Transferring Your Child’s Nintendo Account to Another Family Group: A Comprehensive Guide

So, you need to move your child’s Nintendo Account to a different family group? Don’t worry, it’s a manageable process. Here’s a straightforward guide:

The Key Steps:

1. Sign in: The admin of the current Nintendo Account family group needs to log in to their account at accounts.nintendo.com.
2. Transfer Request: Navigate to the “Transfer to another family group” page. (You might find this under a section called “Family Group” or similar.)
3. Select Child Accounts: Choose the child account(s) you wish to move to the new family group. You can typically select multiple accounts simultaneously if needed.
4. Confirm: Click “OK” or a similarly labeled button to initiate the transfer.
5. Await Confirmation: The admin of the receiving family group will likely need to confirm the transfer request on their end.

Essentially, the admin of the current family group initiates the transfer, and the admin of the new family group typically accepts the transfer. Let’s dive deeper into the nuances and potential pitfalls.

Understanding Nintendo Family Groups

A Nintendo Account family group is a feature that allows you to link multiple Nintendo Accounts together under one “umbrella,” managed by an administrator. This is particularly useful for families with children, as it allows parents to manage parental controls, oversee purchases, and share benefits like Nintendo Switch Online Family memberships.

It’s important to distinguish between a standard Nintendo Account and a supervised account (often referred to as a child account). Supervised accounts have restrictions and parental controls applied by the family group admin. Transferring a child account involves more steps than simply having someone leave and join a group, as the child account’s access is dependent on parental oversight.

Key Considerations Before You Transfer

Before initiating a transfer, consider these critical points:

• Age of the Child: If your child is nearing the age of 13 (or older depending on regional laws), they may soon be able to manage their account more independently. It might be worth considering lifting parental controls rather than transferring the account.
• Nintendo Switch Online: If you have a Nintendo Switch Online Family membership, transferring a child out of the group will remove their access to the service. Ensure the new family group has a membership or that the child obtains an individual membership.
• Purchases: Games and content purchased on a Nintendo Account are tied to that specific account. Transferring the account transfers the associated purchases. You cannot split or merge purchases between accounts.
• Communication is Key: Talk to all parties involved, including the child and the admin of the new family group, to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Step-by-Step Transfer Process in Detail

While the initial overview provides the core steps, here’s a more detailed breakdown:

1. Admin Access: Ensure the current family group admin has access to their Nintendo Account. This means knowing their email address and password.
2. Login: Go to accounts.nintendo.com and log in using the admin’s credentials.
3. Navigate to Family Group Settings: Look for a section labeled “Family Group.” The exact wording might vary, but it should be relatively easy to find.
4. Initiate the Transfer: Within the Family Group settings, locate the option to “Transfer to another family group” or something similar. This might also be under a section titled “Supervised Accounts.”
5. Select the Child Account(s): A list of supervised accounts within the current family group will appear. Check the box next to each account you wish to transfer.
6. Confirm the Selection: Click “OK” or a button that confirms your selection. The system may ask you to re-enter your password for security purposes.
7. Notification to the New Admin: The admin of the receiving family group should receive a notification, either via email or within their Nintendo Account settings, indicating that a transfer request is pending.
8. Acceptance by the New Admin: The new admin needs to log in to their Nintendo Account and accept the transfer request. This step is crucial to finalize the transfer.
9. Verification: Once the new admin accepts, the child account(s) will be moved to the new family group. Both admins should verify that the transfer was successful by checking their respective Family Group settings.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• “Transfer Option Not Available”: This usually indicates that you are not logged in as the family group admin or that the account you are trying to transfer is not a supervised account.
• “New Admin Not Receiving Notification”: Double-check that the new admin’s email address is correct and that they are checking the correct Nintendo Account. Also, have them check their spam or junk mail folder.
• “Transfer Fails”: Ensure that both accounts meet the requirements (e.g., the new admin is 18+). Contact Nintendo Support if the issue persists.

Nintendo and Learning: A Valuable Resource

Exploring the Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) can offer further insight into the potential of gaming for education and development. While this article focuses on account management, understanding the broader context of gaming’s impact can be beneficial.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can you transfer a child Nintendo Account?

Yes. A child’s Nintendo Account can be moved to a different family group if the account admin for the new family group is aged 18+.

2. Can you switch family groups on Nintendo?

All general accounts can leave and join a different group. All supervised accounts (typically for users aged 12 and under) must be transferred by the admin of the original family group.

3. Can a child leave a family group Nintendo?

Supervised Nintendo Accounts cannot leave the family group on their own. A parent/guardian in the family group must initiate the transfer or remove the supervised status (if the child is old enough).

4. How do I transfer supervised accounts on Nintendo?

The admin of the family group needs to log in to their Nintendo Account and navigate to the Family Group settings. From there, they can select the supervised accounts to transfer and initiate the process. The admin of the new family group must then accept the transfer.

5. How do I remove a supervised member from a family group?

Log in to an admin or parent/guardian Nintendo Account in the family group. Select Family group. Select the Nintendo Account that you want to stop supervising. Select Lift parental controls restrictions.

6. How do I change my Nintendo account from child to adult?

You cannot directly change a child account to an adult account. The account remains a supervised account until the parental controls are lifted, usually when the child reaches a certain age (often 13, depending on the region).

7. Can you be in multiple Nintendo family groups?

No. A Nintendo Account can only belong to one family group at a time.

8. Can you merge two Nintendo family accounts?

No. It is not possible to combine multiple Nintendo Accounts together, or to add additional members to a Nintendo Account.

9. What happens if I delete a child account on Nintendo?

Any child accounts managed through the parent or guardian’s Nintendo Account would also be deleted.

10. What happens to a Nintendo child account when they turn 13?

When a child turns 13 on a Nintendo account, they will be able to change their Nintendo account email address to their own, as long as they have parental consent. They can also have parental controls lifted if the admin chooses to do so.

11. Do each of my kids need their own Nintendo Account?

Parents and guardians can create and manage individual Nintendo Accounts for children ages 12 and younger. This allows for individual progress and My Nintendo points earnings.

12. What happens if I delete a family group?

Any shared content or family services will no longer be available to your family members.

13. Can you transfer a Nintendo game from one account to another?

No. Digital game purchases and code redemptions are final and cannot be transferred to a different Nintendo Account.

14. How do I remove a family administrator?

You can’t directly remove a family administrator while they are still the administrator. You would need to transfer ownership of the family group to another adult account first.

15. Can a Nintendo Switch have 2 accounts?

Yes. Up to 8 user accounts can be created on one console. Each account can be linked to a separate Nintendo Account.

Navigating the world of Nintendo Accounts and family groups can seem complicated, but understanding the process and the limitations will help ensure a smooth transfer for your child. Remember to communicate clearly with all parties involved and to consider the long-term implications of your decisions. And for further insights into the educational side of gaming, visit Games Learning Society.