The steps forresetting a Switch OLEDare a little different.

If you’re selling it or giving it away, factory reset it first.

First,turn off your Nintendo Switch.

Nintendo Switch Home Screen highlighting Settings cog

Then, with the system powered down, hold thepowerbutton until the console resets.

This step can take up to 15 seconds.

Release the power button, then press it once to start the console like normal.

System highlighted in the Nintendo Switch Settings menu

Your console should boot up without any issue.

Here’s how:

On the Nintendo Switch home screen, selectSettings.

Scroll down and selectSystemon the left menu.

Formatting Options highlighted in the Nintendo Switch Settings menu

Scroll to the bottom of the screen, and then selectFormatting Options.

To delete the keyboard’s learned predictions, selectReset Keyboard.

A warning that you might’t restore the data will pop up.

Reset Cache highlighted in the Nintendo Switch Settings menu

Think of it likeSafe Mode on a PC.

Turn off the console.

Hold down thepowerbutton until you seePower Options, then selectTurn Off.

Reset Cache Screen on the Nintendo Switch

Hold down thevolume upandvolume downbuttons, then press thepowerbutton.

Continue holding the buttons until Maintenance Mode loads on the Nintendo Switch.

ChooseInitialize Console Without Deleting Save Data, then selectOK.

Nintendo Switch Home Screen with Settings highlighted

Wait for the console to finish resetting, restoring it to factory options.

This is a permanent fix.

It erases all your data, including save files, game downloads, and your linked Nintendo account.

System highlighted in the Nintendo Switch Settings menu

Only perform this restore if you’re certain you don’t mind losing these files.

Use the previous instructions to put the Switch into Maintenance Mode.

From there, selectInitialize Console>Continue.

Formatting Options highlighted in the Nintendo Switch Settings menu

Wait for the console to finish erasing your data.

Scroll to the bottom of the screen and selectFormatting Options.

ChooseInitialize Console, and then selectOK.

Intailize Console highlighted in the Nintendo Switch Formatting Options menu

This process also unlinks your Nintendo account from the system.

FAQ

you might reset a frozen Switch with a hard reset.

Press and hold the power button for about 15 seconds until the screen goes dark.

The Switch should reboot in a few moments.

OpenSystem Settingsfrom the Home menu and selectControllers and Sensors.

First, check that you detach the Joy-Con from the Switch console.

Next, press thesync button, then pressany buttonto turn the Joy-Con back on.