Nintendo Support

Pre-Installed Software on Nintendo Switch

Pre-installed Software on Nintendo Switch

Instructions on starting software pre-installed on a Nintendo Switch system for the first time or assistance in how to register the software.

What to Do:

  1. Start the Nintendo Switch System that has the pre-installed software installed.

  2. Connect the Nintendo Switch device to the internet. (How to)

  3. Create a user account and connect it to your Nintendo Account. (If you don’t have a Nintendo Account yet, please see here for more information.)

  4. In the Home Menu, look for the icon that represents the pre-installed software.

  5. Select this icon and follow the on-screen instructions to register the software in Nintendo eShop.

    • Please note: this will permanently register the software to the selected Nintendo Account. It is possible to play the software with this Nintendo Account on your primary Switch system, and also other user accounts on this system can play the software. Additionally, it is also possible to play this software on a non primary Switch system only with the Nintendo Account the software was registered to, after re-downloading the game from Nintendo eShop (active online connection is required on non primary Switch systems). The software itself cannot be moved to a different Nintendo Account after registration.

Pre-installed Software Is Missing or Deleted (Nintendo Switch)

The icon for a pre-installed game is missing from the Home Menu, was deleted, or can no longer be launched.

NOTE: The system may have been reset, therefore making it necessary to redownload the software from the Nintendo eShop. Visit the Nintendo eShop and select the icon of your Nintendo Account. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and check if there is an option to register the pre-installed software.

Important:

Pre-installed software can only be registered once the game has been published.

What to Do:

Are you starting the software for the first time ?

  • Yes

    1. The system may have been reset, thus making it necessary to redownload the software from the Nintendo eShop. Visit the Nintendo eShop and select the icon of your Nintendo Account. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and check if there is an option to register the pre-installed software.

    2. If this option is not present, it appears that there is no pre-installed software linked to this system or it has been registered already. In this case, we recommend checking with other users who may have already registered the software or to verify with the vendor of the system

  • No

    • The software may have been deleted. Visit the Nintendo eShop and check if it can be redownloaded.

      • Please note that the software can only be redownloaded using the Nintendo Account it was registered for.

Situation Not Resolved:

If the software cannot be redownloaded on any Nintendo Account on this device, please reach out to us.