How to Use Parental Controls on Nintendo Switch

This wikiHow teaches you how to use parental controls on the NIntendo Switch. You can set content and internet restrictions in the Nintendo Switch system settings. For more options, you can download the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls smartphone app to monitor your child's usage, get monthly reports, and set restrictions remotely.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Setting A Parental Control PIN

  1. To power on the Nintendo Switch, press the power button on the top of the Nintendo Switch screen. It's the button that has a circle with a line through it. It's next to the volume buttons on the left hand side of the Nintendo Switch.
  2. To go to the home screen, press the home button. It's the button with an icon that resembles a house on the right joy-con controller.
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  3. The icon that resembles a gear is the System Settings menu.
    • To select items on the Nintendo Switch, you can either double tap them on the screen, or navigate to them using the left joy-con controller, and press A on the right joy-con controller to select them.
  4. It's the fifth option in the System Settings menu. It's in the sidebar menu to the left.
  5. It's the second option in the parental control menu in system settings. It's below the option to view the introductory video.
  6. It's the second option in the menu that asks you to choose how to set parental controls.
    • You also have the option to set up parental controls during the initial system setup process.
  7. It's the green button on the right side.
  8. The PIN allows parents to override parental controls. Press the buttons and analogue stick in the direction that corresponds to the numbers listed on the screen to set a PIN. The PIN needs to be between 4-8 digits long. Repeat the PIN to confirm it.
    • To use an on-screen number pad to choose a PIN, press and hold the "+" button.
    • You can change the PIN at any time by returning to the Parental Control menu in System Settings and selecting Change PIN .
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Changing Parental Control Settings on the Nintendo Switch

  1. To go to the home screen, press the home button. It's the button with an icon that resembles a house on the right joy-con controller.
  2. The icon that resembles a gear is the System Settings menu.
  3. It's the fifth option in the System Settings menu. It's in the sidebar menu to the left.
  4. It's the second option in the Nintendo Parental Control menu.
  5. It's below the option to use the smartphone app.
    • After you choose a PIN, you will be asked to enter the PIN every time you want to change the parental control settings.
  6. There are five restriction settings on the Nintendo Switch: Not Restricted, Teen, Pre-Teen, Child, and Custom. Select Not Restricted to turn off parental controls. . Select Teen to restrict games rated for users older that 17 years. Select Pre-Teen to restrict software rated for children older than 13 years, and restrict their ability to post to social media and communicate with others during in-game chats. Select Child to restrict software rated for children older than 8 years, and restrict their ability to post to social media and communicate with others. Select "Custom Settings" for more options. The following options are available under "Custom".
    • Restriction Level: This option is the same as above. It allows you to set restrictions for Teen, Pre-Teen, and Child.
    • Restricted Software: This option allows you to select a specific age and restricts games rated for that age.
    • Software Rating Organization: Each region has a different software rating organization. This option allows you to select which software rating organization you want to use.
    • Posting Screenshots/Videos to Social Media: This option allows you to restrict the ability to post screenshots and videos to linked social media accounts.
    • Communicating with Others: This option allows you to restrict the ability to use voice chat in games that allow voice chat.
  7. It's the green button in the lower-right corner.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Registering the Nintendo Switch to the Parental Controls Apps

  1. The Nintendo Switch Parental Control app is available for free from the Google Play Store on Android smartphones and tablets, or the App Store on iPhone and iPad. The app has an orange and white icon with an image of a big and little person. Use the following steps to download the Nintendo Switch Parental Control app.
    • Open the Google Play Store or App Store on your smartphone or tablet.
    • Search for "Nintendo Switch Parental Controls".
    • Tap GET or Install next to the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app.
  2. You can open the app by tapping app icon on the home screen of your smartphone, or by tapping Open in the App Store, or Google Play Store.
  3. It's in the lower-right corner of the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app. This takes you to the sign in screen.
  4. It's the orange button at the bottom of the app.
  5. If you already have a Nintendo account, tap Sign In and log in with the email and password associated with your Nintendo account. If you don't have a Nintendo account, tap Create a Nintendo Account and fill out the forms to create a Nintendo account.
  6. It's below your Nintendo Account username once you sign in.
  7. You will need to link your Nintendo account to your Nintendo Switch. Have your Nintendo Switch nearby and tap Next on the smartphone app. A screen appears with a registration code.
  8. To power on the Nintendo Switch, press the power button on the top of the console on the left side. It's the button that has an icon with a circle with a line through it.
  9. To go to the home screen, press the home button. It's the button with an icon that resembles a house on the right joy-con controller.
  10. The icon that resembles a gear is the System Settings menu.
  11. It's the fifth option in the System Settings menu. It's in the sidebar menu to the left.
  12. It's the second option in the Nintendo Parental Control menu.
  13. It's the first option in the parental control settings.
  14. This screen asks if you have the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app.
  15. A pop-up displays telling you that you will now register the Nintendo Switch to the Parental Controls app. Select Next to continue.
  16. When you are ready to enter the registration code, select Enter Registration Code to continue.
  17. Use the number pad on the Nintendo Switch screen to enter the 6-digit registration code that appears in the Parental Controls app on your smartphone. Select Ok when you are finished.
  18. Use the Nintendo Switch to select Register on screen.
  19. You have successfully paired the Nintendo Switch with the app. You can tap Set Parental Controls to immediately begin setting parental controls, or tap Later to wait until later.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Using the Parental Controls App

  1. The Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app has an orange icon with an image of a big person and a little person.
  2. It's the tab that has a clock at the top of the screen. This tab displays how long the Nintendo Switch was played each day. Tap a day to see a more detailed list of what games were played and what user played them.
  3. It's the tab that has an icon that looks like a calendar. This tab displays a monthly summary of all the play activity on the Nintendo Switch.
  4. It's the tab that has an icon that resembles the two joy-con controllers. This is where you change the parental control options.
  5. This option allows you to set a play-time limit on the Nintendo Switch.
  6. Play-time limits can be set in 15 minute increments. Tap the number of hours and minutes you want to set as the play-time limit on the Nintendo Switch. You can select anything from "No Limit" to "6hr" for 6 hours.
    • You can also set a play-time limit for individual days of the week. To do so, tap the toggle switch icon labeled "Set Days Individually" at the top of the play-time limit menu. Tap each day of the week to set a play-time limit for each of those days.
  7. It's the second option in the play-time limit menu. This allows you to set a bedtime alarm.
  8. Bedtime alarms are listed in 15 minute increments between 4:00 PM to 11:45 PM. Scroll up and down in the pop-up to see all bedtime alarm options.
  9. When you set a play-time limit, the Nintendo Switch will alert the user when the time limit is up, but it will not stop the user from playing. Tap the switch icon across from "Suspend Software" at the bottom of the Play-time limit menu, if you want the Nintendo Switch to suspend software when the time limit is up.
  10. It's the orange button at the bottom of the screen. This saves your play-time limit settings.
  11. This option is available under the "Console Settings" tab. This option allows you to restrict software and features.
  12. There are five restriction level options: "None", "Teen", "Pre-Teen", "Child", and "Custom Settings". None turns off all restrictions. Teen restricts software rated for users 17 years and older. Pre-Teen restricts software rated for users 13 years and older, as well as restricts the ability to post to social media, and communicate with others during in-game chats. Child restricts software rated for kids 8 years and older, as well as restricts the ability to post to social media and communicate with others during in-game chats. Custom Settings allows you to choose your own settings. The following options are available at the bottom if you choose "Custom Settings."
    • Restricted Software allows you to select a specific age you want to block software rated for.
    • Posting to Social Media allows you to block users from posting images and videos to social media accounts linked to the Nintendo Switch.
    • Communicating with Others allows you to block users from being able to use in-game chats while using the Nintendo Switch.
  13. It's the orange button at the bottom of the screen. This saves your restriction level settings.
  14. This option is available in the Console Settings tab. This option allows you to change the PIN that allows you to override the parental control settings on the Nintendo Switch.
  15. You current PIN is displayed at the top. Use the line that says "New PIN" to type a new pin.
  16. It's the orange icon above the keyboard when you type your PIN. This saves your new PIN.
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