primary console. The second console can access your games if you aren’t playing them on the first!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
H3 FAQ 1: Can I use my Nintendo Account on multiple Switches simultaneously?
No, you cannot play the same digital game on two Switches simultaneously using the same Nintendo Account. Nintendo’s DRM (Digital Rights Management) prevents this. However, you can play different digital games on different Switches, or play physical games on one Switch while playing a digital game on another.
H3 FAQ 2: How do I switch my primary console?
To change your primary console:
- On the console you WANT to make your primary console, link your Nintendo Account.
- Open the Nintendo eShop.
- That system will automatically be set as your primary console. The old system will be de-registered.
H3 FAQ 3: Can multiple users on the same Switch share a single Nintendo Switch Online subscription?
Not automatically. You have a few options.
- Individual Membership: Each user needs a separate Individual Membership to access Nintendo Switch Online features.
- Family Membership: A Family Membership covers up to eight Nintendo Accounts, regardless of which Switch console they’re using. This is a cost-effective solution for households with multiple Switch users.
H3 FAQ 4: Can I share digital games between two Switches if they belong to different Nintendo Accounts?
No, digital game purchases are tied to the Nintendo Account that made the purchase. You cannot directly transfer or share digital games between different Nintendo Accounts.
H3 FAQ 5: What happens to my save data when I use my Nintendo Account on a second Switch?
Save data is typically stored on the console itself, not on the Nintendo Account. However, if you have a Nintendo Switch Online membership, you can use the cloud save feature to back up your save data and synchronize it between consoles.
H3 FAQ 6: Do I need to buy a game twice if I want to play it on both Switches simultaneously?
Yes, if you want to play the same game simultaneously on both consoles, you will need to purchase either two digital copies or a digital copy and a physical cartridge. This is because you cannot play the same digital game on two Switches with the same account.
H3 FAQ 7: Can I play physical game cartridges on multiple Switches?
Yes! You can use the same game cartridge on multiple Switches. Game data is on the consoles, so it will still be different for each player.
H3 FAQ 8: How many user accounts can I create on a single Nintendo Switch?
You can create up to eight user accounts on one Nintendo Switch console.
H3 FAQ 9: Can I unlink a Nintendo Account from a Switch console?
Yes.
- Unlink a single account: Delete the user account associated with the Nintendo Account.
- Unlink ALL accounts: Initialize the Nintendo Switch console. Note that initializing the console will erase all data on the system.
H3 FAQ 10: If I get a new Switch, can I transfer my digital games and save data?
Yes. You can transfer your Nintendo Account, digital games, and save data to a new Nintendo Switch console. The simplest way to is through the transfer feature in system settings!
H3 FAQ 11: What are the benefits of having a primary console?
The primary console allows any user on that console to play your purchased digital games, even without an internet connection. This is ideal for families who share a console.
H3 FAQ 12: Can I share my Animal Crossing: New Horizons island between two Switches?
Animal Crossing: New Horizons allows up to eight users on a single Nintendo Switch console to share a single island. However, transferring an entire island to another console requires using the Island Transfer Tool.
H3 FAQ 13: What if I forget my Nintendo Account password?
You can reset your password by visiting the Nintendo Account website and following the password recovery instructions. You’ll typically need access to the email address associated with your account.
H3 FAQ 14: Can I transfer digital games to another Nintendo Account?
No, digital game purchases are final and cannot be transferred to a different Nintendo Account.
H3 FAQ 15: Where can I learn more about how video games impact education?
You can explore the exciting world of how video games contribute to learning and skill development by visiting the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. The Games Learning Society has a lot of great resources!