To make a custom Nintendo Switch profile icon, redeem icon elements in the Nintendo Switch Online app, combine them in Icon Collection, then select the finished icon there. Redeeming elements requires an internet connection, an active paid Nintendo Switch Online membership, and My Nintendo Platinum Points; some generic frames and backgrounds are free.
Before you start
- Use a Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, or Nintendo Switch OLED model.
- Connect the console to the internet and sign in with the user account that will receive the icon.
- To redeem paid-for elements, you need an active Nintendo Switch Online membership and enough My Nintendo Platinum Points. Points come from My Nintendo missions; Nintendo Switch Online offers additional ways to earn them, such as missions involving online play or classic games. See Nintendo’s Missions and Rewards overview.
Nintendo’s support instructions recommend updating the console first: open HOME Menu → System Settings → System → System Update. Menu wording and available elements may change over time.
Redeem icon elements
- From the HOME Menu, open Nintendo Switch Online and select the user who will receive the elements.
- Open Missions & Rewards. Press L or R to browse the displayed games and their elements.
- Select an element and choose Redeem. Check the item’s details for its point cost and any eligibility requirements before redeeming.
Elements come in three types: character, background, and frame. Generic frames and background colors are available without Platinum Points; game-specific frames and backgrounds can also be redeemed. Offerings rotate: Nintendo describes weekly refreshes and monthly themes, so the current selection is the one shown on your console.
Eligibility varies by item. Some elements are exclusive to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, while others may require the relevant game to have been played while the elements are available, or on at least three separate days in the previous 30 days. Check the individual element and mission details rather than assuming an item is available to every member.
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Build and save a custom icon
- In Nintendo Switch Online, open Icon Collection with the icon at the top right.
- On the Icons screen, select the + icon and choose a game; alternatively, open Icon Elements, select an element, and choose Use to Create Icon.
- Choose a suggested combination or select Create Your Icon.
- Select a frame, character, and background where available, then confirm. The finished icon is saved to your collection.
- Select the saved icon in Icon Collection to apply it to the user profile.
Components generally must come from the same game, though generic frames and backgrounds can be combined with game elements. If a character element already includes a background, you may not be able to add a separate one. Icon Collection can store up to 100 user icons.
Where to change the icon—and why it may not appear in Settings
Use Nintendo Switch Online → Icon Collection to apply an icon made with this custom creator. It will not appear as a choice in the standard icon picker under System Settings or on the User Page. Nintendo’s standard profile-editing instructions cover the separate workflow for changing a nickname, selecting a character or Mii, or adjusting the background.
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Custom icons are managed per Nintendo Account and appear on consoles linked to that same account; icon elements cannot be shared with another Nintendo Account. An element remains accessible after the membership used to redeem it ends, although redeeming new elements requires an active membership.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If an element or option is missing
- The element is not listed: Browse the current Missions & Rewards selection. Availability rotates, and an item may no longer be offered.
- Redeem is unavailable: Check internet access, membership status, Platinum Point balance, and the item’s stated eligibility conditions, including any Expansion Pack or recent-play requirement.
- A combination will not work: Use elements from the same game or generic frames and backgrounds. A character with a built-in background may not accept another background.
- The custom icon is absent from the normal profile picker: Apply it through Icon Collection in Nintendo Switch Online instead.
For Nintendo’s complete, current console steps and item rules, see How to Create and Use a Custom Nintendo Switch Online User Icon (Missions & Rewards).
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