If you have a Nintendo Switch, then it’s imperative that you keep the software on your game console and all relevant accessories up to date. Doing so ensures the best performance of your hardware and helps you take advantage of the latest new features.
Software updates come in many different forms on the Nintendo Switch, so if all this seems new to you, then you’ve come to the right place because we’re going to show you how you can keep everything on your Nintendo Switch up to date.
About Nintendo Switch software updates
There are four primary types of software updates that you’re going to want to be aware of. Those include:
- Game console updates
- Docking system updates
- Controller updates
- Game updates
Since each of the aforementioned items plays its own role in your gaming experience, we think it’s important that you keep your software up to date by performing spot checks on occasion.
There won’t always be software updates, nor are they guaranteed to become available for everything at the same time. Nintendo releases software updates as they’re needed, and this isn’t always often.
Below, we’ll walk you through the steps to check for updates for all four of the aforementioned items.
Checking for game console updates
The first thing you should check regularly is whether there are any software updates for your Nintendo Switch itself. Updates to your Nintendo Switch game console may become available for several reasons, such as:
- Adding new features
- Changing how the interface looks or works
- Incorporating security patches
- Introducing performance enhancements
- Fixing bugs
To check for updates for your Nintendo Switch game console, follow the steps outlined below:
1) Wake up your Nintendo Switch and ensure that it’s connected to the internet.
2) Open the System Settings from the home screen:
3) Scroll down until you see System in the left-hand menu, then select it:
4) Select System Update in the right-hand menu.
Note: You will either see that your system is up to date, as ours is, or you will be prompted to install an update.
If you find an update here, installing it will require you to reboot your Nintendo Switch. Software updates generally only take a couple of minutes and aren’t as time intensive as updating your iPhone or Mac would be.
Checking for dock updates
Next, we recommend checking for any software updates for your Nintendo Switch’s docking station. Dock updates may become available for any of the reasons outlined below:
- Enhancing video performance
- Optimizing power supply to console
- Fine-tuning LAN connections (if applicable)
- Fixing bugs
To check for updates for your Nintendo Switch’s dock, follow the steps outlined below:
1) Make sure that your Nintendo Switch’s dock is connected to a display via HDMI and plugged into power via USB-C.
2) Attach your Nintendo Switch to the dock if it isn’t already.
3) Wake up your Nintendo Switch and ensure that it’s connected to the internet.
4) Open the System Settings from the home screen:
5) Scroll down until you see System in the left-hand menu, then select it:
6) Select Update Dock in the right-hand menu.
Note: You will either see that your dock is up to date, as ours is, or you will be promoted to install an update.
If you find an update here, installing it will be quick and painless. Your TV may go dark for a moment as the dock installs any available software updates, but it should come back up momentarily.
Checking for controller updates
Another highly recommended procedure is to check regularly for software updates pertaining to your Nintendo Switch’s controllers, whether they’re Joy-Con or Pro Controller devices. Controller updates may pop up for any of the following reasons:
- Fine-tuning communication performance
- Tweaking control sensitivity
- Adjusting vibration effects
- Correcting joystick drift
- Fixing bugs
To check for updates for any of your Nintendo-branded controllers, follow the steps outlined below:
1) Wake up your Nintendo Switch and ensure that it’s connected to the internet.
2) Open the System Settings from the home screen:
3) Scroll down until you see Controllers and Sensors in the left-hand menu, then select it:
4) Scroll down until you see Update Controllers in the right-hand menu, then select it.
Note: You will either see that your controller is up to date, as ours is, or you will be promoted to install an update. You will need to perform this task individually for every one of your controllers.
If you find an update here, installing it will take a few moments. Your controller will become temporarily unresponsive while the software is being installed on it, but it will respond once more after the update completes.
Checking for game updates
Lastly, you’re going to want to keep your games up to date. Game updates happen regularly, and generally come out for the following reasons:
- Adding in-game content
- Boosting performance
- Closing exploited in-game hacks
- Fixing bugs
To check for updates for any of your games, follow the steps outlined below:
1) Wake up your Nintendo Switch and ensure that it’s connected to the internet.
2) Insert a game cartridge if you own the physical copy of the game (if applicable).
3) Attempt to launch a game from your Nintendo Switch’s home screen:
Note: If nothing happens, then that game is up to date. Otherwise, you will see a prompt like the one below:
4) Select the Download button.
5) Wait for the game to download, it will start automatically when completed:
Note: You can select the Close button and the download will take place in the background while you do other things on your Nintendo Switch.
Download times for game updates vary greatly depending on the size of the update, which range from small patches to huge in-game content updates. Just be patient if it takes longer than you thought it would.
Wrapping up
Keeping your Nintendo Switch and all of its games and accessories up to date can feel like just as much of a full-time job as keeping all your smartphones, tablets, and computers updated, but it’s a necessary step to ensure that you’re taking full advantage of all the things Nintendo wants you to have in your gaming experience.
Were you successful in using these tips to update any component of your Nintendo Switch game console? Let us know in the comments section down below.