Nintendo Switch: 10 tips every new owner should know

The Switch is simple to pick up, but a few small changes make it a much better handheld. Here are the ones we recommend to every new owner.

• Buy a microSD card on day one. Internal storage is tiny; a card of at least 128GB is the single most useful accessory.
• Set screen brightness to auto. It extends battery life noticeably and is easier on the eyes in bed.
• Turn on airplane mode for single-player handheld sessions — it adds real battery time when you don’t need online features.
• Register a second controller profile so a friend can join local co-op instantly.
• Enable cloud saves if you have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, and check which games don’t support it.
• Use a screen protector. The screen scratches easily when sliding into the dock.
• Set up the eShop wishlist and check it during sales — discounts on first-party games are rare, so grab them when they appear.
• Calibrate the Joy-Con sticks in System Settings → Controllers if movement ever feels off.
• Turn off “Auto-update software” if your data plan is limited, and update on Wi-Fi instead.
• Keep the dock’s vents clear. The console gets warm when docked for long sessions.

None of these take more than a minute, and together they make the difference between a console that frustrates and one that just works.