Have you been experiencing WiFi issues on your Nintendo Switch lately? Have you installed the latest updates for your Nintendo Switch but still facing WiFi connection issues? If you are seeing an error message when trying to connect WiFi to the internet of your Nintendo Switch console, I can work you through the process on how to get it solved.
One of the common issues with the Nintendo Switch is internet connection problems. You may be unable to get online, unable to find wireless networks, or able to search for wireless networks yet can’t find your own WiFi network.
If your Nintendo Switch is not connected to the internet, you will not be able to do much with it since most of the applications and games require an internet connection to work. Moreover, not connecting your Switch to WiFi while playing could cause sync issues and you wouldn’t want to risk overwriting your saved games. You should make sure you have a stable internet connection before starting any game on the Nintendo Switch.
When it comes to the Nintendo Switch, connecting to a WiFi network is essential. Whether you are looking to connect to your friend’s network or to browse the web, the Nintendo Switch will not work properly without its internet connection.
Perhaps, you have seen the message that reads “Unable to connect to the network. The error details will now be displayed”. If you have seen a message like the one above, you are in the right place as this post will take you through the troubleshooting steps and get you connected.
Have you had trouble connecting your Nintendo Switch to the Internet? Has your connection been slow or non-existent? It doesn’t have to be that way. If you are having issues connecting to WiFi, I have the remedy. In this tutorial, we’ll show you all of the different ways you can troubleshoot and fix your Internet connection on Nintendo Switch.
Table of Contents
What are the Reasons for WiFi Issues On Nintendo Switch?
If your Nintendo Switch has remained connected to the internet non-stop for some days and you haven’t restarted your router, some minor bugs will begin to develop and this will cause connection failure.
Your WiFi Router and Nintendo Switch like every other network equipment can develop bugs if used for an extended period. Ensure that you reboot or restart your router or modem from time to time if you don’t want to have WiFi problems on your Nintendo Switch.
That said, always ensure that you restart your console regularly. To do this, hold the power button for about 3 seconds, choose ‘Power Options’ and select ‘Restart’.
2. Software Issues
If your Switch has a software problem, then it is likely that the issue has affected the wireless network system of the device. A recent software update can make the WiFi or internet connectivity of your console fail.
To fix this problem, you have to manually update the software of your console. If it doesn’t work, try performing a factory reset to wipe the device.
3. WiFi Signal Interference
Remember that if your Nintendo Switch is getting a weak WiFi signal, or if it is far from the router, it wouldn’t get a stable internet connection. Therefore, try moving your console closer to the router and see if the issue will be fixed.
Having said that, it is important to note how signal interference can affect your console’s connection to the router. Metal objects and other electronic devices could interfere with the wireless signals in your room. For instance, your WiFI signals can be interfered with while using the Nintendo Switch in the kitchen and waiting for the bowl of French Fries to be cooked.
Move away objects such as cordless phones, power strips, filing cabinets, aquariums, wireless answering machines, and anything that is made of metal to avoid interference of WiFi signals. You can as well turn off all wireless devices such as Bluetooth speakers and earbuds.
To find out if interference is causing WiFi connectivity problems on your console, disconnect every other wireless device in your home apart from your Nintendo Switch. After putting away metal objects and other wireless devices, then connect your Switch to your router and check if the connection has improved.
11 Ways To Solve WiFi Issues on the Nintendo Switch Console
Below are some troubleshooting tips that could help fix the WiFi issues you are having on your Switch.
1. Check for WiFi Signal Interference
As mentioned earlier, thick-steel-reinforced walls, metal objects, and wireless devices can affect the WiFi signals in your home. Remove objects such as cordless phones, power strips, and filing cabinets to avoid interference with WiFi signals.
Additionally, you may want to ensure that your console is near the router. If the console can connect to the internet effortlessly after doing all these, then you have a signal interference problem. You’ll have to start the process of rearranging or moving the object that is causing the problem.
2. Restart the Router
Routers develop issues from time to time and they need to be reset to get rid of an error. The router features a power on/off button, which you can use or unplug the router’s power cable for a minute and plug it back in place.
If you are using a splitter, ensure that the connections are good. Make sure the lights on the router are glowing before attempting to reconnect your Switch.
3. Restart the Nintendo Switch Console
If your console is constantly kept in Sleep Mode, the WiFi may develop issues. The luck you have is that restarting the console from the menu option wipes out old data that otherwise won’t get cleared. In addition, power restarting the system clears system errors coupled with other errors that can cause problems in connecting to the wireless network.
Here’s how to restart your Nintendo Switch console:
Hold the power button for about 3 seconds or until a menu appears.
Select ‘Power Options’.
Select ‘Restart’ or ‘Power Off and Back On’.
After the console restarts, check if the WiFi works. If it doesn’t, try other solutions below.
4. Change Your Router Channel
If your Nintendo Switch console has WiFi issues, try using other channels in your router. You can use channels 1, 2, 6, 7, and 11 and discover which works better. Finding out which channel works best may be a bit time-consuming but is really worth it.
Compare every channel by using your console for some time while staying connected to one. Check your router manufacturer’s guide or Internet Service Provider to see how to change network broadcasting channels.
5. Test the Internet on a Different Device
It can be a good idea to test the internet on another device to know if the internet is down. You can use any device such as a laptop PC or smartphone to quickly check if the internet is working or not.
6. Change the Wireless Security Protocol
Changing the Wireless Security Protocol Settings oftentimes solves the WiFi problems of the Nintendo Switch console. Nintendo Switch supports the following security protocols:
WEP.
WPA-PSK(AES).
WPA2-PSK(AES).
If your console isn’t able to establish a connection with your router, then try changing to one of the supported security protocols. WPA or WEP is the primary way in which WiFi transmission can be encrypted and kept secure from prying eyes.
Switching the protocol to WPA2 or a different protocol such as WEP oftentimes get the console back online. The Wireless Security Protocol can be changed to WEP, which is not as secure as WPA but might not matter to an average gamer.
Below are the steps in changing the Wireless Security Protocol on a Nintendo Switch:
Go to System Settings > Internet Settings > Change Settings.
Select Security.
Change the security protocol to WEP or WPA2.
Enter your WiFi password.
After completing the steps above, test your connection and see if it works.
7. Forget Network and Reconnect
Most times, forgetting your WiFi network and reconnecting can clear the wireless network cache and make your connection secure.
8. Try out the 5 GHz Band
Are you using a dual-band router? You can broadcast WiFi signals in 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, however, the latter is recommended. Like most wireless devices, the Nintendo Switch is set to connect to 2.4 GHz by default and there may be signal interference in this band.
Nintendo Switch can work in either of the two bands but consider switching over to 5 GHz to see if the internet connection will work. Taking your console to a less crowded 5 GHz may work for you. However, keep in mind that the 5 GHz band has a weak range but stable connection compared to the 2.4 GHz. Therefore, make sure you stay close to your router.
9. Re-create Network Connection
For more security, it is best to keep your SSID hidden but such WiFi networks can be a little tricky to connect to. If your router has been set to conceal the SSID for security reasons, you may consider re-adding your Nintendo Switch console manually.
Obviously, this troubleshooting step is geared towards advanced technical users so if you have no clue of what is being said here, do your research. When you manually set up an internet connection in your console, the only thing you will have to do is to update the SSID setting. As for the rest of the settings of the console, they can be left as they are.
Here are the steps involved in adding a hidden network to your Nintendo Switch’s network settings:
Go to System Settings and tap on the ‘Internet’ tab.
Click on ‘Internet Settings‘ and select ‘Networks Found‘. You should find the option for adding your SSID.
Alternatively, you can use this option to update your broadcast settings in your router and make the SSID visible to all devices to see if the issue will be solved.
10. Change the DNS Settings
The DNS Settings can also cause the WiFi of your console to stop working. The Domain Name System, abbreviated as DNS refers to an IP number that is translated into a website name. Computers, smartphones, and other internet devices use Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to visit a website while people use names.
The DNS server converts IP addresses into readable, visible website names that people can understand. There are lots of DNS server IP numbers but some of the common ones are 1.1.1.1, 1.0.0.1, 8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4, 208.67.222.222, and 208.67.220.220.
DNS servers are set by an IP number, which can be country-specific. Therefore, you must ensure that your DNS server on your Switch is working in your region.
Your Internet Service Provider will have provided you with a DNS server for your router and also ensure a smooth connection if you use one DNS address for your router and console. If you are using a different DNS server on your Nintendo Switch, consider changing it back to the DNS server of your ISP.
Do not attempt to alter the network settings on your console unless if necessary. Perhaps, you updated the DNS server on your console to watch a video on YouTube, try reverting it to the previous settings.
By default, the DNS server is programmed to auto so you may try changing it manually to check if doing that will work.
Below are the steps to change the primary and secondary DNS settings on your Nintendo Switch console:
Head over to System Settings > Internet Settings > Change Settings.
Scroll down and click on DNS Settings.
Set DNS to Manual.
Head to Primary DNS.
Update the Primary DNS number to 1.1.1.1.
Go to Secondary DNS.
Update the Secondary DNS number to 1.0.0.1.
After following the steps above, save the Settings and test to see if the WiFI is working.
11. Factory Reset Your Console
A recent update on your console may have broken the network settings and there is no way to apply patches if you can’t connect to the internet. If after trying out all the solutions above and your Switch continues to have WiFi issues, they may be a software fault that can only be fixed with a factory reset.
The last resort is to hard reset your Nintendo Switch or contact the Nintendo support. One thing is sure if you do a factory reset, this is losing all your apps and games. Nonetheless, you can take that risk to eliminate the WiFi problem of your Nintendo Switch console.
Conclusion
Lots of Switch owners are having issues connecting to the internet, but at least there are ways to troubleshoot the problem. Any Nintendo Switch user will get upset and frustrated when his console is having WiFi issues. These issues are common to any gaming device and are not only on the Nintendo Switch.
Fortunately, we have come to your aid by providing multiple solutions to try out. Most of the methods below will allow you to connect your Nintendo Switch to the internet without any trouble. If you’re still experiencing issues, go ahead and try some of the other methods as well. You can’t really go wrong with any of them.
With that said, we suggest you start with changing your network name and channel. Also, if nothing else works, it’s best to contact your Internet Service Provider to know if they have anything to say about it. Based on what we’ve learned, resetting the console can also help fix the issue.
Remember that having a premium internet connection and strong WiFi is ideal for a great gaming experience. In case your internet connection fails, employ the tips and tricks in this article to eliminate any WiFi issue or internet connection problems that you might be experiencing.
We hope that these solutions will help solve the issue on your device. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
Roger Mark is a freaky gamer who has been involved in the gaming industry for more than a decade, mostly testing out hundreds of gaming consoles and devices including gaming mice, headphones, earbuds, controllers, speakers, chairs, desks, and TVs. After getting a massive amount of information about gaming gadgets, Roger deemed it wise to share it with others too. His articles are in-depth and simple to understand. When he is not writing, there is a 99% chance that he’s playing video games or watching a blockbuster movie.
