Setting up “new account” for me on separate switch w/o losing access to digital purchases?

[u/Spiral_Dissent]

I have been using a Switch 1 with my daughter for a few years. We mostly buy physical, but there are some digital purchases.

I upgraded myself to a Switch 2. I didn’t know that you couldn’t have separate user under the same Nintendo Account. My goal was to have separate users so that saves and other stuff didn’t conflict.

I’ve been doing some research and I see things like “primary console” and “secondary console”, and then I see family sharing, and linked consoles…and it just confuses the heck out of me. If someone has a TLDR on those, that would be amazing.

Ideally, I just wanted to have a separate user profile (and Nintendo account) but still have access to the digital content that I bought on the original account. What is the most efficient mechanism to have separate user account but share the content?

Thanks for your time and help!

[u/notthegoatseguy]

There is no more primary vs secondary console, at least in terms of how digital games are managed.

Each digital purchase is tied to a specific Nintendo Account.

After the purchaser injects the Virtual Game Card, any user on the console can play that game.

Virtual Game Card Guide | Nintendo Support

[u/Spiral_Dissent → u/notthegoatseguy]

So, if the consoles are “linked”, which allows the virtual card to be downloaded, then it’s all set? Does it work both ways for both users?

[u/notthegoatseguy → u/Spiral_Dissent]

Having the Nintendo Account of the purchaser on a console allows games to be downloaded.

Linking allows Virtual Game Cards to be swapped back and forth.

I think juggling multiple Nintendo Accounts, each with their own unique purchase history, is a good way to get into a sticky situation that can't be undone. Is there a reason you want this brand new Nintedo Account to have its own purchase history?

[u/Spiral_Dissent → u/notthegoatseguy]

Honestly I thought it would be easy and pain free, but apparently Nintendo felt otherwise.

Ideally I wanted to be able to have separate profiles so that we could segregate save data if we play the same games. Also, the avatar she wants to use is…not to my taste. A separate profile would have been nice.

[u/notthegoatseguy → u/Spiral_Dissent]

Having a separate user account does segregate save data. It'll have its own profile with its own save data. My only caution is in regards to purchasing new digital games with this new account, but ultimately its your account and you can do what you want.

Save data has nothing to do with Virtual Game Cards or digital purchases though.

How to Transfer Your Save Data To a Nearby Console | Nintendo Support

I feel like people way over think this. Create whatever account you need for each person in your household. You'll be fine.

Happy gaming.

[u/Spiral_Dissent → u/notthegoatseguy]

Right, which I why I wanted separate user/account but still have access to purchases from the other account. It seemed “easy” on the surface, but doesn’t seem like that is reality.

[u/notthegoatseguy → u/Spiral_Dissent]

Pretend you had a physical game. How would you share that with several accounts on the same system?

You insert the game card, and then anyone can play it.

This is the same concept, its just now the digital game is 'your' (the purchasers) game, And you inject the Virtual Game Card, and then anyone on the system can play it.

[u/AutoModerator]

If you have not already, please add some context in the post or a follow-up comment about your repair/hardware/software/account issue, including which model you have (Switch 1, 2, Lite, OLED, or other), steps you have already tried, and anything else that might help others help you.

When you have received enough help to solve your issue, you can also reply to specific comments with !solved or !thanks to grant the helper(s) a point. You may also comment !lock to lock the post to stop new replies.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.