How to reset a Nintendo Switch

Restore Nintendo Switch from settings

Last update: December 5, 2024 Nintendo

Restoring a Nintendo Switch console is necessary when you experience technical issues such as crashes, system failures, software errors, or even corrupted data. These problems can arise for various reasons, such as improperly turning off the console or interruptions during critical updates. Below, we explain why and how to perform a factory reset to optimize your console's performance.

Why restore a Nintendo Switch?

There are several situations where a complete console restoration is necessary:

- Performance issues: If you notice that the Nintendo Switch frequently freezes, has difficulty loading games, or presents persistent errors.

- Preparing to sell or give away the console: Before transferring the console to someone else, a reset removes any private data, such as user accounts, saved games, and purchases in the Nintendo eShop.

- Maintenance and repairs: If you need to take your Nintendo Switch to technical service, it is advisable to reset it to protect your personal information.

- Resolving serious errors: Some system failures may require a complete restart to restore the console to its original state.

What does restoring the Nintendo Switch involve?

When you perform a factory reset:

- All data stored on the console, including saved games, user profiles, screenshots, videos, and customized settings, will be deleted.

- Purchases made in the Nintendo eShop will remain linked to your Nintendo account, but you will need to log in again to download them.

- A restoration is irreversible, so it is recommended to make a backup if possible before proceeding.

Step 1:

Press the "Home" button on your Nintendo Switch controller to display the main menu, once there move the cursor or click on the "System Settings" icon. It is the gear icon as you can see in the following image.

Step 2:

Scroll down through the console menu until you select the "System" section. Tap on the touchscreen or press the "A" button to access.

Step 3:

Go down again through the console's settings until you select the "Formatting Options" section. Press on the screen or the "A" button to access the restoration options for your Nintendo Switch.

Step 4:

Within the formatting options, you will find several choices including restoring the keyboard, formatting the SD card, and the section we will use in this guide: "Restore Factory Settings." If you want to format the SD card before restoring the console, this is the time, for example, if you want to sell or give it away. This way, you will erase all the data included on the memory card, but remember that this step cannot be undone, and the deleted data cannot be recovered.

Step 5:

A warning text will appear informing about the consequences of restoring to factory settings, scroll down to see the "Continue" button, if you have read the warnings and agree, press "Continue" or the "A" button on the right Joy-con.

Step 6:

A final warning will appear on the screen reminding you that deleted data cannot be recovered. If you want to continue with the process, select "Restore factory settings" and press the "A" button on the right controller.