How to set up and manage a Nintendo Switch Online subscription
Set up or manage Nintendo Switch Online from the system’s HOME Menu, Nintendo eShop, or Nintendo’s website, and check auto-renewal before your next billing date.
Set up a membership
On your Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch, open the red Nintendo Switch Online icon on the HOME Menu, then choose Your Membership at the bottom of the left-hand menu. From there, you can view, renew, or change your membership. You can also purchase or extend a membership through Nintendo eShop or Nintendo’s website.
Before you start
You need a Nintendo Account and an internet connection to use online features. The membership is sold separately.
Decide who needs access before choosing a plan. An Individual plan is for one Nintendo Account. A Family plan provides service to people in the purchaser’s Nintendo Account family group. Nintendo also offers plans with and without Expansion Pack; check the plan details before buying, as the supplied information does not specify all included benefits.
Have the account you intend to use ready. Memberships cannot be transferred to a different Nintendo Account.
Buy or extend
Open Nintendo Switch Online from the HOME Menu and select Your Membership, or use Nintendo eShop or Nintendo’s website.
Choose the membership plan that fits your needs and follow the purchase prompts. The supplied instructions do not specify the exact eShop or website menu labels, which may vary by route or region.
Check the membership information afterward. If you already have a membership, purchasing the same plan again can extend its remaining time, up to a total of three years.
Example: If several people in your Nintendo Account family group need service, check whether a Family membership fits before purchasing separate Individual memberships. Family membership coverage applies to people in that account group, not simply everyone using the same console.
Try the free trial, if eligible
Nintendo advertises a 7-day free trial in some countries. It is not available everywhere, cannot be used for an Expansion Pack membership, and is not available to a Nintendo Account with an active Individual or Family membership. The trial automatically becomes a one-month auto-renewing membership at the then-current price unless canceled. Review the terms shown during signup and set a reminder if you do not want it to renew.
Manage renewal and check your status
To manage the membership on the console, open Nintendo Switch Online from the HOME Menu and select Your Membership. Nintendo also provides instructions for managing membership through a Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch, or a computer or smart device, on its membership management support page.
If you want the membership to end rather than renew, turn off auto-renewal using Nintendo’s instructions. Do this at least 48 hours before the auto-renewal date. Turning off auto-renewal stops the next renewal; it does not transfer the membership to another account. Check the displayed plan and expiration date to confirm the account and membership you are managing.
For an overview of what can be accessed from the console, see Nintendo’s Nintendo Switch Online system page. It describes the Your Membership section as the place to view, renew, or change a membership.
Device and plan differences
The HOME Menu entry and Your Membership section are described for both Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch. Nintendo’s page also says Nintendo Switch 2 owners can use GameChat with any Nintendo Switch Online membership. This is a Switch 2-specific feature; do not assume it applies to the original Switch.
Nintendo Switch Online includes online play in compatible games, a selection of classic games, and save-data backup for most games. These are benefits with stated limits: online play must be supported by the game, and save-data backup is not stated to cover every game. The supplied information does not detail which games or features require the Expansion Pack, so check the plan comparison before choosing.
Troubleshooting and verification
The purchase says someone in your family group has an active Family membership. Nintendo says this message means the family group already has a Nintendo Switch Online Family or Expansion Pack Family membership. Check with the family-group administrator and review the membership before trying to buy another plan.
The membership appears on the wrong account. Memberships cannot be transferred between Nintendo Accounts. Confirm which account is signed in before purchasing; contact Nintendo through its membership management support page if you need help with an account or plan issue.
You want to change plans close to renewal. Make changes at least 48 hours before the auto-renewal date. If a change or purchase is blocked, consult Nintendo’s membership management support page rather than assuming a second purchase will replace the existing plan.
You are unsure whether setup worked. Open Nintendo Switch Online on the HOME Menu, choose Your Membership, and check the plan and expiration information. Also confirm you are looking at the intended Nintendo Account.
