If your Nintendo Switch 2 starts to misbehave, or you simply wish to decommission, sell or give it away. You will want to perform a factory reset. However as there are a number of ways to perform a factory reset on a Switch. We demonstrate how you access each option, and then run through the factory reset process.
Note: While there are multiple ways to return a Nintendo Switch back to its factory defaults. Nintendo recommend that you reset from within System Settings, rather than in recovery mode.
- At the Home Screen of your Switch, locate and select System Settings.
- Within System Settings locate and choose System.
- From within System, scroll through another list of settings and select Formatting Options.
- Now choose Restore Factory Settings.
- Follow the onscreen instructions to factory reset your console.
Note: You would use Restore factory settings without deleting save data via Recovery mode. If you are trying to troubleshoot or fix an issue with your Switch.
- In order to access the Restore factory settings without deleting save data. We need to be in Recovery mode.
- To access Recovery mode, you first need to power down your Nintendo Switch.
Note: If your Nintendo Switch has frozen or is unresponsive, you can power down the console by pressing and holding down the power button for 20 seconds or until the screen powers down.
- Now with the Switch powered down, power it back up but then immediately press and hold down both volume buttons.
- Keep the volume buttons held down until the Recovery Mode screen is displayed.
- On the recovery mode screen choose the option Restore factory settings without deleting save data.
- Follow the onscreen instructions to factory reset your console, but not delete your game saves and user settings.
Note: Nintendo do not recommend that you use this option as it could potentially cause issues with your Nintendo account and your shared games. So if you do need to reset your Nintendo Switch, it is recommended that you use Factory Reset in System Settings.
- In order to access the Restore factory settings without deleting save data. We need to be in Recovery mode.
- To access Recovery mode, you first need to power down your Nintendo Switch.
Note: If your Nintendo Switch has frozen or is unresponsive, you can power down the console by pressing and holding down the power button for 20 seconds or until the screen powers down.
- Now with the Switch powered down, power it back up but then immediately press and hold down both volume buttons.
- Keep the volume buttons held down until the Recovery Mode screen is displayed.
- On the recovery mode screen choose the option Restore Factory Settings.
- Follow the onscreen instructions to return your console back to its factory settings.
- Nintendo article – Virtual game card guide.
- mydoodads article – What to do if your Nintendo Switch 2 crashes.
- Nintendo article – Restoring factory settings.
- Nintendo article – How to Restore a Nintendo Switch 2 Console to Factory Settings Without Deleting Save Data.
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