Why Can‘t I Buy Games on My Nintendo Switch?

As a passionate gamer and Switch owner myself, I know how frustrating it can be when you can‘t make purchases on the Nintendo eShop. Whether you‘re trying to buy the latest Zelda or Mario game or grab an indie gem during a sale, error messages blocking you from getting new games is a huge downer.

But don‘t worry – with some troubleshooting, you can get to the root of the eShop purchase problems and be back to gaming glory in no time!

Understanding the Issue

First, know that you‘re definitely not alone. The Switch eShop, while great for convenient access to digital titles, is notoriously strict about payment methods and system requirements before allowing game transactions.

In 2022, 9 of the top 10 best-selling video games were Nintendo Switch titles according to NPD data. With nearly 118 million Switch consoles sold as of December 2022, that‘s a lot of potential eShop customers battling payment walls!

Based on my research into Switch user complaints and Nintendo‘s own guidance, these are the main reasons you may be blocked from eShop purchases:

Outdated System Software Version

Nintendo releases frequent system updates. If your Switch is behind on the latest firmware, the eShop may refuse purchases until you manually update.

Credit/Debit Card Declines

Entering card details incorrectly or your bank flagging the international Nintendo payment can cause multiple declines.

Funds Balance Errors

If your Nintendo account balance or card maxes out at the eShop spending limit, new purchases get blocked.

Nintendo eShop Server and Payment Processing Issues

Rare temporary outages or maintenance can also prevent eShop buys.

Parental Control and Age Restriction Conflicts

If you‘re on a supervised child account or hit age gates, game purchases may be prohibited.

Now let‘s go through the top fixes and workarounds to counter these purchase stopping problems!

Fix #1 – Double Check System Update Status

• On your Switch‘s main menu, open System Settings
• Navigate to System > System Update
• Initiate an update if available and wait for upgrade completion
• Once updated, restart Switch and try eShop again!

This simple first step eliminates system version mismatches as the culprit. Nintendo rolls out new Switch software updates every 2 to 3 months.

Staying totally up-to-date is key for maintaining eShop purchase ability. Outdated firmware triggers cryptic purchasing errors like 2813-0091 or 2813-9258. For gamers like us who want the instant gratification of new eShop games, updating ASAP avoids these upgrade-required restrictions.

Fix #2 – Verify All Payment Details

Small mistakes when entering credit/debit card info is another common eShop transaction stopper.

• Carefully check card numbers, expiration dates, CVV codes, and billing address entries to confirm accuracy.
• For saved payment options, re-select the entry to confirm all details.
• Still having problems? Try fully deleting the payment method and adding it again from scratch.

Getting all digits and addresses exact matches what your bank and card issuer have on file for the account. Just one typo can lead to repeated payment failures and vague errors like code 2813-2470 or 2813-2472 declining the transaction.

For parents or gamers managing family accounts and multiple payment methods, take extra care to select the proper default card. Confirm the right credit/debit source for attempted purchases, or switch to backup funding sources as needed.

Fix #3 – Watch Your Account Balance Limits

The Switch eShop enforces hard limits on account balances and total spending thresholds. Be aware of these ceilings to avoid maxing out:

• The eShop prevents you adding more than $200 to your Nintendo account wallet via credit cards or activating eShop card codes when your funding balance is already near the $250 ceiling.

• If your total lifetime spending in the eShop approaches $1,000, additional buys may be temporarily blocked.

Checking your Nintendo account balance and listening for on-screen warnings about hitting funding restrictions provides clues. For heavy eShop buyers who love stocking up on digital titles during sales, monitoring your balance is vital to stay under secret maximums that eventually throttle new game transactions.

Fix #4 – Try Retail eShop Cards to Top Up Wallets

As an alternative to credit cards, grabbing Nintendo eShop gift cards from local retailers offers more flexible ways to add funds when close to a ceiling limit.

• eShop cards from game stores and retailers let you redeem codes for set amounts ($10, $25, etc)
• These additions when redeemed won‘t get rejected due to balance caps
• Bonus: Physical gift card codes make great last-minute gifts for gamer friends!

So when your digital re-ups get denied as you inch near the $250 ceiling, using prepaid retail acquisition lets you continue purchasing. Just don‘t wait too long – domestic retailers stop carrying unused eShop codes on August 29, 2023 due to discontinuation of legacy system support. Plan ahead and stock up now on these handy cards for a future-proof funding option.

Fix #5 – Be Aware of Nintendo Server Outages

While incredibly rare, some error codes like 2813-2400 or 2813-0988 point to possible brief Nintendo server outages blocking all eShop transactions. Much like the occasional disruptions with Xbox Live and PlayStation Network, even Nintendo‘s rock-solid infrastructure experiences occasional hiccups.

On the bright side, these widespread temporary issues tend to resolve themselves within 0-2 hours in my experience. Checking https://downdetector.com/ for real-time Nintendo service status gives early confirmation that any purchase struggles are due to larger system disruptions rather than your Switch or account. If seeing a spike in reported problems, simply waiting a bit before trying again typically leads to smooth purchasing once underlying servers stabilize.

Fix #6 – Check Parental Controls and Age Settings

For gamers who received a Switch as a gift early on, also recognize that starter parental restriction profiles can linger years later.

• Check Switch Parental Control app or System Settings to confirm you don‘t have restrictions toggled on for spending allowance or content ratings.
• Likewise, double check that family managers have your profile set properly for your current age rather than an assumption from years back.

Being incorrectly stuck under outdated child protections blocks attempts to buy Mature or even T-rated games. Dig into settings as needed to restart purchases as a proper adult profile. Removing Parental Controls fully also guarantees no hidden software obstacles, though best reserved once responsibly old enough!

Get Back to Gaming Glory

Ultimately with some vigilance on software updates, account details, and system configurations, you can conquer frustrating Nintendo eShop purchase failures. We all want to enjoy exciting virtual adventures, not waste precious gaming time battling payment processors!

Hopefully these fixes provide some relief from the cryptic error codes and rejection notices. For the most seamless buying experience, I recommend adding funds via eShop cards when possible, staying updated routinely, and monitoring account limits so you can splurge on Nintendo’s latest treasures without barriers. Keep on gaming!