How to Add Friends on Your Nintendo Switch

Playing games with others can inject more joy into your gaming experience. At the very least, it can revive your passion for games that you've archived or haven't played in a while.

Nintendo Switch games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Super Mario Maker 2 can be much more enjoyable when playing with friends. However, some game companies make a common mistake with buddying up, making it difficult to add friends to your console.

Here's how to add friends on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite using the painful Friend Code system.

Link Your Nintendo Switch to Your Nintendo Account

Before adding your friends to your Nintendo Switch console, you first need to connect it to your Nintendo Account.

A Nintendo Account allows users to manage purchases, downloads, and friend requests.

Press the Home button on your Nintendo Switch console.

Select the System Settings icon.

Select Users and choose the profile you want to associate with your account.

Select Link Nintendo Account.
Sign in with your Nintendo Account.

You can create a new Nintendo Account by selecting the Create Account option.

How to Find Your Friend Code

Now that you've linked your Switch profile to your Nintendo Account, you can add friends to your account.

Navigate to your profile in the top-left corner of your Nintendo Switch screen.
Select Profile, then check the right side of the screen to find your friend code.

Alternatively, if you want to manage your friend requests or add friends at the same time as finding your friend code, you can do this in the options below.

Navigate to your profile in the top-left corner of your Nintendo Switch screen.

Select Add Friend.

Under the Sent Friend Requests icon, you'll find your 12-digit Friend Code.

On this screen, you can manage friend requests, search for local users, check on friend requests that you have sent, and use a friend code to send invites to other people.

How to Accept a Friend Request

If you have received a friend request, you can manage this on your User page, allowing you to accept or decline friend requests on your Nintendo Switch.

Navigate to your profile in the top-left corner of your Nintendo Switch screen.

nintendo switch you've received a request

Select Add Friend.

nintendo switch received friend requests

Select Received Friend Requests.

Select Become Friends or Decline Request.

If you decline a friend request on your Nintendo Switch, you can receive a friend request from the same person in the future.

How to Send a Friend Request Using a Friend Code

If you know someone's Friend Code, you can send a friend request to them from your Nintendo Switch.

Navigate to your profile in the top-left corner of your Nintendo Switch screen.
Select Add Friend.

Select Search with Friend Code.

Enter their 12-digit Friend Code in the box.

Your friend will receive a friend request from you on their Nintendo Switch console. You can manage any friend requests that you've sent by clicking on the Sent Friend Requests option under the Add Friend menu in your User account.

How to Add Local Friends on Your Switch

Adding friends locally will allow you to send and receive friend requests with people that are in the same room as you. This means you can play local multiplayer Switch games together from the comfort of your couch.

You don't require an internet connection to send a local friend request, as the Nintendo Switch uses Bluetooth to search for local Switch consoles. Note that if you can't connect your Nintendo Switch console to a Wi-Fi network, the friend request operation won't complete until you do.

Navigate to your profile in the top-left corner of your Nintendo Switch screen.
Select Add Friend.

Choose the Search for Local Users option.

Both you and your friend will need to select the same symbol on your consoles.
Locate the user's nickname and icon.
Select Send a Request.

How to Add Friends You’ve Played With Before

If you've played an online multiplayer game on your Nintendo Switch and built a rapport with someone you want to add as a friend, this option is available from the Add Friend screen.

Navigate to your profile in the top-left corner of your Nintendo Switch screen.
Select Add Friend.
Select Search for Users You Played With.
Find the user you want to send a friend request to.

How to Use the Friend Suggestions Option

You can add friends to your Nintendo Switch that you are friends with on other platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, and other Nintendo smart-device apps.

You must link your social media accounts to your Nintendo Switch before you can search for friends.

friend suggestions screen nintendo switch

Navigate to your profile in the top-left corner of your Nintendo Switch screen.
Select Friend Suggestions.
Select the device you want to find friends on then follow the on-screen instructions.

How to Block Friends on Nintendo Switch

If you're having trouble with one of your friends or you've had a bad experience with another player on your friend list, you can block and/or remove them.

Navigate to your profile in the top-left corner of your Nintendo Switch screen.

Select Friend List.

Select the friend you want to block, choose Options, then Block.

You can also delete friends if you no longer want them on your friend list on your Nintendo Switch.

How to Manage Your Nintendo Switch Friend Settings

The Friend Settings function on your Nintendo Switch allows you to reissue a new friend code, manage blocked users, and clear any linked social media accounts.

Navigate to your profile in the top-left corner of your Nintendo Switch screen.

Select User Settings.

Under Friend Functions, select Friend Settings.

Here you can also manage your nickname, icon, account information, and eShop settings.

Becoming Nintendo Switch Friends

It's no secret that adding friends and managing friend requests on the Nintendo Switch is a convoluted process. Until Nintendo offers users another way to find friends, you can come up with some creative ways to remember your friend code.