This article will teach you how to set up the Nintendo Switch OLED and start gaming.

What to Know

  • Turn on the Nintendo Switch OLED with the power button on the upper left side of the display.Follow the on-screen prompts to select your language, region, time zone, Wi-Fi network, and more.You can complete the setup with or without a television.

How to Set up Nintendo Switch OLED

Follow these steps to set up the Nintendo Switch OLED.

The setup process can be completed using the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons or the touchscreen. These instructions assume the use of the touchscreen, but the Switch will always show the Joy-Con button you should press to select an option.

  • Press the power button located on the upper left bezel of the Nintendo Switch OLED.
  • A short intro video will play followed by a language selection screen. Select your preferred language and tap Ok.
  • The Region screen will appear. Select your Region and tap Ok.
  • Some games may be region locked and won’t work outside their region, so be careful to select the correct region.
  • The End-User License Agreement will appear. Tap the checkbox next to Accept and then select Next.
  • You will now select a Wi-Fi network. Find the network you want to use and tap to select it. A password prompt will appear. Enter the network’s password and tap Ok. The Switch OLED will display an animation while it connects.
  • You can tap Later to skip this step. This will prevent you from adding a Nintendo network ID during set up. You can connect to a network and add a Nintendo network ID after set up in the System Settings menu.
  • Time Zone selection will appear. Select your time zone and then tap Ok.
  • You will now have the option to connect to a TV. This is optional, and this guide will instead focus on handheld mode. Select Later.
  • Select Connect to TV if you would like to set up a TV now. The on-screen instructions will guide you through setting up the dock and placing the Switch OLED in it.
  • The next screen will prompt you to detach the Joy-Cons. Do so and then select Next.
  • Set up will show you how to use the Switch OLED with Joy-Cons attached or with the Joy-Cons detached and the kickstand in use. Select Ok to continue.
  • The Add User screen will appear. Tap Next.
  • You have the option to create a new user or import user data from another Switch console. This guide will assume you’re creating a new user, so select Create New User.
  • You can import save data later in the System Settings menu. Our guide to transferring Switch save data between consoles can help if you choose to important data from another Switch.
  • The next screen will let you select a user icon. Pick the one you like best and then tap Ok.
  • You will be prompted for a user name. Enter the name you prefer and select Ok.
  • A confirmation screen will show you icon and user name. Tap Ok to continue.
  • The next screen will ask if you’d connect to a Nintendo account. Select Link a Nintendo Account to add your user information or tap Later to skip.
  • You can add a Nintendo Network ID later in the System Settings menu.
  • You can now add more users if desired. Tap Add Another User to repeat steps 12 through 15 of this guide. Otherwise, select Skip.
  • An advertisement for Nintendo’s Switch Online service will appear.
  • The Switch Online service adds cloud save support and access to a library of NES and SNES games, among other features. The service charges a yearly subscription fee.
  • Select it if you’d like to sign up. Otherwise, tap Next to continue.
  • The next screen will let you set up Parental Control features. Select Configure Parental Controls to add them or tap Skip to continue set up.
  • You can add Parental Controls later in the System Settings menu.
  • That’s it! Press the Home button on the Joy-Con to open Home and exit set up.

Finishing Switch OLED Setup

Several steps in this guide, such as setting up a TV or adding parental controls, are optional. You can return to these options after set up in the System Settings menu.

Press the power button located on the upper left bezel of the Nintendo Switch OLED.

A short intro video will play followed by a language selection screen. Select your preferred language and tap Ok.

The Region screen will appear. Select your Region and tap Ok.

Some games may be region locked and won’t work outside their region, so be careful to select the correct region.

The End-User License Agreement will appear. Tap the checkbox next to Accept and then select Next.

You will now select a Wi-Fi network. Find the network you want to use and tap to select it. A password prompt will appear. Enter the network’s password and tap Ok. The Switch OLED will display an animation while it connects.

You can tap Later to skip this step. This will prevent you from adding a Nintendo network ID during set up. You can connect to a network and add a Nintendo network ID after set up in the System Settings menu.

Time Zone selection will appear. Select your time zone and then tap Ok.

You will now have the option to connect to a TV. This is optional, and this guide will instead focus on handheld mode. Select Later.

Select Connect to TV if you would like to set up a TV now. The on-screen instructions will guide you through setting up the dock and placing the Switch OLED in it.

The next screen will prompt you to detach the Joy-Cons. Do so and then select Next.

Set up will show you how to use the Switch OLED with Joy-Cons attached or with the Joy-Cons detached and the kickstand in use. Select Ok to continue.

The Add User screen will appear. Tap Next.

You have the option to create a new user or import user data from another Switch console. This guide will assume you’re creating a new user, so select Create New User.

You can import save data later in the System Settings menu. Our guide to transferring Switch save data between consoles can help if you choose to important data from another Switch.

The next screen will let you select a user icon. Pick the one you like best and then tap Ok.

You will be prompted for a user name. Enter the name you prefer and select Ok.

A confirmation screen will show you icon and user name. Tap Ok to continue.

The next screen will ask if you’d connect to a Nintendo account. Select Link a Nintendo Account to add your user information or tap Later to skip.

You can add a Nintendo Network ID later in the System Settings menu.

You can now add more users if desired. Tap Add Another User to repeat steps 12 through 15 of this guide. Otherwise, select Skip.

An advertisement for Nintendo’s Switch Online service will appear.

The Switch Online service adds cloud save support and access to a library of NES and SNES games, among other features. The service charges a yearly subscription fee.

Select it if you’d like to sign up. Otherwise, tap Next to continue.

The next screen will let you set up Parental Control features. Select Configure Parental Controls to add them or tap Skip to continue set up.

You can add Parental Controls later in the System Settings menu.

That’s it! Press the Home button on the Joy-Con to open Home and exit set up.

  • Is the OLED Nintendo Switch worth it?
  • If you mostly play with your Switch docked to a TV, then the Switch OLED isn’t worth the upgrade. Compared to the original model, the Switch OLED has a better screen, better speakers, and a better kickstand. Otherwise, it’s identical to the original model.
  • How do I connect my Switch to my OLED TV?
  • To hook up your Nintendo Switch to your TV, open the back cover of the Nintendo Switch dock to find the HDMI port and insert one end of the HDMI cable. Plug the other end of the cable into your TV’s HDMI port, then turn on both devices.
  • Does the Nintendo Switch OLED support 4K?
  • No. The Switch OLED outputs video in 1080p resolution, just like the original model.

If you mostly play with your Switch docked to a TV, then the Switch OLED isn’t worth the upgrade. Compared to the original model, the Switch OLED has a better screen, better speakers, and a better kickstand. Otherwise, it’s identical to the original model.

To hook up your Nintendo Switch to your TV, open the back cover of the Nintendo Switch dock to find the HDMI port and insert one end of the HDMI cable. Plug the other end of the cable into your TV’s HDMI port, then turn on both devices.

No. The Switch OLED outputs video in 1080p resolution, just like the original model.

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