System Update Information for Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo constantly aims to improve the functionality of its systems and services in order to provide the easiest, most user-friendly experience possible. As a part of these efforts, we are making Nintendo Switch 2 system updates available for download via the Internet.
Latest version: 22.0.0 (Released 17 March, 2026)
Performing the system update
In most situations, the console will automatically download the most recent system update while it is connected online. You can verify your current menu version and manually start the update from the System Settings menu if necessary.
Select System Settings on the HOME Menu.
Scroll down to the bottom of the System Settings menu and select System.
Select System Update, to start the system update process.
During the process, the system will first perform a check to determine if a new system update is available.
If an update is available, the download process will begin automatically.
If you are unable to perform the system update, restart your console and try again.
For more information, see How to Perform a System Update on Nintendo Switch 2.
If you are unable to perform the system update, restart your console and try again.
Press and hold the POWER Button for at least three seconds.
Select Power Options.
Select Restart.
Ver. 22.0.0 (Released 17 March, 2026)
Changed the on-screen text and animations when you load a virtual game card on the HOME Menu.
Added the ability to save notes about users on your friend list. Note content will not be visible to friends.
Also added the ability to view and edit these notes from the Nintendo Switch App. The app must be updated to version 3.3.0 or higher to use this feature.
The following features were added to support GameChat:
Added the ability to invite friends to active GameChat sessions you’re participating in. Some friends may not be able to be invited, including friends using supervised Nintendo Accounts.
Friends who haven't finished the initial GameChat setup process can now be invited to GameChat. Some friends may not be able to be invited, such as those using supervised Nintendo Accounts or those who haven’t used a Nintendo Switch 2 console.
It may take a while for this change to be reflected after updating your console to system version 22.0.0.
Improvements were made to the quality of an expanded game screen shared during a GameChat session.
Added the ability to go back/forwards 10 seconds with the ZL and ZR Buttons when watching a full-screen video in News or on Nintendo eShop.
Added the option to add the following file types to upload automatically from the album:
Trimmed videos, videos scenes saved as screenshots and screenshots that have had text added to them.
Added Portuguese (Portugal) and Russian to the GameChat speech-to-text languages available under
Accessibility in System Settings.
The text to speech feature, which can be found under Accessibility, can now read aloud text in the album and text that appears during the first-time setup process.
Please see Nintendo Switch 2 First-Time Setup and Connection for instructions on how to enable text to speech during the first-time setup process.
Added the ability to see the breakdown of storage capacity by data type for the console's system memory and an inserted microSD Express card.
Added the ability to perform an audio test when 5.1 Channel Linear PCM is selected for TV Sound under Audio.
Changed the "Hong Kong/Taiwan/South Korea" region to "Hong Kong/Taiwan/South Korea/Southeast Asia" under System.
Added the Handheld Mode Boost option to Nintendo Switch Software Handling under System.
Handheld Mode Boost will cause compatible Nintendo Switch software to run as if the console is being played in TV mode. Certain functionality may be affected. Please see the description on the console for more details.
The following features were added for flight mode:
When flight mode is activated, any previously set options for the use of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and NFC will be reapplied.
Added the ability to individually enable or disable Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and NFC during flight mode from Quick Settings.
Added the ability to receive a notification in the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls smart device application when the Parental Controls PIN is input successfully on the console. You can also choose to receive this as a push notification on your smart device.
The app must be updated to version 2.4.0 or higher to use this feature.
General system stability improvements have been made to enhance the user's experience.
Update history
Information on previous versions
General system stability improvements to enhance the user's experience.
General system stability improvements to enhance the user's experience.
Fixed an issue where Error Code: 2011-0301 or Error Code: 2168-0002 would repeatedly occur on a Nintendo Switch when attempting a system transfer using local communication from a Nintendo Switch system to a Nintendo Switch 2 system.
Fixed an issue where sometimes, after waking up the system from Sleep Mode or turning off Airplane Mode, wireless controllers or Bluetooth audio devices were unable to connect.
General system stability improvements to enhance the user's experience.
Added symbols above software icons displayed on the HOME Menu to indicate whether the software is a physical or a digital version.
When multiple software downloads are in progress, there is now an option to cancel all.
If a console bundle includes a software download, there will now be an icon to “Receive Software.” It will display if the system is connected to the internet.
The icon will launch Nintendo eShop and you can proceed to the downloadable software.
You can still receive the software by navigating to Nintendo eShop from the HOME Menu directly.
When finding users to send a friend request to, the Search for Users You’ve Played With option under Add Friend now includes people you’ve interacted with in your friends’ GameChat rooms.
Added the ability to download data for a virtual game card even if the “Use Online License" setting is turned off.
This option is available in the Options of a virtual game card when accessed via Virtual Game Cards from the HOME Menu.
The following updates have been made for GameChat:
The game will not automatically go to sleep while chatting.
The option to turn off “Chat Audio Panning” has been added.
Chat can continue if the console goes from TV mode (docked) to Handheld or Table mode where this scenario changes the internet from a wired connection to a wireless connection.
The following updates have been made in Accessibility in System Settings:
When Use Text to Speech is turned on, the description of the predictive conversion character on the Japanese keyboard is now read out loud.
The upper limit of Text-to-Speech Speed was increased from 300% to 400%.
The following updates have been made in Audio in System Settings:
The ability to change the audio mode for a wirelessly connected Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller was added. “Stable” or “Low Latency” can be selected.
"Low Latency" will reduce audio latency when compared to “Stable” but may be more subject to interference in some wireless environments.
The following updates have been made in Display in System Settings:
“HDR Output” was renamed to “System Screen’s HDR Output.”
Improved the screen display when using Adjust Screen Size to make it easier to adjust.
The following updates have been made in Notifications in System Settings:
The option "Platinum Point Notification” was renamed to "Nintendo Switch Online Notification."
The following updates have been made in System in System Settings:
“Stop Charging Around 90%” was renamed and updated to “Stop Charging Around 80-90%”
Thai and Polish were added to the list of options under Language.
Thai and Polish will only be available in software when it supports the respective language.
General system stability improvements to enhance the user's experience.
General system stability improvements to enhance the user's experience.
General system stability improvements to enhance the user's experience.
General system stability improvements to enhance the user's experience.
Fixed an issue where Parental Control settings were not transferred to Nintendo Switch 2 from Nintendo Switch in certain circumstances during a system transfer.
Fixed an issue where you could not proceed past “Searching for networks” in Internet Settings within System Settings.
General system stability improvements to enhance the user's experience.
General system stability improvements to enhance the user's experience.
The following features have been added:
Use of compatible Nintendo Switch software
Nintendo Switch Online
GameChat
GameShare
System transfer from Nintendo Switch
Virtual game cards
Nintendo eShop
News
Upload of screenshots and videos to the server
Nintendo Switch App on a smart device is needed to view and download screenshots and videos uploaded to the server
Link with the smart device apps Nintendo Switch Parental Controls and Nintendo Switch App
For more information on each feature, please visit the Nintendo website (https://www.nintendo.com/au/hardware/nintendo-switch-2/).
Note:
Linking to a Nintendo Account is required for network features, with some exceptions.
Updating to version 20.1.1 is required to use Nintendo Switch 2 game-key cards.
Updating to version 20.1.1 is required to use a microSD Express card.
When completing the initial console set up, you will be prompted to download and install system version 20.1.0. If the update is not completed during initial setup, you will be prompted to perform the update when trying to use features on the HOME Menu that require the update. If prompted, perform the system update by following the on-screen instructions.