Guide for Parents/Guardians: Getting Started with GameChat on Nintendo Switch 2
Follow these steps to help get your child started with GameChat.
Information
GameChat is a Nintendo Switch 2 feature that allows users to voice chat and video chat with their friends, as well as share their screen and play games together.
A Nintendo Switch Online membership and persistent internet connection are required to use GameChat. Note: During the GameChat Open-Access Period until March 31, 2026, GameChat can be used without a Nintendo Switch Online membership.
For users under the age of 16, parental controls must be set up through the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls smart device application before they can use GameChat. These parental controls will let you manage your child's online interactions with their friends and help them enjoy a safe online experience.
This guide walks you through setting up a Nintendo Account family group with your child, linking your Nintendo Switch 2 console to the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app, setting up parental controls through the app, and starting GameChat for the first time. If you've already performed any of these core steps, skip ahead to the first part you haven't done yet.
Note: If you skip directly to starting GameChat without performing the other steps, the instructions on-device will lead you through each of these processes as they become required to continue, but it may be harder to troubleshoot if you run into an issue.
Complete these steps
Add your child's Nintendo Account to your family group.
If your child does not have a Nintendo Account already, these steps also include creating one for them.
Register a phone number to your Nintendo Account.
If you have not already done so, link your child's Nintendo Account to your Nintendo Switch 2 console .
Download the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app on your iOS or Android device.
On your smart device, open the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app and select Start on the title screen.
Review the overview information and select Next.
Decide whether you'd like to send usage data for the app, then select either Send Data or Don't Send.
Tap Sign In / Create Account. The application will launch http://accounts.nintendo.com in the device internet browser.
Sign in to your existing Nintendo Account or create a new one.
Your Nintendo Account nickname will appear on the screen. Tap Select this account to confirm.
You will be returned to the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls application. Select Next.
A Link Code will appear on the screen of your smart device.
On the Nintendo Switch 2 console, select System Settings from the HOME Menu.
Scroll down to highlight Parental Controls.
Select Set Up Parental Controls, then App Has Been Installed.
If "Change Settings" appears instead of "Set Up Parental Controls", this means you have already set up Parental Controls on the console without using the app.
Select Change Settings.
Enter your PIN.
Select Set up in the (free) Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app.
Select App Has Been Installed, then select Next to verify that you have the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app.
Enter the six-digit Link Code from your smart device. Select OK.
Select Link to link the Nintendo Switch to your smart device, then select OK on both the console and your smart device.
In the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app, select GameChat.
Review the information about this feature and select Next.
Select Set Up Parental Controls.
Select the user that you want to set up controls for. This should be an account set as Supervised in your Nintendo Account family group.
If no users available to select, make sure to link your child's Nintendo Account to your Nintendo Switch 2 console .
Verify the phone number registered to your Nintendo Account. You'll receive a text message with a verification code to enter.
If you don't have a phone number registered, you'll need to register a phone number to your Nintendo Account to continue setting up GameChat.
Review the terms of service, then select I Agree.
Press the C button to open the C Menu.
Select the user account you want to set up GameChat for.
A Nintendo Account is required to use GameChat. If none are linked to the console, you will be prompted to link one.
A server connection test will be performed to ensure that GameChat is usable in your network environment.
If the test unsuccessful or you received an error code<, look up the specific error code you received to troubleshoot the issue with your network connection.
Once the test is complete, select Start.
Select Next.
Review the information about GameChat on screen, then select Next.
Select GameChat Terms to review the Terms of Service.
After reviewing the terms, check the I consent to the GameChat Terms box, and then select Next.
You'll need to pick friends to use GameChat with. Select Select Friends and Request Approval.
Select all the Nintendo Switch 2 friends that your child wants to use GameChat with, then select Next.
If you would like to only start with a few approved friends, you can approve more later.
Please note that even after you approve someone, that person (or their parent/guardian) also needs to approve your child on their end before they can use GameChat with each other.
If your child has not added any friends yet, you will be unable to proceed past this point.
You will be prompted to send a request for approval. Select Send Request, then select OK.
In the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app, select the notification for the approval request, then select New chat-approval requests.
For each user you would like to approve, perform the following steps:
Select the user.
Ask your child about this friend.
Select Next.
Decide whether to approve the friend.
If you approve them, make a note to keep track of who the user is and why they were approved.
After entering a note, select Finish, then select OK.
On the Nintendo Switch 2 console, select Next.
Review some important reminders about using GameChat with your child. Select I Understand after reviewing each page.
Setup is complete! To get the most out of parental controls for GameChat, please read our guide on managing your child's GameChat experience.
Once your child is ready to try this feature, follow our steps for how to start or join a GameChat room.