On Nintendo Switch 2, redeem a game download code in Nintendo eShop: open the eShop, select the user whose Nintendo Account should own the content, choose Enter Code, type the 16-character download code, and confirm. You’ll need the code, an internet connection, a compatible Switch 2 or Switch console, and a Nintendo Account set to a country or region where Nintendo eShop is available.
Redeem a code on your Switch 2
- Connect the console to the internet and open Nintendo eShop from the HOME Menu.
- Select the user linked to the Nintendo Account that should own the game or other content. Redeemed content is associated with that account.
- Choose Enter Code.
- Enter the 16-character download code, then confirm. The content will begin downloading after confirmation.
Find the right code on a card or receipt
Enter the download code, not a separate control number that may appear on a retailer card or receipt. Nintendo’s US support says download codes usually begin with B and have no hyphens; some control numbers begin with S and include hyphens. Retailers may format or label codes differently, so use the item identified as the download code. Nintendo eShop codes do not use the letters O, I, or Z, which can help distinguish similar-looking characters.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Mario Kart™ World (Nintendo Switch 2) | $79.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Star Fox™ - Nintendo Switch 2 | $59.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo Switch 2) | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Pokémon Pokopia - Nintendo Switch 2 | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Redeem online without the console
You can also redeem a code through Nintendo’s online redemption site, provided that the Nintendo Account has accessed Nintendo eShop on a Switch 2 or Switch at least once. Sign in to the account, enter the 16-character code, confirm the account password, and redeem. Nintendo Support states: “A Nintendo Account is required to redeem download codes online.” Nintendo’s online redemption instructions explain the process.
| Route | What you need | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| On console | Internet access and a Switch 2 or Switch | HOME Menu → Nintendo eShop → select user → Enter Code |
| Online | A Nintendo Account that has accessed eShop on Switch 2 or Switch at least once | Nintendo’s online redemption site |
Check code, region, and console compatibility
Match the code to the account’s eShop region
The code’s issuing region must match the country or region associated with the Nintendo Account’s eShop. For example, Nintendo says an Americas-region code will not redeem in the Japan eShop. Check the account’s region and the code’s packaging or retailer listing if the console reports a region problem. Nintendo’s download-code troubleshooting guide covers region and other common errors.
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Use a compatible console for the content
Switch 2-only software, DLC, and upgrade packs cannot be redeemed in the original Nintendo Switch eShop. Nintendo Switch software and DLC can be redeemed on Switch 2. If the code is specifically for Switch 2 content, use Switch 2 rather than the original Switch. Nintendo’s Switch 2 FAQ and Nintendo Japan’s Switch 2 eShop guidance describe the platform distinction.
If the code is rejected
- “Already redeemed” or already used: Check the eShop purchase history or library for the Nintendo Account you selected. The content may already belong to that account. Nintendo Japan documents errors 2813-0040 and 9001-0040 for an already-redeemed code and advises checking whether the software icon is on the HOME Menu; those error numbers are specific to its regional support guidance and may not appear in every territory.
- Code not recognized: Recheck each character, make sure you entered the download code rather than a control number, and remember that Nintendo eShop codes omit O, I, and Z. Nintendo also recommends trying online redemption if console entry fails.
- Region error: Confirm the code’s issuing region matches the eShop region on the account. A code intended for one region may not work in another.
- Game or DLC unavailable: If the title has not released yet, try redeeming again after its release.
- Wrong account selected: Check the purchase history or library for the account used during redemption before entering the code again; digital content is associated with the selected account.
For issue-specific guidance, see Nintendo’s help for problems with software and DLC download codes.
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Other codes that use the same entry flow
Nintendo eShop Card codes and Nintendo Switch Online membership codes can also be entered through the eShop code-entry flow. An eShop Card adds funds to the account; it does not grant a license to a particular game. A game-specific download code, by contrast, redeems the specified digital content.
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