Nintendo Switch 2

The Nintendo Switch 2 system continues the trend of being both your portable and home console, but with more power, a better resolution, more control options, and more. In addition to the hardware improvements, Nintendo also offers expanded parental controls on Nintendo Switch 2. Follow these steps to make sure your kids’ Switch 2 experiences are appropriate.

Setting Nintendo Switch 2 Parental Controls Instructions:

Finding the “Parental Controls” Options:

1. During the initial setup process for the Nintendo Switch 2 console, there will be a prompt to set the parental controls via two methods. The recommended method is via the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls App, available on iOS and Android devices. You can also set parental controls directly on the console, but there are more options via the mobile app, which is also required to set up and use GameChat for players under the age of 16 and for supervised accounts.
   • If the console has already been set up and you want to set controls on the console, you can access the parental controls options after the initial setup by using the mobile application, or by pressing the “Home” button on the controller, selecting “Settings” and then selecting “Parental Controls.”
2. When using the mobile app, select “App Has Been Installed,” or “No Smart Device Available” if setting parental controls directly on the console to begin.

NOTE: Make sure you download the Parental Controls app to your iOS or Android device and follow the directions to ensure that your settings sync to the Nintendo Switch 2 console. Some of the settings described on this page may require you to update your Nintendo Switch 2 and your Parental Controls app to the latest version.

Choosing “App Has Been Installed”

1. Select the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app on your device.
2. Sign into your Nintendo Account and tap “Next.” If you do not have a Nintendo Account already, follow the directions to set one up to continue using the app.

The main parental controls screen on your app gives you access to many different options, including:

1. “Play-Time Limits” can be set to notify the user if they have exceeded the daily play-time limit. These settings can be set individually by day.
   • “Play-Time Limit” – restricts the amount of time spent playing games. When the allotted time is up the console will not automatically turn off, but you will have the option to turn off the game remotely via the “Suspend Software” option in the Time Limits window in the app.
   • “Bedtime” – allows you to notify your children of when it’s time to turn off the console for the evening.
2. “Restricted Features” lets you manage several aspects of your kids’ video game experiences. You can choose from preset options by selecting Teen, Pre-Teen, Child, Custom. Selecting “Custom” will allow you to make granular decisions about the content your children will have access to on the Nintendo Switch 2 console:
   • “Restricted Software” – allows you to restrict titles based on the age of your children up to 18+. This will translate to the ESRB rating parameters. For example, if you select 13+, your console will have access to games E (Everyone), E10+ (Everyone 10+) and T (Teen). Playing of captured videos in the Album will follow the same restriction, and it will also manage what games your child can see their friends playing in GameChat sessions, as well as games they can play via GameShare, which allows players to share supported games with others locally and online – even if those with whom they are sharing do not have the game
   • “Communication with Others” – allows you to restrict in-game communication and sending/receiving messages and images. This also manages things like in-game voice chat and sharing/receiving of user-generated content, and can be set on a game-by-game basis.
   • “GameChat” – Allows you to manage your kids’ use of the GameChat features. For players under the age of 16 and supervised accounts, the parent/guardian can decide who should be allowed for GameChat. Via the console, your children can select with which friends they want to use GameChat. This will send a request to you or another parent/guardian with the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app. The parent or guardian can then approve the friend for GameChat if they are comfortable with their child voice chatting with that person. If your child wants to video chat with anyone on their friends list, they must seek the parent/guardian’s permission each time. The concept behind this is that parent/guardian involvement in use of a camera is important – you may not want to allow it in certain rooms of the house, set the appropriate Camer Field of View, or approve it only at certain times, with certain friends. These controls provide you with tools to make the choices that are most appropriate for your kids.
     Note: There is no option that allows kids to use GameChat with everyone, it requires parental involvement.
   • “Use of VR Mode (3D Visuals)” – allows you to manage or restrict your kids’ access to VR content with compatible games, experiences and devices.
   • “Spending Restrictions” – directly links to your Nintendo Account settings on the web so you can manage whether your kids can spend real money on new games or in-game purchases.

NOTE: ESRB will be automatically set as your default rating authority when your Nintendo Account country is set to the U.S. or Canada.

The Nintendo switch Parental Controls App also sends monthly gameplay summaries so you can see what your kids were playing, and for how long.

Choosing “No Smart Device Available”

1. Via the console you can select several parental control options, such as:
   “Restriction Level” based on the following parameters: You can choose from preset options by selecting Teen, Pre-Teen, Child, or Custom. Selecting “Custom” will allow you to make granular decisions about the content your children will have access to on the Nintendo Switch 2 console.
2. “Restricted Software” – allows you to restrict titles based on the age of your children up to 18+. This will translate to the ESRB rating parameters. For example, if you select 13+, your console will have access to games rated E (Everyone), E10+ (Everyone 10+) and T (Teen). Playing of captured videos in the Album will follow the same restriction.
3. “Communicating with Others” – allows you to restrict or limit the ability to communicate with other players in online games.

NOTE: ESRB will be automatically set as your default rating authority when your Nintendo Account country is set to the U.S. or Canada.

Block by Age Rating

Via the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app

1. Tap “Parental Controls”
2. Tap “Restricted Features”
3. Select the appropriate restriction level based on the age of your child. You can choose from preset options by selecting Teen, Pre-Teen, Child, or Custom. Selecting “Custom” will allow you to make granular decisions about the content your children will have access to on the Nintendo Switch 2 console.
   • For example, if you select Teen, your console will have access to games rated E (Everyone), E10+ (Everyone 10+) and T (Teen).

Note: ESRB will be automatically set as your default rating authority when your Nintendo Account country is set to the U.S. or Canada.

Via the Nintendo Switch 2 Console

1. Select “System Settings”
2. Select “Parental Controls”
3. Select “No Smart Device Available”
4. Select “Restriction Level”
5. Select the appropriate age of your child (Teen, Pre-Teen, Child) to use the default settings, or select “Custom Settings” to make granular decisions about the content your children will have access to on the Nintendo Switch 2 console.
   • For example, if you select Teen, your console will have access to games rated E (Everyone), E10+ (Everyone 10+) and T (Teen).

Limit Time Spent

Via the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app

1. Tap “Parental Controls”
2. Select “Play-Time Limit”
3. Toggle “Vary By Day”
   • From here you can set time limits for every day of the week, OR,
     Tap “Play-Time Limit” to set the amount of time your children are allowed to play in general

Note: When the allotted time is up the console will notify you (via the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app) and the player that time is up, but it will not automatically turn off.  You can select “Suspend Play When Time’s Up” when you are setting up this control if you want the system to automatically power off, or you can rely on the reminders and only use the “Suspend Play When Time’s Up” option to turn off the system remotely if your family is not playing by the rules.

Control Spending

Via the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app

1. Tap “Parental Controls” at the bottom of the screen
2. Tap “Restricted Features”
3. Tap “Spending Restrictions”
   • This will open your browser and redirect you to your Nintendo Account settings
4. If prompted, sign in to your Nintendo Account
5. Select the account for which you’d like to set limits
6. Select the Spending Restrictions setting
7. Tick the box to restrict spending in Nintendo eShop (including automatic renewal of subscriptions) and select “Save changes”

Via your Nintendo Account

1. Sign in to your Nintendo Account on your internet browser of choice
2. Select “Family group”
3. Select the account for which you’d like to set limits
4. Select the Spending Restrictions setting
5. “Tick the box to restrict spending in Nintendo eShop (including automatic renewal of subscriptions) and select “Save changes”

NOTE: After checking the box to restrict purchases, children will have to get permission from parents to purchase new games and in-game content via the Nintendo eShop. Make sure you remember your PIN so you can authorize purchases in the future. The account holder will always receive an email when a purchase is made via the Nintendo eShop.

Restrict Communication

Via the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app

1. Tap “Parental Controls” at the bottom of the screen
2. Tap “Restricted Features”
3. Tap “Communicating with Others”
   • If you are using the default settings for Child, Preteen, or Teen and the “Communication with Others” option is not highlighted, select “Custom Settings” to manually manage your child’s communications. The “Child” and “Pre-Teen” settings will automatically restrict communications.
4. Toggle the “Communication with Others” slider
5. Toggle the sliders next to the individual games if there are any games where you do not want to restrict communication

Via the Nintendo Switch 2 Console

1. Select “System Settings”
2. Select “Parental Controls”
3. Select “No Smart Device Available”
4. Select “Restriction Level”
5. Navigate to “Communication with Others” to manage the ability to communicate with other players in online games