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Nintendo calls its game whitelist the Allow List. Add a title there to exempt it from the console’s age-based Restricted Software rule, so it can start without the Parental Controls PIN. The game still counts toward daily play-time limits, bedtime rules, and any other controls that apply separately.
Before you start
- Link the Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite, or Switch OLED to the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app.
- Use a console running system version 5.0.0 or later, the minimum cited in Nintendo’s support documentation for this feature. It is not a statement of the latest firmware version.
- Install and launch the game on that Switch at least once. Nintendo’s instructions say only software already played on the console can be added.
- Make sure the console can connect to the internet after you save; settings activate when the system synchronizes online.
How to add a game to the Allow List
- Open the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app.
- Tap Parental Controls in the lower-right corner.
- Open the console’s restriction settings. If necessary, choose Custom Settings so the age-based controls are visible.
- Leave your preferred Restricted Software age level in place, then find Allow List.
- Select the game you want to exempt.
- Tap the red Save button.
- Connect the Switch to the internet and allow it time to receive the updated settings. Reopen the game after synchronization.
“Whitelist” is a useful description, but Allow List is Nintendo’s current terminology and may be the only label shown in your app. The exception is attached to the console, not to an individual Nintendo Account user, so it applies to anyone using that system.
What the exception does—and does not do
| Setting | Effect |
|---|---|
| Restricted Software | Blocks games above the selected age rating. |
| Allow List | Exempts selected titles from Restricted Software; those games can launch without the parental-control PIN. |
| Play-Time Limit | Still applies to an allowlisted game, which continues to count toward the daily limit. |
| Bedtime | Remains a separate time-based restriction. If both a daily limit and bedtime are set, whichever is reached first controls access. |
| Communication, social-media, and VR controls | Managed separately. Allowlisting a title is not a blanket permission for chat, posting, or VR use. |
Nintendo describes the Allow List specifically as an exception to Restricted Software, not as a complete parental-control bypass. It also does not change Nintendo Account settings for eShop purchasing or content visibility.
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- Start the installed title on the target Switch and let it reach its main menu, then close it.
- Close and reopen the mobile app.
- Verify that the app is managing the correct console.
- Return to Parental Controls → Custom Settings → Allow List and check again.
- Select the game and tap Save once more.
- Put the console online and wait for synchronization.
The launch-first step is Nintendo’s documented remedy for a title that does not appear. Reopening the app, checking the linked console, and reconnecting are practical fixes for stale app data or a delayed update.
How to remove a game
- Open the Parental Controls app and tap Parental Controls.
- Open Allow List.
- Deselect or remove the game.
- Tap Save.
- Connect the Switch online so the change reaches the console.
After synchronization, the normal Restricted Software age rule applies to that title again.
Choose the right control
- Need one trusted game to work? Use Allow List while keeping the general age restriction.
- Need every game in a higher rating category? Raise the general Restricted Software level, understanding that this broadens access.
- Is the problem how long the child plays? Change Play-Time Limit or Bedtime instead; Allow List will not remove those limits.
- Is the concern chat or contact with players? Review communication restrictions separately.
- Is the concern buying or seeing software in the eShop? Use the relevant Nintendo Account family settings, not Allow List.
Switch 2 note
Nintendo also publishes Allow List guidance for Nintendo Switch 2. The concept is the same, but labels and platform-specific behavior can differ, so use the support instructions for the device you manage rather than assuming every Switch menu is identical. See Nintendo’s Switch 2 parental-controls guide.
Rank #2
- Lightweight, ergonomic design for comfortable gameplay anywhere
- Double-injected rubber grips for added comfort
- Easy slide-in design secures each Joy-Con
- Visible player indicator lights
For the original Switch family, Nintendo’s official parental-controls instructions cover the Allow List, synchronization, and play-time behavior.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add a game to the Allow List from the console without the app?
Nintendo documents the individually selected-game exception as an app feature. The console itself can set broad restrictions, but use the Parental Controls app to manage the Allow List.
Rank #3
- Two Joy Con can be used independently in each hand, or together as 1 game controller when attached to the Joy Con grip
- They can also attach to the main console for use in handheld mode, or be shared with friends to enjoy two player action in supported games
- Each Joy Con has a full set of buttons and can act as a standalone controller, and each includes an accelerometer and gyro sensor, making independent left and right motion control possible
Does Allow List remove the daily time limit?
No. An allowlisted game still counts toward the active Play-Time Limit, and bedtime can also stop play.
Does allowlisting enable online chat?
Not automatically. Communication controls are separate; review them independently for the console and the game’s features.
Rank #4
- Introducing Joy-Con, controllers that make new kinds of gaming possible, for use with Nintendo Switch.
- The versatile Joy-Con offer multiple surprising new ways for players to have fun.
- Two Joy-Con can be used independently in each hand, or together as one game controller when attached to the Joy-Con grip.
- They can also attach to the main console for use in handheld mode, or be shared with friends to enjoy two-player action in supported games.
- Each Joy-Con has a full set of buttons and can act as a standalone controller, and each includes an accelerometer and gyro-sensor, making independent left and right motion control possible.
Does the setting apply to one child or one Nintendo Account?
Parental Controls are configured for the console, so the Allow List exception is system-wide rather than user-specific.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsDoes it work on Switch Lite and Switch OLED?
Nintendo’s Switch parental-control documentation covers the Switch family, including Lite and OLED models. Confirm the app is linked to the intended console.
Best Value
- The next evolution of Nintendo Switch
- One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
- Larger, vivid, 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR and up to 120 fps
- Dock that supports 4K when connected to a compatible TV*
- GameChat** lets you voice chat, share your game screen, and connect via video chat as you play
The Bottom Line
Use Parental Controls → Custom Settings → Allow List in the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app, select a game you have launched, save, and let the console synchronize online. This bypasses only the age-based Restricted Software block—not daily play-time, bedtime, communication, or account-level eShop controls.
Quick Recap
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