What is the difference between a child account and adult account on Nintendo?
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The primary difference between a child account and an adult account on Nintendo is the level of access and control that each type of account has over various Nintendo services and features, with child accounts being subject to parental controls and having limited access to certain features, while adult accounts have full access and control over their account settings and features. The main distinction lies in the age restriction, where child accounts are designed for users under the age of 18, and adult accounts are for users 18 years and older, with Nintendo Accounts for children being automatically added as a supervised account to the parent/guardian’s family group.
Understanding Child and Adult Accounts
Account Creation and Management
Nintendo Accounts for children can be created for users age 0 through 17, while general Nintendo Accounts can only be created by users age 13 and older who have an email account.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happens to a Nintendo child account when they turn 18? A child account will not automatically turn into a general Nintendo Account when the user turns 18, and it will remain a child account until the parental controls are lifted by the parent/guardian.
- Can a Nintendo child account play my games? Digital games are tied to the Nintendo Account that purchased them, and all users on a system can play games purchased by any Nintendo Account that has registered the system as their primary console.
- How do I add a child account for Nintendo Switch? To add a child account, the parent/guardian must create a Nintendo Account and then add the child account to their family group.
- What happens to a Nintendo child account when they turn 13? When a child turns 13, they will be able to change their Nintendo account email address to their own, as long as they have parental consent.
- Does my child need their own Nintendo Account? A Nintendo Account is required to receive and redeem My Nintendo points, and parents and guardians can create and manage individual Nintendo Accounts for children ages 12 and younger.
- Do Nintendo Accounts expire? Once a Nintendo Account is deleted, it will be permanently deleted and cannot be restored after a 30-day time frame.
- How do I remove age restrictions on Nintendo? To remove age restrictions, the parent/guardian must access the Parental Controls settings on the Nintendo Switch and enter the Parental Control PIN number.
- How do I change my Nintendo account from child to normal? To change a child account to a normal account, the parent/guardian must lift the parental controls restrictions, but this can only be done for users who are 16 or older and have a registered email address.
- Can a Nintendo child account play online? A parent account must purchase the Family Membership, but then any Nintendo Account of any age in the Family Group can use the Nintendo Switch Online services.
- What is a child account? A child account is a type of Nintendo Account designed for users under the age of 18, which is subject to parental controls and has limited access to certain features.
- 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, and the parent or guardian has 30 days to reactivate their account.
- Why do I have to pay for a child’s Nintendo Account? A one-time fee of $0.50 is charged to verify that a parent or guardian has provided consent, which is a parental control method required by Nintendo.
- Can a 12-year-old have a Nintendo Account? Nintendo Accounts for children can be created for users age 0 through 17, while general Nintendo Accounts can only be created by users age 13 and older who have an email account.
- Can I change my age on Nintendo? The birthdate cannot be changed through the Nintendo Switch system, and to update the birthdate, the user must contact Nintendo support.
- How do I delete a supervised child account on Nintendo? To delete a supervised child account, the parent/guardian must log in to their Nintendo Account, access the Parental Controls settings, and select the child account to be deleted.