Nintendo Switch
Our age is 8, with controls. Fine with settings because of a strong parent app and a mostly family-friendly library.
Checked October 2026.
- Our rating
- Generally Safe
- Controls
- Nintendo Switch Parental Controls
- Made by
- Nintendo
- Setup
- 9 stops, about 15 minutes
Do these three first
- Link your console to the appSystem SettingsParental ControlsSet Up Parental ControlsEnter the Link Code on the console so the app can manage it.
- Choose a restriction levelParental Controls appRestriction LevelPick the preset that fits your youngest player's age.
- Set a daily play time limitParental Controls appPlay Time LimitA notification-only limit is a good way for older kids to practice stopping on their own.
About Nintendo Switch
What is Nintendo Switch?
The Nintendo Switch is Nintendo's hybrid gaming console that works as both a portable handheld device and a home console connected to your TV. It's known for family-friendly games like Mario, Zelda, and Pokémon, and has excellent parental controls through a dedicated smartphone app. The Nintendo Switch 2, released in June 2025, uses the same Parental Controls app and adds GameChat, its built-in voice and video chat.
Pros for Child/Teen Use
Family-Friendly Library
Nintendo has the most kid-friendly game selection of any console.
Portable and TV Mode
Flexibility to play handheld or on the TV.
Excellent Parental Controls App
The Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app is one of the best in gaming.
Safer Ecosystem
Nintendo's historically family-focused approach.
Local Multiplayer
Great for family gaming together without online concerns.
Cons for Child/Teen Use
Online Play Communication
Nintendo Switch Online enables communication with strangers.
Some Mature Games
Third-party mature games are available on the platform.
YouTube/Streaming Apps
Video apps like YouTube need their own settings; game age ratings don't filter what plays inside them.
In-Game Purchases
Many games include microtransactions.
Key Safety Features
Dedicated smartphone app for managing all parental settings.
Set play time limits, bedtime restrictions, content filtering by age, and communication restrictions. On Nintendo Switch 2 the app also manages GameChat: children under 16 need a parent to approve each friend before they can voice or video chat.
Restrict games by age rating.
Choose from Child, Pre-Teen, Teen, or Custom restriction levels.
Age Recommendations
Ages 8-10: Ideal starting console with full parental controls, E-rated games only.
Ages 11-13: Great option with Pre-Teen content level, limited online features.
Ages 14+: Teen content level with case-by-case online permissions.
The complete guide includes:
- Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app setup
- Play time and bedtime configuration
- Content restriction levels explained
- Communication and online safety settings
- Age-specific configurations
Talk about it
- Who do you play with online, and do you know them in real life?Opens an easy talk about friend codes and who they can reach in GameChat.
- How much play time feels right on a school day?Kids who help set the limit in the Parental Controls app tend to accept it better.
- What should you do if a game asks you to buy something?eShop and in-game purchases add up quickly, and a simple rule makes them easy to handle.
- Which games are your friends playing that you'd like to try?Lets you check ratings together instead of only saying yes or no.
The full route: 9 stops, about 15 minutes
- Download the Parental Controls app
- Link your console to the app
- Choose a restriction level
- Set a daily play time limit
- Fine-tune with Custom settings
- Note your Parental Controls PIN
- Turn on spending restrictions
- Set up GameChat and online playoptional
- Test your settings
Start the setupFree to follow. With Family, your progress is saved for each child.
The complete Nintendo Switch parent guide, with age-by-age settings, is part of the Family plan.
The full guide
The Nintendo Switch family is one of the most popular choices for kids, playable both handheld and on the TV. This guide covers the Nintendo Switch 2 and the original Nintendo Switch (including Switch Lite and OLED). Both use the same free Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app.
Understanding Switch Parental Controls
Nintendo offers two ways to set controls:
- Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app (recommended): manage everything from your phone
- On the console only: age-rating and communication restrictions, with no play time limits or reports
Play time limits, bedtime, daily play reports and the GameChat settings on Switch 2 are only available in the app. The console-only setup covers age ratings and communication.
The Nintendo Switch 2 (released June 2025) adds GameChat, built-in voice and video chat. Children under 16 can't use GameChat until a parent sets it up in the Parental Controls app. You approve each friend your child can chat with, and you can turn the camera off or approve video chat one session at a time. The app shows when your child used GameChat, for how long and with which friends, but not what was said. GameChat needs a Nintendo Switch Online membership (the free open-access period ended March 31, 2026).
Setting Up the Parental Controls App
Download the App
Install "Nintendo Switch Parental Controls" from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android). The app is free.
Sign In With Your Nintendo Account
Tap Start, then sign in with your own Nintendo Account (it must belong to an adult, 18 or older). The app then shows a six-digit Link Code.
Enter the Code on the Console
On Nintendo Switch 2:
On the original Nintendo Switch:
Enter the Link Code, select OK, then select Link. If you see "Change Settings" instead, controls were already set up on the console: select it, enter the PIN and choose the option to use the app.
Check Your PIN
Once linked, the console's Parental Controls PIN lives in the app (Parental Controls PIN). You'll need it to change settings on the console or to play a restricted game.
Pick a PIN your child won't guess. While the console is linked, the PIN can only be changed from the app.
One app can manage up to eight Switch and Switch 2 consoles.
Play Time Management
Daily Limit
In the app, open Play Time Limit and choose anything from no limit up to 6 hours a day. Turn on "Set Days Individually" (on Switch 2, "Vary by Day") to give school days and weekends different limits.
Starting points many families use:
- School days: 1 to 2 hours
- Weekends: 2 to 3 hours
Bedtime
Set a time each evening (between 4:00 PM and 11:45 PM) when play stops, and a time the next morning when the console can be used again. If you set both a daily limit and a bedtime, whichever comes first applies.
What Happens at the Limit
You choose:
- Suspend software: the game stops when time is up ("Suspend Software" on Switch, "Suspend Play When Time's Up" on Switch 2)
- Notification only: a message appears but play can continue
Suspending can cost progress since the last save. A notification-only limit suits older kids who are learning to stop on their own.
You can extend today's limit from the app (by 5, 15 or 30 minutes, an hour, or turn it off for the day).
Play Reports
The app shows daily and monthly play time and which games were played. It's useful for a conversation even if you don't set a strict limit.
Content Restrictions
Restriction Levels
Nintendo's preset levels (ESRB ratings in the US):
| Level | Games blocked | Communication |
|---|---|---|
| Child | Rated E10+, T and M | Restricted |
| Pre-Teen | Rated T and M | Restricted |
| Teen | Rated M | Not restricted |
| Custom | You choose | You choose |
Set this in the app under Restriction Level. Restrictions apply to everyone on the console, so set them for your youngest player.
Custom Settings
Choose "Custom" to set each item:
- Restricted Software: the highest age rating allowed
- Communicating with Others: in-game chat and posting
- Posting Screenshots to Social Media: original Switch only
- VR Mode: 3D visuals for supported games
You can also add specific games to an allow list so they play without the PIN, even if they're above the age setting. Play time limits still apply.
Nintendo eShop Spending
Spending is set on your child's Nintendo Account, not the console:
- Sign in to your parent account at accounts.nintendo.com
- Open Family Group and select your child's account
- Tick the Spending Restrictions box
This blocks purchases and auto-renewals on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo website. eShop content is also hidden based on your child's age.
Don't store a credit card on the console. Nintendo eShop gift cards let you control exactly how much is spent.
Online Play and Communication
Nintendo Switch Online
Most online multiplayer requires a Nintendo Switch Online membership ($19.99 a year for an individual plan). GameChat on Switch 2 needs one too. Free-to-play games such as Fortnite work online without it.
Communication
Restricting "Communicating with Others" blocks chat and posting inside games. On Switch 2, GameChat has its own settings in the app: approve friends one by one, and decide whether the camera is off or needs your approval each time.
On the original Switch, some games use voice chat through the Nintendo Switch App on a phone (formerly the Nintendo Switch Online app). Check each game's own chat settings as well.
Friends
Friends on Switch are added by friend code, local play or suggestions. Look at the friend list together now and then, and turn off friend suggestions in your child's Nintendo Account settings if you prefer.
Child Nintendo Accounts
A child account is a Nintendo Account for kids 12 and under, created from your own account:
- Go to accounts.nintendo.com and sign in
- Open Family Group and add a member
- Choose to create a child account
Teens 13 and older can use their own Nintendo Account and join your Family Group. Link your child's account to the user profile they use on the console so their spending settings apply:
On some consoles the option reads "Sign in to a Nintendo Account." Once an account is linked to a user, it can't be unlinked or changed, so check you've picked your child's profile.
Physical Game Cards
Age restrictions apply to game cards too. A game above the restriction level won't start without the PIN, so a game borrowed from a friend is covered.
Handheld vs. TV Mode
Controls work the same in handheld, tabletop and TV mode.
Multiple Children
Restriction levels and play time limits apply to the whole console, not to each user. Set them for your youngest child, then use the allow list or the PIN for older kids. GameChat settings on Switch 2 and eShop spending are per child.
Common Games and Ratings
| Game | ESRB rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe / Mario Kart World | Everyone | Online races with strangers |
| Super Mario Bros. Wonder | Everyone | Family-friendly |
| Animal Crossing: New Horizons | Everyone | Visiting other islands online |
| Minecraft | Everyone 10+ | Online servers and chat |
| Splatoon 3 | Everyone 10+ | Online team shooter |
| Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | Everyone 10+ | Cartoon fighting |
| Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | Everyone 10+ | Fantasy violence |
| Fortnite | Teen | Free, voice chat, in-game purchases |
Overriding Restrictions
Enter the PIN on the console to play a restricted game or keep playing past the limit for that session. You can also extend the day's limit from the app.
Forgotten PIN
- Linked to the app: open the app and select Parental Controls PIN to see it.
- Not linked: enter a wrong PIN until the console offers help, note the inquiry number on the Forgot PIN screen and contact Nintendo Support. If the console is linked, resetting the PIN also unlinks the app and clears its play history.
Troubleshooting
App Not Updating
- Make sure the console is connected to the internet
- Pull down in the app to refresh
- Unlink and relink the console if it continues
Time Not Tracking
- Check that the console is linked and online
- Time limits cover the whole console, so check the daily report for which games were played
Restrictions Not Working
- Check the restriction level in the app
- Restart the console
Quick Setup Checklist
Additional Resources
Your Switch is set up. The app makes it easy to adjust settings as your child grows.