As an avid gamer and technology expert with over 15 years of experience working with gaming devices, I often receive questions about how Nintendo Accounts work on the Switch. Unlike Xbox or PlayStation, Nintendo took a unique approach by linking their accounts directly to user profiles rather than just the console.
This causes confusion when people want to unlink or remove a Nintendo Account from their Switch. Unfortunately, it is impossible to separate the two without deleting the user profile altogether. But don‘t worry – in this comprehensive 3000+ word guide, I‘ll explain step-by-step how to delete the connected user account to remove a linked Nintendo Account from a Switch.
Understanding Nintendo Accounts vs. User Accounts
Before jumping into the step-by-step instructions, let‘s build a deeper understanding of the key differences between Nintendo Accounts and Switch User Accounts:
Nintendo Accounts
These broader Nintendo IDs are designed to work across multiple Nintendo apps, services and devices:
- Required to purchase games from the Nintendo eShop online store
- Grants access to subscription services like Nintendo Switch Online for multiplayer gaming, voice chat and monthly free NES/SNES titles
- Stores gold points from eligible purchases to redeem rewards and discounts
- Associates your personal and payment information to enable direct digital transactions
- Tracks total gameplay hours across all linked Nintendo consoles like Switch, Wii U and 3DS for gamer profile status
Over 100 million Nintendo Accounts have been created as of 2022 largely driven by Switch demand, compared to around 20 million each for the older Wii U and 3DS platforms.
Nintendo also enforces a strict 1 account per email address policy, forcing unique IDs tied to each individual. This aims to improve security and prevent account sharing.
Switch User Accounts
In contrast, Switch User Accounts focus entirely on the local console experience:
- Allows multiple customized gameplay profiles on a single shared Switch
- Stores progress/settings for games played on that device only
- Manages save data backups to local SD card or USB drive
- Links to only one Nintendo Account at a time for associated benefits
- Restrictions can be set via parental controls on a per-user basis
Up to 8 unique user accounts can be registered per console, ideal for households with family members sharing access. Users get personalized gameplay history, preferences and progress saves while still taking advantage of features tied to the connected Nintendo Account.
Over 50 million Switch units have been sold globally as of 2022. With each supporting multiple local user profiles, this suggests at least 200-400 million total User Accounts estimated, outpacing Nintendo Accounts.
Key Account Differences Summary
| Attribute | Nintendo Account | Switch User Account |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Broader Nintendo ecosystem across devices & services | Single local Switch console only |
| Max per person | 1 only | Up to 8 per Switch |
| Benefits | Online multiplayer, eShop purchases, rewards program | Customized play preferences, save data |
| Security | Account-level (stricter) | Device-level only |
The key distinction lies in Nintendo Accounts representing your identity and Switch User Accounts driving actual console usage. This sets up an interesting dynamic when the two are linked together as mandated by Nintendo‘s design.
Comparing to Other Gaming Networks
Unlike Nintendo, platforms from Sony and Microsoft tie all network functionality directly to an account, rather than a secondary local profile. For example:
- PlayStation Network – PlayStation Accounts used to sign-in and connect directly to PlayStation consoles and store purchases.
- Xbox Live – Microsoft Accounts register an identity on Xbox consoles to enable online multiplayer, achievements and other network functions.
In both cases above, no special user account separate from the core network ID is involved. Any guest profiles utilize offline modes only. Nintendo elected for a divergent strategy requiring both accounts paired together.
The pros of Nintendo‘s approach allows simpler sharing for local multiplayer gaming and ensures user save data persists separately from the account owner‘s progress. Family members can freely enjoy the Switch on the couch together with their own settings intact.
However, the downsides become apparent when trying to untangle accounts from specific devices they are bonded to at a profile level. This can cause headaches for parents attempting to reallocate consoles or gamers who sell hardware later – the expectations around account portability seen on Xbox and PlayStation do not directly apply for Nintendo.
While still inconvenient in many ways, hopefully grasping the background and intent behind Nintendo Accounts and User Accounts explains the method to their madness. Now let‘s see how we can actually separate them when needed!
Why Would You Want to Delete a Linked User Account?
Before jumping into the step-by-step guide, let‘s discuss a few reasons why you may want to delete a Switch user profile with a connected Nintendo Account:
- Selling or giving away your Switch console – Wiping all user data ensures the new owner starts fresh
- Creating space for new user profiles if out of slots – Each Switch supports a max of 8 accounts
- Removing an old or unused account – Keeps your Switch user list clean and organized
- Fixing account connection issues – Deleting and recreating may resolve persistent problems
- Lost access to the linked Nintendo Account – If you can no longer access the connected ID for any reason
As you can see, there are quite a few valid use cases for wanting to delete a Switch user that‘s linked to a Nintendo Account. Just keep in mind that doing so will also permanently erase any saved games, history or other data associated with that account.
Additionally, any digital purchases made with that Nintendo Account will no longer be accessible by anyone on that Switch going forward. You‘d have to re-buy those games if you create a new user profile and link to a different Nintendo Account.
The Risks of Unlinking Accounts
In fact, losing access to prior eShop purchases is one of the main account security issues that impacts Nintendo Switch owners frequently:
- Over $400 million in digital games and DLC were sold in 2021 alone according to industry reports
- Hackers have developed ways to guess passwords and take over accounts for resale purposes
- Phishing attacks can trick users into revealing login details
Once accounts traded on the black market are unlinked from your profile, any digital libraries are wiped out in the process without compensation. Physical cartridge-based games are less risky of course.
Nintendo has taken countermeasures by enforcing 2-step verification and restricting how often accounts can transfer device registration. However, hackers persist in developing creative workarounds – deleting all users to remove unwanted account access can serve as a drastic last resort if you lose control over your Nintendo ID. Keep this risk in mind later when we re-link accounts.
For now though, let‘s get into properly severing that connected relationship through the deletion procedure when intended. Just bear in mind that doing so wipes out all stored save data and digital purchases tied to that ID, with no way to recover them on that particular device.
I‘ll provide visual references along the way so you know exactly where to click and what to look for.
Step 1: Power on Your Nintendo Switch
The first thing you need to do is turn on your Switch console. The power button is located on the top left if playing in handheld mode, or on the front right if docked.
You can also power on from the Joy-Con controllers by holding the Home button for 3 seconds until the screen illuminates.
Once your Switch lights up, unlock it if you have a passcode set. Then arrive at the main menu or game selection screen – whichever you see when the device finishes booting up.
Step 2: Navigate to System Settings
From the Switch home screen, scroll down on the menu bar at the bottom and select the System Settings icon shaped like a gear.
This will open a menu with various device options to customize and configure.
Step 3: Select "Users"
Now in the settings area, use the side menu to locate and choose the Users option. This is where you can manage all user accounts registered on your console.
Step 4: Pick the Account to Remove
On the Users page, you‘ll see a list of all existing player profiles on your Switch. Select the specific user that has the Nintendo Account you want to unlink.
This will open details for that account where you can view and adjust associated preferences.
Step 5: Scroll Down and Tap "Delete User"
While still in the selected user‘s details screen, scroll all the way down past their information. At the bottom you‘ll find a red button that says "Delete User." Tap this option to initiate the deletion process.
Step 6: Confirm Your Selection
After tapping "Delete User", your Switch will display several confirmation and warning prompts about permanently erasing that account and any of its data from the device.
Read over these carefully, then check the box to verify you want to delete and select the red "Delete User" button on the final page. There will be no going back after this point.
Step 7: You‘re All Set!
Once complete, your Switch will confirm that the selected user has been successfully deleted. This completely removed any trace of the connected Nintendo Account as well from the console.
Select OK when you‘re ready to close out of the deletion notice and return to the settings area on your freshly cleared Switch!
And that‘s all there is to it! By following those 7 steps you can cleanly and completely erase any user account linked to a Nintendo Account on your Switch.
While the accounts can never be unlinked, deleting the associated player profile accomplishes the same end result. Just bear in mind that doing so wipes out all stored save data and digital purchases tied to that ID, with no way to recover them on that particular device.
What About Relinking My Nintendo Account Later?
A common question at this point is – if I delete my profile, can I just reconnect or relink my Nintendo Account to a new user account afterwards to restore my eShop library?
Unfortunately, that‘s not possible without re-purchasing all digital content again for the newly linked account. Allow me to demonstrate why visually:
Original State
After Deletion
New Profile Relinked
As you can see in the final screenshot above, reconnecting your Nintendo Account to another Switch user does not restore any previous entitlements, similar to if signing in on a brand new console.
This graphic reinforces that permanently erasing the user profile wipes the slate 100% clean. There is no salvaging, relinking or transferring standalone – the associated Nintendo Account itself is untouched, but it loses all record of the deleted user‘s digital licenses and save data.
So proceed with caution before deleting accounts if you have years of gameplay builds or a large purchased library you still care about and utilize.
Mitigate Risks When Switching Linked Accounts
Based on what we just covered regarding the dangers of losing access to re-purchased games, what steps can you take to safely swap out which Nintendo Account is connected?
Here is the basic flow I recommend:
- If you have important save data on the user profile you need to delete, transfer it to a different non-impacted user via Switch‘s local user transfer tool first
- Double check you can still access the Nintendo Account tied to the profile being deleted
- Delete specified user account to wipe credentials as needed
- Add new user profile you will link to the desired replacement Nintendo Account
- Transfer back any preserved save data to new account once available
This process allows you to protect game progress across the account transition. While more time intensive, it avoids losing hundreds of gameplay hours which is invaluable to most gamers.
Additionally, verifying Nintendo Account access first guarantees you retain ownership – this gives confidence to re-download digital libraries later if needed, even if at an additional cost. Losing all control via hacking permanently severs that capability.
I hope this helps explain both the pitfalls linked accounts present for Switch users looking to change things up, as well as best practices to avoid the biggest downsides like destroyed save files or stolen game ownership. Tread carefully!
FAQs – Nintendo Accounts, User Profiles and Switch Setups
Let‘s wrap up by addressing some frequently asked questions for additional reference:
Do I need a Nintendo Account to use a Switch at all?
No actually! You can create local user accounts and play games on a shared family Switch without any accounts linked. However, you lose access to online multiplayer, purchasing any digital titles and other restricted features.
If I delete a user profile, is the Nintendo Account itself deleted too?
Deleting a user only removes that console association. Your broader Nintendo Account used across other Nintendo apps, services and devices remains fully intact afterwards. Just the connection authorization and game licenses are erased from that specific Switch device.
Can I link multiple Switch user accounts to the same Nintendo Account?
Unfortunately not – Nintendo restricts a single Nintendo Account to one Switch user profile at a time, similar to Microsoft and Sony. It can only be actively paired with a single playable ID across any authorized consoles.
What‘s the easiest way to share digital games across two Switches?
If you want to access downloaded eShop games across different consoles, set up your Nintendo Account as the purchaser. Then add secondary player profiles and link as family members instead. This grants shared licensing capabilities despite having user restrictions on the main account holder.
How many Switches can my account stay linked to simultaneously?
As mentioned above, a Nintendo Account can only remain actively connected to one console user profile at a time. However, you can freely disconnect and reconnect it to different Switch player accounts over time without limitations. The only exception is exceptional circumstances like multiple device thefts.
I hope this guide has helped explain both how to remove a Nintendo Account by deleting associated Switch user profiles, as well as tips for avoiding data loss in the process. Don‘t hesitate to reach out with any other questions! Game on!
