Nintendo Support

How to Sign In to a Nintendo Account

Step-by-step instructions for signing in to your existing Nintendo Account.

Important

The ability to use a Nintendo Network ID, Facebook, or Twitter to sign in to an existing Nintendo Account or to create a new Nintendo Account has been discontinued. We apologize for any inconvenience. If you are having difficulties signing in to your Nintendo Account and previously used one of these services, please refer to the following:

Complete these steps

There are various different ways to sign in to your Nintendo Account, depending on where you are signing in and what options you have enabled:

  • Using the email address (or sign-in ID) and password associated with your account.

  • Using a passkey, if you have registered one.

  • Using your Google or Apple ID, if you have linked them.

  • If you are signing in on Nintendo Switch, by using a smart device.


Sign in using Email Address (or sign-in ID) and password

  1. Go to the Nintendo Account website or open the application where you want to sign in.

  2. Enter the email address and password associated to your account, then select "Sign in".

    • If you have forgotten your sign-in information, you may find Forgot Nintendo Account Sign-In Info helpful.

    • If you have changed your preferences to allow sign in with your Sign-in ID only, you will not be able to use your email address to sign in. You will need to use your Sign-in ID to sign in to your account.

    • Supervised Nintendo Accounts (including accounts for children aged 12 and under) sign in using their own sign-in ID and password (not the parent/guardian account sign-in ID and password).

  3. If you have registered a passkey with your Nintendo Account, you will be prompted to sign in using your passkey instead.

    • If you are not signing in using the device associated with your passkey, select Use another method to verify your identity and follow the steps to verify your account by entering a 2-step code or entering a verification code sent to your email address.

  4. You may occasionally be prompted to confirm your identity when signing in. If this is the case, an email with a verification code will be sent to the email address associated with your Nintendo Account. Locate the code in your email and enter it in the "Verification code" box, then click Verify.

  5. If you have set up 2-step verification, you will be prompted to enter an additional code. Launch the Google Authenticator app on your smart device, enter the code it displays, and click Authenticate.

    • If you do not currently have access to the app, select Use another method to verify your identity and use one of the backup codes you received when setting up the 2-step verification. (You should have copied and saved these in a safe place.)

      • If you do not currently have access to your backup codes, select Use another method to verify your identity on the "Enter backup code" screen. An email with a verification code will be sent to the email address associated with your Nintendo Account. Locate the code in your email and enter it in the "Verification code" box, then click Verify.

Sign in using Passkey

Important: Passkeys can only be used to sign in on the device the passkey was registered on, or when signing in on Nintendo Switch using a smart device. If the device associated with your passkey is not available, use one of the other methods to sign in.

  1. Go to the Nintendo Account website or open the application where you want to sign in.

  2. Under "Passkey Sign-in", select Sign in.

  3. Perform the relevant steps on your device to use your passkey.

    • If you are not using the device associated with your passkey, you may receive the messages "You can't use a passkey to sign in from this device." or "Couldn't complete passkey sign-in. Please use password sign-in instead." Select Email address (or sign-in ID) and password above for steps to sign in using your password instead.

Sign in using Google or Apple ID

  1. Go to the Nintendo Account website or open the application where you want to sign in.

  2. Click the button for the appropriate service (Google or Apple) and enter your login information if needed.

    • If trying to sign in through a Nintendo mobile application on an iOS device (such as an iPhone or iPad), you will only be able to sign in using your Nintendo Account e-mail address and password. If you have difficulty signing in this way, follow our steps on Unable to Sign In to Nintendo Account on iOS Device.

    • If you have forgotten your Google or Apple sign-in information, please contact Google or Apple support for assistance with those accounts. In the meantime, try signing in to your Nintendo Account using one of the other methods (email/password, or passkey).

  3. You may occasionally be prompted to confirm your identity when signing in. If this is the case, an email with a verification code will be sent to the email address associated with your Nintendo Account. Locate the code in your email and enter it in the "Verification code" box, then click Verify.

  4. If you have set up 2-step verification, you will be prompted to enter an additional code. Launch the Google Authenticator app on your smart device, enter the code it displays, and click Authenticate.

    • If you do not currently have access to the app, select Use another method to verify your identity and use one of the backup codes you received when setting up the 2-step verification. (You should have copied and saved these in a safe place.)

    • If you do not currently have access to your backup codes, select Use another method to verify your identity on the "Enter backup code" screen. An email with a verification code will be sent to the email address associated with your Nintendo Account. Locate the code in your email and enter it in the "Verification code" box, then click Verify.

Sign in using a Smart device on Nintendo Switch
Linking a Nintendo Account

  1. When prompted, select Sign in with smart device.

  2. Use a smart device with a camera to scan the QR Code that appears on the screen.

  3. The internet browser will open on your smart device and prompt you to sign in to your Nintendo Account using your Nintendo Account e-mail address/Sign-in ID and password, passkey, or a Google account or Apple ID.

    • If you are already signed in to a Nintendo Account on your smart device, you will have the option to select the current Nintendo Account you are signed in with or to use a different account.

    • Make sure you sign in with and select the Nintendo Account you wish to use on Nintendo Switch. Once a Nintendo Account is linked to a user account, this link cannot be undone. If it is the incorrect Nintendo Account, sign out and start this process again from step 1.

  4. You will be presented with a 5-digit confirmation code. Enter this confirmation code on your Nintendo Switch.

    • The confirmation code is only valid for a short time and cannot be repeatedly entered incorrectly. If the confirmation code is not accepted, start this process again from step 1.

  5. Review the Nintendo Account details to confirm it is the correct account, then select Link to finish signing in.

Any Other Situation

  1. When prompted, select  Re-enter password via smart device.

  2. Use a smart device with a camera to scan the QR Code that appears on the screen.

  3. The internet browser will open on your smart device and prompt you to sign in to your Nintendo Account using your Nintendo Account e-mail address/Sign-in ID and password, passkey, or a Google account or Apple ID.

    • If you are already signed in to a Nintendo Account on your smart device, you will have the option to select the current Nintendo Account you are signed in with or to use a different account.

  4. When you have successfully signed in on your smart device browser, your Nintendo Switch will automatically complete the sign in process as well.