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To update a Nintendo Switch game, connect the console to the internet, highlight the game on the HOME Menu, press + or −, then select Software Update > Via the Internet. The game’s update downloads to the console or microSD card; it is not written back to a physical game card.
Manually update one game
- Connect the Switch to the internet.
- On the HOME Menu, highlight the game’s icon without launching it. If needed, move to another HOME Menu page to find it.
- Press + or − to open the software options.
- Select Software Update, then Via the Internet.
- If an update is available, let the console download and install it before launching the game.
This is Nintendo’s documented update route for packaged software: HOME Menu > software icon > + button > Software Update > Via the Internet. Menu wording can vary slightly with console language or software version. The download indicator on the HOME Menu shows progress; download time depends on the update size, connection, storage, and server conditions.
To check the software version, highlight the game and press + or −. Version information appears in the software options screen, though its placement or display can vary. A game that launches is not necessarily on its newest version: some updates are optional until a game or online service requires them.
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- Open System Settings from the HOME Menu.
- Select System.
- Turn on Auto-Update Software.
Automatic updates can download software updates when the console has internet access and the software is available on the HOME Menu. They are not a guarantee that every patch will be installed immediately: the console may be offline, short on storage, or unable to download because of a connection or service issue. If you need a particular update now, use the manual check above. Nintendo documents the setting at System Settings > System > Auto-Update Software.
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Physical games: the card and the update are separate
Insert the game card so its game appears on the HOME Menu, then use + / − > Software Update > Via the Internet. A cartridge does not necessarily contain the latest version. Any patch is downloaded to the console’s internal storage or microSD card; it is not saved onto the cartridge. Some games run offline without a patch, while others may need one for online play, fixes, or compatibility.
Digital games: update installed software
An installed digital game uses the same manual update path as a card game. If the game is not installed, download the software first; an uninstalled title cannot receive a normal in-place patch. The Nintendo Account that owns the software may be needed to download or redownload it.
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If a digital game’s icon is missing, check the HOME Menu’s software list and whether the title is installed and available to the account in use. On Switch 2, also check whether the relevant virtual game card is loaded. Nintendo explains how virtual game cards affect access to digital software.
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Update a game when the console is offline
If another nearby Switch has a newer version of the same compatible game, you may be able to match versions over local wireless communication:
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- The battery life will depend on the games you play. For instance, the battery will last approximately 5.5 hours for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (games sold separately)
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- Place the consoles near each other and make sure the console with the newer version has the update installed.
- On each console, highlight the game on the HOME Menu and press + or −.
- Select Software Update, then the option to match or synchronize the version with nearby users.
- Follow the on-screen instructions on both consoles.
Nintendo’s support information describes local version matching and a system-version requirement; the cited page says the function is available between systems running version 4.0.0 or later. Requirements and menu wording may vary, so check the instructions shown on your consoles and your region’s Nintendo support page. This option requires nearby consoles and compatible software; it is not a universal substitute for internet updates and does not necessarily transfer the full game.
If no compatible console is available, wait until the Switch can connect to the internet. Do not assume you can download a patch to a phone or computer and install it over USB; Nintendo’s ordinary consumer update routes are through the console or supported local-console features.
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- Detachable Joy-Con controllers
Game updates versus console updates
A game update patches one title. A system update updates the Switch’s firmware and may be needed before certain game updates will work. To check for one, go to HOME Menu > System Settings > System > System Update. Nintendo documents this route on its system update page. Firmware availability and rollout timing can differ by region; use your regional Nintendo support page rather than assuming a version number listed for another market is universal.
Updates are also different from downloadable content (additional game material) and from downloading or installing a digital game for the first time. In normal operation, game update data is separate from save data, so updating does not normally replace your progress. Nintendo’s title-specific support material notes that update requirements and available space vary; avoid deleting save data as a troubleshooting step. See Nintendo’s game-support information for title-specific details.
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- One player can use a Joy-Con in each hand
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- Multiple Joy-Con can be employed by numerous people for a variety of gameplay options (additional Joy-Con sold separately)
- Slip a set of Joy-Con into a Joy-Con grip accessory, mirroring a more traditional controller. Or, select an optional Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.
Do you need Nintendo Switch Online?
Generally, no. A Nintendo Switch Online subscription is not normally required just to download a game patch. It may be required for a game’s online multiplayer or other subscription features, which are separate from updating. Check the game’s own support page for its online-play requirements.
If a game will not update
Work through these checks in order; avoid deleting the game as the first response.
- Check the connection. Confirm the console is online, then retry Software Update > Via the Internet. If downloads are slow or failing, move closer to the router or test another network.
- Check the HOME Menu indicator. If a download is underway, give it time; if the interface offers pause and resume, try that.
- Restart the console and run the manual update check again.
- Check free storage. Update space varies by game. Archive or remove software you do not use, or remove screenshots and videos. Do not confuse game software, update data, downloadable content, and save data; deleting software is not the same operation as deleting save data, but read each confirmation prompt carefully.
- Update the console system software. Use System Settings > System > System Update, then retry the game update.
- For a physical game, reinsert the card. Confirm it is seated correctly and that the game icon appears. If it does not, the issue may be the card or slot rather than an update. Do not use liquid to clean contacts; if the card or console appears damaged, contact Nintendo support.
- For a digital game, confirm the software is installed and available to the account. On Switch 2, verify the virtual game card is loaded when applicable.
- If offline, try local version matching with a nearby compatible console.
- Check Nintendo or the publisher for a service or title-specific issue. If the game updates but online play still fails, possible causes include a separate patch, mismatched player versions, an online-service outage, or a Nintendo Switch Online requirement.
Using Nintendo Switch software on Switch 2
The game-update steps depend on the software being available on the HOME Menu, but Switch 2 adds a few important distinctions. Nintendo says Switch software played on Switch 2 may need downloaded update data, and compatibility or enhancement behavior varies by title. A Switch 2 game-key card requires an internet download of its software data the first time it is used; this does not apply to ordinary Nintendo Switch cartridges. Digital games may be managed as virtual game cards, which must be loaded for the software to be available. For details, see Nintendo’s pages on physical software and game-key cards and virtual game cards.
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