How To Add Friends On Nintendo Switch To Play Games Together

May 2024 · 9 minute read

One of the most exciting features of a game console is the experience of playing with friends. Sadly, some major game companies make it hard to locate and add friends to your list of possible multiplayer buddies.

If you are using Nintendo Switch to communicate with your gaming buddies, here is how to add friends on the Nintendo Switch friends list and deal with Nintendo’s dreaded “Friend Code” system.

How to Add Friends to the Nintendo Switch

There are two methods to add friends on the Nintendo Switch: send a friend request using someone’s friend code, or accept a friend request that is sent to you.

Additionally, you can search for friends locally using Bluetooth. Once you have added a friend to the Nintendo Switch, both of you must have bought a Nintendo Online Subscription to play any games online.

Link Your Switch to Your Nintendo Account

To add friends to your Switch’s local user account, you will have to connect it to your Nintendo Account, the one you will use to handle things like buying, downloading, and friend requests.

On the Switch’s homepage, pick the System Settings icon. Then, select “Users” and choose the profile you’d like to connect with your account. Select Link Nintendo Account, and sign in with your Nintendo Account or create a new one by selecting “Create Account.”

How to Find Your Friend Code

After following the Nintendo Switch setup process, you will be allotted a 12-digit friend code automatically. This friend code will begin with “SW” and can be seen on your main profile page or at the bottom-right of the “Add Friend” page.

The Profile Page is observed in the top-left corner of the home screen. Use your left Joy-Con to navigate your avatar and press the physical “A” button on the right Joy-Con.

To add a friend on the Nintendo Switch, you will require to share your friend code or receive another players’ friend code.

First, navigate to your Nintendo Switch Profile Page on the Home menu, and then navigate to the “Add Friend” tab.

Your Nintendo Switch Friend Code is found in the bottom-right corner, and it typically begins with “SW,” accompanied by 12 digits. You can choose to manage any received friend requests, search for local users, use a friend code to send a friend invite, or check on the requests you have sent

Add Some Friends

On the “Add Friends” page, you will be presented with various methods by which you can add friends to your Switch’s Friend List.

Search With Friend Code: Nintendo’s method of searching for friends manually eschews searches via email in favor of the company’s 12-digit Friend Code. Of course, you’re probably not going to remember your own Friend Code, let alone the dozen numbers associated with a friend’s account, so be sure to get them to send their Friend Codes to you (or write them down), so you can add them manually.

How to Accept a Friend Request

Any friend requests you get will arise in the “Received Friend Request” menu. You can decide to accept or reject these

How to Send a Friend Request

If you have acquired someone’s friend code, you can input the code by choosing “Search with Friend Code” from the “Add Friend” menu. Type the friend’s 12-digit code, and an outgoing friend request will be sent to that person. Any sent friend requests can be achieved by navigating to the “Sent Friend Requests” menu option under “Search with Friend Code.”

Add Friends Locally

This choice will let you exchange friend requests with people in the same room. It does not need an internet connection, as it works with Bluetooth to search for local consoles.

Note:

To add friends locally, you must be connected to a Wi-Fi network. If the Nintendo Switch console is not connected to the internet, the friend request will be temporarily saved on the console. The friend request will then be sent automatically the next time the console connects to the internet.

Add Friends You Have Played with Before

Some online multiplayer games will connect you up with random online players that you can send friend requests to later. From the “Add Friend” submenu, select “Search for Users You Played with,” and then invite someone you recently played with to connect.

Friend Suggestions

Select the “Friend Suggestions” option to send friend requests to people you are friends with on Nintendo smart-device apps, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, Facebook, or Twitter.

Any social media accounts must be connected before the Nintendo Switch can search for friends. To connect a social media account to your Nintendo Account, choose an option by clicking the “L” or “R” trigger on your Joy-Cons. Follow the onscreen setup instructions.

Note:

Share Your Experiences on Social Media

While this does not technically connect you to more friends, you could end up exchanging friend codes by sharing pictures over social media. The Switch has a somewhat helpful share feature that enables you to attach image captions and generate memes to upload to Facebook and Twitter.

On the user page, click on User Settings and scroll down to Posting to Social Media to link your Switch to your Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Once linked, go to the home page and select Album.

Unfortunately, the Switch does not provide screen captures inside the Album, but you can select an image, add a caption, and click Post to show it across social media.

Adding Best Friends

If you are particularly fond of a particular friend, you can upgrade them to Best Friend status. Navigate to your friend list and pick one of your favourite buddies. Click the Best Friends option.

That user will now have a star in the upper left-hand corner of their icon. Sadly, your best friend will not be notified of their newfound importance in your life as identifying best friends is a one-way path, but the star could come in handy if you have many friends with a similar avatar.

Remove/block Friends.

If you no longer like to be friends with a particular user, you can unfriend them. You can take it a level further by blocking the user, which prevents them from adding you again.

Go to your Friend List and choose the friend that you want to remove.

Select options.

Either select Remove Friend or Block. If you change your mind later, you can go into User Settings and choose Manage Blocked-User List to remove the blockage for becoming friends again.

Nintendo Switch User Settings

If you would like to reissue a new friend code, control your blocked-user list, or clear any associated social media accounts, you can do so under the “User Settings” submenu. Choose your avatar on the Switch’s home screen to get to this submenu.

This is also where you handle your nickname, icon, account information, and eShop settings. Once you have some friends connected, you can start linking in multiplayer games more easily.

Keep Your Friend Code in Your Contact Card

While Nintendo’s Friend Code system is a convoluted process by which you can add friends to the Switch, you will have to utilize it for the foreseeable future or until they get to decide and let you search through email. Until then, you can store your code somewhere you will always be able to find it quickly and that is your contact list.

On your smartphone, choose your Contacts app and find your contact card. Choose “Edit” and look for the “Add social profile” option. From there, you can add a custom note or custom social profile, just title it “Nintendo” or something and store your Friend Code there. Whenever you want to share it with someone, message them your saved friend code from your contact list. Want to make it more manageable for people to find you? Just allow showing that code in a social media bio, like on your Twitter account or Facebook.

Games Available for Nintendo Switch

Here is a list of games that currently support the Switch. Note that this list is subject to change. 

It is enabled by default. Create a custom room and give the room number to your friend.

In the Login Screen, choose Options. Go to Gameplay and scroll down. To add friends, Open Social Menu and send Invite.

It is enabled by default. Progress through quests to unlock multiplayer.

It is enabled by default. Game is MMORPG. Add friends by using in-game friends list.

It is enabled by default. Entering the queue matches you with all platforms. Add friends through in-game friends list.

Hosting is required through Dolphin and VBA. Complicated setup.

It is enabled by default. Adding friends done through in-game playlist.

It is available only on online multiplayer.

It is enabled by default. Requires signup to a Microsoft account. Add friends by entering the game handle.

Go to Options, then select Controls. Allow all will group you with all platforms. Keyboard only will allow keyboard users. Gamepads only will allow those using a controller or gamepad. Add friends through in-game friends list.

Online Action Game. Enabled by default. Add friends through in-game friends list. Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid

It is enabled by default. Give others your Game ID to play matches.

It is enabled by default. Go to the Social Tab to add friends.

It is enabled by default. Add friends through the Rocket ID Friends tab.

It is enabled by default. Use in game Social Tab to add friends.

Enabled by default

It is enabled by default. Create lobby and share lobby ID with friends.

It is enabled by default. Add friends through the in-game friends list or create a private game room and share room ID.

Final Words:

Right now, these all are the methods that you can add friends on Switch, but Nintendo has more plans. For once, the company said that some games would support the capacity to add friends within the game, no doubt helpful when you are playing online and want to add someone you have just played a few rounds with.

The company will also be updating the Suggested Friends section to add your friends from Wii U and 3Ds and friends from social networking sites you have connected your Nintendo account to, which will undoubtedly become the most comfortable way to add people you recognize from the real world.

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