The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →You can chat in Animal Crossing: New Horizons in three ways: use the in-game text chat during multiplayer, type on a phone keyboard through NookLink in the Nintendo Switch App, or message in-game Best Friends through NookLink. For the phone options, first activate NookLink from the game’s title screen and link the app to the Nintendo Account you use for the game.
Which chat method should you use?
| Method | Where you type | Who you can reach | What it requires |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-game multiplayer chat | On the Nintendo Switch; press R during local wireless multiplayer. | Other players in the multiplayer session. | A local wireless session, or online multiplayer for internet play. |
| NookLink Keyboards | On a compatible smart device in the Nintendo Switch App. | Players currently playing with you; messages appear in the game as chat balloons visible to anyone playing with you. | NookLink activated in the game, the same Nintendo Account linked in the app, and internet access. Some features require Nintendo Switch Online. |
| NookLink Best Friends | In the Nintendo Switch App’s NookLink service. | Your in-game Best Friends. | Both players must be online for the messaging feature described by Nintendo. |
Nintendo describes NookLink’s keyboard as a way to “send chat-balloon messages to the game.” See Nintendo’s NookLink feature page for the service overview.
How to type messages with the NookLink phone keyboard
- Activate NookLink in the game. From the Animal Crossing: New Horizons title screen, press the minus button to open Settings, choose NookLink settings, and confirm.
- Open the Nintendo Switch App. Sign in with the same Nintendo Account used for the game.
- Open the game service. In the app, choose Animal Crossing: New Horizons under Game-Specific Services.
- Choose Keyboards. Type and send your message from the smart device. It appears in the game as a chat balloon and can be read by everyone playing with you.
Nintendo lists a Nintendo Account, a compatible smart device, and a persistent internet connection among NookLink requirements; availability may vary by country. Follow Nintendo Support’s NookLink setup guide if you need help accessing the service. Certain NookLink features require Nintendo Switch Online membership.
How to message Best Friends with NookLink
NookLink has a separate Best Friends section for viewing and communicating with people you have added as Best Friends in the game. Nintendo says you can check their online status and send messages that appear in the game as chat balloons. Both players must be online for this messaging feature.
#1 Best Overall
![Animal Crossings New Horizons - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ErvUL40zL._SL160_.jpg)
- Build your community from scratch on a deserted island brimming with possibility; Create your personal getaway and customize your character, home, decorations, and even the landscape itself
- Collect materials to construct everything from furniture to tools. Then, use what you create to give your island a personal touch
- Watch as the time of day and seasons match real life—even your hemisphere. Each day holds potential for surprises and discoveries
- Get to know the island residents, garden, fish, decorate, hunt for fossils, and more.
- Show off your paradise – play on the same system with a total of 4 people, or play together online or over local wireless for fun with up to 8 players
How to use chat during multiplayer
Local wireless multiplayer
Once you are playing together through local wireless, press R to open text chat with the other players. This is the console’s in-game chat, not the phone keyboard.
Online multiplayer
The island host opens the island at the Airport. Visitors can join by searching for a friend or entering the host’s Dodo Code. Online play requires an internet connection and a Nintendo Switch Online membership.
Rank #2
- Share Your Paradise - Show off your island utopia to family and friends - or pack your bags and visit theirs.
- Get Building - Experience a robust new crafting system - collect materials to construct everything from furniture to tools!
- Create Your Perfect Getaway - Craft everything from tools to creature comforts as you create and customize your island community.
- Explore Your Island - Collect bugs, decorate your paradise throughout the day, or enjoy sunset on the beach while fishing in the ocean.
- Play Together - Up to eight players can reside on an island; four residents of the same island can play together simultaneously on a single system.
Playing on one system
Nintendo lists same-system play for up to four players using one system and one game. Additional accessories may be required, and the multiplayer setup asks you to select controller types for each player. The exact controller arrangement depends on the number of players and hardware, so check the prompts for your setup rather than assuming every player needs a particular controller.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Player limits and chat safety
Nintendo’s published limits differ by mode and edition:
Rank #3
![Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Happy Home Paradise - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51JAzQozLgL._SL160_.jpg)
- Take in-game photos of your designs and add them to your portfolio. Show them to other characters and you may get more requests to create vacation homes. Share the photos with other players using the in-game Showroom in the Happy Home Network app and they can tour your personally-designed resort islands or go tour theirs for some relaxation and inspiration.
- Purchase the Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Happy Home Paradise DLC from Nintendo eShop, or download and play it as part of an active Nintendo Switch Online plus Expansion Pack membership at no extra cost.
- One system: up to four players with one system and one game.
- Local wireless: up to eight players.
- Online: up to eight players in the standard game, or up to 12 in Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.
Nintendo warns that players in local and online multiplayer may see content made by others, including chat, player names, bulletin-board posts, and custom designs. Be considerate and follow Nintendo’s Community Guidelines.
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