How to "gameshare" on Nintendo Switch

Two Nintendo Switch consoles with New Pokemon Snap on screens.

(Image credit: Rebecca Spear / iMore)

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Things to know
1. Buy a digital game
2. Deregister your Switch as the primary console
3. Make the other Switch your primary console
4. Log back in on the first Switch

If you have multiple Nintendo Switch consoles in your home, you might be wondering if it's possible to share one game between the two systems. Physical games can be passed back and forth, but digital games technically stay connected to the Nintendo account and Switch console they were purchased on. If you buy a digital game on one Switch, it makes sense that you might want to share it on, say, your child's Switch for them to play. But is gameshare possible?

Technically, there is no official game-sharing service on Nintendo's systems. However, a workaround lets you access your digital Switch games from another Switch, so you can technically share them. You'll just need to consider the risks before doing so. And for the love of Mario, you should only enable this ability with someone that you trust.

Gameshare on Switch: Things you need to know

There's a primary console and a secondary console: When sharing games between two consoles, one will be marked as the primary console, and the other will be marked as the secondary one.
Primary consoles can access everything while online or offline: The primary console will continue to act like normal, being able to play digital and physical games at any point.
The secondary Switch always needs internet access to play games: The secondary Switch cannot be used on the go to play digital games unless it has an internet connection.
This works on any Switch device: Whether you're using the original Switch, the Switch OLED model, or the Switch Lite, this method will work.
Only one person can access the game from an account at any given time: Whenever a game is opened, Nintendo checks online to make sure that the software is owned. You will not be able to play digital games on a secondary Switch from the same account. You will need to use another account on the secondary Switch if someone is playing the game on the primary console.
Game Sharing doesn't let you play online multiplayer: If your primary goal is to be able to play together online, then this won't work. However, you can play a compatible game on two Switch consoles from two different accounts in local multiplayer.
This method requires that you share your Nintendo username and password with someone else: Obviously, there are always risks involved with sharing your personal info with others. Do not share with someone who might take advantage of you. It is a real possibility to get permanently kicked out of your account because someone else is using it or finding that they have added expenses to your account.
Do not delete your user profile on the original Switch: If you delete your Nintendo Switch user profile on the original Switch, then you'll also erase any save data that was stored locally on your console.
A Nintendo Switch Online membership allows you to restore some games: If you have a Nintendo Switch Online membership, then games that use the cloud backup system can be restored on the original Switch.
Some Switch titles do not support cloud backups: When it comes to games that don't support cloud backups, you will lose your game data if you change your primary console to another device.

How to gameshare on Switch

Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite on table. — (Image credit: Rebecca Spear / iMore)

To share games on Switch, you'll need to have access to the internet, a Nintendo user account, and a digital game to share. These are the steps you'll need to take. We'll dive into the process for each one throughout this guide.

Purchase a digital game
Deregister your Switch as the primary console
Make the other Switch the primary console
Log back in on the first Switch

1. Purchase a digital game with your Nintendo Account

If you already have a digital game on your Switch that you want to share, you can skip this first section.

Select the Nintendo eShop icon from the main menu.

Purchase a digital game on your Nintendo account by showing: Nintendo Eshop Icon — (Image credit: iMore)

Your system will ask you which account this purchase will be under. Click on your account.

Purchase a digital game on your Nintendo account by showing: Nintendo Eshop User Account — (Image credit: iMore)

Now that the shop has opened, select and purchase a game. Any game purchased from the Nintendo eShop will be a digital download.

Purchase a digital game on your Nintendo account by showing: Nintendo Eshop Pokemon Sword — (Image credit: iMore)

The game will automatically begin downloading. You can check its progress from the main menu. Now that you have a digital game that you want to share, you can continue to the next set of steps.

2. Deregister your Switch as the primary console

Once more, enter the Nintendo eShop

Deregister your Switch as primary console by showing: Nintendo Eshop Icon — (Image credit: iMore)

Select the user profile icon in the upper right corner.

Deregister your Switch as primary console by showing: Nintendo Eshop Profile

(Image credit: iMore)

Select your profile name.

Deregister your Switch as primary console by showing: Nintendo Eshop Account — (Image credit: iMore)

Scroll down and select Deregister under where it reads Primary Console.

Deregister your Switch as primary console by showing: Nintendo Eshop Deregister — (Image credit: iMore)

Select Deregister again. This will make your console the secondary one.

Deregister your Switch as primary console by showing: Nintendo Eshop Deregister Again — (Image credit: iMore)

Enter your password.

Deregister your Switch as primary console by showing: Nintendo Eshop Password — (Image credit: iMore)

Select OK.

Deregister your Switch as primary console by showing: Nintendo Eshop Deregister Ok — (Image credit: iMore)

Once that's done, it's time to move on to the other Switch console.

3. Make the other Switch your primary console

On a second Switch or Switch Lite, select System Settings from the main screen.

Make other switch primary console by showing: Switch New User System Settings — (Image credit: iMore)

Now scroll down to User.

Make other switch primary console by showing: Switch New User Users — (Image credit: iMore)

Select Add User.

Make other switch primary console by showing: Switch New User Add User — (Image credit: iMore)

Choose Create New User.

Make other switch primary console by showing: Switch New User Create New User — (Image credit: iMore)

Choose whatever icon you want to associate this User account with.

Switch New User Icon — (Image credit: iMore)

Now choose your nickname. It doesn't matter what icons or nicknames you associate with this user account. They don't need to match or anything.

Make other switch primary console by showing: Switch New User Enter Nickname — (Image credit: iMore)

When you're done entering your name press the + button or select OK.

Switch New User Enter Nickname Ok — (Image credit: iMore)

Select OK.

Make other switch primary console by showing: Switch New User Create New User, Click Ok, Click Ok Again — (Image credit: iMore)

Select Link a Nintendo Account.

Make other switch primary console by showing: Switch New User Link Nintendo Account — (Image credit: iMore)

Enter the login information needed for the same Nintendo account used on the other Switch.

Make other switch primary console by showing: Switch New User Sign In Info — (Image credit: iMore)

Choose Link.

Make other switch primary console by showing: Switch New User Link — (Image credit: iMore)

Select OK.

Make other switch primary console by showing: Switch New User Add User Ok Mario — (Image credit: iMore)

Now this device will be registered as the primary console. You can redownload the digital game that was purchased on the first console. Follow the next set of steps to do that.

4. Log back in on the first Switch

Now that your account is on another Switch, select the Nintendo eShop logo.

Log back in on the first Switch by showing: Nintendo Eshop Icon — (Image credit: iMore)

Enter your password to log back into your Nintendo account.

Log back in on the first Switch by showing: Nintendo Eshop Deregister Ok — (Image credit: iMore)

Click on your user profile icon in the upper right corner.

Log back in on the first Switch by showing: Nintendo Eshop — (Image credit: iMore)

Scroll down to Redownload.

Log back in on the first Switch by showing: Switch New User Sign In, then Redownload — (Image credit: iMore)

Download any games you want to play from this menu.

Nintendo Switch Redownload Games — (Image credit: iMore)

This makes it so you can play your games again. Remember, that in order to have the same game open on both consoles you must have the game open via different accounts.

When you have a Switch listed as the primary console and another set up as the secondary console, you'll be able to share digital games purchased on one Switch with the other. However, your account can only open one instance at a time. So if you want to play Luigi's Mansion 3 locally, you'll need to access it from two different accounts.

Additionally, you'll get a pop-up whenever you start a game where the console will have to check online to make sure that the game isn't already open elsewhere. This can make it so that you cannot access your games unless your Switch has a Wi-Fi connection, which can be frustrating. Additionally, you cannot play online multiplayer sessions between consoles that are Gamesharing.

If you've considered the risks and inconveniences associated with sharing games and are ok with them then Gamesharing can help cut down on the costs of all of those expensive games. You can always undo the connection between two consoles if having the two connected proves to be problematic.

Gaming aficionado Rebecca Spear is iMore's dedicated gaming editor with a focus on Nintendo Switch and iOS gaming. You’ll never catch her without her Switch or her iPad Air handy. If you’ve got a question about Pokémon, The Legend of Zelda, or just about any other Nintendo series check out her guides to help you out. Rebecca has written thousands of articles in the last six years including hundreds of extensive gaming guides, previews, and reviews for both Switch and Apple Arcade. She also loves checking out new gaming accessories like iPhone controllers and has her ear to the ground when it comes to covering the next big trend.