How to hard reset a Nintendo Switch
How to hard reset a Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED
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Quick steps
Tools and Requirements
How to hard reset your Nintendo Switch
If your Nintendo Switch won’t turn on, you may need to perform a hard reset. This is a simple procedure and can be done in a couple of seconds; however, there are a number of options to consider, depending on what you need.
You might want to enter Recovery Mode to perform a factory reset if you’re selling your console, or simply want to ensure that any ghosts in the machine are exorcised fully. We’ll explain how to hard reset a Nintendo Switch below.
Steps
How to reset your Switch without losing any data
If your Switch is experiencing issues, you canperform a reset and save your datastored on the console by enteringRecovery Mode. This is only really necessary if your console isn’t functioning properly, but can help clear any niggling issues that may have sprung up.
Steps
How to perform a factory reset
Selling your Switch or trading it in? You’ll want to perform afactory resetto erase all your data and return the console to its out-of-the-box settings. This step should only be necessary if you want to wipe your console of all data, so bear that in mind before you proceed.
Steps
Final thoughts
It’s not that common for a Nintendo Switch not to turn on, but don’t panic if this happens to your device. Simply follow the steps above and you should be back playing in no time. It’s worth noting that these steps work on the Nintendo Switch Lite and Nintendo SwitchOLED, too. Just follow the same process if ever you want to hard reset your Switch or perform a factory reset.
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Adam was formerly TRG’s Hardware Editor. A law graduate with an exceptional track record in content creation and online engagement, Adam has penned scintillating copy for various technology sites and also established his very own award-nominated video games website. He’s previously worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor and once played Halo 5: Guardians for over 51 hours for charity. He is now an editor at The Shortcut.
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