How Do You Game Share on Your Switch with Friends?
How Do You Game Share on Your Switch with Friends?
3 Answers

Hey there! If you\’ve heard about game sharing on Nintendo Switch and you\’ve been wondering how to make it work for you and your buddies, you\’re in the right spot. The whole idea is to let you play with friends using digital games without each of you needing to buy a separate copy. Cool, right? Let me break it down for you.
First off, here’s what game sharing is all about. Nintendo uses a setup where one Switch acts like the \”main console\” (the one where you bought the game) and any others are \”secondary consoles.\”
Here’s the nitty-gritty:
- Main Console: Anyone using this console can play the games you bought, and they don’t need to be online constantly. Easy peasy.
- Secondary Console: Here, only the account that bought the game can play it, and you gotta be online to check the licenses before playing. Yup, a bit more work.
Here\’s what you\’ll need to do to get things rolling:
- Link Accounts: Make sure to get the purchasing account set up on the secondary console:
- Head over to System Settings, then Users, and choose Add User. Go for Import User Data from Another Console.
- Follow the steps to log in with the account info of the person who bought the game.
- Set Up Your Consoles:
- Keep the purchasing account active on your primary console so everyone there can play the game smoothly.
- On the secondary console, remember only the purchasing account will be able to kick off these games.
Okay, now for the bumps in the road you might hit:
- Needing Internet for Secondary Consoles: Yep, they need to be online to get the go-ahead to play games. If your connection’s shaky, you might run into trouble. Best bet? Make sure your Wi-Fi is solid or, if you can, use a wired connection for stability.
- Playing at the Same Time: Bit of a hitch—if you\’re gaming on the secondary console, you can’t open the same game on the primary console. But, here’s a hack: Let someone else use a different user profile on the main console to get around this.
- Online Multiplayer: Both consoles need their own Nintendo Switch Online membership if you\’re getting into online multiplayer. To save some cash, look into that Family Membership option—it covers multiple accounts.
- Region Issues: Sometimes games bought on one region’s eShop won’t work if a secondary console is set to a different region. Just make sure both consoles are on the same page region-wise or grab the game from the right region’s shop.
Honestly, once you’ve got the hang of it, game sharing can be such a lifesaver, especially if you\’re the sort who likes to mix up your games without breaking the bank. Oh, and don’t forget you can always share the good old-fashioned way with physical game cartridges—no account linking needed there!
Got any other hiccups along the way like the dreaded “Unable to Play” message? Try checking the Nintendo server status or ensure your login details are correct. A quick restart often does wonders, too.
Once you get the hang of these tips, you’ll be swapping games and having a blast with your friends in no time. Just make sure to play fair and stay in line with Nintendo’s terms so your account stays in the clear.

Ever wish you could share your Nintendo Switch games with a friend or family member? Well, here’s the lowdown on how to make that happen.
First up: Make One Switch Your Home Base
- Log into your Nintendo account on the Switch that will be your main squeeze.
- Pop into the eShop (that’s the icon that looks like a little orange shopping bag on the home screen).
- Tap your account icon up top and head into Console Settings.
- Scroll to Primary Console and hit Register. Boom, now this Switch is in charge!
Now, Let’s Get to the Sharing Part
- Log into that same Nintendo account on the other Switch. This one’s hanging out in the backseat, not the driver’s seat.
- Head to the eShop on this console and download your games. They’re yours to play on both consoles now!
- Quick tip: The main console can play offline, but the other needs Wi-Fi to check you still own the games.
Things to Keep in Mind
- Only one person at a time can play a game using the same account, so no double-dipping in Mario Kart.
- Want to switch primary consoles? Simple. Just deregister the current one on the eShop by digging into Primary Console Settings and hitting Deregister.
- This setup is awesome for families spreading out their game time, but it might not fly for multiplayer at the same time.
If you’re feeling lost, Nintendo’s got lots of resources that can help you get this up and running while playing it by the book.

Alright, game enthusiasts, ever wondered how to get your digital games on more than one Switch? It’s all about game sharing, and trust me, it’s easier than you might think. Let\’s break it down.
Are Your Games Digital?
First things first, make sure your games are digital. This trick only works with games you\’ve bought from the Nintendo eShop. Those physical copies? You\’ll need to swap them the old-school way—hand to hand.
Get Both Switches Ready
Okay, now let’s get your consoles set. Your main console is where you usually play, right? Make sure everything’s set up and you have all your digital goodies there. To share games, you need to log into your Nintendo Account on another console as well. But here’s the snag: only one console can be the \’primary\’ one for your account at any given time. Switching this up affects how each console accesses the games.
Setting Up Another Console as Primary
So, if you decide the second console should be the primary one, head over to the Nintendo eShop on your original console, hit your profile icon, and deregister it. Then, on the second console, log into your account; it’ll automatically become the primary console. Sweet, right? Now, this console can download and play games offline, but your old console needs to stay online to verify game access.
Downloading Your Games
Once you switch primaries, jump on the secondary console (now your new primary) and download your games from the eShop. Just a heads up: one person at a time can play any shared game. Your primary console can play offline, but the non-primary needs to be connected to the internet. It’s a bit of a juggling act but worth it.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
Getting cozy with game sharing means you should only share your Nintendo Account with people you trust—remember, it’s got your personal info and probably payment details. If you’re planning to hop back and forth between consoles, that Nintendo Switch Online Save Data Cloud Backup will be your best friend, making sure your game progress tags along wherever you play. Oh, and try not to play the same game simultaneously on both consoles, or it might start getting twitchy on the non-primary console.
There you have it—a handy way to share your Switch games with friends without running all over town with game cards. Now, who’s up for some gaming?