How to Download Games on Nintendo Switch: A Complete Guide

The Nintendo Switch makes buying and downloading games surprisingly straightforward — but there are a few things worth understanding before you tap that first purchase button. Whether you're new to the console or just switching from physical cartridges to digital, here's exactly how the process works.

What You Need Before You Start

Downloading games on Nintendo Switch requires a few prerequisites:

• A Nintendo Account — this is separate from older Nintendo Network IDs and is required for any eShop purchases or downloads
• An internet connection — Wi-Fi is standard; a wired LAN adapter works in docked mode for faster, more stable downloads
• Enough storage — the Switch comes with internal storage (32GB on older models, 64GB on the OLED), which fills up faster than most people expect
• A payment method (for paid games) — credit/debit card, PayPal, or Nintendo eShop gift cards

If your Switch is new, setting up a Nintendo Account during the initial system setup covers the account requirement automatically.

How to Access the Nintendo eShop

The Nintendo eShop is the Switch's built-in digital storefront. To open it:

1. From the Home screen, select the eShop icon (the orange bag with a star)
2. Select your user profile when prompted
3. Browse, search, or use a specific game title in the search bar

You can search by title, genre, or use curated sections like "New Releases," "Best Sellers," or "Free to Start." The eShop also surfaces sales and limited-time offers regularly.

Downloading a Game: Step by Step 🎮

Once you've found a game you want:

1. Select the game's listing
2. Choose "Free Download" (for free-to-play titles) or the purchase option showing the current price
3. Confirm your payment method or enter a code if redeeming a download code
4. Select "Purchase" or "Download"
5. The game queues immediately and begins downloading in the background

You don't need to stay on the download screen — the Switch downloads in sleep mode as long as "Auto-Update and background downloading are enabled under System Settings > Sleep Mode.

You can monitor download progress by pressing the Home button and checking the indicator on the game icon, or by going to System Settings > Data Management > Download Progress.

Redeeming a Download Code

Physical game cards sometimes include download codes for bonuses, and many retailers sell digital codes instead of cartridges. To redeem:

1. Open the eShop
2. Scroll to the bottom of the left sidebar and select "Enter Code"
3. Type in the 16-character code
4. Confirm and the game will begin downloading

Codes are region-specific, so a code purchased in North America won't redeem on a Japanese Nintendo Account.

Storage: The Variable That Catches Most People Off Guard

This is where individual setups start to diverge significantly. Switch game file sizes range dramatically:

The base internal storage on most Switch models disappears quickly if you're downloading larger titles. A microSDXC card (the Switch supports up to 2TB, though practical affordable options top out well below that) is how most players expand their storage.

The Switch automatically uses the microSD card for new downloads once inserted, though you can change this in System Settings > Data Management.

Downloading on Switch Lite vs. Switch OLED vs. Original Switch

The download process itself is identical across all three hardware versions. The differences that do matter for digital game ownership:

• Storage capacity varies — OLED models ship with 64GB; original and Lite models ship with 32GB
• Game licenses are tied to your Nintendo Account, not the hardware — you can redownload purchases on a new Switch by signing in to the same account
• Primary console designation matters if multiple profiles share one Switch — only the primary console allows other users to access your purchased games offline

What "Primary Console" Means for Downloads

Nintendo's system ties digital purchases to your Nintendo Account, but with a nuance: games can only be played offline by the account that purchased them, unless the Switch is designated as that account's primary console.

On a primary console, any local user account can play your downloaded games. On a non-primary console, only your own account can — and only while connected online. This matters most for households with multiple users or people who own more than one Switch.

You can set or change your primary console under Nintendo eShop > Account Settings > Primary Console.

Re-Downloading Previously Purchased Games

Bought something on an older Switch or deleted a game to free up space? Your purchase history lives in your Nintendo Account permanently. To re-download:

1. Open the eShop
2. Select your profile icon (top right)
3. Go to "Redownload"
4. Find the title and select the download icon

There's no limit to how many times you can redownload a game you've purchased.

The Factors That Shape Your Experience

How smooth and practical digital game ownership feels on Switch depends heavily on a few personal variables: how many games you download simultaneously, whether your home Wi-Fi handles large downloads efficiently, how much microSD storage you've added, and how many people share the console.

A single player with a large microSD card and fast home internet has a very different experience than a family of four sharing one Switch with no storage expansion — even though the download process itself works exactly the same way for both. 🕹️