If you forgot the parental-controls PIN, use the Switch’s Forgot PIN screen to get an Inquiry Number, then submit it through Nintendo’s official reset process. If the PIN works but a restriction or eShop setting is wrong, use the setting area that controls that feature instead of removing all parental controls.
First identify what is not working
- Forgotten PIN: recover it with an Inquiry Number and Nintendo’s reset process.
- Time, game, or communication limits: check the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app.
- eShop purchases or content visibility: check the supervised child’s Nintendo Account family settings.
- App not connecting or not available: confirm the console is linked and that the app is installed and up to date.
These instructions cover the original Nintendo Switch family. Nintendo has a separate guide for Switch 2. The steps below refer to Nintendo’s US support guidance; readers elsewhere should choose their country on Nintendo’s support site because menus and reset requirements can vary.
Check whether the console is linked to the app
On the Switch, open System Settings and highlight Parental Controls. The options shown indicate whether the console is linked:
- “Sync with Nintendo Switch Parental Controls App” and “Unregister App” indicate a linked console. If you can access the app, view or change the PIN there.
- “Parental Controls Settings” or “Change Settings” indicates an unlinked console. You can change the PIN on the console if you know the current PIN.
The parental-controls PIN is not the Nintendo Account password or a separate console user-verification PIN.
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Recover a forgotten parental-controls PIN
Use Nintendo’s Forgot Parental Controls PIN on Nintendo Switch instructions and reset tool. Do not keep trying random PINs: six incorrect entries within 30 minutes trigger a 30-minute lockout.
- From the HOME Menu, select the red Parental Controls icon.
- At the PIN prompt, enter an incorrect four-digit number six times to display the help message.
- Press + or − to open Help, then scroll to Forgot PIN.
- Record the displayed Inquiry Number. Stay on that screen: if you leave and return, Nintendo says the Inquiry Number changes and the previous one cannot be used.
- Submit the Inquiry Number through Nintendo’s official reset process. The current tool asks you to select a country and product, and requests the console serial number, Inquiry Number, contact details, postal code, and payment information. Nintendo’s instructions require an email address; if you cannot provide one, contact Nintendo Support. The page does not establish a stable fee amount, so check the reset tool for its current terms.
Do not factory-reset the console as a PIN-recovery method; Nintendo’s documented route is the Inquiry Number process.
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- 6.2” LCD screen
- Three play modes: TV, tabletop, and handheld
- Local co-op, online, and local wireless multiplayer
- Detachable Joy-Con controllers
- Nintendo Switch is the home of Mario & friends
View, change, or sync a PIN when the console is app-linked
Open the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app on the caregiver’s smart device, then go to Parental Controls and the Parental-Controls PIN area. The app can show the PIN and let you change it. Nintendo notes that a newly changed PIN takes effect on the console as soon as the Switch connects online; it may not work until that connection happens.
Change a PIN on an unlinked console
If the console is unlinked and you know its existing PIN, open System Settings → Parental Controls → Change Settings and follow the prompts to change it. If you do not know the PIN, use the recovery steps above rather than guessing repeatedly.
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- This model includes battery life of approximately 4.5 - 9 hours.
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Fix time, game, and communication restrictions
These controls are managed in the companion app, not in the Nintendo Account eShop settings. Nintendo’s US guidance says the app provides the broadest set of restriction options. Depending on the setting, limits can affect the console system-wide rather than one user, so check who uses the Switch before changing age-level, communication, or social-posting restrictions.
For region-specific age ratings or menu labels, follow the Nintendo support guidance for your country. Nintendo Japan’s guidance says daily play time is set in the app and counts console use, not only active gameplay.
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- 6.2” LCD screen.
- Three play modes: TV, tabletop, and handheld
- Local co-op, online, and local wireless multiplayer
- Detachable Joy-Con controllers
If you intend to remove controls entirely, Nintendo describes deleting the settings on the console with the PIN; unlinking the app also removes the console restrictions. Do this only if you mean to remove those protections.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Fix eShop purchase or content restrictions
Console parental controls alone do not limit eShop purchases or what content a child can view there. For spending or eShop visibility, review the supervised child account’s Nintendo Account family settings. Nintendo Japan also documents eShop launch authentication as a separate console user-verification setting; that is not the same as restricting purchases.
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- One player can use a Joy-Con in each hand
- Two players can each take one
- 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.
If the app is missing or outdated
Nintendo’s US support page says the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app is compatible with iOS and Android and directs users to p.nintendo.com to reach the relevant app store. Nintendo lists version 2.6.0 as released September 14, 2026, with support for two parents or guardians sharing monitoring. App versions and features can change, so check Nintendo’s download or update instructions for the current version.
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