Nintendo has released a new system software update for the Switch and Switch 2, bringing both consoles’ firmware to version 21.0.0.
The latest patch adds a range of features for both consoles, including some useful changes for managing digital games and upgrades to Switch 2’s built-in Game Chat.
On both consoles, you’ll now see a symbol above the software icons in the Home menu indicating whether the game is cartridge-based or not. You can also set up virtual game card data download even if you have chosen to disable the “Use Online License” setting.
On Switch 2, you can now receive a prompt to download software bundled with the console (like Mario Kart World!), which sounds like it will save you from having to enter annoying codes.
Switch 2 Game Chat is also getting some upgrades, where the game you’re playing will no longer automatically go to sleep while you’re still chatting. You’ll continue chatting even if your console is docked and you switch to a wired connection (or vice versa).
And in a small but fun tweak, Nintendo has renamed the battery saving option “stop charging around 90%” to more accurately reflect how it works. It is now called “stop charging around 80-90%”, so you no longer have to worry about whether it is working correctly.
As always, there appear to be a few additional tweaks in the update that weren’t included in Nintendo’s official patch notes. On ResetEra, fans report that you can now disable autoplay of videos in the eShop – which is a really welcome addition. Nintendo dataminer OatmealDome, meanwhile, reports that there’s also a new menu to view your maximum brightness value when adjusting HDR settings in TV mode.
Here are Nintendo’s full patch notes:
Nintendo Switch version. 21.0.0 (released November 10, 2025):
- Symbols have been added above the software icons displayed in the HOME menu to indicate whether the software is a physical or digital version.
- Added the ability to download data for a virtual game card even if the “Use Online License” setting is disabled.
- This option is available in the Options of a virtual game card when accessed via Virtual game cards from the HOME menu.
- The information about Save Data Cloud Backup that appears when launching certain software has been updated.
- The “Platinum Point Notification Settings” option has been renamed to “Nintendo Switch Online Notification Settings” in the Notifications menu-in System settings.
- Added the ability to disable the following options when performing a system transfer from a Nintendo Switch console to a Nintendo Switch 2 console using System transfer to Nintendo Switch 2 in System settings.
- How to redownload software on Nintendo Switch 2
- Transfer album data
- Added the ability to adjust volume from the Quick Settings menu in VR mode.
- General system stability improvements to improve user experience.
Nintendo Switch 2 Ver. 21.0.0 (released November 10, 2025)
- Symbols have been added above the software icons displayed in the HOME menu to indicate whether the software is a physical or digital version.
- When multiple software downloads are in progress, there is now an option to cancel them all.
- If a console bundle includes a software download, there will now be a “Receive Software” icon. It shows whether the system is connected to the Internet.
- The icon will start Nintendo eShop and you can proceed to the downloadable software.
- You can still receive the software by navigating to Nintendo eShop directly from the HOME menu.
- When finding users to send a friend request to, the Search for users you’ve played with option below 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 disabled.
- 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 to GameChat:
- The game does not automatically enter sleep mode while chatting.
- The option to disable “Chat Audio Panning” has been added.
- Chatting can continue when the console goes from TV (docked) mode to handheld or tabletop mode, with this scenario changing the Internet from a wired connection to a wireless connection.
- The following updates have been made Accessibility in System settings:
- When Use text-to-speech is enabled, the description of the predictive conversion character on the Japanese keyboard is now read aloud.
- The upper limit of Text-to-speech speed was increased from 300% to 400%
- The following updates have been made Audio in System settings:
- The ability to change the audio mode for a wirelessly connected Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller has been added. You can choose “Stable” or “Low latency”.
- “Low Latency” will reduce audio latency compared to “Stable”, but may be more subject to interference in some wireless environments.
- The following updates have been made Display in System settings:
- “HDR Output” has been renamed to “System Screen HDR Output.”
- Improved screen display during use Adjust the screen size to make adjustment easier.
- The following updates have been made Notifications in System settings:
- The “Platinum Point Notification” option has been renamed to “Nintendo Switch Online Notification”.
- The following updates have been made System in System settings:
- “Stop charging around 90%” has been renamed and updated to “Stop charging around 80-90%”
- Thai and Polish have been added to the list of options below Language.
- Thai and Polish are only available in software if it supports the respective language.
- General system stability improvements to improve user experience.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s news editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
