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Nintendo Music is a streaming app for Switch Online subscribers—but not on Switch

Nintendo Music is Nintendo’s official soundtrack app for paid Switch Online members. Learn how it works, where it runs, what it costs and what happens offline.
Length6 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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Yes—Nintendo made a music-streaming service. Called Nintendo Music, it launched on October 31, 2024, and gives paid Nintendo Switch Online members access to Nintendo game soundtracks at no separate charge. The important correction is that it is not an app for the Switch console: Nintendo Music runs on compatible iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.

The app supports streaming, offline downloads, playlists, game-based browsing, spoiler controls, looping, and extended versions of selected tracks. It is free to download, but it requires an active Nintendo Switch Online membership.

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What is Nintendo Music?

Nintendo Music is Nintendo’s official smart-device app for listening to music from its games. It is focused on Nintendo soundtracks rather than competing with Spotify, Apple Music, or other general-purpose services.

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Nintendo’s launch announcement described a catalog spanning nearly 40 years of Nintendo history, with series including Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, and Splatoon. Nintendo says more music will be added over time, so the catalog should be treated as changing rather than as a fixed, complete list of every Nintendo soundtrack.

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Current availability for a particular game or soundtrack must be checked in the app. Nintendo Music is an included membership benefit, not a separate music subscription.

Nintendo’s support page explains the service, while its launch announcement lists the main features.

When did Nintendo Music launch?

Nintendo launched Nintendo Music on October 31, 2024. The initial announcement highlighted the United States and Canada. Nintendo’s current regional support information lists additional markets, including the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, and several European, Asian, and Latin American countries. Availability can vary by country and may expand, so check Nintendo’s current supported-region list.

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Is Nintendo Music available on the Switch?

No. Nintendo Music is not a Switch-console music app. You download it from the Apple App Store or Google Play and use it on a compatible phone or tablet.

The Switch connection is the membership: Nintendo Switch Online verifies that you are eligible to use the service. You do not install Nintendo Music on the console itself, and Nintendo’s support materials describe the playback app as a smart-device application.

Who can use it?

You need:

  • A Nintendo Account.
  • An active, paid Nintendo Switch Online membership.
  • A supported iOS or Android device.
  • The official Nintendo Music app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
  • An internet connection for initial access, streaming, downloads, and periodic account validation.

Nintendo also says new users may be able to use a free seven-day Nintendo Switch Online trial, subject to the trial’s current terms. The app itself is free to download, but it is not freely usable without the required membership. See Nintendo’s free-use explanation.

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Supported phones and tablets

Nintendo lists these minimum requirements:

  • iOS 16 or later
  • Android 9 or later
  • Android devices must have more than 2 GB of RAM; devices with 2 GB of RAM or less are not supported.

Nintendo does not support Android installations obtained outside Google Play. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee identical performance on every device, and newly released operating-system versions may take time to become officially supported. Check Nintendo’s device requirements before installing.

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What can you do in Nintendo Music?

The app is built around Nintendo’s game music rather than a broad artist-and-album catalog. Nintendo’s published features include:

  • Stream tracks directly in the app.
  • Download music for offline playback.
  • Search by game title, track name, or playlist name.
  • Browse by screenshot to find music associated with a game.
  • Create and share playlists.
  • Listen to Nintendo-curated playlists.
  • Receive recommendations based on Nintendo Switch Play Activity.
  • Use spoiler-prevention controls to filter music associated with moments you may not have reached in a game.
  • Loop tracks for background listening.
  • Extend selected tracks to 15, 30, or 60 minutes.

The extended-duration option applies only to selected tracks, not automatically to everything in the catalog. Interface labels and features may also change as Nintendo updates the app.

How to set up Nintendo Music

  1. Check your Nintendo Account. Make sure the account you plan to use is the one associated with the active Nintendo Switch Online membership.
  2. Install the official app. Use the Apple App Store or Google Play listing, not an unofficial Android installation.
  3. Sign in. Open Nintendo Music and log in with the correct Nintendo Account.
  4. Find music. Search by game, track, or playlist, or browse using Nintendo’s game and screenshot-based options.
  5. Download music before traveling. Save tracks or playlists while connected to the internet if you expect to listen offline.
  6. Customize playback. Create playlists, enable spoiler filtering, loop tracks, or extend eligible songs.
  7. Reconnect periodically. Offline downloads may need account validation after an extended period without an internet connection.

How much does Nintendo Music cost?

Nintendo Music has no separate listed fee. It is included with a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership. In the United States, Nintendo’s support page lists these prices:

Plan Listed U.S. price
Individual, one month $3.99
Individual, three months $7.99
Individual, 12 months $19.99
Individual + Expansion Pack, 12 months $49.99
Family, 12 months $34.99
Family + Expansion Pack, 12 months $79.99

These are U.S.-specific prices listed by Nintendo and can change. Prices, currencies, taxes, plan structures, and availability differ by region; consult Nintendo’s current membership pricing page.

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You do not need the Expansion Pack specifically for Nintendo Music. Nintendo says both standard Nintendo Switch Online and Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members receive access.

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Can you listen offline?

Yes, after downloading music in advance. Downloads are useful for flights, commutes, or areas with unreliable service, but they are not permanent ownership of unrestricted audio files.

Nintendo says downloaded tracks can expire if the app remains offline for an extended period. If you see support code 9009-2201 on Android or 9010-2101 on iOS:

  • Reconnect the device to the internet.
  • Open Nintendo Music.
  • Leave the app running for approximately 30 minutes.
  • On iOS, keep the app in the foreground and prevent the device from going to sleep during the refresh.

For Android, Nintendo says the app may be able to run in the background during this process. Its offline-error guidance has the current recovery instructions.

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What happens if Nintendo Switch Online expires?

Nintendo says your Nintendo Music data, including playlists, is saved if you cancel your membership. Some playlist-management functions, such as editing, sharing, or deleting playlists, remain available.

That does not establish that full catalog streaming and playback continue after the membership expires. Treat Nintendo Music as a membership benefit: saved playlists are not the same thing as continued access to every track.

See Nintendo’s cancellation and playlist-data guidance for the limits that apply.

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Common problems and fixes

The app says I need a membership even though I have one

The most likely problem is that Nintendo Music is signed into a different Nintendo Account from the one with the active membership. Sign out, then sign in with the account that owns or receives the membership. You can also check that account’s Nintendo Switch Online section and active plan. Nintendo documents this issue in its account troubleshooting guide.

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The app will not install

Confirm that your country is supported, your device meets the iOS or Android requirements, and—on Android—you have more than 2 GB of RAM. Install only through Google Play on Android.

My downloaded songs stopped working

Reconnect to the internet and leave Nintendo Music open for the approximate 30-minute validation process. Use the iOS foreground requirement if you are on an iPhone or iPad.

Is Nintendo Music worth paying for?

It is most compelling for people who already want Nintendo Switch Online. If you already pay for online multiplayer, classic-game access, or other membership benefits, Nintendo Music is a useful included extra—particularly if you want official Nintendo soundtracks, offline listening, spoiler controls, or game-focused playlists.

Subscribing solely for music is a more specific decision. Nintendo Music may be a good fit if you mainly want Nintendo soundtracks and value its game-specific features. It may be a poor fit if you want a general music catalog, podcasts, permanent audio files, or guaranteed access to every soundtrack from every Nintendo game.

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The practical verdict is simple: Nintendo Music is real and worthwhile as a Nintendo-focused membership benefit, but it is not a free standalone service, not a Switch-console app, and not a replacement for a general-purpose music platform.

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