Nintendo Switch is one of the famous consoles for playing games. Apart from games, you can also stream many contents from various genres. You need to create a Nintendo account to access the Switch. Sometimes, you may misplace the console and forget where you kept it, or it may be lost. It is necessary to find the device to play your favorite games or stream videos. In that case, you can easily find a lost Nintendo Switch by following the methods explained in this article.
How to Find a Lost Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch doesn’t have the in-built tracker. So you cannot track it directly. In this case, if you have a Universal Serial Number, you can contact customer support to find a lost Nintendo Switch. Fortunately, the Universal Serial Number is linked with your Nintendo account. It will record your activity each time you log in to your account. Additionally, it saves the location and IP address of your device. So you can find it easily with the below steps. If you don’t find your serial number in your account, try the following methods.
- When you buy a new Nintendo Switch, look at the bottom of the device, you can find the serial number next to the USB-C port. Note down the serial number, and keep it safe even before you set up a Nintendo Switch.
- It is possible to find the serial number in the Nintendo Switch device information menu in the System Settings.
- Check the box the Nintendo Switch came in. You can see the serial number with other information like the console’s model and make.
- Contact the retailer who you purchased from. They will keep a record of their selling products. Find the serial number on your billing receipt.
Once you have found your Universal Serial Number, you can contact Nintendo customer support for help. If you are a switch owner, then they will ask for some details like the serial number, date of purchase, when you lost it, etc. After that, they will start to track your Nintendo Switch.
What Should I Do if I Lost my Nintendo Switch
The below things will work if you have lost your Nintendo Switch.
Contact Nintendo Customer Service Support
Immediately contact Nintendo customer support and ask them to track your device with the help of a serial number. They will help you to find the device as soon as possible.
Remove your Billing Details
If you have linked your credit or debit card to your account, remove it. To remove your debit card, follow the steps given below.
- Go to the Nintendo website.
- Sign in to your account using valid credentials.
- Remove your saved payment method.
Or you can call customer support to remove your card from your Nintendo account.
Unlink your Nintendo Account from your Switch
Detach your Nintendo account from your switch so that no one can access your Nintendo account to buy or download any video games or downloadable content.
To unlink your Nintendo Account from your switch, follow the steps below.
- Go to Nintendo’s official website on your computer and log in to your account.
- Go to Users from the menu list.
- Unlink your account from the Nintendo Switch.
Deactivate your Nintendo Switch Console
You can deactivate your console if you have lost it. To deactivate your Nintendo Switch console, follow the procedure given below.
- Navigate to Store or Shop menu.
- Tap on the Deregister Primary Console option.
- If prompted, enter your username and password and then tap OK to proceed
- Tap Deregister to confirm the action.
Note: You can deactivate your Switch through the official website only once a year. But you can deactivate your Switch many times on the console directly.
Contact the Authorities
When you find your Nintendo Switch’s IP address and its location, you should call the authorities to register the complaint to find the console.
Alternative Way to Find your Lost Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch has the official app named Nintendo Switch Online, which saves all your switch information. It is a standalone app, and it is available on Google Play Store and App Store for Android and iOS users. It only stores the data when you link your Nintendo account to the app. The app also connects Wii U and Nintendo 3DS consoles to the Nintendo Switch, which will synch all your data and information.
This app will keep tracking your Switch if it is stolen. So you can easily recover your console. You can track the data like device information, personal data, downloads, purchases, playtime, and location.
These are the possible ways to find your lost Nintendo switch. Once you have found your console, keep it safe. You can restore all the data from the cloud and start playing your favorite games on your Nintendo Switch. Or you can delete your Nintendo account and create a new account.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, you cannot locate a lost Nintendo Switch Console on your own. You should contact customer support or the authorities to track your device.
If your console is nearby, then you can find it by using the Bluetooth option, or you can locate and play the sound on it. Otherwise, you should ask the Nintendos customer support for help.
You can follow the procedure given in this section to track it.
Yes. You can contact customer support to find it.