What to do if your Nintendo Switch won't connect to Wi-Fi

Fast fix

• Restart the Switch—hold down the Power button, then select Power Options> Restart.
• Power cycle your router: Unplug it for 30 seconds, then plug it back in.
• Turn off Airplane Mode.
• Try a hard restart—hold down the Switch power button until the screen goes black.

While the Nintendo Switch® is made for portable, offline play, you do sometimes need an internet connection. Connecting to Wi-Fi lets you download games, install system updates, and play online multiplayer games.

What happens when your Switch won’t connect to Wi-Fi, though? Don’t worry—it’s a common problem that often has a quick fix. Asurion Experts help customers like you troubleshoot and solve their tech problems every day. Follow our guide on how to fix a Switch that’s unable to connect to the network so you can get back to your games in no time.

Check your network signal and frequency

The first thing to check when you’re having connection problems on your Switch is your Wi-Fi signal.

Take a look at the router to make sure it’s on and functioning properly. Typically, you want to see solid white or green lights on the router to indicate that everything’s working. If you see red or flashing lights, there’s probably an issue with the network.

Bring your Switch closer to the router to get a stronger connection. Make sure there are no physical obstructions that could interfere with the signal, either, like metal cabinets, baby monitors, or brick walls.

It’s likely that your Wi-Fi network includes two different frequency bands: 2.4GHz and 5GHz. The 2.4GHz band is slower and more prone to interference, but it offers longer range connections. By contrast, the 5 GHz band offers faster speeds with a shorter range.

If you’re on the 5GHz band (often named "[Your Wi-Fi] - 5G" or something similar), try switching to the 2.4 GHz band instead. You may find a better connection on this other band, especially if you stay within 10 feet of the router.

Refresh your network settings and router security

If you’re still having connection issues, try power cycling your router. Unplug the router from the power outlet for at least 30 seconds before plugging it back in. Then give it time to boot back up again and retry the connection.

A good next step is clearing or “forgetting” your Wi-Fi network on the Switch so you can reconnect from scratch:

1. On the Switch home menu, go to System Settings> Internet> Internet Settings.
2. Choose your Wi-Fi network from the list of Registered Networks.
3. Choose Delete Settings.
4. Select Delete.
5. Make sure the Switch is within 10 feet of your router, then select your Wi-Fi network on the list of available networks.
6. If you don’t see your network now, hit the Y Button to search for the signal again.
7. Enter your Wi-Fi password to reconnect.
8. Press OK after the Switch tests the internet connection.

Sometimes your router security prevents new devices from identifying and connecting to the network. You can check your router’s security type on a web browser by entering your router’s IP address and logging in as an admin. Find wireless settings and choose WPA2-AES. Also, make sure Hide SSID or Enable Hidden Network are disabled so your Switch can find the network.

Review console settings and software updates

It could be something as simple as having airplane mode on that’s preventing your Switch from connecting to Wi-Fi. Go to System Settings > Airplane Mode and make sure Airplane Mode is off.

Also, try checking parental control blocks:

1. On the Switch, go to System Settings > Parental Controls > Parental Control Settings.
2. Enter the Parental Control PIN.
3. Disable Parental Controls related to internet activity.

Restart your switch by pressing and holding the Power button for at least 15 seconds until it turns off. Press the Power button to turn it back on. A quick restart is also helpful if your Nintendo Switch controller won't connect or your Switch won't connect to a TV.

As a last resort, if you’re still not getting a Wi-Fi connection, you can try a system reset. Just keep in mind that this will delete any data saved in the system memory, including software data, screenshots, and user information. However, if you use the following steps for your restart, you won’t lose the save data for your games:

1. Turn off the Switch console.
2. While holding down the Volume Up and Volume Down buttons, press the Power button.
3. Keep holding down the Volume Up and Volume Down buttons until you see recovery mode appear on your Switch screen.
4. Choose Restore Factory Settings Without Deleting Save Data and follow the instructions.

You’ll have to start from scratch to set up your Switch again, including connecting to your Wi-Fi network.