Nintendo is making some changes regarding Nintendo Accounts on the Switch, and Switch owners have until the 18th of September to make sure their account is linked properly.
In an email sent out today, Nintendo forewarns that Nintendo Accounts can no longer be unlinked from a Switch User Profile, in a new System Update to be rolled out next Tuesday. Players have only 6 days from today to make sure that the correct Nintendo Account is linked to the correct profile.
The email reads:
“Hello,
On 9/18, your Nintendo Switch will be receiving a system update, version 6.0.0. Afterwards, it will no longer be possible to unlink your Nintendo Account from your Nintendo Switch user profile. Prior to this change, you should verify that your Nintendo Account or your child’s Nintendo Account is linked to the correct user profile.
For example, please confirm that the parent’s or legal guardian’s Nintendo Switch user profile is linked to the parent’s or guardian’s Nintendo Account, and that the child’s Nintendo Switch user profile is linked to his or her child account.
By ensuring that your Nintendo Account is linked to the correct user profile, you will be able to appropriately manage your save data, Nintendo Switch Online membership, and Nintendo eShop content.”
For those of you who might be confused about what a Nintendo Account is, it is the account used for My Nintendo, and also for the mobile app games of Miitomo, Super Mario Run, Fire Emblem Heroes, and Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. This is an optional account that was used to store data for the apps, and could in turn provide Platinum Coins with My Nintendo. The Switch also uses this account to manage purchases on the Switch eShop.
If you have only played on the 3DS and/or Wii U systems, you more than likely have a Nintendo Network ID, shortened as NNID. The NNID likewise managed eshop purchases on the 3DS and Wii U systems, as well as provided access to Miiverse.
Regardless of which you have, if you are still unsure as to whether or not you have a Nintendo Account linked to a different Switch user profile than your own, check your user profile from the top of the home screen.
From there, go to the “User Settings” tab, and scroll to the bottom to verify the email.
Should you need to unlink the Nintendo Account from a different profile, go to the Switch’s System Settings, go to the “Users” tab, choose the user profile, and select “! Unlink Nintendo Account”
Keep in mind that unlinking the account will not delete the account itself.
The change will be rolled out along with Switch update 6.0.0, all of which seems to be geared towards the launch of Nintendo’s online membership service, Nintendo Switch Online.
You can read more about this change from Nintendo’s own support page, here.