What linking your Nintendo account means and why you'd do it
Linking a Nintendo account means connecting your personal Nintendo profile to a console (Switch, Switch Lite, or Switch OLED) or to individual games. Once linked, your account follows you across devices — your save files, friends list, and purchases stay with your profile rather than staying stuck on one machine.
You link an account when you want to back up your game progress to the cloud, play online multiplayer, access Nintendo Switch Online features, or move your games and saves to a new console. Without linking, your saves live only on that specific console, and if the console breaks or you sell it, those saves are gone.
The process is straightforward and takes about five minutes. You'll need an internet connection, your console, and either an existing Nintendo account or the ability to create one during setup.
Key Takeaways
- Linking happens in your console's user settings under "Users and Accounts," not in individual games.
- You can link an existing Nintendo account or create a new one directly on the console during the linking process.
- Once linked, your saves back up automatically to Nintendo's servers if you have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
- You can link the same Nintendo account to multiple consoles, but only one console can be your "primary" console for game sharing.
- Linking is separate from purchasing games — you can own games on your account without linking, but you won't get cloud backup or online features.
How to link an existing Nintendo account on your console
Start on your Switch console's home screen. Press the X button to open the quick menu, then select "Settings" at the bottom. From Settings, go to "Users and Accounts," then select "Accounts."
Choose "Link Account" (or "Connect" if you're on an older Switch firmware). You'll see a screen asking whether you want to link an existing account or create a new one. Select "Link Existing Nintendo Account."
The console will open a browser window and take you to a Nintendo login page. Enter the email address and password for your existing Nintendo account. If you have two-factor authentication turned on for that account (which you should), you'll receive a code on your phone or email — enter that code to proceed.
Once you log in, the console will confirm the link and return you to the Settings menu. Your account is now linked to that console.
How to create and link a new Nintendo account during setup
If you don't have a Nintendo account yet, you can create one directly from your console. Follow the same path: Settings > Users and Accounts > Accounts > Link Account.
Select "Create New Nintendo Account." The console will ask for an email address, a password, a username (this is what other players see), and your birth date. Fill in each field. Nintendo will send a confirmation email to the address you provided — check your inbox and click the link to verify.
Once verified, return to your console and complete the link. Your new account is now active and connected to that console.
Understanding cloud save backup and what it requires
Linking your account is one step; cloud backup is another. Once your account is linked, your game saves will back up automatically to Nintendo's servers only if you have an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription. Without the subscription, your saves stay only on the console's local storage.
If your console breaks or you get a new one, linked saves on a console with Switch Online will restore to your new console when you log in with the same account. Saves on a console without Switch Online will be lost if the console is damaged or erased.
You can check which saves are backed up by going to Settings > Data Management > Save Data Cloud Backup. This screen shows you which games have cloud saves enabled and when they were last backed up.
Linking the same account to multiple consoles
You can link your Nintendo account to as many consoles as you own. However, only one console can be set as your primary console for that account. This matters for game sharing: anyone who uses your primary console can play the games you own, even if they log in with a different account.
To set a console as primary, go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Other Settings > Primary Console, then select "Set as Primary Console." If you later want to change which console is primary, go back to that same menu on the new console and repeat the step.
If you have multiple people in your household, each person should have their own linked account. You can then set one console as primary for each account, allowing everyone to share purchased games on that console while keeping saves and online features separate.
What to do if you forget your Nintendo account password
If you're trying to link an account but can't remember the password, go to the Nintendo login page (you can access it through your console's browser or visit accounts.nintendo.com on any device). Click "Forgot your password?" and enter the email address associated with your account.
Nintendo will send a password reset link to that email. Click the link, create a new password, and return to your console to complete the link with your new password. Make sure you have access to the email address on file — if you've lost access to that email, you'll need to contact Nintendo Support to regain control of the account.
Unlinking an account from a console
If you want to remove a linked account from a console, go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Accounts, select the account you want to unlink, then choose "Unlink." The console will ask you to confirm.
Unlinking removes the connection between that account and that console, but it doesn't delete the account itself or any of your games or saves. Your account still exists on Nintendo's servers. You can link it to a different console later, or link it to the same console again whenever you want.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I link my Nintendo account to a used console I just bought?
Yes. If the previous owner left their account on the console, you can either unlink it first or simply create a new user profile and link your account to that profile. The previous owner's saves and games will remain on their profile, separate from yours.
What happens to my saves if I unlink my account?
Your saves stay on the console in local storage. If you had cloud backup through Nintendo Switch Online, those saves are also stored on Nintendo's servers and will restore if you link the same account to a different console later. Unlinking doesn't erase anything.
Do I need to link my account to play single-player games?
No. You can play single-player games on a console without linking any account. However, your saves will only exist on that console, and you won't have access to online features or cloud backup. Linking is required for online multiplayer and cloud saves.
Can two people use the same Nintendo account on the same console?
Technically yes, but it's not recommended. Both people would share the same save files, friends list, and online profile. It's better to create separate user profiles on the console and link each person's own Nintendo account to their profile.
Why does my console say "This account cannot be used" when I try to link?
This usually means the account is already linked to another console and that console is set as the primary console for that account. You can still link the account to a second console, but you may not be able to play purchased games on the second console unless you change which one is primary. Check your account settings on your first console.