How to Add Friends on Nintendo Switch

What to Know

To link your account to your Switch, go to System Settings > Users > account > Link Nintendo Account.
To send friend requests, select your user icon > Add Friend > Search with Friend Code.
You can also search for friends if you don't have the friend code.

This article explains where to find your Friend Code, how to send a friend request, and how to change your Friend Code for a Nintendo account.

Link Your Nintendo Account to Your Switch

If you want to send and receive friend requests, link your Nintendo account to your Switch first. Doing so is simple:

If you don't have a Nintendo account, you can create one on the Nintendo website. A parent or guardian must create accounts for children ages 12 and under.

Select System Settings on the Switch home screen.
Scroll down and highlight Users and then select the account you want to link to access its profile settings.

Nintendo
Select Link Nintendo Account.

How to View Your Nintendo Friend Code

Once your Nintendo account is linked, you can access Switch's online features and add friends to your list. You need to find your 12-digit Friend Code before you can share it with others.

Select your user icon on the home screen.
Select Profile. You'll find your Friend Code on the right side of the screen.
That's it!

How to Send Friend Requests on Nintendo Switch

From the home screen, select your user icon, then select Add Friend. From here, you can accept pending requests or send one of your own.

If you don't see any of the options listed below, run a system update and make sure your Switch has the latest version.

Screenshot of the Nintendo Switch Friend Settings

There are a couple of ways you can connect with others.

Friend Suggestions: This option lets you send requests to users you're friends with on Nintendo apps, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, Facebook, or Twitter.
Via Local Users: Pick this option to exchange friend requests with another Switch user nearby. If your Switch isn't connected to the internet, the friend request is temporarily saved on the console and automatically sends the next time it connects.
Via Users You Have Played With: Use this option to send requests to people you've played with in online matches.
Via Friend Code: This is where you can enter a specific Friend Code and send that person a request.
Suggested Friends: If your Nintendo account is linked to other apps that have friends lists, this option displays them, so you can easily send a request.

You can only register up to 100 friends on Nintendo Switch. After that, you must remove some people from your list before you can add more.

How to Change Your Friend Code

If you want to change your Friend Code for any reason, it's simple to do so.

If you change your Friend Code, you'll need to wait 30 days before changing it again.

Select your user icon on the home screen.
Select User Settings > Friend Settings.
Select Reissue Friend Code.
That's it! You should now have a new Friend Code. Your Friends List should still be intact, too, so you won't need to re-add people after making the change.

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