How to change your region on the Nintendo Switch

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

There’s a ton of great games to experience on the Nintendo Switch and the console is definitely exceeding expectations. However, even with so many great games on the console, sadly some of them are locked behind certain regional barriers around the globe.

While physical versions of games are not locked to a particular region, games bought from the Nintendo eShop, sadly, are. This means that in order to download games from other regions, you’ll be required to change the region on your Switch console.

How to change your region on the Nintendo Switch

So, if you need to change the region on your Switch, we’ve got you covered. Check out our guide below:

1. Go to System Settings from the home screen of your console
   

   Image: KnowTechie

2. Scroll all the way down to System
   
   

   Image: KnowTechie

3. Once in System, you’ll go to Region and select the appropriate region
   

   Image: KnowTechie

Important Note: When changing regions, your account balance does not transfer over and you’ll be required to spend the remaining funds before proceeding.

That’s it! You have changed the region on your Nintendo Switch. You can do this at any time, so if you are ever interested in browsing the eShop from another region, have at it!

Have you ever had to change the region on your Nintendo Switch? Why did you need to? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Here’s how to cancel your Nintendo Switch Online subscription
• SNES games could be coming to the Nintendo Switch Online emulator
• Sony will make its own PlayStation movies and shows because other people suck at it
• Latest Nintendo Switch update added something to help speed up load times

Josiah Motley

Former KnowTechie editor.