How to Add a User to Nintendo Switch

Take advantage of multiple profiles on the Switch

Updated on February 13, 2021

Xbox Buyer's Guide

What to Know

To add a new user, go to System Settings > Users > Add User > Create New User > Choose an icon > enter a nickname.
To add an existing user, go to System Settings > Users > Add User > Import User Data from Another Console > Link a Nintendo Account.

This article explains how to add users to and set up parental controls for the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch Lite.

Benefits of Having Multiple Users on the Switch

Some games, like Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, allow for only one save file per user profile. If you don't want your kids playing on your save file, you should make separate profiles for each member of your home. Having different profiles also allows you to create a Nintendo family group, required to establish parental controls.

How Many Users Can You Have on a Nintendo Switch?

Each Nintendo Switch can have up to eight user accounts, and each user account can be associated with a single Nintendo account.

How to Add Users to a Nintendo Switch

To create a new user profile on your Switch console:

Select System Settings from the Nintendo Switch Home menu.
Select Users > Add User.
Select Create New User.
Choose an icon for the new user profile, then enter a nickname.

Your nickname will be visible to other players online. It's possible to change your nickname later on.

You'll then have the option to connect a Nintendo Account to the new user profile, but you can also do this later.

A Nintendo account is required to make purchases from the Nintendo Online store. All users have access to all games purchased by other users.

How to Add an Existing User to a Nintendo Switch

Before you transfer user data between Switch consoles, you should create a new Nintendo account and link it to your user profile. Once your account is set up:

Select System Settings from the Nintendo Switch Home screen.
Select Users > Add User.
Select Import User Data from Another Console.
Select No.

If you have the console with your user data on hand, select Yes to conduct the transfer via near field communication (NFC).
Select Yes.
Select Link a Nintendo Account, then provide the email address associated with your account.

Before you can transfer save data from one Switch to another, you must create a Nintendo Online account and backup your saved files to the cloud.

How to Change Users on Switch

Anytime you launch an application, you'll be asked to choose a user. To change between users on Switch, close the application and open it again.

How to Add Users to a Nintendo Switch Online Family

Up to eight users can be added to a Nintendo Switch family group. Every user in a family group can access Nintendo Online features, but only one person can be the administrator. The administrator is the person who sets up the family group, and they are the only user who can add or remove other users.

To create a family group and add users to it:

Log in to your Nintendo Account.
On your profile page, select Family group.
Select Add member.
Select Invite someone to your family group.

Select Create an account for a child to set up parental controls.
Enter the email address associated with the user's Nintendo account. They will receive a link to join the group.

How to Set Up Parental Controls on Nintendo Switch

You can establish parental controls by downloading the Nintendo Switch Online mobile app. When you launch the app, select Create an account for a child.

Parental controls let you set limits on playtime and block access to specific games and features. You must provide your credit card information (to prove that you are an adult) and create a password.

Nintendo charges a fee to reset passwords, so write down your password and keep it somewhere safe.

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