How to Download or Update the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls Smart Device App
Instructions on downloading the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app to your smart device.
Additional Information:
- The Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app is compatible with smart devices which use the iOS and Android operating systems.
- Parental controls are set for the whole Nintendo Switch console, not for each individual player.
Complete These Steps:
- From your smart device, visit either the App Store (iOS) or the Google Play Store (Android) and search for "Switch Parental Controls."
- From the search results select the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app, and then select the appropriate option to download/install the application.
Update Details:
Click the version number below for information about the update. Each update also includes all previous updates.
- Ver. 1.22.0 [Released 03/12/24]
- Ver. 1.19.0 [Released 14/09/23]
- Ver. 1.17.0 [Released 18/09/18]
- Ver. 1.15.0 [Released 11/03/18]
- Ver. 1.11.0 [Released 19/07/17]
Version 1.22.0
- Changed minimum OS version.
- iOS version 15.0 or later is required to use this application.
- Android OS version 8.0 or later is required to use this application.
Version 1.19.0
- Small improvements have been made.
- Additionally, the supported iOS versions have changed. iOS version 14.0 or higher is now required to use this app.
Version 1.17.0
- If you've set up Parental Controls on a Nintendo Switch console, articles that appear in that console's news feed will observe the Restricted Software settings.
- Settings are located in the application's Settings > Restriction Level > Restricted Software
- Establishing a new Internet connection on a Nintendo Switch console with Parental Controls enabled no longer requires a PIN. When Notification Settings for the app are turned on, a push notification will be sent to your smartphone when a new connection is established.
- Feature improvements and bug fixes have been implemented.
Version 1.15.0
- A new whitelist feature has been added. This feature allows you to add specific software titles to a whitelist in order to exclude them from the Parental Controls Restricted Software setting on the Nintendo Switch console.
- You can now choose to lock this app. If you do, authentication via Touch ID or Face ID will be required to use the app.
- The time range for the bedtime alarm has been extended to between 4:00 p.m. and 11:45 p.m.. When a bedtime alarm is set, play will be restricted from the set time until 6:00 a.m. the following day.
- Settings made using this app will now be synced to the Nintendo Switch console even when it is in sleep mode.
- Implemented feature improvements.
- In order to use some of these features, you will need to update the Nintendo Switch system version to 5.0.0 or later.
Version 1.11.0
In order to use these features, you will need to update the Nintendo Switch system version to 3.0.0 or later.
- User play time can now be viewed in more detail.
- You can now view information about time and software played separately for each Nintendo Switch user, as well as time not spent playing games such as using the HOME Menu. ( Games that don’t have the user selection sequence will be displayed as “No user selected”.)
- You can view the times when Parental Controls were temporarily disabled.
- You can check what software was downloaded, and you will receive a push notification on your smart device when new software is downloaded on the console.
- Monthly summaries now have more detailed information.
- You can view information such as the number of days and amount of time played for each user.
- In addition to viewing how many days the console was used in a month, you can now check the amount of time as well.
- ”Versus last month” has been added so you can compare the time played this month with the previous month.
- ”Share” button was added for you to share monthly summaries among family members.
- "Disable Alarms for Today” has been added in the settings.
- This feature disables all alarms on the console for the rest of the day and can be used when you want to let your child play for longer than normal on special occasions such as their birthday or on a holiday. (Enabling this will show the active time in “Time Played”.)