10 Nintendo Switch Tips & Tricks

The Nintendo Switch is unlike any video game console you’ve ever seen. That’s why you need these 10 Nintendo Switch tips to master everything it has to offer.

For sure, the Nintendo Switch is an amazing device. Released in March 2017, it’s part mobile gaming console, part living room experience. At any time, you can detach your Joy-Con Controllers on each side and play your favorite games wirelessly. You can drop the entire device in a dock and connect a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller to play games on your television.

Read: Nintendo Switch Buying Guide: Bundles, Games & Accessories

Here are some great Nintendo Switch tips to get you started with the video game console that’s set to change how people game on the go and at home. Paired with some best-class Switch accessories, you will love your console more after using these tips than you do now.

Nintendo Switch Tips

1. Get a New Switch Joy-Con Grip
2. Add a Nintendo Account for Online Options
3. To Reset, Hold Down the Power Button
4. To Keep Things Light, Go Digital
5. Share Screenshots with Friends
6. Finding Other People
7. Add Storage Beneath the Kickstand
8. Boost Nintendo Switch Battery Life with a Battery Pack
9. Voice Chat with Friends Using Your Smartphone
10. Find New Nintendo Switch Games in the Nintendo eShop

Get a New Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Grip

The Switch comes with a very basic Joy-Con Grip. That’s the plastic holder that allows users to add their Joy-Con controllers and game wirelessly when their Switch handheld is docked. There’s one problem with the Joy-Con Grip you get with your system, unfortunately: it doesn’t support charging.

At some point, you must stick both Joy-Cons on the ends of your handheld to recharge or you can pick up the [easyazon_link identifier=”B01N33MFPK” locale=”US” tag=”gbm-ea-20″]Switch Joy-Con Charging Grip[/easyazon_link] and charge them from it. This accessory costs $28.36 at Amazon. With it, you can avoid using the console in Handheld Mode when you don’t want to.

Add a Nintendo Account

For some reason, the Nintendo Switch only guides you through creating a local profile for your console when you first set it up. Before you use any more of these Nintendo Switch tips, link a Nintendo Account to your profile. You will need to link a Nintendo Account to your local account to enjoy the online benefits of your Switch, like multiplayer and the eShop. You can reuse a Nintendo Account you already have, or create a new one.

To add a Nintendo Account, head to the Home area by pressing the Home button on the right Joy-Con. Select System Settings. Select Users. Select the local account you’d like to add the Nintendo Account to. Finally, select Link Nintendo Account.

Resetting Your Switch

If you run into software issues, hold the power button on the top edge of the Nintendo Switch until the console’s screen goes dark. Your Nintendo Switch should restart, fixing whatever software issue kept you from playing before.

How to Share Your Digital Games

The Nintendo Switch supports digital gaming sharing with other players are logged into the same console as you.

After you’ve created and linked a Nintendo Account and purchased a game, those games work for everyone else on your system. If you decide to log into another Switch using that same Nintendo Account, your digital games transfer with your account. Unfortunately, you can not log in to two consoles and share games with friends.

Sharing Screenshots

Available only on the left Joy-Con Controller, the Capture button lets you instantly take a screenshot or record a video from your favorite game. Use Gotta Be Mobile’s How to Share Screenshots on Nintendo Switch guide to post the pictures and video you capture on Twitter or Facebook.

Finding Other People Using Friend Codes

Until Nintendo Switch Online fully launches arrives, you must use the Friend Code system to find other people. Ask your friends for their Friend Codes and share yours. It’s listed on your profile page. Just tap your circle icon in the top-left corner of the Home screen to see yours.

Adding Storage

You can add a microSD Card to any Switch to boost your available storage. The port is hidden behind the kickstand. Note that when an SD Card is detected, all digital games will get stored on that microSD card and not the handheld’s local storage.

Boost Battery Life with a Battery Pack

At the most, you can expect three hours from your Nintendo Switch as you play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 2 and other games. That’s enough for a commute, but not nearly enough for a long flight or train ride. You can try improving battery life by dimming the display, but you’re better off abandoning other Nintendo Switch tips entirely and picking up a battery pack. Use Gotta Be Mobile’s Best Nintendo Switch Battery Packs and Chargers round-up to find the right one for you.

Voice Chat with Friends Using Your Smartphone

Use your phone to voice chat with other people over the internet by downloading the Switch Online iPhone app and Switch Online Android app. Multiplayer games, like Splatoon 2, use the app to offer voice chat with your team and send team invites. This is one of the Nintendo Switch tips that’s smart to share with anyone and everyone you know who has the console.

Read: How to Voice Chat in Splatoon 2

Find New Nintendo Switch Games in the Nintendo eShop

The Nintendo Switch doesn’t have a web browser, so you can’t visit your favorite Nintendo websites from it. Use your Nintendo Switch to find info on new releases and game updates instead.

Open the Nintendo eShop by tapping or selecting the shopping bag icon at the bottom of your screen. The online store should immediately open to a page of listing all recently released games for the console. Browse through those to find something new to play.

If you’re looking for the latest news on your existing games, Nintendo Switch tips or console news, tap or select the message icon along the bottom of the console’s homepage. Press the + on your right Joy-Con to add new games to console’s news feed. Every time there’s something new to discuss, it gets added to this area.

Hori Tough Pouch for Nintendo Switch

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$17.99 from Amazon The Hori Tough Pouch for Nintendo Switch protects your device between gaming sessions without much effort. A flap inside shields the console’s touchscreen. Its shell is reinforced to handle impacts from other things in your bag, Also, unlike some other cases, the Hori Tough Pouch strikes a gentle balance between protection and convenience. Because you only put your Switch into it when you're done playing, it doesn't change how you grip the console or its Joy-Con controllers.  Amazon has the Hori Tough Pouch for Nintendo Switch available for $17.99. Because it’s an officially licensed accessory, the front is embossed with the Nintendo Switch logo.

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