Your virtual game cards are accessed through Virtual Game Cards on the HOME Menu. Once paired, you can freely swap your virtual game cards back and forth between up to two consoles as long as they are powered on (or in sleep mode) and have an active internet connection. All other users on your consoles that can load virtual game cards can also play your games or DLC if they are loaded to the console.

How to prepare a console to use virtual game cards

• If you have not previously loaded virtual game cards to any of your consoles, choose a console you would like to use and make sure it has the latest system update.
• When your console is up to date, select Virtual Game Cards from the HOME Menu to start using your virtual game cards.
• Message: "Another paired console has been found. You can only pair each console to one other console at a time. Unpair the paired console, then try again." This message appears if you already have two consoles that can load virtual game cards associated with your Nintendo Account. If you want to play your digital content on a different console, you have two options:
  • Change which two consoles can load virtual game cards, as described below.
  • Review the options described in How to Play Your Games Across Multiple Nintendo Switch Consoles if you want to play your games on more than two consoles.

How to prepare a second console to use virtual game cards

Your can have up to two consoles that can load virtual game cards associated with your Nintendo Account. If you would like to load your virtual game cards to a second console, you will first need to pair the consoles. You only need to perform this pairing process once, unless you have more than two consoles and want to change which can load virtual game cards.

Follow these steps to pair two of your consoles so they can both load your virtual game cards:

1. Bring the console that can already load your virtual game cards and the second console to which you want to load virtual game cards close to each other.
2. If you no longer have access to any of your existing consoles that can load virtual game cards, please contact us for assistance.
3. Connect both consoles to the internet.
4. Link your Nintendo Account to a user on the second console, if you have not already done so.
5. On the second console:
   1. Select Virtual Game Cards from the HOME Menu.
   2. Select the user linked to your Nintendo Account.
   3. If you have enabled identity authentication, you may be prompted to authenticate your identity.
   4. Select one of your virtual game cards that you would like to load to this console.
   5. Select Load to This Console.
   6. Select Next.
   7. Bring the console that can already load virtual game cards close to this console and select The Consoles are Close Together.
6. On the original console:
   1. Select Virtual Game Cards from the HOME Menu.
   2. Select the user linked to your Nintendo Account.
   3. If you have enabled identity authentication, you may be prompted to authenticate your identity.
   4. A message about pairing to another console will appear. Select Start Pairing.
   5. The pairing process will begin. Select OK when it is complete.
7. If prompted, select Load to This Console to load the virtual game card you selected earlier to the newly paired console.

These two consoles are now paired and you can load your virtual game cards to both consoles, even if they are not close to each other.

Note that game save data is associated with your Nintendo Account and the console you play on. If you want to use the same save data on both consoles, you can transfer the data or use the Save Data Cloud backup feature if you have a Nintendo Switch Online membership.

• Transferring save data will remove the save data from the source console and move it to the target console.
• You can transfer save data as often as you need.

How to change which consoles can load virtual game cards

You can load the virtual game cards associated with your Nintendo Account on up to two consoles. If you have more than two consoles or are replacing a console with a new one, you can change which consoles can load your virtual game cards.

• If you have more than two consoles that you want to use to play your digital games, please read How to Play Your Games Across Multiple Nintendo Switch Consoles.

To change which two consoles can load your virtual game cards, follow these steps:

1. Bring at least one of your consoles that can load virtual game cards and the new console you want to use close to each other.
2. If you no longer have access to any of your existing consoles that can load virtual game cards, please contact us for assistance.
3. Link your Nintendo Account to a user on the new console you want to use to load virtual game cards, if you have not already done so.
4. On the new console:
   1. Select Virtual Game Cards from the HOME Menu.
   2. Select a virtual game card you would like to load to the new console.
   3. Select Load to This Console.
   4. Select Next.
   5. A message will appear indicating that you already have two paired consoles that can load virtual game cards. Select Next.
   6. Review the information about your two consoles that are currently paired, then select Unpair next to the one you want to unpair.
   7. Select Unpair again.
      • If you receive the following message: "The console you selected to unpair is offline. Make sure that the console is connected to the internet, then try again.", turn the console you want to unpair on and connect it to the internet, then try to unpair it again.
      • If you no longer have access to any of your existing consoles that can load virtual game cards, please contact us for assistance.
   8. Select OK.
   9. Make sure the consoles that will be paired are close to each other, then select The Consoles are Close Together.
5. On the console that can already load virtual game cards:
   1. Select Virtual Game Cards from the HOME Menu.
   2. Select the user linked to your Nintendo Account.
   3. If you have enabled identity authentication, you may be prompted to authenticate your identity.
   4. A message about pairing to another console will appear. Select Start Pairing.
   5. The pairing process will begin. Select OK when it is complete.
6. If prompted, select Load to This Console to load the virtual game card on the newly paired console.

To play your virtual game cards, you need to load them on one of your two consoles that can load virtual game cards. You can freely load and eject them between your two consoles, just like physical games, and you can load as many of them as you want to either console as long as you have enough space to download them. You do not need to eject a virtual game card to load a different one to the same console.

How to load a virtual game card to a console

1. Select Virtual Game Cards from the HOME Menu.
2. Select the user linked to your Nintendo Account.
3. If you have enabled identity authentication, you may be prompted to authenticate your identity.
4. Select the game you want to load from the list of your virtual game cards.
5. if you want to load multiple virtual game cards at once:
   1. When in the virtual game cards menu, press X to open the Load Multiple menu.
   2. Select all of the virtual game cards you want to load.
   3. Select Load (or press the + Button).
   4. Select OK.
   5. If the games were not previously downloaded to this console, the icons for them will appear on the HOME Menu and they will begin downloading automatically.
6. Select Load to This Console.
   • If you have a second console to which you can load virtual game cards, you can instead select Load to Another Console to eject the virtual game card from this console and load it to your other console (if it is online and powered on or in sleep mode).
   • If you have loaned this virtual game card to someone else, you will not be able to load it to your console until the game is returned after 14 days, the borrower returns it, or you retrieve it by selecting Collect from Family Group Member.
   • You received the following message: "The software is being played, so the virtual game card couldn't be ejected. Try again after the other user has closed the software." This indicates that the game you are trying to load is currently being played on your other console that can load virtual game cards. Close the game on the other console, then try to load the virtual game card to this console again.
     If you do not have access to your other console because it was lost or stolen, you will need to unpair that console as one of your consoles that can load virtual game cards.
   • If you received the following message: "The user's console is offline, so the virtual game card couldn't be ejected", this indicates that the game you are trying to load is currently loaded to your other console that can load virtual game cards, and that console is powered off or not connected to the internet.
     Turn the other console on and connect it to the internet, then try to load the virtual game card to this console again.
     If you do not have access to your other console because it was lost or stolen, you will need to unpair that console as one of your consoles that can load virtual game cards.
7. The icon for the game will appear on the HOME Menu. All users on the console to which the game is loaded can now play the game.
   • If the game was not previously installed on the console you loaded it to, the game will begin downloading automatically from Nintendo eShop if the console is powered on or in sleep mode and connected to the internet.

How to manage your virtual game cards without access to a console

Instead of swapping your virtual game cards between your consoles using the consoles themselves, you can sign in to your Nintendo Account on the Nintendo Account portal and load and eject your virtual game cards from your two consoles that can load virtual game cards.

1. Visit the Nintendo Account portal.
2. Select Virtual Game Cards.
3. Select the game you would like to manage.
4. Select Load to This Console (or Load to Another Console, if the game is already loaded to a console).
5. Select the console you would like to load the game to, then select Load.
6. If you received the following message: "The virtual game card could not be loaded to the other console because it is not connected to the internet. Please check the other console's internet connection", it means that virtual game cards can only be loaded to a console if that console is connected to the internet and powered on or in sleep mode.
   Make sure the console is on and connected to the internet, then try to load the virtual game card to it again.
7. Select OK.

How to eject a virtual game card from a console

How to eject a single virtual game card

1. Select Virtual Game Cards from the HOME Menu.
2. Select the user linked to your Nintendo Account.
3. If you have enabled identity authentication, you may be prompted to authenticate your identity.
4. Select the game you want to eject from the list of your virtual game cards.
5. Select Options.
6. Select Eject From This Console.
7. Select OK twice.

How to eject all of the virtual game cards currently loaded to a console

1. Select Virtual Game Cards from the HOME Menu.
2. Select the user linked to your Nintendo Account.
3. If you have enabled identity authentication, you may be prompted to authenticate your identity.
4. Press X to open the Load Multiple menu.
5. Press X again.
6. Select Eject All to eject all currently loaded virtual game cards.
7. Select OK.

How to hide or unhide virtual game cards

How to hide a game or DLC from your list of virtual game cards

1. Select Virtual Game Cards from the HOME Menu.
2. Select the user linked to your Nintendo Account.
3. If you have enabled identity authentication, you may be prompted to authenticate your identity.
4. Select the game or DLC you want to hide.
5. Select Options.
6. Select Hide twice to hide the game from the list of your virtual game cards.
   • Note that you can still perform various actions with hidden virtual game cards, like loading them in order to play or lending them to family members. To do so, follow the steps below to view your hidden virtual game cards.

How to view a hidden virtual game card

1. Select Virtual Game Cards from the HOME Menu.
2. Select the user linked to your Nintendo Account.
3. If you have enabled identity authentication, you may be prompted to authenticate your identity.
4. Scroll down and select Can't find specific software?
5. Select Hidden Virtual Game Cards.
6. If prompted, sign in to your Nintendo Account.
7. The list of your hidden virtual game cards will appear. They can be used from this list just as if they were not hidden.

How to unhide a hidden virtual game card

1. Select Virtual Game Cards from the HOME Menu.
2. Select the user linked to your Nintendo Account.
3. If you have enabled identity authentication, you may be prompted to authenticate your identity.
4. Scroll down and select Can't find specific software?
5. Select Hidden Virtual Game Cards.
6. If prompted, sign in to your Nintendo Account.
7. Select the virtual game card you would like to unhide.
8. Select Options.
9. Select Unhide. The virtual game card will now appear again in the list of all of your virtual game cards.

Just like with physical game cards, you can lend your virtual game cards to other people. Keep in mind that you will not be able to play games that you lend out to other people, and you don't necessarily need to lend out games to share them. Any user on one of your consoles that can load virtual game cards can play any of your virtual game cards loaded to the console.

There are some restrictions for lending virtual game cards:

• You and the borrower must have your consoles in proximity to each other to lend or borrow a virtual game card.
• The borrower must be part of your Nintendo Account family group.
• You can lend up to three virtual game cards at a time.
• The borrower can only borrow one game at a time. They cannot borrow games from multiple different people at once.
• You can only lend one virtual game card at a time to a particular console, even if multiple family members have users on that console.
• You cannot lend a virtual game card to a console that has users from multiple different family groups on the console.
• When you lend a game, any DLC you have purchased is also lent.

Virtual game cards can be lent to a family member for 14 days, after which they are automatically returned and can be lent out again. The borrower can return them early if they are done playing. You can also retrieve them early if necessary.

How to lend and borrow virtual game cards

1. Bring one of your consoles that can load virtual game cards and the console of the person that you want to lend the game card to close to each other.
2. Make sure both consoles are connected to the internet.
3. On your console:
   1. Select Virtual Game Cards from the HOME Menu.
   2. Select the user linked to your Nintendo Account.
   3. If you have enabled identity authentication, you may be prompted to authenticate your identity.
   4. Select the game you want to lend to your family member from the list of your virtual game cards.
   5. Select Lend to Family Group Member.
   6. Select Select a User to Lend To.
   7. Choose who you want to lend the virtual game card to from the list of your Nintendo Account family members. Be sure to choose someone whose Nintendo Account is linked to a user on the console you want to lend the game to.
      • If the desired user does not appear, this means the person you want to lend the game to is not a member of your family group. You can only lend games to members of your family group. Add them to your family group, then try lending them the game again.
      • If you receive the following message: "This user cannot borrow any more virtual game cards. Each user can only borrow one virtual game card at a time. Try again after the user has returned the virtual game card they're borrowing", this means you have already lent that user a game. You can only lend one virtual game card at a time to each borrower. If you would like to let them borrow a different game, ask them to return the one they are currently borrowing, or retrieve the game that you have currently lent to them:
        1. Select the game they are currently borrowing from the list of your virtual game cards.
        2. Select Collect from Family Group Member.
        3. Select Collect to confirm. When the lent game has been returned, you can lend them a different game.
   8. Select Lend.
4. On the console with the user that will borrow the game:
   1. Select Virtual Game Cards from the HOME Menu.
   2. Select the user that will borrow the game.
   3. Have them enter their PIN or their Nintendo Account password, if prompted.
   4. Select Borrow.
      • If you receive the following message: "Could not find the other console. Please try again", select OK, move the consoles closer to each other, then try again.
      • If you receive the following message: "You can't borrow any more virtual game cards. Only one virtual game card can be borrowed at a time. Return the virtual game card you're currently borrowing, then try again", this indicates that you have already borrowed a virtual game card from someone. You can only borrow one virtual game card at once. Return the currently borrowed game, then try borrowing this game again.
      • If you received the following message: "You can't borrow any more virtual game cards on this console", this indicates that someone else with a user on this console has already borrowed a virtual game card. Each console can only have one borrowed game card at once. Have the person who is borrowing the other game return that game, then try borrowing this game again.
      • If you received the following message: "This virtual game card cannot be borrowed on this console because users on the console are members of multiple Nintendo Account family groups", this indicates that one or more other users on this console are in different family groups from the person trying to borrow this game. Members of a family group can only lend virtual game cards to other members of that family group. To borrow a virtual game card with this console, perform one of the following:
        • Ask the user(s) who are in the other family group to leave their family group and join yours instead.
        • Transfer the user(s) who are in the other family group to a different console.
        • Delete the user(s) who are in the other family groups from this console.
5. The person that borrowed the virtual game card can now play the game (including any DLC you may have purchased) for up to 14 days.
   • Note that you will not be able to play the lent virtual game card until the game is returned after 14 days, the borrower returns it early, or you retrieve it.

How to return a borrowed virtual game card

1. Select Virtual Game Cards from the HOME Menu.
2. Select the user linked to your Nintendo Account.
3. If you have enabled identity authentication, you may be prompted to authenticate your identity.
4. Select the game you want to return from the list of your virtual game cards.
5. Select Return to Family Group Member.
6. Select Return to confirm.

How to retrieve a virtual game card you lent to someone else

1. Select Virtual Game Cards from the HOME Menu.
2. Select the user linked to your Nintendo Account.
3. If you have enabled identity authentication, you may be prompted to authenticate your identity.
4. Select the game you want to retrieve from the list of your virtual game cards.
5. Select Collect from Family Group Member.
6. Select Collect to confirm.
   • If you received the following message: "The other console is offline. Try again after the person borrowing the virtual game card has connected the console to the internet", this indicates that the console you lent the game to is currently turned off or offline. Ask the person who borrowed it to turn their console on, connect it to the internet and return the game to you. Note that if you are unable to contact the borrower, the game will be returned automatically at the end of the 14-day lending period.
   • If you received the following message: "The software for this virtual game card is currently in use", this indicates that the person you lent the game to is currently playing the game. You can wait to retrieve the game until after they are done playing, or ask them to stop playing and return the game to you. Note that if you are unable to contact the borrower, the game will be returned automatically at the end of the 14-day lending period.

If you have more than two consoles that you want to use to play your digital games, please read How to Play Your Games Across Multiple Nintendo Switch Consoles.