Nintendo Support

Nintendo Account FAQ

Information

A Nintendo Account is an account that is required for using certain services from Nintendo, such as online services for Nintendo Switch (including access to the Nintendo Switch eShop), off-device software purchases, and the My Nintendo loyalty service.

For more information, please read the Nintendo Account Overview.

General information

What are the differences between a Nintendo Account and a Nintendo Network ID?

Nintendo Accounts and Nintendo Network IDs are used for different purposes.

A Nintendo Network ID is created and used on our Wii U and Nintendo 3DS family systems. Nintendo Network IDs are used for online features on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS family (such as online multiplayer or interactions).

A Nintendo Account is required to use online services on Nintendo Switch systems (such as Nintendo Switch eShop purchases). A Nintendo Account is also used for certain web services (like My Nintendo), and can be used with smart-device applications (like Super Mario Run).

Is Nintendo Account information shared publicly or posted to my social media sites?

Email addresses are never made public. Screenshots can be shared to Facebook, but nothing will automatically be posted to a social media site. Your Google account and Apple Account can be linked to your Nintendo Account, but they are only used to sign in to your Nintendo Account.

There is a possibility that information such as your nickname and gender will be made public within services that utilize Nintendo Accounts.

For more information, please review the Nintendo Privacy Notice.

I received an email regarding Nintendo Accounts, but I'm not sure why. What should I do?

If you are receiving email messages even though you didn't create a Nintendo Account, it is likely that your email address was entered incorrectly by another user when they set up their account. Please disregard the email you received.

If you still have concerns and would like Nintendo to look into the issue further, please contact us for additional assistance.

Account setup

How do I create a Nintendo Account?

You can create a Nintendo Account by signing up at accounts.nintendo.com. (You can create a Nintendo Account even if you don’t own a Nintendo system.)

I can't set a password when creating a Nintendo Account. What should I do?

Make sure that you are following the requirements for a unique password during Nintendo Account creation.

For security reasons, set a unique password that will be difficult for other people to guess.

  • The password must be 8 to 20 characters long.

  • The password must be a combination of characters from at least two of the following categories: uppercase or lowercase letters, numbers, and punctuation.

  • The password cannot have the same letter or character more than twice in a row.

  • Please refer to the error message displayed onscreen for any other conditions and adjust your password accordingly.

  • If the message "Based on information received from an external source, the password for this account is not secure." appears while you are creating or changing your Nintendo Account password, we suggest using a different password.

I received an error message that says my email address is already registered to a Nintendo Account. What should I do?

This means that a Nintendo Account has already been created with the email address you provided. An email address can only be linked to one Nintendo Account.

If you have already created a Nintendo Account, use your email address and password to sign in to your existing Nintendo Account. (If you don’t remember the password, select Forgot your password? for steps to reset your password.)

I did not receive an email containing a verification code after I created a Nintendo Account. What should I do?

If you haven't received your verification email, you may find our verification email troubleshooting helpful.

Account access

I can't remember my Nintendo Account sign-in information (email address, password, etc.), or the sign-in information for a child's Nintendo Account. What should I do?

If you don't remember your sign-in information, please read Forgot Nintendo Account Sign-in Info (Email Address, Password, Sign-in ID).

I don't have access to Google Authenticator for a 2-step verification code, or my verification code isn't working. What should I do?

If you enabled 2-step verification on your Nintendo Account but you are having problems with the verification process, please read Issues with Nintendo Account Two-Step Verification Code.

I am trying to use a different Nintendo Account than the one that is signed in on my browser. How do I sign out of the Nintendo Account?

Please read How to Sign Out of a Nintendo Account.

My browser keeps signing out of my Nintendo Account. What should I do?

This usually means that there is a setting currently enabled on your device that is preventing cookies from being stored (such as when using the private browsing feature). Please turn off the feature through your device or browser settings, then try again.

Account management

How can I change my Nintendo Account password?

Sign in to your Nintendo Account, select Sign-in and security settings, then select Change in the "Password" section. Follow the onscreen directions to reset your Nintendo Account password.

Learn more about resetting your Nintendo Account password.

How can I adjust my Nintendo Account profile settings (email address, nickname, etc.)?

Sign in to your Nintendo Account, then use the menu options on the screen to view or update your profile information. For more information, please read How to Adjust Nintendo Account Profile Settings (Country, Email, etc.).

Can I improve the security of my Nintendo Account by using multi-factor authentication, 2-step verification, a passkey, or similar?

Yes. You can enable 2-step verification for your Nintendo Account using the Google Authenticator app.

2-step verification adds an additional layer of security that can help prevent unauthorized access to the Nintendo Account. Once 2-step verification is enabled, you will need to log in to your Nintendo Account using both your password and a code sent to your smart device via the Google Authenticator app.

You can also register a passkey to use with your Nintendo Account. If you register a passkey, when signing in to your account, you can choose to use your passkey to sign in instead of your email address or sign-in ID and password. Your passkey is saved in advance on your smartphone or other device, and this is retrieved by accessing that device when signing in. Note: Biometric data is not sent to or saved in your Nintendo Account.

  • Even after registering a passkey, you should continue to manage your email address and password. In the event that you change or lose your device with the registered passkey, your email address and password will be used to confirm your identity.

  • Passkeys may not function correctly if they are incompatible with the device, operating system, or browser you are using.

Additionally, you can register a phone number to your Nintendo Account. If you do so, when signing in to your account or in other scenarios such as when you have forgotten your password, you may be prompted to send a text message to your phone to verify your identity.

Can other accounts, like a Nintendo Network ID, Google account, or Apple Account be linked to a Nintendo Account?

Yes. A Nintendo Network ID (used on Nintendo 3DS and Wii U), Google account, and/or Apple Account can be linked to a Nintendo Account, except Nintendo Accounts for children, which can be linked to a Nintendo Network ID only.

Learn more about linking or unlinking a Nintendo Network ID or linking or unlinking a Google account or Apple Account.

How can I set or change my user icon?

By default, your user icon on the Nintendo Account website will be based on the first letter of your nickname. If you would like, you can add a Mii to display in your Nintendo Account.

This Mii is only displayed in situations related to your Nintendo Account (such as when signed on the Nintendo Account Website, or reviewing the members of your family group)—it is not linked to your Nintendo Switch user icon.

I am not receiving promotional emails related to my Nintendo Account, or am receiving them but would like to stop. What should I do?

You can manage your promotional email settings through your Nintendo Account profile settings.

If you are not receiving promotional emails even after verifying your promotional email settings, review our additional tips if you are not receiving emails from us.

Note: There is no set schedule for when Newsletters or promotional emails are sent.

  • Check your Nintendo Account profile settings, and verify that you have enabled the receipt of promotional emails.

  • Check your spam/junk email folder to see if emails have been routed there.

  • Make sure there are no filters in your email account that may be blocking emails from @accounts.nintendo.com.

  • Make sure that your email address is entered correctly in your Nintendo Account. If you need to correct the email address, you can do so through your Nintendo Account profile.

  • Try changing the email address associated to your Nintendo Account.

  • Please be aware that you may continue to receive transactional emails even if you opt out of promotional emails.

Can I delete my Nintendo Account?

Yes. You can delete your account through the Privacy and Other Settings section of your Nintendo Account. Deletion of your Nintendo Account will result in loss of all data associated to it, including but not limited to:

  • Mission status, points and rewards in the My Nintendo rewards program

  • Digital content that you purchased or acquired and that is linked to your Nintendo Account, including in-app content and coins

  • Save data of apps linked to your Nintendo Account

  • Discounts such as Just for You offers

You may reactivate your account for a period of four weeks after deletion; once this time frame has passed, the account will be permanently deleted and cannot be restored.

Deleting your Nintendo Account will not delete your Nintendo Network ID or any linked Google account or Apple Account.

Learn more about deleting a Nintendo Account.

What happens to an account for a child if the parent/guardian's Nintendo Account is deleted?

It depends on whether the deleted parent/guardian account is also the admin for the family group:

  • If the parent/guardian is the family group's admin, any accounts for children in the family group would also be deleted.

  • If a parent/guardian account is not the group's admin, supervised accounts in the group will not be affected.

After deleting their account, the parent/guardian has 30 days to reactivate their account (and any associated accounts for children) if they wish. Once this time-frame has passed, all accounts will be permanently deleted and cannot be restored.

I've accidentally deleted an account for a child. Can I reactivate it?

It is possible to reactivate an account within 30 days of deletion. For more information, read How to Reactivate a Nintendo Account that is Pending Deletion.

Family Groups, Nintendo Accounts for children, and Supervised accounts

What is a family group?

A Nintendo Account family group allows up to 8 Nintendo Account users to connect together into one group. Family groups can include a mixture of general accounts, parent/guardian accounts, and supervised accounts.

Nintendo Accounts for children must be part of a family group.

Nintendo Account family groups also allow the group members to share Nintendo Switch Online family memberships.

What is an account for a child?

An account for a child is a Nintendo Account that allows children to use the Nintendo Account services.

An account for a child is created and managed through a parent or guardian's account. Nintendo Accounts for children can be created for users up to 17 years of age.

Nintendo Accounts and Nintendo Accounts for children function almost identically, with some exceptions.

An account for a child allows the user to access various services through My Nintendo, receive a birthday discount, purchase digital software, and other benefits.

  • All Nintendo Accounts created for children aged 12 and under are automatically set up as a supervised account in the Nintendo Account family group.

  • Nintendo eShop restrictions for off-device and Nintendo Switch eShop purchases (for both child and supervised accounts) can be set through the parent/guardian’s Nintendo Account.

How can I create an account for a child?

To create a Nintendo Account for a child up to 17 years of age, you have two options depending on your region and the age of the child:

Can I adjust the profile information on a Nintendo Account for a child?

The birth date on the account cannot be changed. However, the following information can be changed either through the child's account or through the parent/guardian's Nintendo Account that manages the child's account:

  • Nickname

  • User ID

  • Mii

  • Gender

  • Password

A Nintendo Network ID can only be linked through the child's account.

What is a supervised account?

Each Nintendo Account in a family group can have one or more roles—one of these roles is Supervised.

The Supervised role is automatically assigned to Nintendo Accounts for children aged 12 and under in the Nintendo Account family group.

Other Nintendo Accounts, including existing Nintendo Accounts, can be set to the Supervised role as well.

The parent/guardian accounts in the family group can restrict Nintendo eShop purchases for any supervised accounts. Parent/guardian accounts can also manage Nintendo Account settings for supervised accounts for children that are subject to verifiable parental consent.

Can I limit the use of credit cards by an account for a child or a supervised account?

Nintendo eShop restrictions for off-device and Nintendo Switch eShop purchases (for both child and supervised accounts) can be set through the parent/guardian’s Nintendo Account.

  • If you wish to restrict in-app purchases on a smart device, you will need to check the settings for the smart device you own. Please check the support site for your device for information.

Can I change which Nintendo Account is supervising an account, or stop supervising an account?

All Nintendo Accounts in the family group with the parent/guardian role can manage supervised accounts in the group.

Supervised accounts can also be transferred to a different family group if necessary.

If the Supervised account is for a user age 13 or over, the Supervised status can be removed completely.

Nintendo Accounts on Nintendo Switch

What can I do with a Nintendo Account on Nintendo Switch?

A Nintendo Account provides access to certain features on Nintendo Switch, including access to the Nintendo eShop and the My Nintendo rewards program.

How many Nintendo Accounts can I have on one Nintendo Switch console?

Up to 8 Nintendo Accounts can be linked to a Nintendo Switch console at a time.

Can I link my Nintendo Account to more than one Nintendo Switch console?

You can link your Nintendo Account to multiple consoles.

Can I play my games on more than one system?

Physical games can be played on any system you like. However, please note that a Nintendo Switch Online membership is required to use the Save Data Cloud service to access your save data across multiple systems at the same time.

For digital games, you can link your Nintendo Account to multiple Nintendo Switch consoles and play your games on any of them using your Nintendo Account.

Can other people play my games on Nintendo Switch?

All user accounts on your console can play your physical games or your Virtual Game Cards.