If your Switch is freezing, becoming unresponsive, or showing frequent glitches, then you need to reset the frozen Console to fix the issue.
If soft and hard resets are unable to fix the problem, you need to factory reset your Console.
In this article, we will discuss why you actually need o factory reset your Nintendo Switch and how to do that.
Why Do You Need To Factory Reset Your Switch?
A factory reset reverts your Switch to its original factory default settings.
Due to various reasons, you may need to factory reset your Nintendo Switch. Some of these are:
- If you have got a new model of the Switch so want to factory reset the old one.
- You want to gift it to your family member or friend and, before that, perform a factory reset to wipe away all the personal data stored in the System.
- If you wish to sell the existing Nintendo Switch, then you should always perform a factory reset before selling.
Things To Consider Before Factory Resetting The Nintendo Switch:
Before you proceed to reset your Console to its factory defaults, consider the following factors:
- The entire factory resetting process for the consoles with the System menu version of 10.0.0 or higher can take more than 5 minutes to complete.
- Factory resetting the Console will delete all the saved data and games from your System. You cannot recover the data once deleted.
- You need a good internet connection to reset the Nintendo Switch.
- You can re-link any associated Nintendo account to the Nintendo Switch console after the Console is formatted. You can manage it through http://accounts.nintendo.com
How To Reset A Nintendo Switch To Its Factory Defaults?
To factory reset your Nintendo Switch, follow these steps:
- Go to HOME Menu and open System Settings.
- Select System from the options.
- From the bottom of the screen, select Formatting Options.
If you have set any Parental Controls PIN for the Console, enter it when prompted.
- Next, select Restore Factory Settings. This will delete all the data from the system memory.
Read through the onscreen information and select Next to proceed.
- From the next options, choose Restore Factory Settings to finish the process.
How Do I Factory Reset The Switch Without Deleting Data?
A factory reset helps to fix dire issues related to the Nintendo Switch. The entire process compete resets the software
If you want to reset your Console without deleting the saved data, here is how to do it:
- Hold the Volume up and down buttons on the Nintendo Switch.
Now press the Power button simultaneously to take the Switch in the Maintenance Mode.
- When the Maintenance Mode screen opens, release the volume buttons.
- Next, select Initialize console without deleting the save data option.
- Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process. Once the Factory Rest is complete, the Nintendo Switch will boot its default factory settings.
How to Soft Reset A Nintendo Switch?
A soft reset does not delete any data from the System. So, before performing a factory reset, you can soft reset your Console and see if this can fix the issues.
Here are the steps to soft reset your Nintendo Switch:
- Press & hold the Power button of your Nintendo Switch for about 20-30 seconds.
- Then release the Power button and press it again.
How To Hard Reset A Nintendo Switch?
If a soft reset cannot help you fix the glitch with Nintendo Switch, perform a hard reset.
Hard reset restarts the Console and clears the temporary data without affecting the game saves or your personal settings.
Here is how to do that:
- Unplug the AC adapter from the Nintendo Switch and the wall outlet.
- Keeping the adapter unplugged, press & hold the Power button from the top left side of the Console for about 25 seconds.
- Then release it and press the Power button once to turn on the Console.
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
Here are some of the common questions asked by Nintendo Switch users who want to reset their Consoles:
- How do I find my 4-digit PIN for Nintendo Switch?
To check your Parental PIN, go to Settings > PIN in the Nintendo Switch Parental Control app.
You will receive the PIN via OUR Nintendo Account email address when you first configure the PIN as well as make any changes to that.
- Can I re-download digital games after I factory reset them?
Once you have performed a factory reset on your intended Switch, you can re-download the game using the same Nintendo Account with which you purchased it.
- How much GB does it take to download a game on Switch?
It totally depends upon the game you want to download, but on average, you can consider 10 GB on your Nintendo Switch to download a game.
Wrap Up
So, from the above article, it should be clear how to fully reset your Nintendo Switch.
If you have any other game-related queries, ask us, and e shall revert with answers ASAP.
Stay connected, as we are always eager to hear from your side.