How to Unpair Consoles That Can Load Virtual Game Cards
Follow these steps to unpair one of the consoles that can load virtual game cards for your Nintendo Account.
Complete these steps
If you have access to both of your existing consoles that can load virtual game cards, along with a new console you want to use to load virtual game cards, you can pair one of your existing consoles with the new one—during this process, you will be able to choose which of your existing consoles you want to unpair.
Link your Nintendo Account to a user on the new console you want to pair, if you have not already done so.
For more information, including how to create and link a new Nintendo Account, see How to Link a Nintendo Account to a Nintendo Switch.
On the new console, select Virtual Game Cards from the HOME Menu.
Select a virtual game card you would like to load on the new console.
Select Load on This System.
Select Next.
A message will appear indicating that you have already paired two consoles. Select Next.
Review the information about your two consoles that are currently paired, then select Unpair next to the one you want to unpair.
Select Unpair again.
Message: The system you want to unpair is offline.
Select OK.
Bring the consoles that will now be paired close together and select Systems Are Close Enough.
On the existing console that can load virtual game cards, select Virtual Game Cards from the HOME Menu.
Select your user.
If you have enabled user verification, 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
For more information about user verification, read the User-Verification Settings Guide.
Select Start Pairing.
The pairing process will begin. Select OK when it is complete.
If prompted, select Load on This System to load the virtual game card on the newly paired console.
Using a web browser, visit the Account Home (accounts.nintendo.com/portal) website.
Sign in to the Nintendo Account with the console you want to unpair.
Select Consoles.
Select the console you want to unpair. You may need to select View More to locate it.
Select Virtual Game Cards.
Select Unpair.
Option to unpair does not appear
This indicates the console you selected is not one of your consoles that can load virtual game cards. Return to the list of your consoles and check the other consoles to locate those that can be unpaired.
Message: Cannot currently be unpaired
This indicates that you have already used the Account Home website to unpair a console in the past year. You can only unpair once per year using the website.
If you have one of your consoles that can load game cards along with a new console you wish to pair, you can unpair this console by following the process to pair the other two.
If you have already unpaired through the website in the past year and you do not have access to any of your consoles that can load virtual game cards, please contact us for support.
Select Unpair again to confirm.