How to Set Up Parental Controls on Nintendo Switch (2026)

Step 1: Link the Parental Controls app

1. Install the app. On your phone, install Nintendo Switch Parental Controls from the App Store or Google Play and sign in with your Nintendo Account.
2. Get the registration code. On the console, go to System Settings → Parental Controls → Parental Controls Settings, and choose to use your smart device.
3. Link them. Enter the registration code from the app on the console to link the two.

Tip: Without the smartphone app, the console can still set a PIN, age-rating restrictions and communication controls. Play-time limits and the Bedtime Alarm are available only in the app.

Step 2: Set or change the PIN

1. Find the PIN. In the app, open Settings → PIN. Set a 4–8 digit PIN your child will not guess.
2. Use it for overrides. The PIN lets you temporarily lift restrictions on the console without changing your settings.

Step 3: Set play-time limits and alarms

1. Set a daily limit in the app. In the app, open Play-Time Limit and set up to 6 hours per day, with a separate limit for each weekday if needed.
2. Choose notify or Suspend Software. At the limit, either show a notification or turn on Suspend Software, which puts the console into sleep mode. It does not shut down or force the console off.
3. Set the Bedtime Alarm. In the app, set the Bedtime Alarm from 4:00 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. in 15-minute steps.

Tip: With alarm only, kids can keep playing — the app will just show you they went over. Use Suspend Software if you need a hard stop.

Step 4: Restrict games by age rating

1. Choose a restriction level. In the app or console settings, open Restriction Level and pick Child, Pre-Teen, Teen, or Custom.
2. Customize ratings. With Custom, choose the highest ESRB rating allowed, and add any specific games you want to allow as exceptions.

Step 5: Restrict communication and posting

1. Restrict communicating with others. In Restriction Level → Custom, turn on Restrict Communicating with Others to limit chat and messaging in games, and allow it only for games you approve.
2. Original Switch social posting. On an original Nintendo Switch, use Posting Screenshots/Videos to Social Media to block social posting. Switch 2 does not have this as a separate restriction; its chat is handled through GameChat.
3. Set up Switch 2 GameChat. For a child under 16, verify the parent's phone number and email in the smartphone app. The child sends a Chat-Approval Request for each friend, and the parent approves or denies that person. Approval is bidirectional.

Step 6: Limit eShop purchases

1. Open your Nintendo Account. On a browser, go to accounts.nintendo.com, sign in as the parent, and open Family Group.
2. Disable purchases and auto-renewal. Select your child → Purchase/Spending Restrictions, disable purchases and automatic renewal, then select Save. This control is not in the smartphone app or console settings.
3. Use a fixed balance if you allow spending. Nintendo provides a purchase-restriction toggle rather than a dollar cap. If you want a spending ceiling, preload only the fixed balance you are willing to let them use.