Alex Ruben
How To Reset a Nintendo Switch 2 to Factory Settings
Buying or selling a Nintendo Switch 2, or maybe just trying to troubleshoot a stubborn glitch? Resetting it back to factory defaults can be a good step, but beware — it wipes everything clean, including your saved data, user profiles, and downloaded games. Kind of weird how quick and simple it sounds, but on some setups, you gotta be careful not to jump the gun. Sometimes the process refuses to go through unless you’ve prepared first. This guide should help navigate those tricky reset moments and make the whole ordeal less frustrating.
How to Reset Your Nintendo Switch 2 to Factory Settings
Access the Home Screen and System Settings
Once the device is powered on, head over to the Home Screen. From there, look for the System Settings icon — it’s the gear icon typically at the bottom row. If the screen’s a mess or frozen, sometimes a quick restart helps (hold down the power button for about three seconds and pick Power Options > Restart). On a fresh reset, it’s best to make sure everything’s updated first, so before diving into reset, check for system updates in the System menu. This can prevent errors down the line.
Navigate to System Reset Options
Scroll down the left sidebar in System Settings until you hit System. Here, you’ll find Formatting Options (sometimes hidden under advanced settings). It’s usually near the bottom of the list. If you’re on a newer firmware and the menu looks different, it might be called Reset Options. The goal here is to find the option that says Restore Factory Settings. Sometimes you’ll see a warning to back up data — because, of course, Nintendo has to make it harder than necessary.
Initiate and Confirm the Reset
Select Restore Factory Settings. You’ll get a strong prompt warning that everything will be wiped out. Make sure you’ve backed up any game saves or data you care about — especially if you’re not using cloud saves, because once it’s gone, it’s gone. After confirming, the system will ask you to press Next or Continue. If everything looks good, hit the final confirmation. Expect roughly 10-15 minutes for the process to finish — and don’t turn off the console mid-way, or you might end up with a brick.
Extra Tips & Common Problems
- Ensure your Switch is plugged into power or has at least 50% charge—interruptions during reset can cause issues.
- If it hangs or doesn’t start the reset, sometimes a forced shutdown (hold power > 10 seconds), then trying again helps. Reboot, check for updates first, then walk through the reset again.
- Want to keep some game saves? Use cloud backup if subscribed to Nintendo Switch Online.
Wrap-up
Resetting your Nintendo Switch 2 is really straightforward once you know where to look. But on some firmware versions, or if the system’s acting flaky, it’s a matter of patience — restart a few times, check your internet connection, or plug it into power before trying again. Doing a reset can fix all kinds of weird bugs, or just clear the clutter if you’re selling the device. Hopefully, this helps someone dodge a headache or two.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to my data after a factory reset?
All user data, including accounts, saved games, and downloaded software, gets permanently erased. Make sure to back up important stuff, especially if you don’t want to lose anything essential.
Can I undo a factory reset?
Nope, once it’s done, it’s done. Unless you’ve got a backup copied to a microSD card or the cloud, everything’s gone for good.
How long does the reset process take?
Most of the time, around 10-15 minutes. Be patient, don’t turn it off midway — it might corrupt the system and make things worse.