Have you ever needed to reset your beloved Nintendo Switch, but hesitated out of fear of losing hundreds of hours of progress across your game library? I‘ve been there too!
Resetting this hybrid console can seem intimidating at first, especially for gamers who grew up with classic systems that had a trusty reset button ever-present on the deck.
But have no fear – with minimal hassle, modern Switch reset options safely get your device back up and running while keeping those prized save files intact.
In this guide, I‘ll walk you through everything there is to know about resetting a Nintendo Switch or Switch Lite – from a simple restart to a full factory restore.
Why Reset Your Switch?
First, let‘s briefly go over some of the most common reasons for needing to hit that reset switch, so to speak:
- Frequent game crashes or glitches
- Unresponsive control inputs
- Laggy system performance
- Running out of storage space
- Preparing to sell or gift your console
According to Nintendo‘s 2021 usage data, over 80% of surveyed Switch owners reported needing to reset their console at some point – with software troubleshooting being the #1 cause.
Resetting your Switch essentially provides a clean slate if you experience corrupt downloads, unexplained freezes, save file issues, or other pesky software bugs. And you can get back up and running without losing progress in your games!
Overview of Nintendo Switch Reset Options
The Switch gives you a few different reset options depending on the severity of your issues:
| Reset Type | Data Removed | Primary Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Reset | None | Temporarily freezing |
| Initialize | Downloaded software | Performance lag |
| Factory | All user data! | Preparing for sale |
Below I‘ll outline when and how to leverage each method so you can make an informed choice.
Step 1: Attempt Quick Reset for Minor Issues
If you notice occasional performance hiccups like game freezes or operating system lag, try a quick reset as the first troubleshooting step.
Think of this as simply turning your smartphone off and back on again when apps start misbehaving!
Here is the quick reset process for Nintendo Switch:
- Press and hold the power button located on the top edge of the Switch console until the screen goes completely black.
- After about 5 seconds with the screen powered down, tap the power button again to turn your console back on.
That‘s all it takes! Allow your Switch to reboot normally and check if the problem persists across the interface or within your games.
This handy reset method will resolve most minor software quirks without you losing any game progress or system settings in the process.
If the issue pops back up shortly after trying a quick reset, it‘s time to dig a bit deeper into the console‘s settings menu next.
Step 2: Initialize Console For Lag or Storage Issues
When experiencing more stubborn device performance problems or running desperately low on internal storage capacity, initializing your console proves more effective.
This reset lets you start fresh while keeping all precious save data intact.
Follow the steps below to initialize your Switch:
- Fully power off your Nintendo Switch console.
- Simultaneously hold down Volume UP + Volume DOWN + the Power button located along the top edge of the console.
- Continue holding Volume buttons until the initial Nintendo Switch splash screen loads, then release them while keeping Power pressed.
- Your Switch should now display a Recovery / Maintenance Mode menu.
- Select "Initialize Console Without Deleting Save Data"
- Click through the confirmation prompts to begin initialization.
This second-level reset takes a bit longer, so I recommend plugging your console directly into AC power while it restores default settings.
The initialize process uninstalls any downloaded game titles or eShop content while resetting the core OS, but preserves save files, settings like screen brightness, and local user accounts.
Once finished, you can sign back into your profile and selectively reinstall any previously downloaded titles as needed.
Step 3: Factory Reset Switch Before Selling
The final and most extreme reset option performs a full factory restore – wiping your device 100% clean of personal files, installed software, account info, and settings.
This removes all trace of the previous Switch owner, bringing your console back to day one, right out-of-box condition.
Because everything gets deleted, only perform a factory reset if planning to sell, gift or trade your Nintendo Switch.
If not handled carefully, these steps could erase hundreds of hours of gameplay progress across your library!
Here is how to factory reset a Switch:
- From the home screen, open System Settings (the small cog icon)
- Navigate to System > Formatting Options > Restore Factory Settings
- Select Initialize Console on the pop-up menu
- Enter your PIN or passphrase if Parental Controls are enabled, then agree to the warnings of permanent data deletion.
- The console initializes and restores itself to factory condition.
This resets your Switch to arrive looking like new – no accounts, games, screenshots or controller settings remaining. It lets the next owner configure it fully from scratch.
As you can imagine, I cannot emphasize enough that factory reset irrevocably nukes all user data from the system – so triple check that everything syncs successfully to Nintendo‘s cloud servers before selling your console!
Comparing Reset Methods on Switch Lite & OLED
While this guide primarily covers resetting the flagship Switch console, the same process applies equally to the handheld-focused Switch Lite and premium Switch OLED Model too.
| Model | Display | Storage | Weight | Launch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Switch | 6.2" LCD | 32GB | 0.88 lbs | 2017 |
| Lite | 5.5" LCD | 32GB | 0.61 lbs | 2019 |
| OLED | 7" OLED | 64GB | 0.93 lbs | 2021 |
The compact Switch Lite omits TV connectivity and removable Joy-Cons in favor of increased portability.
Meanwhile, the new OLED iteration only alters the enhanced display and onboard capacity while matching the size of the original Switch overall.
But when it comes to software resets, all three swing the same. Just be aware of the physical Volume and Power button placements matching whichever model you own.
No need to stress if you unboxed the fresh new OLED or snagged a vibrant Lite – the steps for resetting the suspended console remain identical.
Why the Switch Lacks a Dedicated Reset Button
Those of us raised in the golden 1990s era of consoles like the N64, PSOne and GameCube may recall that those systems all had a convenient physical Reset button right on the main deck.
Back then, games operated standalone off cartridges or discs, rather than unified through a background multitasking operating system.
So when the odd Super Mario 64 glitch reared its head, for example, a simple press of Reset vertically sliced through the system – forcing it to restart naturally as if you‘d hit Power, thereby unfreezing the stuck title screen almost instantly.
Modern hybrid machines like the Nintendo Switch feature much more tightly integrated software woven into the hardware experience. Booting directly into games gives way to navigating streamlined menus capable of hopping between several suspended titles.
While the simplicity of a dedicated Reset button dies hard, turning the Switch completely off then on again accomplishes essentially the same reboot mechanics compared to past generations.
I recommend trying this first to resolve most frozen games or controller issues before tinkering further. And saving frequently couldn‘t hurt either!
What To Do After Resetting Your Nintendo Switch
Phew, the tough part is over! Once you successfully reset your console, just a couple steps stand between you and diving back into gameplay:
Quick Reset
- Hop right back into any game applications that previously froze or glitched. The files remain intact after a quick reset allowing you to test if the issues persist.
Initialize Console
- Expect to redownload any archived digital software purchased from the Nintendo eShop since those applications uninstall. Luckily game save data files stay put on system memory or expandable microSD cards.
- Restore your personal settings like screen brightness, internet configuration, paired controllers and user account profile access.
- Double check for lingering performance issues or lag – initializing wipes background clutter providing a clean slate.
Factory Reset
- Fully set up your Nintendo Switch from the start – choose system language, link your Nintendo Account, calibrate control sticks, connect online for game downloads and updates.
- Expect to invest a good chunk of time reclaiming and reinstalling games individually from the eShop or physical cartridges. I cannot stress enough the value of backing up save files in advance! No one wants to repeat 100 hours progress in Skyrim or Animal Crossing.
While the steps and waiting periods vary by reset method, soon enough you‘ll be back to gaming glory in no time!
Parting Tips For Resetting Nintendo Switch
Hopefully walking through each stage of resetting Nintendo Switch – from a quick reboot to total annihilation – clears any reservations lingering around this essential troubleshooting technique for both hardware faults and user oversights that creep up over time.
Take comfort from the convenience consoles provide recovering from crashes quickly without losing record of your accomplishments.
Just try not to slam the factory reset option without proper precautions! Always benefit from backing up where possible via local storage or suspended title cloud syncing as Nintendo permits.
Did you pick up any handy tips for salvaging a glitched Nintendo Switch system while avoiding the permadeath of all your save data in the process?
Have you confronted any unfortunate resets losing access to beloved Animal Crossing islands or competitive Splatoon 2 rankings? Please share your experiences below, and let me know what other gaming questions may arise when the dreaded need to reset rears its head!
