Nintendo Support

How to Start, Join or Leave a GameChat Session

Follow these steps to use GameChat with your friends on Nintendo Switch 2.

For users under the age of 16: We highly recommend that a parent or guardian set up a few additional things prior to getting started with GameChat. Please follow our guide for parents/guardians.

Before you start

  • A persistent internet connection is required to use GameChat. Welcome Offer: GameChat can be enjoyed for free until the end of March 2026. Afterwards, a Nintendo Switch Online membership will be required.

  • You must register a phone number to your Nintendo Account to use GameChat.

Complete these steps

  • Press the C Button to open the GameChat menu.

  • Select the user 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.

    • When Parental Controls are set on the console, the Parental Controls PIN must still be entered even when selecting a user who does not have Parental Controls settings related to GameChat applied to their Nintendo Account. This is to help prevent a child from selecting a different user to avoid Parental Controls restrictions.

      The person setting up Parental Controls on the console should share the Parental Controls PIN with any users that they don't need to set restrictions for.

  • A server connection test will be performed to ensure that GameChat is usable in your network environment.

    • If the test was 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.

    • If you are under the age of 16, a parent or guardian must set up a few additional things before you can get started with GameChat. Please follow our guide for parents.

  • Review the information about GameChat on-screen, then select Next.

  • Review the Terms of Use.

  • After reviewing the terms, select Consent to GameChat Data Processing, check the "I consent to the data processing" box, then select Next.

  • Verify your registered phone number via text message. If you have not registered a phone number to your Nintendo Account yet, you will be prompted to do so.

  • Review the information about approving friends for GameChat, then select Next.

  • Approve any friends that you would like to use GameChat with, then select OK.

  • Review some important reminders about using GameChat. Select Next after reading each page.

  • Setup is complete! Once you're ready to try the feature, continue with our steps below to start or join a GameChat session.

  • Press the C Button to open the GameChat menu.

  • Select the user that will be using GameChat.

  • Select Create Chat.

  • Select the friends you want to invite or press the X Button to invite users from your chat history.

    • You can invite up to 11 friends for a total of 12 users participating in the session.

  • Once you've chosen friends to invite, select Next, then Start Chat.

    • When Parental Controls are set on the console, the Parental Controls PIN must still be entered even when selecting a user who does not have Parental Controls related to GameChat applied to their Nintendo Account. This is to help prevent a child from selecting a different user to avoid Parental Controls restrictions.

      The person setting up Parental Controls on the console should share the Parental Controls PIN with any users that they don't need to set restrictions for.

  • Press the C Button to open the GameChat menu.

  • Select the user that will be using GameChat.

  • Select Chat List.

  • Select the chat session you want to join.

    • If you aren't able to find a chat that you think you were invited to, there are a few possibilities:

      • The session may include friends who you have not approved chatting for.

      • The session may include a user you have blocked.

    • When Parental Controls related to GameChat are set for your Nintendo Account, you will be restricted from joining some chats depending on the other users who are invited:

      • If the session includes friends that have not been approved to chat with you, you can send an approval request to your parent or guardian. If that request is approved, you will be able to join the chat.

      • If the session includes a user who is not on your friend list, you will be unable to join the chat.

  • Select Join Chat.

    • When Parental Controls are set on the console, the Parental Controls PIN must still be entered even when selecting a user who does not have Parental Controls related to GameChat applied to their Nintendo Account. This is to help prevent a child from selecting a different user to avoid Parental Controls restrictions.

      The person setting up Parental Controls on the console should share the Parental Controls PIN with any users that they don't need to set restrictions for.

  • Press the C Button to open the GameChat menu.

  • Navigate to the red X icon and select it.

As long as one member remains in the session, you can rejoin it at any time. Once all users have left the session, it will close and someone will need to start a new session to chat again.