What Are the Differences Between a Primary and Non-Primary Nintendo Switch Console?

After you have designated the primary console for your account, you can still link that account to other Nintendo Switch consoles, but these consoles will not be registered as primary consoles.

When using the primary console, any user on that device can play downloadable content you have purchased. You are also not required to connect to the internet prior to using downloadable content on your primary console (an internet connection is required to use online features or games which require a subscription service).

If you deregister your primary console, the next time you use your Nintendo Account to connect to Nintendo eShop on a console in the Nintendo Switch family, that console will become the primary console for your Nintendo Account.

To verify whether a console is the primary console for your Nintendo Account, check the "primary console" section in your Nintendo eShop Account Information.

Key Points:

Primary Console:

• You can have one primary console at a time for your Nintendo Account.
• The first console in the Nintendo Switch family you use to connect to Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch will become your primary console.
• While using the primary console, any user account on the console can play the downloadable content you have purchased.
• While using the primary console, you do not need to have an active internet connection while playing downloadable software.
  • An internet connection is still required to use online features or games which require a subscription service.
• You can change which Nintendo Switch console is your primary console, but you must first deregister the current primary console.

Non-Primary Console:

• A Nintendo Account can be linked to Nintendo Switch consoles that are not designated as the primary console, however, some functionality differs from when a Nintendo Account is used on a primary console.
• While using a non-primary console, you can still use the Nintendo Account to access Nintendo eShop, purchase and download software, and in under certain conditions, play your downloadable software.
• While using a non-primary console, you must have an active internet connection to play downloadable content.
  • If you lose your internet connection while playing downloadable content on a non-primary console, your game will pause after a certain amount of time; however, once you connect to the internet again, you will be able to resume from the point you left off.
• While using a non-primary console, downloadable content can only be started by the user that purchased the content.
• When using downloadable software on a non-primary console, your game will pause if your Nintendo Account is used to access downloadable software on any other Nintendo Switch console.