How to Set Time Limits on Nintendo Switch

Nintendo Switch is a great game console. Not only does it offer loads of games and features (like the ability to share Switch screenshots on your phone), it also gives parents a lot of control over their kids’ gaming habits. If you’re worried that your child (or even yours) might be spending too much time playing games, you can easily set time limits to control their (or your own) playtime on Nintendo Switch. Here’s how to set time limits on Nintendo Switch.

Nintendo Switch Parental Controls

As mentioned above, Switch offers a very comprehensive set of parental controls that you can use for all sorts of things. You can set bedtime alarms, suspend apps, and of course, set time limits and restrictions. In this article, we’ll take a look at how you can set a time limit on Switch users so you can make sure your kids don’t spend all their time playing.

How to Set Time Limit on Nintendo Switch

Setting time limits on Nintendo Switch is pretty easy, but you will need to use your smartphone to do so. The key’s parental controls can only be accessed via a smartphone app.

• On your Switch go to Settings -> Parental Controls.

• Tap on Parental Controls Settings.

• Scan the QR code with your phone to download the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app. Or, simply download game store/ app store.

• After downloading, tap on ‘I have installed the app’. What’s next?’ button on your key.
• Launch the app on your phone and sign in to your Nintendo account.

• You will see a six-digit registration code on your phone. Enter this on your Switch console.

• Tap “Sign Up” on your Nintendo Switch, then “Continue Installation on Smart Device”.

• Tap on ‘Set Parental Controls’ on your phone. You can now set a time limit for Nintendo Switch use. This ranges from 15 minutes to 6 hours a day in 15-minute increments, so you get plenty of control. Select the time limit you want to set and tap ‘Next’.

At this point, you have successfully set time limits on Nintendo Switch. The Parental Controls app also lets you add more restrictions. To ensure that your child is not exposed to adult content, you can set a restriction level or even not allow them to communicate with others in-game. When done, tap on ‘Complete’.

Set Daily Time Limits

If you don’t want to set a strict time limit that applies blindly to each day of the week, you can actually set time limits on a per-day basis as well. In this way, you can ensure that your children do not play too much during school days, and you can also allow them to play on the weekends. Here’s how to do it.

• Tap ‘Console Settings’ in the Change Parental Controls App, then tap ‘Game Time Limit’.

• Enable the toggle next to ‘Set Individual Days’. You can now select any day and set a time limit for that day. For example, I set 4 hours for Saturdays so I can spend the weekend playing a lot more games than I normally would.

• Once done, simply tap the ‘checkmark’ icon in the lower right corner of the screen.

Suspend Apps on Nintendo Switch

It’s good to set time limits, but what good if you reach the time limit and get a notification for it. That’s not enough to stop kids (or me, for that matter) from ignoring the alarm and continuing to play. Fortunately, you can set apps to suspend when the time limit is reached. Here’s how.

• Tap ‘Console Settings’ in the Change Parental Controls App, then tap ‘Game Time Limit’.

• Scroll down and enable the toggle next to ‘Suspend Software’. Then tap the ‘checkmark’ button in the lower right corner of the screen to save your changes.

Use Parental Controls to Set Time Limits on Nintendo Switch

That’s it, you’ve successfully set up parental controls to limit playtime on your Nintendo Switch. You will be notified when the time limit is up and you can even set apps to suspend when the time limit expires. In this way, you can ensure that your children cannot continue playing after the set time has expired.

It’s a pretty feature rich app with pretty detailed controls. So if you have children at home or are trying to shorten your playing time, you should immediately set time limits on Nintendo Switch with the parental controls feature. Let me know in the comments whether you will use this feature for your kids or for yourself. Don’t be shy, I use it for myself too. However, if you’re too bothered by the console, you can always reset it and sell it; I’m just saying.