2 Ways to Parental Control in Nintendo Switch

Gaming consoles are one of the highly specialized technologies that can provide young people with a way to creatively interact with their friends and families. And there’s nothing like the Nintendo Switch when it comes to gaming consoles. Thanks to its elegant design, colorful mix of games, and improved battery version, Nintendo Switch has been able to offer simplicity in playing games, especially for kids.

No doubt Nintendo Switch has it all. It has some unmissable games, from wonderfully vivid Super Mario Odyssey to high fantasy action-adventure The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and legendary franchise Metroid Dread. But with the wide variety of addictive games come risks that can harm kids in numerous ways.

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Your children may be exposed to inappropriate content because of the wide variety of games offered by Nintendo Switch. After all, they are kids and can immerse themselves in their favorite switch games, affecting their physical and mental development. And as a parent, thinking of such prospects is always stressful. Here we will bring forward everything that you need to know about the Nintendo Switch.

What is a Nintendo Switch?

Launched in 2017, the Nintendo Switch console aimed to provide an authentic experience when it comes to power gaming. The new Nintendo console, the Nintendo Switch, is a games console that has three unique functions. You can connect it to your TV, use it as a handheld device and also utilize it as a tabletop device. That also means the software supports online gaming through internet connection as well as wireless ad hoc connection with other consoles.

With this device, players are able to play single as well as multiplayer games, and also interact with other users around the world. There have been more than 68 million units sold, with gamers enjoying the dual capability of the machine, which allows them to play on their TV and continue the fun on their handheld devices. It is possible to play online games on the Nintendo Switch; however, it does not include a web browser.

Parental controls on Nintendo Switch: why should you consider them?

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Although Nintendo Switch has versatile gaming titles targeted at diverse audiences, all of them are more family-friendly when compared to those of PlayStation and Xbox. For instance, Legend of Zelda and Mario games contain few offensive references. Though, with the takeaway nature of the console, parents have to face the reality that their children may bring the handheld console into their rooms, leading to excessive screen time and unsuitable game playing.

Nintendo Parental control app for Android and iOS

There’s no surprise that parents have questions about gaming and their kids, and that is why every parent must know that Nintendo Switch’s default settings do not impose any restrictions on content. Therefore, each user has access to all the contents accessible via the console, including mature games. Considering this scenario, this is obviously not ideal for allowing a young child or teenager to use it for gaming.

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It is important that you enable Parental Controls if you want to restrict your child from downloading mature content. In addition to limiting downloads, the parental control feature gives parents the opportunity to track a child’s play activity and set their child’s playtime limit. Not only that but the console can also be used as your kid’s bedside alarm.

2 ways to set up parental control on Nintendo Switch

Lucky for parents, Nintendo Switch offers advanced and fully functional parental control that far outperforms the capabilities of other consoles. The feature easily allows parents to set rules for using the system so that they can focus on having fun instead of worrying. In fact, Nintendo has released parental control apps for both Android and iOS that can be utilized as a part of your account to set device restrictions based on the information on your Nintendo’s account.

Nintendo Switch Parental Controls are available for download and can be used by parents to manage and engage with their family’s use of the system. Furthermore, the app is not mandatory to configure controls. You can instead configure them directly from the Switch, but that will deprive you of some features, like the playtime limit and bedtime alert. Here you’ll find steps for setting up parental controls on your Nintendo Switch using both methods.

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1. Click the “System Settings” button on your Nintendo Switch’s Home screen.
2. Once the “System Settings” is selected, scroll down to “Parental Controls” and select it. (Look for it on the right side of the switch’s screen). You can also watch an introductory video titled “Watch a Nintendo Switch Parental Controls Introductory Video” that will guide you through the process.
3. As soon as you select the “Parental Controls Settings”, there will be a prompt to close any current software you are using.
4. You will then be asked to download and install the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app from the respective Store.

You can continue without downloading the app by pressing the X button found on your controller. You will, however, be warned by the system that you will not be able to use some features, as mentioned earlier, without the app. Once you have pressed the X key, you will get the following instructions to help you configure the parental control settings manually.

Method 1: Manually configure parental control settings without the app

1. Upon receiving a prompt informing you of the feature you can’t use (bedtime alarm, playtime limit), select “Next” to configure the settings without the app.
2. Select your preference from the “Restriction Level” drop-down menu and click “OK”. A restriction level allows you to restrict which software and social media your child can access, as well as how online communication is allowed.
3. Select either Child, Preteen, or Teen from the menu to enable the pre-made parental controls. The console will automatically restrict content based on your child’s age. However, if you prefer to customize your settings, choose “Custom Settings”. You can;

Restrict Software:

This option allows you to restrict the rating of software. Depending on the age group, you can choose from games rated for ages 3+ to 18+.

Restrict posting Screenshots/Videos to Social Media:

You can use this to limit or enable the ability to share or post screenshots/videos to different Social Media. Although, account holders under the age of 13 cannot post to social media regardless of the restrictions.

Restrict communication with others:

This option allows you to limit how and when you can read or share user profiles, use chat, send or receive messages, and share or view images created by the users. It is possible to enable some communications restrictions individually in some software.

VR Mode:

The feature is helpful to restrict gameplay in VR mode, which is an appropriate setting for children under seven years of age.

4. Click “Next” when you have set the restrictions to your desired level.
5.  Use the buttons on the left and right joysticks to pick a PIN. On the joystick, each direction represents a number from one to eight, while the buttons X and Y represent 0 and 9.
6. The method makes entering your pin a more secure process, making it harder for others to copy it. In case of confusion or if you think it’s not necessary, hold down the ‘+’ button to return to regular keypad input.

Method 2: Configure controls using the Android/iOS app

1. The first step is to download the Android or iOS app “Nintendo Switch Parental Controls” and install it on your device.
2. After the installation is completed, the next step is to launch the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app on your device (iOS or Android).
3. Now follow the on-screen instructions and sign in to your Nintendo account. You will need to create a Nintendo account if you do not have one already.
4. Fill out your Nintendo account email and password. You may be prompted to verify through a CAPTCHA during the process.
5. Press the Select this account button. The app will then be able to link your account to your Nintendo Switch Parental Controls. Hit “Next”.
6. As soon as your registration is complete, you’ll be prompted to continue setting up your smart device. To complete setup, press A and return to your phone or tablet.
7. When you open the app, you will be asked whether you want to set up your controls now or later. To continue, select “Set up parental controls” and follow the instructions on the screen to set them up.
8. Now, along with the restriction level, you can set a playtime limit from the app. Using the Playtime feature, you can set a limit on how long your child can play for. Limits can be set from 15 minutes to 6 hours in fifteen-minute increments. A “No Limit” option is also available.
9. You can either select an appropriate setting as per age from the list or opt for “Custom Settings” to create your own restriction plan.
10. Save your settings by clicking “Next”.
11. Allow push notifications for a statement about your child’s monthly game activity if you would like to receive them.

That’s it! Your Nintendo Switch parental controls have been enabled.

Is parental control the only answer?

Though parental controls are a good way to shape your kid’s use of Nintendo Switch, it sometimes may not be enough because today’s techie kids can bypass parental controls without their parents knowing about it. Therefore, it’s important to explain to your child why you want them to take breaks or limit their gaming time on the Nintendo Switch to encourage them to develop healthy gaming habits.