Can 2 users use the same Nintendo Switch account?

As an avid Nintendo Switch gamer, I often get asked if family and friends can share games using the same Nintendo Account. The short answer is yes – but the gaming experience differs quite a bit between "primary" and "non-primary" consoles.

Primary Console Benefits

When you first link your Nintendo Account to a new Switch, that device is set as your account‘s "primary console."

The main benefit is that any user profile on the primary device can play downloadable games purchased with that account. Your digital games work like physical cartridges – available to all users locally.

Up to 8 user profiles can access the same game library on a primary console. The major catch is that only one person per digital title can play at the same time – so families may need to take turns.

However, users on a primary console don‘t need to sign in to the purchasing account to start playing games. This makes content sharing seamless for households.

Other Perks of Being Primary

Aside from game sharing, primary consoles give all profiles full access to the Nintendo Switch Online membership associated with the account holder.

That means playing online, using cloud saving backup for compatible titles, and enjoying an expanding library of classic NES and SNES games.

Only the purchasing account needs an active Online subscription for everyone to enjoy these perks. Up to 8 users on the primary console get to partake without paying anything themselves.

Non-Primary Console Restrictions

Here‘s where things get tricky. On any Switch designated as a "non-primary console", digital content access gets very limited.

The main constraint is that only the actual account holder can launch and play downloaded software. So if I logged in to my roommate‘s Switch, only I could access my digital games.

While my user profile keeps access, no one else gains the ability to play those titles on a non-primary device.

Additionally, every user profile has to subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online individually to access online multiplayer and cloud saving. Family sharing of those benefits is now off the table.

Why Even Allow Non-Primary Consoles?

With all those restrictions, why does Nintendo even give us the ability to use accounts on multiple devices?

The reason is portability and travel. By adding your account to a friend‘s Switch or the hotel TV on vacation, you can download and play your games on the go.

While you sacrifice sharing in those cases, it still grants individuals perpetual access to their digital libraries. Think of non-primary consoles like personalized portables.

Nintendo Switch Online Family Memberships

Now, what if you want to share content access between two or more isolated consoles? This is where Nintendo‘s family membership comes in handy.

Up to 8 Nintendo Accounts can join together in an online family group. As the administrator, I can then purchase and manage one membership that covers every user.

My tested choice is the family membership which runs just $34.99 annually. Compared to $19.99 for individual memberships that add up fast, it‘s quite the value.

This single subscription spreads online play access, cloud saving ability, classic game libraries and exclusive offers to the entire family.

Best of all, every user can utilize these membership perks while playing on their own Switch consoles. So my kids and I can game online together with just my single payment.

The one exception here is still the ability to share downloaded game licenses. Only primary console profiles maintain that power.

But by linking both personal and family accounts, you get the best of both gaming worlds in one package.

Manage Family Members with Parental Controls

As the administrator of my family account, I‘m also the only one who can manage parental control and purchase restriction options.

This allows me to select appropriate age ratings limits for my kids. I can also limit spending power or gameplay time once they‘ve finished schoolwork.

Nintendo makes it easy for parents to restrict mature content and keep gaming healthy across the family membership. Review all customization tools on Nintendo‘s support site.

Game Sharing and Playing Together

While combining primary console access and family subscriptions enables serious multi-user benefits, families will occasionally run into library limitations.

The biggest drawback is that only one user per downloaded game license can play at the same time – even on a primary device.

So if my two kids both want to visit each other‘s Animal Crossing islands at night, I legally need to own two copies of the game.

To avoid this, pick mainly physical cartridge games for family play. That way, truly simultaneous multiplayer happens with up to 4-8 players in Mario Kart or Smash Bros. battles!

Quick Tips for Sharing with Family and Friends

• Set your personal console as primary to share your digital library locally
• Add family and roommates via the multi-user Family Membership
• Manage kids‘ gameplay with custom parental controls
• Mix physical and digital games ownership for maximum play sessions
• Check all linked accounts on Nintendo‘s website

Comparing Primary and Non-Primary Consoles

In Summary

Getting the most out of family or friend content sharing on the Nintendo Switch takes a bit of work. Creating user profiles, setting primary consoles, linking account membership – it can get technical fast.

Yet with the right tools like family groups and primary device access, both local and online multiplayer enjoyment is possible across multiple Switch consoles and gamers.

As an avid Switch gaming family ourselves, a few digital purchases combined with physical cartridges to share plus reliable WiFi has kept us quite happy for years. We have family tournament nights weekly!

So dive in, get accounts linked for your crew, and game on!