How to Change Your Nintendo Switch Email Address
Your Nintendo Switch email address belongs to your Nintendo Account, so you change it on the web, not the console. Sign in at accounts.nintendo.com, open Sign-in and security settings, edit the email address, confirm your identity, then enter the code sent to the new address. Children 12 and under cannot register an email.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Where | accounts.nintendo.com › Sign-in and security settings |
| Verification | Password or passkey, plus a code to your current email if asked |
| 2-step verification | Authenticator code or a backup code |
| Confirm new email | Enter the code sent to the new address |
| Children 12 and under | Cannot register an email address |
| No access to old email | Contact Nintendo support |
Steps follow Nintendo’s official email change article.
Step-by-Step Email Change
- Sign in. Go to accounts.nintendo.com on a phone or computer.
- Open Sign-in and security settings. Find the E-mail address section and select Edit.
- Confirm it is you. Re-enter your password, use your passkey, or enter a code sent to your current email.
- Pass 2-step verification. Enter your authenticator code or a backup code if 2-step is on.
- Verify the new email. Enter the code sent to the new address to finish.
If You Can’t Access Your Old Email
Nintendo says it must update the address for you when you no longer control the old email. Contact Nintendo support and be ready to prove ownership, for example with purchase details or console information.
Securing a Switch for a child?
Our gaming checklist covers parental controls, spending limits and privacy on Switch and other consoles.
Open the gaming checklistKeep Your Nintendo Account Secure
- Turn on 2-step verification and save your backup codes somewhere safe.
- Use a unique password not used on other sites.
- Keep a phone number linked for text verification.
- Never share sign-in codes with anyone.
Learn more about protecting gaming data in our privacy in games guide. Changing your Steam email too? See our Steam email guide.
Common Mistakes
- Looking for the email setting on the console instead of the website.
- Losing backup codes before changing emails.
- Typing the new email incorrectly and missing the code.
- Using a school or work email you may lose access to.
Problems with the console itself? Use our fix Nintendo Switch guide. Our privacy hub covers other platforms.
Verification code not arriving?
Tell us which step fails. We will help you find the next option.
Ask GamingFixFrequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to change a Nintendo Switch email address?
The change takes about five minutes if you can receive verification codes. Codes usually arrive within a few minutes. If you no longer have access to the old email, contacting Nintendo support and proving ownership can take several days.
What do I need before changing the email?
You need your Nintendo Account password or passkey, access to your current email or linked phone, your authenticator app or backup codes if 2-step verification is on, and access to the new email address to confirm the change.
What are common mistakes when changing the email?
The most common mistakes are searching the console menus instead of using the website, losing backup codes, and mistyping the new address. Choosing an email you might lose, like a work address, causes problems later with recovery.
Can I change the email on the Switch console?
Nintendo’s instructions cover the web process at accounts.nintendo.com. The console links to your Nintendo Account, so after changing it online, the new email applies everywhere, including Switch and Switch 2, without extra steps.
Why can’t my child’s account add an email?
Nintendo does not let accounts for users aged 12 and under register an email address. Parents manage those accounts through their own family group. Supervised accounts for users 13 and older can register an email by following Nintendo’s separate steps.
