The Nintendo Switch offers various parental control options to help parents manage what content their kids can access. You can set restrictions on downloading and using certain apps and games to ensure your child only accesses age-appropriate content.
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Use On-Device Parental Controls
The simplest way to set restrictions is by using the built-in parental controls on your Switch console.
Set Up Parental Controls
Steps:
- Open System Settings on your Switch home screen
- Select “Parental Controls”
- Create a 4-digit PIN and select “Yes” to prevent the PIN from being changed
- Select “Restriction Level”
- Choose from pre-set age categories (Child, Pre-Teen, Teen) or select “Custom” to manually configure
What You Can Restrict:
- Game content ratings
- Communication with other players
- Posting screenshots to social media
- Nintendo eShop access
The pre-set age categories will automatically block games that don’t meet the age rating. You can also individually whitelist or blacklist certain games under custom settings.
Use Nintendo Switch Parental Controls App
For more extensive controls, download the free Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app on your smartphone.
The app lets you:
- Set daily playtime limits
- Configure which features can be used on the Switch
- View detailed activity reports showing which games your child plays
- Set restrictions based on the specific age of your child
- Temporarily disable restrictions
The app connects to your child’s Switch console after an initial syncing process. You can then monitor and configure all restrictions right from your smartphone.
Restrict Downloads on Nintendo Account
You can restrict eShop purchases and content on your Nintendo Account. This prevents purchases on both Switch consoles and the Nintendo website.
Steps:
- Sign in to your Nintendo Account on a web browser
- Go to account settings and select “Family Group”
- Choose the account you want to restrict
- Enable restrictions for “Spending/purchases on Nintendo Switch eShop and nintendo.com”
- Save changes
With download restrictions enabled, your child will need to request your approval when attempting to purchase new games or in-game content.
Additional Tips
- Set restrictions based on the youngest child using the Switch
- Only one smartphone can be synced to a Switch console at a time
- An internet connection is required to use the parental controls app
- Nintendo suggests fully updating your console and app to access all features
Using Nintendo’s parental controls responsibly allows your kids to freely enjoy the Switch without exposure to inappropriate content. Be sure to clearly communicate rules and restrictions to your children so that they understand boundaries. With some reasonable limits in place, the whole family can have fun!
