Your Nintendo Switch isn't connected to Wi-Fi, and you want to get online. Start with the network name and password, then follow the steps below for Switch, Switch Lite, OLED, or Switch 2. If your network doesn't appear or a hotel sign-in gets stuck, there's help for that too.
Connect to your Wi-Fi network
For a home connection, start with the console's network list. All four models use the same main setup path.
From the HOME Menu, open System Settings > Internet > Internet Settings.
Select your Wi-Fi network's name, also called its SSID.
Enter the wireless password when prompted.
Let the connection test finish.
Select OK to complete the connection.
Setting up a brand-new console? Select your network at the Internet Settings stage of initial setup.
Find a missing network
Move the console closer to your router.
Open System Settings > Internet > Internet Settings.
Press the Y Button to search for networks again.
Select your network once it appears in the results.
Enter its password to continue connecting.
For a hidden network, use the manual setup steps below.
Turn wireless communication back on
This restores Wi-Fi when Airplane Mode has disabled it.
Open System Settings > Airplane Mode, called Flight Mode in UK and Australian English.
Turn Airplane Mode off.
Return to Internet > Internet Settings.
Select your Wi-Fi network to connect.
To keep Airplane Mode enabled instead, turn Wi-Fi on within System Settings > Airplane Mode.
Reconnect or change a saved password
There's no need to create a new connection just to update a password. Open System Settings > Internet > Internet Settings, then select the saved network.
Choose Connect to this Network to reconnect. On Switch 2, the label also appears as Connect to This Network.
For an updated password, choose Change Settings and correct the credentials. Select Save, confirm with OK, then reconnect. Use automatic IP Address Settings and DNS Settings for an ordinary home network, or administrator-supplied values for a network requiring manual configuration.
On Switch, Switch Lite, or OLED, deleting a troublesome saved connection gives you another way to set it up again. Under Registered Networks, select the network, then choose Clear Settings > Delete. Select the network again and re-enter its credentials.
Add a hidden network manually
Use manual setup to enter network details yourself, including a hidden SSID.
- 1.Open System Settings > Internet > Internet Settings.
- 2.Select Manual Setup at the bottom of Networks Found on Switch, Lite, or OLED. On Switch 2, scroll below the saved network list to find Manual Setup.
- 3.Enter the network's SSID and the appropriate Security credentials.
- 4.For a hidden SSID, set Connect to a Hidden Network to On.
- 5.Select Save.
- 6.Choose Connect to this Network, labeled Connect to This Network in Switch 2 manual setup.
Complete the hotel or café sign-in
On public Wi-Fi, choosing the network isn't always the last step. Hotspots that require authentication also need you to complete their sign-in page, and compatibility depends on the hotspot.
Open System Settings > Internet > Internet Settings.
Select the public network.
Complete the authentication page presented during connection by accepting its terms or entering guest credentials. The page's labels depend on the hotspot.
If error 2110-3400 blocks authentication, connect through a working home network or mobile hotspot.
Open System Settings > System > System Update.
Allow any available update to download and finish.
After the update, try connecting to the original public network again.
Use your phone as a hotspot
A mobile hotspot gets your Switch online when your usual Wi-Fi is unavailable.
Enable Wi-Fi hotspot sharing on your phone or dedicated mobile hotspot. Phone menu labels vary by device and operating system.
On the console, open System Settings > Internet > Internet Settings.
Choose the hotspot's network name.
Enter the hotspot password. Nintendo supports mobile hotspots on both console generations; connection quality depends on signal strength.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Nintendo Account or an app to connect to Wi-Fi?
No. A Nintendo Account isn't required to establish an internet connection, and no app installation is needed. Wi-Fi setup happens directly in the console's System Settings.
Can I skip Wi-Fi during first-time setup?
Yes. On Switch, Switch Lite, and OLED, internet setup is optional and can be completed later through System Settings. On Switch 2, it is also optional unless you're performing a system transfer.
Does Nintendo Switch support 5 GHz Wi-Fi and WPA3?
Both console generations support 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi. If your router lists separate network names for those bands, select either through System Settings > Internet > Internet Settings. WPA2-PSK(AES) works with both generations. Switch 2 additionally supports WPA3-SAE(AES), but doesn't support WEP.
What if a hotspot asks me to register my console's MAC address?
Find the address under System Settings > Internet > System MAC Address. Regional English menus also use Console MAC address. Add that address to your hotspot account. For a router using MAC filtering, ask its owner or administrator to add the console to the permitted-device list and save the change. Reconnect through Internet Settings afterward.