Nintendo Switch 2 | Firmware Update History (Ver. 21.1.0 Patch Notes) -

*Last Updated on March 17, 2026 (Ver. 22.0.0)

From the latest to the first, here’s your extensive reminder covering every update ever released for the Nintendo Switch 2 and details on what each update changed:

Nintendo Switch 2 Firmware Update History:

Ver. 22.0.0 (Released March 16, 2026):

Changed the on-screen text and animations when you load a virtual game card in the HOME Menu.
Added the ability to save notes about friends on your Friend List. The note content is not displayed to friends.
- Added the ability to see and edit these notes from the Nintendo Switch App. The app must be on version 3.3.0 or higher to use this feature.
The following features were added to support GameChat:
- Added the ability to invite friends to GameChat rooms you’re participating in. Some friends may not be able to be invited, such as supervised accounts.
- Friends that haven’t finished GameChat initial setup can now be invited to GameChat. Some friends may not be able to be invited, such as supervised accounts or those who haven’t used a Nintendo Switch 2.
  - It may take a while for this change to be reflected after updating your console to system version 22.0.0.
- Improvements were made to the quality of the game screen shared in a GameChat when expanded.
Added the ability to rewind 10 seconds/advance 10 seconds with the ZL and ZR Buttons when watching a full screen video in News or Nintendo eShop.
Added the option to add the following data to “Automatic Uploads” from Album.
- Clip Video, Video saved as a screenshot, and screenshot with added text.
Added Portuguese (Portugal) and Russian to “GameChat Voice ⇔ Speech to Text” languages in Accessibility.
Text-to-Speech, under Accessibility, can now read the text in Album and during first-time setup.
- Please see Nintendo Switch 2 First-Time Setup and Connection for instructions on how to turn text-to-speech on in the first-time setup.
Added the ability to see the breakdown of storage capacity by data type for the system memory and microSD Express card.
Added the ability to perform an audio test when “Linear PCM 5.1 Surround” is selected for TV Sound in Audio.
Changed the “Hong Kong/Taiwan/South Korea” region to “Hong Kong/Taiwan/South Korea/South East Asia” in Device.
Added “Handheld Mode Boost” to Nintendo Switch Software Handling in System.
- Handheld Mode Boost will cause compatible Switch software to run as if in TV Mode, so certain functionality may be affected. Please see the on-device description for more details.
The following features were added to Airplane Mode:
- When Airplane Mode is activated, the previously set preferences for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or NFC while in Airplane Mode will be saved and applied.
- Added the ability to individually enable or disable Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or NFC during Airplane Mode from the Quick Settings.
Added the ability to see a notification in the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls smart device application when the Parental Controls PIN is input successfully on the console. This can also be set up to be a push notification to your smart device.
- The app must be on version 2.4.0 or higher to use this functionality.
General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience.

Ver. 21.2.0 (Released January 12, 2026):

General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience

Ver. 21.1.0 (Released December 8, 2025):

General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience.

Ver. 21.0.1 (Released November 24, 2025):

Fixed an issue where Error Code: 2011-0301 or Error Code: 2168-0002 would repeatedly occur on a Nintendo Switch when attempting a system transfer using local communication from a Nintendo Switch system to a Nintendo Switch 2 system.
Fixed an issue where sometimes, after waking up the system from Sleep Mode or turning off Airplane Mode, wireless controllers or Bluetooth audio devices were unable to connect.
General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience.

Ver. 21.0.0 (Released November 10, 2025):

Added symbols above software icons displayed on the HOME Menu to indicate whether the software is a physical or a digital version.
When multiple software downloads are in progress, there is now an option to cancel all.
If a console bundle includes a software download, there will now be an icon to “Receive Software.” It will display if the system is connected to the internet.
- The icon will launch Nintendo eShop and you can proceed to the downloadable software.
- You can still receive the software by navigating to Nintendo eShop from the HOME Menu directly.
When finding users to send a friend request to, the Search for Users You’ve Played With option under Add Friend now includes people you’ve interacted with in your friends’ GameChat rooms.
Added the ability to download data for a virtual game card even if the “Use Online License” setting is turned off.
- This option is available in the Options of a virtual game card when accessed via Virtual Game Cards from the HOME Menu.
The following updates have been made for GameChat:
- The game will not automatically go to sleep while chatting.
- The option to turn off “Chat Audio Panning” has been added.
- Chat can continue if the console goes from TV mode (docked) to Handheld or Table mode where this scenario changes the internet from a wired connection to a wireless connection.
The following updates have been made in Accessibility in System Settings:
- When Use Text to Speech is turned on, the description of the predictive conversion character on the Japanese keyboard is now read out loud.
- The upper limit of Text-to-Speech Speed was increased from 300% to 400%
The following updates have been made in Audio in System Settings:
- The ability to change the audio mode for a wirelessly connected Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller was added. “Stable” or “Low Latency” can be selected.
- “Low Latency” will reduce audio latency when compared to “Stable” but may be more subject to interference in some wireless environments.
The following updates have been made in Display in System Settings:
- “HDR Output” was renamed to “System Screen’s HDR Output.”
- Improved the screen display when using Adjust Screen Size to make it easier to adjust.
The following updates have been made in Notifications in System Settings:
- The option “Platinum Point Notification” was renamed to “Nintendo Switch Online Notification.”
The following updates have been made in System in System Settings:
- “Stop Charging Around 90%” was renamed and updated to “Stop Charging Around 80-90%”
- Thai and Polish were added to the list of options under Language.
  - Thai and Polish will only be available in software when it supports the respective language.
General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience.

Ver. 20.5.0 (Released September 29, 2025):

General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience.

Ver. 20.4.0 (Released September 1, 2025):

General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience.

Ver. 20.3.0 (Released July 28, 2025):

General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience.

Ver. 20.2.0 (Released July 14, 2025):

Fixed an issue where Parental Control settings were not transferred to Nintendo Switch 2 from Nintendo Switch in certain circumstances during a system transfer.
Fixed an issue where you could not proceed past “Searching for networks” in Internet Settings within System Settings.
General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience.

Ver. 20.1.5 (Released June 18, 2025):

General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience.

Ver. 20.1.1 (Released June 4, 2025):

The following features have been added:

Use of compatible Nintendo Switch software
Nintendo Switch Online
GameChat
GameShare
System transfer from Nintendo Switch
Virtual game cards
Nintendo eShop
News
Upload of screenshots and videos to the server
- Nintendo Switch App on a smart device is needed to view and download screenshots and videos uploaded to the server
Link with the smart device apps Nintendo Switch Parental Controls and Nintendo Switch App

For more information on each feature, please visit the Nintendo website.

Note:

Linking to a Nintendo Account is required for network features, with some exceptions.
Updating to version 20.1.0 is required to use Nintendo Switch 2 game-key cards.
Updating to version 20.1.0 is required to use a microSD Express card.

When completing the initial console set up, you will be prompted to download and install system version 20.1.0. If the update is not completed during initial setup, you will be prompted to perform the update when trying to use features on the HOME Menu that require the update. If prompted, perform the system update by following the on-screen instructions.

End of Software Update History

Incidentally, Nintendo has also rolled out updates for many of their Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 games. For a list of which game was updated, we have that information here:

ARMS | Ver. 5.5.1 (Released June 3, 2025) https://miketendo64.com/2021/04/29/arms-update-history/

Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain | Ver. 1.2.0 (Released June 3, 2025) https://miketendo64.com/2021/12/24/bba-brain-vs-brain-update-history/

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker | Ver. 1.4.0 (Released June 3, 2025) https://miketendo64.com/2021/05/31/cttt-update-history/

Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics | Ver. 2.0.0 (Released June 3, 2025) https://miketendo64.com/2021/05/14/clubhouse-games-51-worldwide-classics-update-history

Game Builder Garage | Ver. 1.1.0 (Released June 3, 2025) https://miketendo64.com/2021/06/13/game-builder-garage-update-history

Kirby Star Allies | Ver. 4.0.0a (Released June 3, 2025) https://miketendo64.com/2021/04/30/kirby-star-allies-update-history/

Kirby’s Dream Buffet | Ver. 4.0.0a (Released June 3, 2025) https://miketendo64.com/2025/06/04/kirbys-dream-buffet-update-history

Mario Kart World | Ver. 1.1.0 (Released June 4, 2025) https://miketendo64.com/2025/06/04/mario-kart-world-update-history/

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe | Ver. 1.0.2 (Released June 3, 2025) https://miketendo64.com/2025/06/04/nsmbud-update-history/

Pikmin 3 Deluxe | Ver. 1.1.2 (Released June 3, 2025) https://miketendo64.com/2021/05/30/pikmin-3-deluxe-update-history/

Pokémon Scarlet / Pokémon Violet | Ver. 4.0.0 (Released June 2, 2025) https://miketendo64.com/2022/11/13/pokemon-sv-update-history/

Super Mario 3D All-Stars | Ver. 1.1.2 (Released June 3, 2025) https://miketendo64.com/2021/06/05/sm-3d-all-stars-update-history/

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury | Ver. 1.2.0 (Released June 3, 2025) https://miketendo64.com/2025/06/04/smb-3d-world-ba-update-history/

Super Mario Bros. Wonder | Ver. 1.0.2 (Released June 3, 2025) https://miketendo64.com/2023/11/21/smb-wonder-update-history/

Super Mario Odyssey | Ver. 1.4.0 (Released June 3, 2025) https://miketendo64.com/2021/05/01/super-mario-odyssey-update-history/

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | Ver. 1.8.0 (Released June 3, 2025) https://miketendo64.com/2021/05/26/tloz-botw-update-history

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom | Ver. 1.1.0 (Released June 3, 2025) https://miketendo64.com/2024/09/26/tloz-eow-update-history/

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening | Ver. 1.1.0 (Released June 3, 2025) https://miketendo64.com/2021/05/10/tloz-la-update-history/

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | Ver. 1.4.0 (Released June 3, 2025) https://miketendo64.com/2023/05/12/tloz-totk-update-history/

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 | Ver. 2.2.1 (Released June 3, 2025) https://miketendo64.com/2022/07/29/xenoblade-chronicles-3-update-history/

Source: Nintendo

Nintendo Switch 2 | Firmware Update History (Ver. 21.1.0 Patch Notes)

ByJack Longman