“Could not Connect to the Internet” Message When Starting Software
The information in this article can help if you try to start a game or software on your Nintendo Switch console and receive the message "Could not connect to the internet. Please check your settings".
This error can occur when an internet connection is required to open the software you have selected, including in the following situations:
You do not have the virtual game card loaded to this console, but you have the online licence setting enabled for the Nintendo Account that was used to purchase the software. You can load the virtual game card to this console to play the software without an internet connection.
The software must connect to the internet to verify that you have a Nintendo Switch Online membership (for example, to play NES & Super NES - Nintendo Switch Online games).
The software requires an internet connection to play (for example, to play Cloud versions of games).
Possible solutions
If the software does not require an internet connection, you likely need to load the virtual game card using the Nintendo Account that purchased the software, or use the console you already loaded the virtual game card to. All users on the console can play the software without an internet connection when the virtual game card is loaded to the console. For more details, review our information on how to play your games across multiple consoles.
If the software requires an internet connection to play or to verify your Nintendo Switch Online membership, connect to the internet and open the software again.