Nintendo Switch parental controls
The simplest set-up of any console, with one catch: the limits parents most want are only in the phone app, not on the console.
- Time
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Straightforward
- Where
- The Nintendo Switch Parental Controls phone app
- Checked
- 2026-08
Recently changedSwitch 2 added GameChat, which requires the parental-controls app for anyone under 16. A March 2026 app update also shows you when the PIN has been entered.
Before you start: An adult Nintendo Account and a four-to-eight digit PIN.
Do this
- Install the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app and sign in with an adult Nintendo Account
- Link the app to the console using the registration code the console shows
- Choose a restriction preset, or set custom limits
- Set the PIN that unlocks changes
The settings that matter
| Setting | Younger child | Teenager |
|---|---|---|
| Restriction presetChild, Pre-Teen or Teen — sets game ratings and communication limits together. | Child | Teen, then tighten communication separately |
| Play-time limitDaily cap and bedtime, with the option to suspend software when time runs out. | Set the cap and enable suspend | Set the bedtime; the cap matters less than the hour |
| GameChat controls (Switch 2)Manages voice and video chat, including approving friend requests. | Required set-up for under-16s — approve friends individually | Review the approved list periodically |
What this does not do
- The social-media posting restriction that exists on the original Switch is not available on Switch 2.
- The PIN protects the settings, not the account — a second console or a friend’s device is outside it.
What people get wrong
- Setting restrictions on the console and assuming that is everything. Play-time limits and GameChat controls only exist in the phone app.
Checked against Nintendo parental controls
in 2026-08. Platforms change these settings often — if what you see does not match, the platform’s own
page is the authority, and we would be glad to be told.