If you have moved countries, want access to games or eShop content released in another region, or simply set up your console with the wrong country by mistake, you can change your Nintendo Switch region. This guide walks you through what actually changes when you do this, what stays the same, and the steps to update your console safely without accidentally losing access to your existing purchases. Whether you are on an original Switch, a Switch Lite, or a Switch OLED model, the process for changing region is identical, since it lives in the console’s software rather than the hardware itself.
In short, changing region in a Nintendo Switch involves two separate steps: updating the country setting in System Settings on the console, and updating the country attached to your Nintendo Account. Doing only one of these is the most common reason people find their eShop still looks wrong after following a quick tutorial, so this guide covers both in full, along with the trade-offs you should weigh up before you start.
Table of Contents
What “region” actually means on Switch
Unlike older Nintendo consoles, the Switch is largely region-free when it comes to playing physical and digital games. A game cartridge or digital title bought in one country will generally run on a console set to a different region. What region does control is your Nintendo eShop storefront, the currency and payment methods you can use, the games and DLC listed for purchase, some online services, and parental control defaults. Region is tied to two separate things: the country setting on the console itself, and the country attached to your Nintendo Account. Changing one does not automatically change the other, which is why some people get confused when their eShop still looks the same after adjusting a setting on the console.
It helps to think of the console’s country setting as controlling what you see and how the system behaves locally, such as date formats, default language options, and which eShop storefront loads when you open it. The Nintendo Account country, on the other hand, controls what you are allowed to buy, which currency you are billed in, and which regional terms of service apply to your purchases. Because these two settings can drift out of sync, especially after moving house, buying a second-hand console, or travelling long-term, it is worth checking both whenever your eShop content looks wrong.
It is also worth knowing that “region” on Switch is not the same concept as the old cartridge lockout chips found on consoles like the Nintendo 64 or early DS models. On Switch, the console’s region setting is essentially a software preference rather than a hardware restriction, which is why travellers and expats can usually keep playing everything they already own regardless of where in the world they switch the setting to.
What you’ll need
- Your Nintendo Switch console powered on and updated to a recent system version
- The Nintendo Account linked to your console, along with its login details
- A stable internet connection
- Awareness of any remaining eShop balance, active subscriptions, or pending downloads on your current region
- A payment method or eShop card valid in the new region, if you plan to keep buying games there
- A few spare minutes, since the console may need to restart or the eShop app may need to refresh after the change
- Proof of your new address or residency details on hand, in case Nintendo’s account verification asks for confirmation of the country you are moving to
Before you start: back up and check your balance
- Open your Nintendo eShop account and note any remaining wallet balance or active Nintendo Switch Online membership tied to your current region.
- If your console supports cloud saves through Nintendo Switch Online, back up your save data before making any account changes.
- Write down which games and downloadable content you already own, since some region-locked eShop credit or promotional codes may not carry over cleanly to a new region.
- Check for any pending downloads or updates in progress, as switching region mid-download can sometimes interrupt the process and require you to start again.
- If you share the console with family members under a linked Nintendo Account family group, confirm with them before changing region, since it can affect what content is visible or purchasable on their profiles too.
- Take a screenshot or note of your current System Settings country, your Nintendo Account country, and your language preference, so you have a clear record to refer back to if anything looks off after the change.
Changing the country setting on your console
- From the Switch home screen, open System Settings.
- Scroll down to the System section, where you will find the option related to your console’s country or region.
- Select the new country you want to set the console to.
- Read and accept any updated regional terms of service or eShop agreement that appears.
- Restart the Nintendo eShop app so it refreshes with the new region’s storefront.
- If the storefront still shows old content after restarting the app, restart the whole console to force the system to reload regional settings and server data.
- Double-check your date, time zone, and language settings after the change, since updating the country can sometimes reset these to local defaults for the new region.
Updating your Nintendo Account country
Because purchases are tied to your Nintendo Account rather than just the console, you often need to update the account’s country as well through Nintendo Account settings page. Be aware that Nintendo restricts how often an account’s country can be changed, and switching it can forfeit any remaining eShop wallet balance in the old region’s currency, since balances do not convert between currencies. If you rely on stored funds or an active membership, spend or resolve these before changing your account’s country.
To update it, sign in to your Nintendo Account on a web browser or through the console, open your account settings, and look for the country or region field under your personal details. You will usually need to confirm the change and may be asked to re-enter payment details valid for the new country, since old payment methods tied to the previous region are often rejected once the account country changes. Give the change a few minutes to sync across Nintendo’s servers before testing the eShop again, and if you use the same account on a second Switch console or on smart devices with the Nintendo Switch Online app, expect those to reflect the new region too.
If you manage a Nintendo Account family group, it is worth checking each linked child account separately, since parental control defaults and age ratings reset according to the new region and may need to be reconfigured to match what you had set up previously.
| What changes | What stays the same |
|---|---|
| eShop storefront and currency | Most physical and digital game compatibility |
| Available game titles and release timing | Save data already on the console |
| Payment methods you can use | Nintendo Switch Online membership benefits (in most cases) |
| Age rating and parental control defaults | Physical accessories and hardware |
Tips and troubleshooting
- If the eShop still shows old-region pricing or titles after changing settings, fully close and reopen the eShop app, or restart the console.
- Remember that region changes on your Nintendo Account are limited in frequency, so plan the switch rather than changing back and forth.
- If you are troubleshooting a new console for the first time, it helps to review setting up your Switch on a TV to rule out a basic setup issue before assuming it is region-related.
- Digital purchases and some DLC can behave differently after a region change, similar to the licensing quirks covered in how Nintendo game-key cards work, so check ownership status after switching.
- Console bundles and special editions are often tied to specific regions, which is worth keeping in mind if you are chasing region-specific console bundles that were never released where you live.
- For anything unusual, such as an error message during the change or a locked account, check Nintendo’s official support site before trying workarounds.
- If you use a physical eShop card or gift card, note that these are almost always region-locked and cannot be redeemed once your account has moved to a different country’s storefront.
- Online multiplayer with friends in other regions generally still works fine after a region change, since matchmaking is not tied to your account’s country setting.
- If you only want to browse another region’s eShop occasionally, rather than permanently relocate your account, consider whether a second, region-specific Nintendo Account is a better fit than repeatedly changing your main account’s country.
- Keep a note of the date you last changed your Nintendo Account country, since Nintendo’s cooldown period means you may need to wait before you are allowed to change it again.
Frequently asked questions
Will changing my Switch region delete my save data?
No, save data stored on the console itself is not deleted by a region change. It is still wise to back up saves beforehand, particularly if you use cloud saves or plan to also change your Nintendo Account details.
Can I play games from another region without changing anything?
In most cases yes, since Switch games are largely region-free for offline and standard online play. Region mainly affects what you can buy through the eShop, not what you can play once you own it.
Do I lose my eShop balance if I change region?
Often yes. Wallet balances are tied to a specific currency and typically do not transfer to a new region’s eShop, so it is best to spend down or resolve any balance before switching.
How many times can I change my Nintendo Switch region?
Nintendo limits how frequently you can change the country associated with a Nintendo Account, so treat it as a considered decision rather than something to toggle regularly.
