Tech Reference

How to cancel a Nintendo Switch Online membership in 5 simple steps

Written by Steven John
Super Nintendo on Nintendo Switch
You can cancel a Nintendo Switch Online membership at any time after subscribing. Nintendo
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A Nintendo Switch Online membership unlocks a new world of play, allowing you to enjoy multiplayer games with others, or to step back into the archives and replay classic games like "Super Mario Bros. 3," "Double Dragon," and "The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past."

And when paid in a once-a-year lump sum of $19.99, access to Nintendo Switch Online costs only $1.66 per month.

For more information on how Nintendo Switch Online works and how much it costs, see our article, "'What is Nintendo Switch Online?': How to access online multiplayer gaming on a Nintendo Switch."

That said, if you're not using the service, there's no point in paying for it. Luckily, cancelling Nintendo Switch Online is easy, and can be done right from your couch.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Nintendo Switch Online 12-month membership (From $19.99 at Best Buy)

Nintendo Switch (From $299.99 at Best Buy)

How to cancel a Nintendo Switch Online membership

You can cancel this right from your Switch. Just make sure that you have an internet connection.

1. From your Switch's home screen, scroll down to the Nintendo eShop app (it's the icon that looks like an orange shopping bag) in the bottom taskbar and open it.

2. In the sidebar on the left, scroll down to "Nintendo Switch Online." Once the page loads, tap right to open it.

3. Toggle over to the button that reads "Nintendo Switch Online" and click it. You'll be brought to your account page.

IMG_5941
You'll need to click the "Nintendo Switch Online" button underneath the banner.  Steven John/Business Insider

4. Scroll down to the "Turn Off Automatic Renewal" button and click it.

IMG_5943
There's no "Cancel Membership" button — you'll need to turn off automatic renewal instead.  Steven John/Business Insider

5. Select "Turn Off" in the pop-up window to confirm your choice. The pop-up will let you know that you can keep using the online service until the end of the current billing cycle.

And that's it. You should see a message reading: "Automatic renewal has been turned off." At the end of the current payment cycle, your subscription to Nintendo Switch Online will end. 

Remember, however, that as long as you're subscribed to Switch Online, all of your saved game data will be backed up to the cloud. If you cancel your subscription, you'll have 180 days to renew your membership — otherwise, that data will be deleted, and you'll be left with just the data on your Switch, SD card, or external hard drive.

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Steven John
Steven John has been a freelance writer for more than a dozen years and has been a regular contributor to Business Insider since 2017. His work includes a focus on the tech world, covering companies including Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Google, and others. He also reviews restaurants, shares how-to cooking articles, and writes general interest pieces.Steven also writes for publications including Architectural Digest, The Daily Beast, Forbes, and more. In the past, he also wrote for New York Magazine, Mashed, U.S. News & World Report and other outlets. He runs his own outdoor lifestyle site, Dad Gear Review, and co-hosts the Fact Trekkers podcast with his son. He has had two novels published, Three A.M. and Outrider. He graduated from Emerson College with a degree in communications focused on filmmaking.He is an avid outdoorsman and can be frequently found in a kayak or on a mountain trail, often with his family along for the adventure.Expertise:Tech industryTech hardwareOutdoorsCookingRestaurantsDIYPopular articles:Microsoft: A history of the software giant co-founded by Bill Gates, its products and services, jobs, layoffs, and moreYouTube is a major entertainment force. Here's the platform's history, plus how to create a channel and upload videos.Inside the life and career of Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, billionaire, and philanthropistTim Cook net worth: How the Apple leader earns and spends his moneyBecoming an Amazon seller is a simple process. Here's what's involved, plus how you make money and get paid.