To ask for help with a Nintendo Switch?

[RussellTheRaven]

I'm setting it up for the first time. I will read the instructions!

What are your top tips? Or what did you wish you knew, that weren't in the instructions?

Please help me make it safe and workable for DS. TIA

DD has a Switch but I didnt want her to have online acces. Took age to work out how to disable the wifi.

Turns out you cant, you have to set it flight mode and make sure you turn the control setting to on.

Oh gosh, I didn't even think about that. I just assumed I could password it, like with my phone. I'm so underprepared for this.

You can tighten the settings so even with WiFi they can’t get onto anything.
The switch is fab. I think I play on it more than the kid.

I almost failed at the first hurdle. Couldn't find where I'd hidden the damn thing. Found out the cat has been pissing in my wardrobe though...

Just trying to get through the bloody box now. I'm sure I'll be at this at midnight!

Setting up is easy. Plug in the wires and it'll take you through setting up the system.

You can get an adult account and then add children's accounts to it. There is an app the adult downloads onto a tablet or phone, and you can control the access from there.

It's easy to set up otherwise, the instructions in the box are very easy and then the step by step guide on the TV.

Here's where I'm up to!

Got the parental control app and feel comfortable I can work it.
Created my account and a child account.
Both are now linked to the Switch console.

I've declined the 7 day free trial of the online account. I think we will probably pay for it, but will activate the trial on DS's birthday.

Still to do:
Link up to TV
Work out how to charge the damn thing
Actually play a game on it!

Anything I've missed?

Set up is easy just plug it in! But I wouldn’t get online access or an online account . We have t for our 8 year old and we aren’t missing anything as far as I can see. He plays the games with game cartridges only.

We have online accounts as easier to buy new games plus cheaper sometimes. Ds doesn’t have an online account and he doesn’t know our password anyway.

Managed to play a game! It turns out DH and I can't river raft effectively and I have zero coordination. We had fun though. I'll connect it to the TV tomorrow when they are out at hobbies.

Yay, I've achieved something!!

My top tip is to get a screen protector on before giving it to children!

Connecting to the TV and charging are easy, the dock does the charging and it’s just a wire to TV. We have all 4 of us set up with accounts but only myself and DH have online ones as I really don’t want the children accessing that. They’re not missing out and I’d never even thought about a monthly subscription?
Donkey Kong is amazing too!

Well done! Have fun, the switch is a fab console with great games.

Screen protector on order now!

Oh, I suggest getting Overcooked, 1 and 2. Me and DD lost hours and nerves to those games.

Making it so it can't access the wifi is counter productive given that in doing that you'll not be able to update the games when a patch is released.

The kids cannot buy games on the switch if you don't link a pay method to it.

I recommend Just Dance 2018. It has a kids mode and a 3 month free subscription to just dance unlimited (whereas the 2019 version only has a 1 month trial).

Thanks everyone. We are probably going to get the premium Nintendo account as it has lots of classic games for free. I was hoping not to have to pay £45 a pop for a new game, so wanted the online ones.

Does anyone have one of these accounts? We'll get 7 day free trial so I can see if it's worth it I suppose.

Do remember that not all games are that expensive and you can always buy games second hand off a well known auction site.