How to Reset a Nintendo Switch: A Step-by-Step Guide

Resetting a Nintendo console is the easiest solution if you are having problems with it. But many users may not know how to do it. Wrong operation can lead to the destruction of your Nintendo Switch, and this post will give you detailed steps.

What are the situations that happen when you need to reset it? And what preparations do you need to do before resetting? We will answer all these questions for you.

How to Reset a Nintendo Switch Step-by-Step?

There are three common ways to reset your Nintendo Switch including soft reset, hard reset, and restoring factory settings. These three methods correspond to three different situations.

Soft Reset: Some of the situations that apply to a soft reset are unreadable cassette tapes, game crashes, and lag. A soft reset is usually used to deal with these minor software issues.

Hard Reset: If your Nintendo Switch has been severely affected to the point where even system navigation is impossible, a hard reset can be taken. This method will cause your Switch to restore factory settings, but your saved game data will not be erased.

Restore Factory Settings: If your Switch has lagged to the point of being unusable and your game data is overloaded, you need to restore the factory settings. It resets all the software and puts your Switch back to the way it was when you first bought it.

How to Make a Soft Reset on Nintendo?

Making a soft reset is similar to restarting your device, but you must hold the power button for 15 seconds.

• Hold on the power button for 10 to 15 seconds.
• Wait for several seconds when your Switch turns off.
• Press the power button again and turn your Switch on.

After the Switch turns on again, the soft reset is finished.

How to Make a Hard Reset on Nintendo?

Hard reset is easy to operate. It will factory reset your console, but your saved game data will not be erased.

• Press and hold the power, volume up, and volume down buttons at the same time after the switch is turned off. Then the Maintenance Mode starts.
• Select “Initialize Console Without Deleting Save Data”. This will keep your personal information and game data.
• Wait a few seconds for your Switch to finish hard resetting.

How to Make Restore Factory Settings on Nintendo?

Restore factory settings will clear all your game data and personal information.

• Select “System Settings” at the bottom of the menu screen.
• Click on the “System” button in the left column and scroll down to select “Formatting Options” at the bottom.
• You will see the “Restore Factory Settings” button, click on it, and then click “Next” to erase all data on your Switch.

Preparations Before Resetting a Nintendo Switch

Although resetting a Nintendo Switch is simple, the preparations are crucial. To ensure you have a smooth transition and avoid loss of critical data, please remember to do these things:

Keep Enough Power: The resetting process needs to take some time, if you don’t have enough power on the Switch, the resetting process may be interrupted. And your information will be destroyed or lost.

Check Your Nintendo Account: If your account is still officially connected to Nintendo, you may have access issues after resetting. You will need to cancel your account in advance. However, if you just want to do a soft reset or hard reset to fix some minor usage issues, you can skip this step.

Backup Your Data: To avoid the existing game progress being mistakenly deleted during the reset process, backup your game data to the cloud in advance.

Remove the microSD Card: The microSD card is reusable. If you want to continue to use this current card on a new device, format it before resetting and then set it up on the new device.

Using a VPN: If you’re worried about your data not being private or your Internet lagging during the reset process, using a VPN can improve it.

LightningX VPN provides a super-fast Internet connection and unlimited bandwidth so you don’t have to worry about Internet lag anymore. It also has strong encryption technology with encryption algorithms such as AES-256-GCM so that your Nintendo data is always protected.

And it can also help you when you play Nintendo games in daily life. It offers over 2,000 servers in over 50 countries or regions, and you can switch as many times as you like to access games in different regions.

Why Should You Reset a Nintendo Switch?

When encountering minor problems with the Nintendo Switch, a simple on or off switch or reboot can solve most problems. Resetting the device is a more serious measure, and here’s why you may need to reset it when you do:

Performance Issues: Resetting can be a quick fix if you are experiencing frequent lagging, stuttering while playing games.

Device Unresponsiveness: If you click on a game but it won’t start or the screen gets stuck after booting up, resetting your Nintendo can help get it back to normal.

Selling or Presenting It: If you’re looking to get a new Nintendo device, sell it or give it to someone else, resetting the Nintendo to factory settings can erase all of your data.

Software Failure: If your installed games won’t update or your program is corrupted, resetting your Nintendo will reduce the risk of viruses on your device as quickly as possible.

Conclusion

This post shows you three different ways to reset your Nintendo Switch. Using different solutions for different device issues can better maintain the health and safety of your Switch. Know how to do some preparations on your device before resetting it. It is also more conducive to increasing your device’s lifespan and utilization.