The right fix depends on what failed: opening the eShop, paying, redeeming a code, starting or continuing a download, or finding a purchase afterward. Record the exact error code and message, then follow Nintendo’s guidance for that code and your console model and region; one general fix does not apply to every eShop error.
Start with the exact error code and symptom
Write down the full error code and message shown on your Nintendo Switch or Switch 2. Search Nintendo Support for that exact code, and use the instructions for the console, country or region, and situation that match yours. A code for a download communication problem does not necessarily have the same remedy as a rejected purchase or code redemption.
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Also identify which event failed. Did the eShop fail to open, did checkout reject payment, did a download code fail to redeem, did a game stop downloading, or did a paid game disappear from view? These cases can look similar, but they call for different checks. If the official code-specific directions do not resolve the problem, contact Nintendo Support rather than trying unrelated fixes or making changes to the account.
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| What happened | First checks |
|---|---|
| Cannot connect or communicate with the eShop or download service | Check Nintendo network status and the guidance for the displayed code; then investigate the internet connection and local Wi-Fi conditions. |
| Download code redemption fails | Check for eShop maintenance and verify that the code and account region are compatible. |
| Download is paused or not progressing | Close running software, confirm internet access, refresh download progress in User Settings, and restart if needed. |
| Download cannot start or an update fails | Check free space in system memory or on the microSD card; updates may require additional space. |
| Payment appears complete, but the game or add-on is missing | Check the Nintendo Account used for the purchase and its purchase history, then use the applicable redownload route. |
| Paid purchase or adding funds is rejected | Check account purchase restrictions and the exact payment error before contacting the payment provider or Nintendo. |
If the eShop or a download cannot communicate with Nintendo
First check Nintendo’s network status information for a service interruption or scheduled maintenance. Status can change, so check it when the error occurs rather than relying on an earlier report. Nintendo identifies error 2137-8056 as a case where connection troubleshooting may include checking service status, improving Wi-Fi conditions, and testing changes to the console or network environment. Those changes are checks, not guaranteed fixes.
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- Read the code-specific Nintendo instructions. Follow the steps for the exact code and your system. Do not substitute another code’s procedure just because the wording seems similar.
- Check service status. If Nintendo reports an interruption or maintenance, wait until service is available and try again.
- Check the connection where the console is being used. Review local Wi-Fi conditions and the network environment. If you make a change, test the connection afterward to see whether it made a difference. Nintendo Support’s 2137-8056 guidance says: “Test your connection after any changes are made to the console or network environment to determine if the change resolves your issue.”
- Retry only after the relevant condition changes. If there is no status notice but the communication error persists, wait and retry as directed by the code-specific guidance.
If the same error remains after the official checks, use the matching Nintendo Support article or support channel. A network communication message alone does not establish whether the cause is service maintenance, local Wi-Fi, or another issue.
If a download code will not redeem
For error 2813-9200 during download-code redemption, Nintendo says eShop server maintenance is ongoing. Check network status and wait until maintenance has ended before redeeming again. If there is no maintenance notice but the error continues, follow the instructions for that exact code and retry later as advised.
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Check that you are entering a code for the intended product and that its region is compatible with the Nintendo Account. Nintendo’s Japan-specific support guidance says a code issued in Japan may require the account’s country or region to be set to Japan. This is a regional rule, not a universal description of every Nintendo code. If your code or account is associated with another region, consult the local Nintendo Support guidance rather than changing account details based on the Japan-specific instruction.
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If a download is paused or stuck
Some software pauses downloads while it is running. If a download stops progressing while you are playing, close the software before assuming that the purchase failed or that the download is permanently stuck. Nintendo’s steps also include confirming internet access and manually refreshing the download’s progress.
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- Nintendo Switch 2 uses a new standard of expandable memory card called microSD Express (sold separately). This kind of memory card is needed for faster access speeds and to ensure games will run smoothly.
- Please note: Nintendo Switch 2 is only compatible with microSD Express cards. If the microSD cards you have used for Nintendo Switch do not support microSD Express standards, you cannot use them with Nintendo Switch 2.
- Confirm the console can access the internet.
- Close the software currently running.
- On the console, open User Settings and choose Update Download Progress.
- If the download still does not progress, restart the console and check again.
A stalled download is different from a failed purchase: if checkout completed, verify the purchase and account before buying the same item again.
If there is not enough storage space
Nintendo requires sufficient free space in system memory or on a microSD card for downloads. Update data can require additional capacity, so a console with just enough room for the original game may still be short on space for an update. Download time also varies with the internet environment; a long download by itself does not prove that storage or the purchase is at fault.
Rank #4
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- [Ultra HD] Read/Write up to 100/60 MB/s. UltraHD video displaying/recording
- [Compatibility] Storage for Laptop, Tablet, PC, Smartphones, Camera, e-Reader. Files, Videos, Music [Notice] Compatible with Nintendo Switch 1; not compatible for gaming with Nintendo Switch 2
- [Environment] Waterproof, shockproof, temperature-proof and X-Ray proof
- [Support] Gigastone 5-year limited warranty
- Check available space in system memory and on the microSD card, if one is in use.
- If space is insufficient, clear room or consider a microSD card compatible with your console model.
- Before buying a card, verify compatibility for your model and consider whether clearing space is enough.
Extra storage addresses a capacity problem only. It will not resolve a server outage, an account restriction, a rejected payment, or a network communication error.
If a completed purchase is missing
Purchases are associated with the Nintendo Account that made them. Before paying again, check the purchase confirmation email or the account’s purchase history and confirm that the console is using the account that bought the game or add-on. A purchase made on a different account will not be found by checking the wrong account.
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Nintendo’s Japanese support guidance says that, since April 30, 2025, purchased games and add-ons are redownloaded from Virtual Game Cards rather than from the eShop. Check the current Nintendo instructions for your region and model to confirm the applicable route; do not assume that a Japanese support flow applies identically in every country or on every system.
If checkout or adding funds is rejected
Start with the exact payment error and check whether the Nintendo Account has purchase restrictions. Nintendo’s Japan support guidance notes that account purchase restrictions can block paid products and some fund additions. If the account is restricted, a different connection or extra storage will not address the cause; consult the relevant Nintendo account guidance.
Payment declines can also depend on the region and payment provider. A failed checkout does not, on its own, prove that a bank refused the transaction. Check the message shown by Nintendo and the payment provider’s information, then contact the appropriate support channel if the reason remains unclear. Do not repeat purchases until you have checked whether the first transaction completed.
When to stop troubleshooting on the console
Use Nintendo’s code-specific guidance as the boundary for self-service troubleshooting. If the steps for the displayed error do not work, contact Nintendo Support with the code, message, console model, account region, and the point at which the process fails. For a payment issue, include the transaction status shown to you, but do not share passwords or security codes. Avoid account workarounds or speculative hardware repairs: the symptom alone is not enough to identify those as a solution.
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