This is genuinely cool and something I’d wished for with the Switch. Portable and if stolen it’s basically a free console for the thief
jowiso
Such a simple thing that was missing from the Switch. Glad to see this added.
Skullghost
Probably one of my requested features with the Switch. Glad they were able to finally add it
WuWaCamellya
As someone without kids I probably won’t use this one but it is definitely a fantastic option to have. It’s starting to seem like the Switch 2 OS is a bit more improved over S1 than we initially thought, especially if the themes rumor ends up being true.
duo8
But does it wipe the entire device clean if you enter the PIN wrong 10 times like the PS Vita?
Careless_Symphony
I don’t get why they can’t add this to the Switch 1 as well with a system update considering we’re using the same account and user…
Affectionate_Dot9407
So glad for this.
XthecreatordayX
I already did the parental controls trick for this on my OLED. I commute into Manhattan a lot so I want to lock it down in case it gets stolen.
N3DSdad
I already do this on S1 with the parental controls app, the kids would steal it and play it all the time if I wouldn’t lol.
Though it’s very nice to have it straight away.
Mundane_Range_765
Wait… this exists on the Switch, no? Or is it just to stop paid transactions?
Alpha_Drew
This being a new feature in 2025 is hilarious
Disastrous-Maize398
What does this mean and why is it good?
DisciplineImpressive
Technically, you could set a PIN for the Nintendo Switch. On the Parental Controls app, if you set the Play-Time Limit to “0min” for every day, it will require a PIN once the screen wakes up.
xKAROSx
Now I can keep all the hentai games downloaded instead of deleting them every time I get done. LFG.
AllMaito
I’ve used this since day one of the Switch lifecycle. It was a simple as setting up parental controls.
goldninjaI
should have just been in that system update
ShiftyShaymin
Wished for this on Switch, glad it’s here now.
Aspire_2_Be
Wow, so innovative!
Sparescrewdriver
For those wishing the Switch 1 had this, a close workaround is to set parental control with all the restrictions, time limit to 15 minutes, and restrict software rating to only 3 years old. Except for a few exceptions this pretty much locks everything.
Entering the parental control pin temporarily unlocks everything, restrictions can also be easily changed in the mobile app.
Also if someone steals your switch they won’t be able to do anything
Lucky-Mia
I’ve never thought about or wanted this feature on a switch.
SoloWaltz
Up Down Up Down Left Right Left Right B A +
ElricDarkPrince
Why would I want a pin it’s not a phone
al6am
WOW
wookiewin
Will it be profile specific, or is it a system unlock only? I’d like to protect my account from my kids accidentally deleting it.
mauricesvay
This would be useful if the Switch had a browser where your various accounts need to be protected
fender0327
Groundbreaking.
dbball22
I wish you could do this “per game”. For instance, I don’t mind if my kids play smash bros, Mario kart, or Zelda, but I’d rather not have them playing Cyberpunk or something. Sounds like maybe there is a way limit access by rating in the parental controls, but a simple pin per game would be more straightforward and useful for me.
8bitellis
Wow
AlienTimeCapsule
How groundbreaking
Upstairs_Positive373
Wanted this on switch 1 so that no one else would use it since I’m possessive over my electronics.
moosebaloney
How could Nintendo let a truly next gen feature leak like this!
pierrekrahn
Not a feature I would use (I only ever play docked at home) but great to see a basic security feature added!
AlienTimeCapsule
Is there a $40 game attached to teaching us how to do the 2 minute lock screen setup?
Thesquarescreen
Mmmmm basic features, baby! We’re so back. Now if they can give us a nightlight/blue light filter.
phobos33
What people have been asking for is a user login PIN to protect their account and saves from others.
What Nintendo delivers is a PIN to protect your system from “people who don’t play on it.” 🤦♂️
InternetSalesManager
Family controls for Switch 1 is mostly the same
POWRranger
Finally! Can’t believe this never made it to the og switch with an update. Glad s2 fixes this
nekosama15
Finally
3irikur
I hope i can set a pin per user. My damn kids keep using up my arrows in zelda!
scottobeach
If you enabled parental controls and zero time you could have this on switch 1
peteisneat
1234
Skate_faced
Parent: Bwahahaha, F U Kiddos!
Kids: 6969
Parent: damnit you foiled my evil plan again! This is your other parents fault!
Seriously though, kinda surprised this wasn’t an actively pushed option on the og switch.
namekianpirate
And Nintendo will reserve the right to randomly change it without asking if they suspect you’ve ever downloaded a gba rom
Spooky_Blob
And all it took is 8 years and a new system. They better add this on Switch 1 with an update..
collegetriscuit
I wish it had a tracker so I could find it if it’s lost.
Bromance_Rayder
If this was Apple they’d be promoting it as an amazing innovation. “Magic”.
engwish
I hope these software updates end up making their way on the Switch 1. Would love to see mouse support make its way via the USB-C port too. Wishful thinking, I know.
onehell_jdu
Yeah they seem to have previously had an attitude like hey, its just a games console. If someone steals it then they stole it; you don’t have it anymore whether the thief can use it or not, and it isn’t like a phone that has a bunch of your personal stuff on it. They can’t use your credit card to buy anything with it without the password, and you can change that remotely anyway. So they probably figured hey, why not just save ourselves a bunch of support tickets from people who forgot their PINs which would happen constantly.
Of course, the counterargument is that if thieves know that stolen switches are unusable they have less reason to steal them in the first place, as they wouldn’t have any resale value.
48 Comments
This is genuinely cool and something I’d wished for with the Switch. Portable and if stolen it’s basically a free console for the thief
Such a simple thing that was missing from the Switch. Glad to see this added.
Probably one of my requested features with the Switch. Glad they were able to finally add it
As someone without kids I probably won’t use this one but it is definitely a fantastic option to have. It’s starting to seem like the Switch 2 OS is a bit more improved over S1 than we initially thought, especially if the themes rumor ends up being true.
But does it wipe the entire device clean if you enter the PIN wrong 10 times like the PS Vita?
I don’t get why they can’t add this to the Switch 1 as well with a system update considering we’re using the same account and user…
So glad for this.
I already did the parental controls trick for this on my OLED. I commute into Manhattan a lot so I want to lock it down in case it gets stolen.
I already do this on S1 with the parental controls app, the kids would steal it and play it all the time if I wouldn’t lol.
Though it’s very nice to have it straight away.
Wait… this exists on the Switch, no? Or is it just to stop paid transactions?
This being a new feature in 2025 is hilarious
What does this mean and why is it good?
Technically, you could set a PIN for the Nintendo Switch. On the Parental Controls app, if you set the Play-Time Limit to “0min” for every day, it will require a PIN once the screen wakes up.
Now I can keep all the hentai games downloaded instead of deleting them every time I get done. LFG.
I’ve used this since day one of the Switch lifecycle. It was a simple as setting up parental controls.
should have just been in that system update
Wished for this on Switch, glad it’s here now.
Wow, so innovative!
For those wishing the Switch 1 had this, a close workaround is to set parental control with all the restrictions, time limit to 15 minutes, and restrict software rating to only 3 years old. Except for a few exceptions this pretty much locks everything.
Entering the parental control pin temporarily unlocks everything, restrictions can also be easily changed in the mobile app.
Also if someone steals your switch they won’t be able to do anything
I’ve never thought about or wanted this feature on a switch.
Up Down Up Down Left Right Left Right B A +
Why would I want a pin it’s not a phone
WOW
Will it be profile specific, or is it a system unlock only? I’d like to protect my account from my kids accidentally deleting it.
This would be useful if the Switch had a browser where your various accounts need to be protected
Groundbreaking.
I wish you could do this “per game”. For instance, I don’t mind if my kids play smash bros, Mario kart, or Zelda, but I’d rather not have them playing Cyberpunk or something. Sounds like maybe there is a way limit access by rating in the parental controls, but a simple pin per game would be more straightforward and useful for me.
Wow
How groundbreaking
Wanted this on switch 1 so that no one else would use it since I’m possessive over my electronics.
How could Nintendo let a truly next gen feature leak like this!
Not a feature I would use (I only ever play docked at home) but great to see a basic security feature added!
Is there a $40 game attached to teaching us how to do the 2 minute lock screen setup?
Mmmmm basic features, baby! We’re so back. Now if they can give us a nightlight/blue light filter.
What people have been asking for is a user login PIN to protect their account and saves from others.
What Nintendo delivers is a PIN to protect your system from “people who don’t play on it.” 🤦♂️
Family controls for Switch 1 is mostly the same
Finally! Can’t believe this never made it to the og switch with an update. Glad s2 fixes this
Finally
I hope i can set a pin per user. My damn kids keep using up my arrows in zelda!
If you enabled parental controls and zero time you could have this on switch 1
1234
Parent: Bwahahaha, F U Kiddos!
Kids: 6969
Parent: damnit you foiled my evil plan again! This is your other parents fault!
Seriously though, kinda surprised this wasn’t an actively pushed option on the og switch.
And Nintendo will reserve the right to randomly change it without asking if they suspect you’ve ever downloaded a gba rom
And all it took is 8 years and a new system. They better add this on Switch 1 with an update..
I wish it had a tracker so I could find it if it’s lost.
If this was Apple they’d be promoting it as an amazing innovation. “Magic”.
I hope these software updates end up making their way on the Switch 1. Would love to see mouse support make its way via the USB-C port too. Wishful thinking, I know.
Yeah they seem to have previously had an attitude like hey, its just a games console. If someone steals it then they stole it; you don’t have it anymore whether the thief can use it or not, and it isn’t like a phone that has a bunch of your personal stuff on it. They can’t use your credit card to buy anything with it without the password, and you can change that remotely anyway. So they probably figured hey, why not just save ourselves a bunch of support tickets from people who forgot their PINs which would happen constantly.
Of course, the counterargument is that if thieves know that stolen switches are unusable they have less reason to steal them in the first place, as they wouldn’t have any resale value.