Home Consoles How To Cancel Nintendo Switch Online: Easy Cancellation Tips

How To Cancel Nintendo Switch Online: Easy Cancellation Tips

February 15, 2024

Are you thinking it might be time to cancel your Nintendo Switch Online subscription? If you need to get your money’s worth or want to save a few bucks, it’s an easy process to end your membership. This guide will walk you through the simple steps on how to cancel Nintendo Switch online.

To cancel Switch Online from your console involves five easy steps – open System Settings, select Nintendo eShop, view Account Info, cancel Auto-Renewal, and confirm cancellation to stop future charges while using current benefits until expiration. To know more, keep on reading.

The Nintendo Switch Online service allows Switch owners to play games online with others and access classic NES games. For about $20 per year, you get online multiplayer, smartphone app features, and a growing library of retro titles. However, some players don’t use the service enough to justify continuing the annual fee. If you rarely play online or don’t feel you’re getting value from the retro games, canceling your Switch Online subscription is an option to consider. Let us read on to learn how to cancel Nintendo Switch online.

Table of Contents

What is Nintendo Switch Online?

Nintendo Switch Online is a subscription service that unlocks additional features for your Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite.

For a yearly or monthly fee, Switch Online allows you to play compatible games online with other players. This lets you engage in online multiplayer modes, compete on leaderboards, and chat with friends in supported titles.

The service also gives you access to a growing library of classic NES games that can be played online or offline.

These retro titles are very simplified and addictive games from the early days of gaming. In addition, the Nintendo Switch Online app lets you voice chat with others or send short messages on your smartphone.

While convenient, some find Switch Online’s value depends heavily on how much online multiplayer you use. The retro titles may appeal to some. You need an internet connection to play the included NES games even when not connected online.

And the smartphone features are fairly limited. The subscription fee may not be worth it for casual gamers or solo players versus buying games outright.

But for online diehards, Switch Online unlocks loads of extra content and playtime. Also, If you are looking for some trusted sites to download NES 3DS ROMs, we have guides on that too!

Reasons to Cancel Your Subscription

While affordable, the annual subscription fee for Nintendo Switch Online may only make financial sense for some players. On top of Nintendo’s price, these subscriptions might add up.

If you rarely use the online features or play with friends online, you likely aren’t getting your money’s worth by continuing to pay. The classic NES games also won’t have lasting appeal for everyone. So these are the reasons how to cancel Nintendo Switch subscription.

Gamers who mainly play single-player Switch titles have little need for the membership.

And if you’re a more casual player who only jumps on your console for a few hours per month, those gameplay sessions may not involve online functions very often. Waiting for a game’s single-player content to release may be better than keeping an active subscription idle.

Additionally, some folks find the smartphone app could be more impressive and worth the recurring fee. Voice chat can also be done for free through a third-party alternative.

Canceling allows you to reallocate those subscription funds toward new single-player games, accessories, or other entertainment.

Alternatives exist, too, like family plans through services like PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold if online is a must for certain multiplayer-focused games.

Overall, analyze your habits and needs honestly. If Switch Online isn’t delivering value right now, pause your membership and revisit later if online gaming becomes a bigger part of your routine once more. Let us see how to cancel Nintendo Switch online.

How to Cancel from Your Switch Console

To cancel Nintendo Switch Online from your Switch, follow these simple steps:

Open the System Settings by going to the home screen and selecting the gear icon.
Scroll down, select “Nintendo eShop,” then pick “Account Information.”
Under “Nintendo Switch Online Membership,” hit “Cancel Auto-Renewal.”
You’ll be asked to confirm by selecting “Cancel” again.
Once confirmed, your Switch Online membership will not renew at the one-year mark. Any remaining time on your current subscription will still be active.

Be aware that canceling through your console does not provide a refund for any unused time left. It only stops future automatic charges. You can still access your online membership benefits until it expires as well.

How to Cancel Using the Official Website

Here is a guide on canceling your Nintendo Switch Online subscription through Nintendo’s official website:

To cancel via Nintendo’s site, visit www.nintendo.com and log into your account.
Go to “Accounts Settings” under the profile drop-down.
Scroll down the page until you see “Nintendo Switch Online.” Select the “Cancel Auto-Renewal” button here.
The next screen will ask you to verify your reasoning for canceling. Choose the option most closely aligns with your situation, then click “Submit.” A confirmation message will appear stating your subscription will not auto-renew upon expiration.

It’s a good idea to double-check your Nintendo Account homepage afterward. Your subscription status should now say “Expires on [Date]” rather than display an auto-renewal notice. You may also receive an email verifying cancellation for your records.

Be aware that, like the console method, canceling online does not provide a refund – it simply opts you out of future automatic billing. As marked on your account page, all subscription privileges remain until the paid period ends.

Taking the extra minute to verify cancellation was completed on Nintendo’s backend ensures you aren’t accidentally charged next year. So, this is how to cancel Nintendo membership.

What Happens After You Cancel?

Here are the key points about what happens after canceling a Nintendo Switch Online membership in bullet point form:

You cannot play games online with friends. Most Switch games require an Online membership to play with others.
You will no longer get cloud saves. The cloud saves feature keeps a backup of your game progress online. If something happens to your Switch, you may not be able to recover your saves without this.

You can still play single-player games offline. Any games or add-ons you previously downloaded can still be used offline.
After your membership ends, you can use your Switch normally but cannot access online features in most games or see your cloud saves.
If you restart your Online membership later, you will be able to see any old cloud saves that were previously stored online.

The key things you lose are the ability to play online with others, backup saves to the cloud, and access to online game features. Single-player offline gameplay is still possible with previously downloaded content. So this happens after you follow the steps on how to cancel my Nintendo subscription.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Here are some tips for troubleshooting common issues that may arise when canceling a Nintendo Switch Online subscription:

If the cancellation steps don’t work on Nintendo’s site, try clearing your browser’s cookies and cache. Log in again from a fresh session. You can also cancel from another supported device if one is available.
Keep an eye on your bank statements over the coming months in case of unauthorized charges after the process. Take screenshots and immediately contact your bank to dispute them if they occur.
It may take a few days for the cancellation to be fully processed in Nintendo’s system, too. Don’t panic if features haven’t disappeared yet – give it time to expire your membership fully.
If all else fails, Nintendo customer support can directly assist by phone or online chat. Have your Nintendo Account details and order numbers handy. You can find their contact information at www.nintendo.com.

So that is all about how to cancel Nintendo Switch online. Sometimes, your NES becomes bricked, so to fix that, read here.

FAQs

Can I resubscribe in the future if I decide to cancel?

Yes, you can resubscribe anytime, even if you’ve canceled before. Your saved data and game progress in the Nintendo Switch Online app and individual games are separate from your subscription status.

Do family plans work differently for cancellation?

Cancellation works similarly - it takes effect at the end of your current paid period. The only difference is cancelling a family plan will remove the subscription benefits for all users associated with that plan.

Is there a way to “pause” my subscription temporarily?

Unfortunately, Nintendo does not offer a pause option. Your only choices are keeping your subscription active or fully canceling it until the current period ends.

Can I still play Fortnite or other free-to-play online games if I cancel?

Yes, a Nintendo Switch Online subscription is only required for paid Nintendo Switch games that have online multiplayer features. Free-to-play games like Fortnite do not need an active subscription to play online.

Conclusion

Canceling your Nintendo Switch Online subscription is simple but won’t take effect until your current period ends.

Be sure to do so through your Nintendo account settings online. While you’ll miss out on the online play and classic games after canceling, it’s easy to resubscribe if you change your mind.

We hope this article answers all the questions on how to cancel Nintendo Switch online.