How to Set Up or Adjust Nintendo Switch Parental Controls
Description
Instructions on setting Parental Controls on the Nintendo Switch console or in the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls smart device application.
Note
Parental Controls can be set on the Nintendo Switch console or through the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls application for smart devices.
Parental Controls are set for the console, not each individual user. The same restrictions will apply to everyone who uses the console, so they should be set with the youngest player in mind.
The ability to set play time limits and bedtime alarms and to view play activity data is only available through the free Nintendo Switch Parental Controls smart device application.
Nintendo eShop restrictions can only be set through the parent/guardian’s Nintendo Account profile settings on a PC or smart device (accessible by signing in on the Nintendo Account website).
Each Nintendo Account on the console can also require a password to access Nintendo eShop or make purchases with saved payment information.
You may also find our information on removing the Parental Controls PIN helpful.
Please note: If you have forgotten your Parental Controls PIN for Nintendo Switch, please click here.
Follow These Steps:
Where Do You Want to Set Parental Controls?
Nintendo Switch Console:
Note: If you have already linked the smart device application to your console, you must adjust Parental Controls through the app.
Are You Setting Up Parental Controls for the First Time or Changing Existing Restrictions?
Setting Up for the First Time:
Select System Settings on the HOME Menu.
Scroll down to highlight Parental Controls, then select Parental Controls Settings.
You will be referred to the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app for smart devices, which offers additional options to restrict and monitor your child's play activity. Press the X Button and then select Next to continue without the smart device app.
If you wish to use the smart device app, download it to your Apple or Android device and follow the steps for smart device application above.
Select a restriction level.
Choose from preset restrictions by age or select Custom to manually adjust the settings. Select each setting that you want to adjust:
Important: Nintendo eShop restrictions, including the restriction of spending/purchases, must be set in the Nintendo Account settings.
Restricted Software - Restrict software by age based on each game’s age rating category. Select Restricted Software, then choose the age you would like to restrict software for. Additionally, videos captured using restricted software will not be viewable in the album.
Content rating system - Adjust the content rating system that software restrictions are based on (Australia-ACB or New Zealand-OFLC). This defaults to the appropriate system for your region.
Posting Screenshots/Videos on Social Media - Disable the ability to share images from Nintendo Switch on social media. Toggle between Restricted or Not restricted.
Free Communication With Others - Restrict open communication between users, including chat features and exchanging messages. You can toggle between Restricted or Not restricted for all software on the console, or adjust the settings for specific software.
VR Mode (3D visuals) – Restrict gameplay in VR mode. This option should be set to "restricted" if a child 6 years old or younger uses the console. Toggle between Restricted or Not restricted.
Once the restrictions are set as you want them, select Save, then select OK to confirm.
Choose a PIN (between 4 and 8 digits long), then select OK.
If you use control stick input (default), each tilt direction of the control stick is a number (1-8), the Y Button is 9, and the X Button is 0.
If you would prefer to enter the PIN using a keypad, hold the + Button (keypad input), then use the on-screen keypad to enter your PIN.
If there are children in the room that you don’t want to see the PIN, you can either undock the Nintendo Switch and enter the PIN in handheld mode or use control stick input.
Re-enter the PIN to confirm, then select OK.
If you are having issues with the PIN confirmation, try using keypad input to enter the PIN and/or select Show when entering it to display it on the screen. (Note that this will be visible to anyone in the room if you enter it while in TV mode.)
Changing/ Updating Existing Restrictions
Select System Settings on the HOME Menu.
Scroll down to highlight Parental Controls, then select Change Settings.
Enter the Parental Controls PIN for the console.
If you have forgotten the PIN, it will need to be reset.
Select Change Settings.
Select each setting that you want to adjust:
Important: Nintendo eShop restrictions, including the restriction of spending/purchases, must be set in the Nintendo Account settings.Restriction Level - Choose from preset restrictions by age or select Custom to manually adjust the settings. Additionally, videos captured using restricted software will not be viewable in the album.
Content rating system - Adjust the content rating system that software restrictions are based on (Australia-ACB or New Zealand-OFLC). This defaults to the appropriate system for your region.
Posting Screenshots/Videos on Social Media - Disable the ability to share images from Nintendo Switch on social media. Toggle between Restricted or Not restricted.
Free Communication With Others - Restrict open communication between users, including chat features and exchanging messages. You can toggle between Restricted or Not restricted for all software on the console, or adjust the settings for specific software.
VR Mode (3D visuals) – Restrict gameplay in VR mode. This option should be set to restricted if a child 6 years old or younger uses the console. Toggle between Restricted or Not restricted.
Once the restrictions are set as you want them, select Save, then select OK to confirm.
Smart Device Application
If you haven't already done so, link your Nintendo Switch console to the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls application.
After the linking is complete, start the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls application on your smart device.
Select Settings in the upper-right corner (Android devices) or lower-right corner (iOS devices).
If this is your first time launching the application after linking a console, you will be walked through how to adjust the different settings.
If you have more than one Nintendo Switch console linked to the app, tap the + icon in the upper-right corner to choose the correct console.
Up to three Nintendo Switch consoles can be linked to the smart device app at one time.
Select each setting you want to adjust:
Important: Nintendo eShop restrictions, including the restriction of spending/purchases, must be set in the Nintendo Account settings.
Play Time Limit - If you have both a play time limit and a bedtime alarm enabled, the console will use whichever time limit comes first.
Play Time Limit - Set a daily limit on the amount of time the Nintendo Switch console can be used (from "Not restricted" up to 6 hours). You can also choose to remove the restriction for a specific day.
Bedtime Alarm - Set gameplay to stop at a certain time each day (between 6:00 PM and 11:45 PM).
Suspend Software - When this is turned on, the software on the console will be stopped when the time limit is reached. Otherwise, a notification will appear when the limit is reached, but software will still be playable.
Restriction Level - Choose from preset restrictions by age or select Custom to manually adjust the settings. Select each setting that you want to adjust:
Restricted Software
Restrict software by age based on each game’s rating category. Select Restricted Software, then choose the age you would like to restrict software for. Additionally, videos captured using restricted software will not be viewable in the album.
Content rating system
Adjust the content rating system that software restrictions are based on (Australia-ACB or New Zealand-OFLC). This defaults to the appropriate system for your region.
Posting Screenshots/Videos on Social Media
– Disable the ability to share images from Nintendo Switch on social media. Toggle between Restricted or Not restricted.
Free Communication With Others – Restrict open communication between users, including chat features and exchanging messages. You can toggle between Restricted or Not restricted for all software on the console, or adjust the settings for specific software.
VR Mode (3D visuals) – Restrict gameplay in VR mode. This option should be set to restricted if a child 6 years old or younger uses the console. Toggle between Restricted or Not restricted.
Whitelist – Select “Whitelist” to exclude specific software titles from Parental Controls restricted software settings. (Compatible with Nintendo Switch consoles that have been updated to ver 5.0 or higher.)
Whitelist: Manage whitelisted software titles.
Whitelist settings allow you to exclude specific software titles from Parental Controls restricted software settings on Nintendo Switch consoles that have been
Whitelisted games can be played on the console without entering a Parental Controls PIN.
Whitelisted games are still subject to any restrictions set for daily play time limits.
You can remove a game from the whitelist at any time, at which point the standard restrictions you have set for the console will apply.
Any software titles that have been played on your console can be added to your whitelist. If the game you want doesn't appear, start it on your Nintendo Switch console and check again.
PIN: View or change the Parental Controls PIN for the console.
Once you have adjusted the settings as desired, tap the orange check mark on the screen to confirm.
The restriction(s) will be activated as soon as the Nintendo Switch console connects to the internet.
Nintendo Account Profile (including Nintendo eShop restrictions)
Parent/guardian Nintendo Accounts can adjust the following items for a supervised account (users aged 15 and under) in their family group:
Manage Nintendo eShop restrictions, which includes the ability to restrict spending and set a spending limit.
Enable or disable the friend suggestions feature.
Manage Nintendo Account information that can be shared with third parties.