How to Redownload Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch Digital Content
Steps to help recover games or DLC that have been deleted from the console.
What to do
Check the HOME Menu for the game's icon. If no icon is present, continue to the next step.
Game icon on the HOME Menu
If the game already has an icon on the HOME menu, you can redownload it directly.
Select the game’s icon.
Select Download.
The download will begin automatically. You can check the download status on the HOME Menu.
Select Virtual Game Cards from the HOME Menu.
Select the user that purchased the game or DLC.
If you have enabled identity authentication, you may be prompted to confirm your identity by re-entering your password or entering a PIN .
Forgot password
If you have forgotten your password, please follow Forgot Nintendo Account Sign-in Info (Email Address, Password, Sign-in ID).
Forgot PIN or entered PIN incorrectly
If you have forgotten your PIN or have entered the incorrect PIN too many times, follow these steps:
With the PIN entry screen displayed, press the + Button.
Select Sign In.
Sign in to your Nintendo Account.
A message will appear indicating that your PIN has been deleted. Select OK.
Note that this will not turn off identity authentication, but instead switch it to requiring you to sign in to your Nintendo Account. You can change back to the PIN authentication method and create a new PIN in your User Settings.
Select the game or DLC you want to redownload from the list of your virtual game cards.
How to redownload multiple items at once.
If you want to queue multiple different games or DLC to download at once, perform the following:
When in the virtual game card menu, press the X button to open the Load Multiple menu.
Select all of the virtual game cards you want to download.
Select Load Multiple (or press the + button).
Select OK.
The icons for the games you selected will appear on the HOME Menu and they will begin downloading.
How to download content without loading a virtual game card.
If you want to download a game or DLC without loading it as a virtual game card, perform the following:
Select Options.
Select Download Data.
The game or DLC will begin downloading automatically. You can check the download status on the HOME Menu.
This can be useful if, for example, this console is not one of your two consoles that can load virtual game cards and you have enabled the online license setting.
Can't find the desired virtual game card in the list.
You may have hidden the virtual game card you are trying to download. Perform the following:
When in the virtual game cards menu, scroll down and select Can't find specific software?
Select View Hidden Virtual Game Cards.
If prompted, sign in to your Nintendo Account.
Locate the game or DLC you would like to download, select it, then select Load to This Console to start downloading it.
If you would prefer to download the game or DLC without loading the virtual game card, instead select Options, then Download Data.
If the above does not apply, the game or DLC may have been purchased using a different Nintendo Account. Try again with the other Nintendo Accounts on the console until you locate the one that was used to make the purchase.
If you still can't find the game, read Digital Content is Missing from Nintendo Switch (Games, DLC, Etc).
Select Load on This System —the game will begin downloading automatically. You can check the download status on the HOME Menu.
Message: Another paired console has been found. You can only pair each console to one other console at a time.
This message appears if you try to load a virtual game card on a console that is not one of your two consoles that can load virtual game cards. To download the game on this console, perform the following:
Select Cancel.
Select the game or DLC you want to download.
Select Options.
Select Download Data.
The game or DLC will begin downloading automatically. You can check the download status on the HOME Menu.
Note that in order to play your content on consoles that cannot load virtual game cards, you will need to have enabled the online license setting.
Game doesn't appear after download.
Hold down the POWER Button for three seconds.
Select Power Options.
Select Restart.
If the game still doesn't appear, read Digital Content is Missing from Nintendo Switch (Games, DLC, Etc).
Some digital content is not found in the virtual game cards menu. This content can generally be redownloaded through Nintendo eShop:
To redownload most game demos, locate them in Nintendo eShop using your Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch and select Download.
Nintendo Switch Online classic game libraries can be redownloaded through the Nintendo Switch Online menu in Nintendo eShop.
DLC exclusive to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members can also be redownloaded through the Nintendo Switch Online menu in Nintendo eShop.
Game Trials can be redownloaded either through the Nintendo Switch Online menu, or by locating them in Nintendo eShop using your Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch and selecting Download.
When you load a virtual game card to redownload a game, any DLC you have purchased for that game will also be redownloaded.
If you wish to redownload the game without some or all of the DLC, or only download DLC and not the game, perform the following:
Locate the game or DLC that you do not want to download in Nintendo eShop.
Any DLC or in-game items associated with the game will also be available through the product information page. Select the individual DLC/item to view its product information page.
While on the product information page for the DLC or item, press the + Button or - Button 5 times.
If performed correctly, the message "This product is currently set to not be redownloaded" will replace the message on the right about redownloading by loading the virtual game card.
Repeat this process for each game or DLC you do not want to redownload. It will not be downloaded when you load the virtual game card for the game or DLC.
To re-enable downloading for a product, return to its information page and press the + Button or - Button 5 times again.