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How to Fix Nintendo Switch Sports Online Connection and Matchmaking Problems

Check Nintendo’s service status and your Switch user’s membership, then use the console connection test to diagnose NAT, speed, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and matchmaking errors.
Length4 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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If Nintendo Switch Sports will not find a match or keeps disconnecting, first check Nintendo’s network status, the exact error code, and whether the Switch user who opened the game has an active Nintendo Switch Online membership. Then run the console’s connection test and note its NAT type and speeds. A working internet connection alone does not guarantee that peer-to-peer matchmaking will work.

1. Check for maintenance, membership, or a temporary restriction

  • Error 2124-4610: Nintendo says this code means the Nintendo Switch Sports online servers are undergoing maintenance. Check Nintendo’s network status page and try again when service is available; changing router settings will not resolve server maintenance.
  • Membership: Online play requires an active Nintendo Switch Online membership on the Switch user launching the game. If you just activated membership, close the game and try again after a short time. Without membership, Play Globally offers a trial competition against computer opponents. See Nintendo’s Nintendo Switch Sports FAQ.
  • Repeated unexpected disconnections: If the game says, “Your online play has repeatedly ended unexpectedly so you can’t play for now,” Nintendo says online play has been temporarily restricted. Wait for the restriction to pass and avoid disconnecting or leaving matches before they end. See Nintendo’s guidance on repeated disconnections.

2. Run the Switch connection test and record the results

  1. From the HOME Menu, open System Settings > Internet > Test Connection.
  2. Record the NAT type and download and upload speeds. Repeat the test after any change to the console or network.
  3. Use the NAT result and speed as clues, not as a guarantee that a match will connect. Nintendo’s matchmaking guide uses 3 Mbps download as a troubleshooting decision point: below it, follow its slow-speed steps; at or above it, continue checking connection type and network conditions. This is a support-flow threshold, not a universal bandwidth guarantee. Latency and the network environment can still cause timeouts.

What the NAT result means

Nintendo rates NAT from A, best for peer-to-peer communication, to F, where peer-to-peer communication cannot be completed. Nintendo prefers A; B is compatible with most other NAT types. C can have difficulty connecting with restrictive peers, D is not optimal for peer-to-peer connections, and F indicates communication is blocked. Even A or B does not rule out a problem: latency can still cause a matchmaking timeout.

Compatibility also depends on the person you are trying to play with. Nintendo Support explains that “Both your NAT type and the NAT type any player you are attempting to connect with can affect the connection process.” If the problem occurs with only one opponent, ask them to run the same connection test.

Use Nintendo’s matchmaking troubleshooting guide and NAT troubleshooting guidance to interpret the result and follow the matching steps.

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3. If you play over Wi-Fi

  1. Move the console to within 3 to 5 metres (10 to 15 feet) of the router while troubleshooting.
  2. Move nearby objects and electronics that could interfere with the wireless signal.
  3. Power cycle the home network, then run the connection test again.
  4. Try disabling IPv6 on the console, then retest. Change one thing at a time so you can identify whether it helped.
  5. If the problem remains, ask the router maker about a firmware update or factory reset. If a direct-to-modem test still fails, contact your internet service provider.

4. If you play over Ethernet

  1. Try disabling IPv6 on the console and retest.
  2. Power cycle the network. If possible, connect the Switch directly to the modem to see whether another device or router is involved.
  3. Try another Ethernet cable if the current one may be damaged.
  4. If your dock does not have a built-in LAN port, you need a USB LAN adapter to make a wired connection.

Nintendo’s wired troubleshooting also recommends checking whether the issue is limited to one opponent: the other player’s NAT can prevent the connection even when your own test looks acceptable. For a wired connection, see Nintendo’s matchmaking troubleshooting guide and NAT troubleshooting guidance.

5. If you see error 2618-0513

Nintendo says error 2618-0513 usually means the network is not optimal for peer-to-peer matchmaking. It can relate to the internet service provider, connection speed, or NAT type. Retry once, check your NAT result, and try another network if one is available. Nintendo specifically notes that a mobile hotspot or 5G network may prevent peer-to-peer connections. If another network works, contact your provider about the original connection; if the router appears to be the cause, ask its maker about firmware or a reset. Follow Nintendo’s error 2618-0513 troubleshooting.

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6. Work out whether the issue is Nintendo, your network, or one player

  • Maintenance code or status notice: Check Nintendo’s network status and wait for service to return.
  • Membership prompt: Confirm the active membership belongs to the Switch user who launched the game.
  • Connection fails with many opponents: Focus on your NAT type, speeds, latency, Wi-Fi conditions, router, and ISP.
  • Connection fails with one opponent: Both players should check NAT and connection quality; either side can be the limiting factor.
  • Unexpected-disconnection restriction: Wait for it to expire and avoid leaving matches before they finish.

Retest after each network change. Nintendo’s guidance identifies 3 Mbps as a diagnostic branch, not a guarantee of successful play, and the support pages do not quantify how often players encounter these problems.

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