How to Create a Nintendo Account
Step by step instructions on creating a Nintendo Account.
Important
The ability to use a Nintendo Network ID, Facebook or Twitter to sign in to an existing Nintendo Account or to create a new Nintendo Account has been discontinued. We apologise for any inconvenience.
If you are having difficulties signing in to your Nintendo Account and previously used one of these services, please refer to the following:
- Unable to Sign In to Nintendo Account Using Nintendo Network ID.
- Unable to Sign In to Nintendo Account Using Facebook or Twitter.
Information
A Nintendo Account is required to use certain services from Nintendo, such as off-device game purchases and the My Nintendo rewards programme. A Nintendo Account can be linked to your Nintendo Network ID, Google or Apple accounts. (Only users age 16 and older can link to Google or Apple accounts.)
There are some additional age-related requirements for Nintendo Accounts:
- Users aged 16 or older can create a Nintendo Account.
- Nintendo Account users age 18 and older can create and add up to five Nintendo Accounts for children (age 17 and under) to their Nintendo Account.
- Users age 15 and under cannot create a Nintendo Account. They can only be created within an existing parent/guardian’s Nintendo Account.
Complete These Steps:
- Go to the Nintendo Account website and select Create a Nintendo Account.
Is the person that will be using the account aged 16 or older?
- Select For users age 16 and older.
- Select the sign-in method you want to use.
- If using a Nintendo app running on an iOS device (such as an iPhone or iPad), you will only be able to create a Nintendo Account by registering an email address and password. You can still link Apple or Google accounts after you create a Nintendo Account, or you can create a Nintendo Account using Safari or any other web browser.
What sign-in information would you like to use?
Apple or Google Nintendo Account only
- Select the social network service you would like to sign up with (Google, Apple).
- If creating a Nintendo Account through a Nintendo mobile app on an iOS device (such as an iPhone or iPad), you will only be able to create your Nintendo Account using your email address. You can still link these accounts after you create your Nintendo Account, or you can visit the Nintendo Account website through your internet browser to create your Nintendo Account.
- Enter your sign-in information if needed. Review the site’s terms and, if you agree to them, proceed to create your account.
- If you do not remember your sign-in information for the social network service you want to use, please visit that site's help area for assistance.
- Enter the following information:
- Nickname: Ten characters or less
- Password: Passwords must be at least eight characters long and include a combination of characters from two of the following categories: letters, numbers and punctuation.
- Message: The password for this account may not be secure.
If the message "The password for this account may not be secure. Please consider changing it to keep the account safe" appears while you are creating or changing your Nintendo Account password, we suggest using a different password.
- Message: The password for this account may not be secure.
- Date of birth
- Gender (optional)
- Country/region
- Time zone
- Review the Nintendo Account Agreement and check the box to agree to it.
- Review the Nintendo Account Privacy Policy and check the box to indicate that you have read it.
- Select Continue.
- If you receive a message that you are not eligible to create a Nintendo Account, please click here.
- A verification code will be sent to the email address you provided. When you receive the email, enter the code into the "Verification code" field and select Confirm.
- Your verification code should arrive within a few minutes and expires 24 hours after it was sent.
- If it has been over one hour since you requested the verification code but you have not received an email, make sure that you are entering your email address correctly in the account creation screen, then select Resend verification code to have a new verification code sent.
- You're done! You can now use your Nintendo Account to participate in various online services, such as the My Nintendo rewards programme, and you can use your Google or Apple account information to sign in to your Nintendo Account.
- If you would like to create a Nintendo Account without using a social network account, scroll down to the account information fields towards the bottom of the screen.
- Once you have created a Nintendo Account, you will always have the option to link an NNID or social network service later.
- Enter the following information into the fields:
- Nickname - 10 characters or less
- Email address - Your email address can be tied to one Nintendo Account only.
- Password - Passwords must be at least 8 characters long and include a combination of characters from 2 of the following categories: letters, numbers and punctuation.
- Date of birth
- Gender (optional)
- Country/region of residence
- Time zone
- Review the Nintendo Account Agreement and check the box to agree to it.
- Review the Nintendo Account Privacy Policy and check the box to indicate that you have read it.
- Select Continue.
- If you receive a message that you are not eligible to create an account, please click here.
- Choose whether you want to receive promotional emails, then select Confirm & Register.
- You can change this setting at any time after registration.
- A verification code will be sent to the email address you provided. When you receive the email, enter the code into the "Verification code" field and select Confirm.
- Your verification code should arrive within a few minutes and expires 24 hours from when it was sent.
- If it has been over one hour since you requested the verification code but you have not received an email, make sure that you are entering your email address correctly in the account creation screen, then select Resend verification code to have a new verification code sent.
- You're done! You can now use your Nintendo Account to participate in various online services, such as the My Nintendo rewards programme.
- If you are a parent a guardian who wants to create an account for a child, select Proceed on the next screen.
Do you already have a Nintendo Account or do you want to create a new one?
Already have an account Create a new account
- Select Already have an account.
- Sign into your account.
- If you have set up two-step verification, you will be prompted to enter an additional code. Launch the Google Authenticator app on your smart device, enter the code it displays and select Verify.
- If you do not currently have access to the app, select Use another method to verify your identity and use one of the backup codes you received when setting up two-step verification. (You should have copied and saved these in a safe place.)
- If you do not currently have access to your backup codes, select Use another method to verify your identity on the Enter a backup code screen. An email with a verification code will be sent to the email address associated with your Nintendo Account. Locate the code in your email and enter it in the Verification code box, then select Verify.
- If you do not receive the email, please follow our steps for Did Not Receive a Nintendo Account Identity Verification Email.
- If you have set up two-step verification, you will be prompted to enter an additional code. Launch the Google Authenticator app on your smart device, enter the code it displays and select Verify.
- Enter the child's information into the following fields:
- Nickname - 10 characters or less
- Email address - Your email address can be tied to one Nintendo Account only.
- Password - Passwords must be at least 8 characters long and include a combination of characters from 2 of the following categories: letters, numbers and punctuation.
- Date of birth
- Gender (optional)
- Review the Nintendo Account Agreement and check the box to agree to it.
- Review the Nintendo Account Privacy Policy and check the box to indicate that you have read it.
- Select Continue.
- If you receive a message that you are not eligible to create an account, please click here.
- You're done! Your child's account has been created. Share its sign-in information with your child.
You can also use Parental Controls to apply restrictions on account activity such as online purchases.
- Select Create a new account.
- Follow the instructions for creating a new account for a user aged 16 or older.
- Once a parent/guardian account is created, create a child account.