Parental controls guide
To get started, you’ll need access to your child’s Nintendo Switch and a smartphone with internet access.
To set up parental controls:
1. Step 1 – On your child’s Switch, go to the home screen and select the System Settings icon.
2. Step 2 – Scroll down and select Parental Controls, then choose Parental Control Settings. A helpful video is available on this screen to guide you through the process.
3. Step 3 – If you haven’t already, download the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app on your smartphone (available on Android and iOS).
a. Once you have the app installed, select “If You’ve Already Downloaded the App” on the Switch and follow the steps to link the console to your phone.
4. Step 4 – Once connected, you can manage your child’s settings remotely from your phone without needing the console.
Creating a Family Group allows you to manage multiple users—including children—across Nintendo devices and online features like the eShop.
To set up a Family Group:
1. Step 1 – Visit accounts.nintendo.com and sign in using your Nintendo account. If you don’t have one, create an adult account separate from your child’s.
2. Step 2 – Expand the Family Group section. Click “Add a member” to invite your child.
3. Step 3 – Choose “Invite to family group” and enter your child’s email. They will need to verify the invite.
If your child doesn’t have a Nintendo account, select “Create a child account” and follow the setup instructions.
Once added, you’ll be able to apply controls like spending limits from your account.
Spending restrictions can only be applied to supervised child accounts that are part of your Family Group.
To set spending controls:
1. Step 1 – Go to accounts.nintendo.com and open your Family Group. Choose your child’s profile and select Parental Controls.
2. Step 2 – Select Spending Restrictions and tick the box to prevent in-app and eShop purchases. Save your changes.
3. Step 3 – Then enable Age-Based Purchase Restrictions to ensure your child only sees content suitable for their age.
You can adjust content age restrictions using the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app on your smartphone.
If you don’t have a smartphone, go to System Settings on the Switch and choose “If You Don’t Have a Smart Device” to access limited settings.
To set age limits via the app:
Step 1 – Open the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app and go to Settings > Restriction Level.
Step 2 – Select the age group that best suits your child.
You’ll also be able to customise settings such as content rating systems, sharing options, communication permissions, and use of VR features. These will adjust automatically based on the age you choose—review carefully to make sure they’re appropriate.
The Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app allows you to monitor how long your child plays each day, what games they play, and which features they access.
To set screen time limits:
Step 1 – In the app, go to Settings > Play Time Limit.
Step 2 – Choose a daily playtime limit and set a Bedtime Alarm to remind your child when to stop playing.
You can enable “Suspend Software at Bedtime,” but this may cause any unsaved progress to be lost if they’re still playing.
If you'd like to set different limits for weekends or specific days, turn on “Set Days Individually” and apply time limits and bedtimes for each day.
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