Nintendo Support

Play!

  1. Connect the AC adapter

  2. Set up the console

  3. Play!

There are two types of Nintendo Switch software: a retail version, which includes a game card that you insert into the console, and a downloadable version that you download and save to the console or a microSD card. Here is a brief introduction to playing a game, using the retail version as an example.

Playing a retail version

Open the game card slot and insert the game card. Pay careful attention to the direction the game card is facing when you insert it. Make sure that the label on the game card is facing you, then insert it into the game card slot until you hear a click.

The software icon for the inserted game card will appear on the HOME Menu. Select the icon with your cursor, then press [A Button icon] to start the software.

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Closing software

Pressing HOME Button will suspend the software and return you to the HOME Menu.

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You can close suspended software by selecting it and pressing X Button icon. If you're playing a game that requires manual saving, make sure to save before closing the software. Unsaved data will be lost.

How to remove the game card

To remove the game card from the console, open the game card slot cover and push the game card in until it pops up, then remove it.

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When you're finishing using the console

You can put your Nintendo Switch console into sleep mode when you're done using it. That way, if you want to use it again, you can wake it from sleep mode and start playing right away.

Waking the console from sleep mode

Press HOME Button to wake the console.

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Other ways to wake the console/put it to sleep

  • Putting the console into sleep mode from the HOME Menu 

  • Open the Sleep Mode menu from the HOME Menu. 

  • Putting the console to sleep/waking the console using the POWER Button 

  • Push the POWER Button to put the console to sleep or wake it from sleep mode.