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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →If Pokémon Legends: Z-A closes unexpectedly, follow Nintendo’s troubleshooting sequence and test the game after each step: restart the console, update the system and game, check for corrupt data, then—if you play a digital copy stored on a microSD card—try redownloading it to system memory. No single cause is established for crashes in this game, so note the exact error and when it happens before troubleshooting.
First, identify the crash and your setup
Write down the console model, whether you use a game card or digital copy, the game’s software version, when the crash occurs, and the exact error message or code. Note whether it happens at startup or at the same point during play. These details can help Nintendo Support investigate, but they do not by themselves identify the cause.
Nintendo’s game-specific update history lists version 2.0.2, released March 18, 2026, with the general note “Several issues have been fixed.” It does not identify a general crash fix. An earlier version 1.0.2 update addressed a battle condition that could make the game unplayable; Nintendo did not describe that as a crash fix. See Nintendo’s Pokémon Legends: Z-A update history.
Try Nintendo’s crash checks in order
For the message “The software was closed because an error occurred,” Nintendo recommends the following sequence for Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED. After each step, reopen the game and return to the situation where the error occurred to see whether it is resolved.
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- 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
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Restart the console
Restart the Switch and test the game again. If the console is unresponsive, hold the POWER button for 12 seconds to force it to shut down, then turn it on again.
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Install the latest system update
Check for a Nintendo Switch system update and install it if one is available. Retest the game before moving on.
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Nintendo Switch with Neon Blue and Neon Red Joy-Con - Handheld Gaming Console- 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
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Update Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Check for a software update and install any available update. Nintendo’s game-specific history lists version 2.0.2, dated March 18, 2026, as the latest listed update. The update note says several issues were fixed, but does not confirm a general crash fix.
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Check the game for corrupt data
On the HOME Menu, open System Settings → Data Management → Manage Software → Pokémon Legends: Z-A → Check for Corrupt Data. Follow the prompts if the system finds a problem, then test the game again.
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Nintendo Switch Game Console - Black (HAC-001(-01) w/Blue & Red Joycon (Renewed)- Play your way with the Nintendo Switch gaming system. Whether you’re at home or on the go, solo or with friends, the Nintendo Switch system is designed to fit your life. Dock your Nintendo Switch to enjoy HD gaming on your TV. Heading out? Just undock your console and keep playing in handheld mode
- This model includes battery life of approximately 4.5 - 9 hours.
- The battery life will depend on the games you play. For instance, the battery will last approximately 5.5 hours for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (games sold separately)
- Model number HAC 001( 01)
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For an affected digital copy, test the installation and storage path
If you downloaded the game and the earlier checks did not help, Nintendo’s general procedure is to remove the microSD card, if you use one, and delete and redownload the software to system memory. This checks the download and storage path; it does not mean Nintendo has identified microSD cards as a cause of Pokémon Legends: Z-A crashes.
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Contact Nintendo Support if the problem continues
If the error remains after the relevant checks, contact Nintendo Support’s guide for “The Software Was Closed Because An Error Occurred” or use Nintendo’s support contact options. Nintendo’s guidance is: “If the issue persists, please contact us for support.”
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Nintendo Switch with Neon Blue and Red Joy-Con (Renewed)- This pre-owned product is not Apple certified, but has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon-qualified suppliers.
- 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 play on Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo lists Pokémon Legends: Z-A as supported on Switch 2 with behavior consistent with Nintendo Switch. However, the crash procedure above is specifically labeled for Switch, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED. If Switch 2 shows the distinct message “There was a problem, and the software needed to close,” follow Nintendo’s Switch 2 error-specific support guidance rather than assuming the Switch procedure covers that message.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Protect your save data
Do not delete your user account or save data as a routine crash fix. Nintendo warns that deleting a user account also deletes its associated save data, which cannot be restored. Use the checks above and ask Nintendo Support for guidance before taking any step that could remove a profile or save.
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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.
What the available update notes do—and do not—establish
Nintendo publishes a title-specific update history, but its latest listed note is too general to confirm that a particular crash was fixed. The version 1.0.2 note concerns a battle condition that could make the game unplayable, not a stated crash remedy. The available official materials do not establish a single cause or a crash-frequency figure. Treat player anecdotes as individual reports, not proof of a shared fault.
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