Nintendo Switch Parental Controls™ is a free app for smart devices to keep you engaged with your family’s gaming activities on Nintendo Switch.
◆ A Nintendo Switch console with the latest available system version is required to use this app.
This is recommended for people worried about things such as:
1. Is my child spending too much time playing games?
2. What kind of games is my child playing?
3. Are the games my child is playing age-appropriate?
Below are three special features of the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app:
1. Monitor play time on your console.
Set a play-time limit and the console will notify users that the time limit has been reached.
Parents and guardians can check the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app to see if the time limit has been followed.
It is also possible to suspend gameplay automatically when the play-time limit is reached.
2. Check up on your console’s gameplay.
The summary function allows you to easily see what games have been played on the console recently and how much time was spent playing each day.
View daily reports and monthly summaries of play activity. If you choose to receive push notifications, you’ll be notified when a new monthly summary is available.
It’s an easy way to see what kind of games your family is interested in.
3. Restrict console features.
Nintendo Switch functions can be restricted to prevent the console from playing games above a certain age rating.
Attention:
◆ An Internet connection is required to use this app. Cellular data may be used. A Nintendo Account (for ages 18 and up) is also required.
◆ Restrictions to Nintendo eShop purchases can be set from Nintendo Account settings.
◆ Your use of this app is subject to the Nintendo Account User Agreement available at support.nintendo.com.
◆ In order to make use of all of the features and settings available in the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app, all registered Nintendo Switch consoles need to be using the latest system version.
Non a bad app, missing some functionality. Can’t have more than 3 switches on here. Which sucks for bigger families. Cannot set wake times, so kids can start playing before school even if you don’t want them to. ESRB settings are difficult, and there isn’t a way to approve different games above set limit. No options for bonus time. Overall the navigation of the app is great, simple and easy to see what your kid has been doing. And keep them off the system when they aren’t supposed to be.
This app works great for setting a time limit for my kid’s switches, HOWEVER, I wish there was an option to add bonus time to their limit for the day. I don’t want to have to always change limits. Bonus time works great for rewarding them for chores and other things. I also wish I was able to select a time for the switch to unlock in the morning, I don’t like it being automatically unlocked at 6 a.m..
It’s ok, could be great. One, has a feedback form but no idea if anyone reads or responds. If asked for the limit of switches under control to be increased from 3 to at least 5 about two dozen times. No response. Could use a start time limit to go with the bed time limit. Often have to toggle bonus time repeatedly. Little bit of polishing the experience and could be a great app.
it’s amazing because I can set the time limit and bed time, but nothing beats being able to turn it off or add more time to his account from work or wherever. Actually this ability has been used more to add time than turn it off because they know what they need to do and will be held accountable. lastly if its left on the homescreen on accident it doesn’t calculate that as time played but it does use up the time limit which then can be adjusted.
The app is mostly pretty good, but I think it’s missing some very simple features that seem like common sense. I would like to set a beginning time so my kid doesn’t wake up at 5:30 am so he can start playing. I want the ability to shut the Switch down whenever i want to. I would also like the ability to to add some time instead of just disabling alarms for the whole day. Please add these features!
It’s definitely helpful, but the settings are for the entire console and not customizable per person (which makes sense since you don’t log in and stay logged in). I like that it will hide news articles based on age rating. I don’t know how it handles purchases yet. I like that there is a pin for the adults to use to unlock things, and that you can lock the app on your phone.
The app is simple and works well. It would be 5 stars if the app was to let you extend the active screen time on the fly. Like a “bonus time” for good behavior or for special circumstances. Once the limit is reached, the only option you have, if you want to award more time, is to turn Parental Controls off. Then you have to remember to turn it back on. A simple over-time option with 30 minute increments would be perfect, and amazing. Pretty much the same thing a lot of the other reviews said.
Limited but useful parental controls. I am used to more flexibility and immediacy in changing time and restricting access. This app does that, but lags behind other similar apps in being able to make small temporary bumps in screen time or immediately locking or unlocking access from the app. It’s a good start, and I appreciate the option of having it. Though I would like to see it fine tuned a bit more.
I’ve had a Switch since launch but only used the local parental controls. I found this app recently and I wish I had it sooner. It really makes managing parental controls and monitoring activity extremely easy. I can even change the settings on the fly when a game is running and the new settings will be pushed to the console. Highly recommended.
The app and idea is great. The timers are good. Only giving it 3 stars because once the timer goes off, you can still play the games. The timer goes off and on for a little bit, but eventually stops altogether. Would love to give this 5 stars if once the timer went off, it locked the game system or something so you actually can’t play passed the time set
This app is ok. I think it could use some upgrades. The main one being lock console immediately. If you lose the system or if it dinner time, bed time, you should be able to lock the gaming system. It could also use a Bluetooth connection options for when unit is not connected to a network you can connect through Bluetooth to make changes to parent settings. Finally, if it had a find my device feature it would be the greatest app ever! But the first issue is why I only gave it 3 stars.
This app works good with my 5 year old. It allows me to see which games he plays and which he doesn’t. I’d like it if some areas had more functionality. Instead of setting a time sometimes I’d like to just turn it off rather than setting a time. My 5 year old is aware that I am able to see what he does & if behavior isn’t good then I can turn it off & so it does help in that area. Some apps it shows him as playing when he wasn’t actually & the screen was just on. Will reevaluate if app updates.
Iv had this app for about 8 months. I have to supervise my 10 yr old boy. I had no problems for a long while now. it shows me how long time was spent. gave me notifications. but the past month now it has changed. I don’t get notifications anymore. I have to go in the app to see. than it says it hasn’t sync in days. I went to try to sync it on the switch but says some kind of error. I have deleted and re installed. still some errors. idk what’s going on. this has never happened before.
Limited functionality. No way to set a password to the system or games. No way to set time limits for profiles. You can set a bedtime restriction, but not a “wake up” (i.e., no way to set only 1 hour of play and must be between 1 – 7pm). Yes, this app does make my job as a parent easier, but only slightly. Given the complexity of the Switch more robust parental controls would be helpful. My basic thermostat has more security and scheduling options and I didn’t even upgrade to the Nest.
Easy to use until there is an issue. Parental controls are intuitive and useful against my 8 year old son. The ability to block games and set time allowances is great. Fingerprint unlock for the app is great to keep my nosey kid out. Biggest complaint was when my battery locked up, and we had to send it in for repair, the returned device was wiped clean and restoration instructions were poor at best. If the restoration process had gone better. would have been a 5 star.
Great app, the only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of five is I wish there was more options. To elaborate on it, it only has 1-6 hours to lock. Could have customization options like for each user and customized timing so if a child earns more screen time you can add it without having to just override the parental controls. Otherwise it’s great to have the app.
Downloaded this app for my son’s switch, it has a lot of really helpful features. It’s good in theory, would be really helpful if the switch didnt use the all his allotted time while he isn’t even playing it. The app never shows the same usage as the switch. I’m forced to put in the code and remove the restrictions because he ends up with only 30 minutes to play. I might as well not even have this app, so frustrating.
Great overall, but I wish it had a few more features. I use this app on 2 different switches and I love the ability to set time limits, and game ratings. I also enjoy the monthly summary of what was played. That said, I wish the app had a “lock now” feature, or a way to extend play time without having to change the daily schedule. It would also be fantastic if it had a “find my switch” option, where it would cause the switch to play a sound when activated.
This app is amazing, it tells you everything you need to know about how long someone is playing, if something got downloaded, if someone tried putting in your password and failed, etc. If you have a switch, it is crucial to have this with it, it helps me out a ton, especially that it is easy to work and use, simple tabs make this is app great. All you need is common sense and you will be off to see what people are doing on your switch. 10/10, I love it.
This app is very useful, but also has a lot of room for improvement. I would like to be able to set time limits specifically for each user and for each game as well as have the ability to restrict playtime before school. Just like there is a bedtime option there should be a wake-up/start time option. These controls would benefit from being more similar to the XBOX parental controls, which are amazing.
Better than nothing. I like that I can set a limit and pick what ratings are allowed. Wish I could see what games they are playing and for how long. Also reward time would be nice. I can change the time for a day, but then need to change it back. Being able to simply reward them with extra time would be great. Over all its simple and works, but needs more features.
Great! My only recommendation is that Nintendo create an option to force a pin to login to the child’s profile. You can do it by setting the individual time limits to 0, however, you have to be aware of time played, versus relying on limits previously set. If you could have preset limits as well as the pin, that would be perfect.
I just got my four and a half year old a Nintendo switch. At first I was thinking maybe it was a bad idea. But after him watching him interact with it I know it was definitely a good call. I wouldn’t suggest letting a child that age use the mobile version often. Maybe just on long car rides or places where I know he won’t accidentally drop it. However, using it as a home console for my son is perfect. Being able to keep track on my phone when he’s using it and how long he’s using. Is perfect.
I don’t have kids. I use this app to make it a little harder for someone to us my Nintendo Switch without permission. So I set every days time limit to be zero which makes parental controls need to be overridden whenever the device is turned on. The app does everything it says it does. A suggestion I have is to be able to set an amount of time to remain unlocked after the pin code is entered so turning the screen off doesn’t immediately result in a locked device.
Great for general parental controls. I agree with others it needs way more functionality. Especially when not connected to internet. Need the ability to instant lock by button instead of having to take the time limit down for the day. It’s a hassle. Need the ability to communicate or message the console for various purposes. Send reminders to it, etc.
The app itself is fairly easy to navigate/set up, but I believe there should really be an option for setting individual restrictions based on the profiles on the Switch itself. Having blanket restrictions is a little much when you may only have one profile of 4 or 5 that needs the restrictions. Or if you have a varrying array of restrictions needed. Also, while a “reminder” for when time is up is nice and deffinitely useful without being TOO intrusive, maybe have remote power down?
Overall, the app is very useful. I can set daily limits based on when I generally put my 9yo to bed. It’s different on school nights vs a Friday vs Saturday (church the next day). The main fix I would recommend is making it to where I can grant an extension in 15 min increments rather than just shutting it off. On the Screen Time app I have on the tablets, I can do that and it’s done. I don’t have to shut it off again.
Not very user friendly. I found a link to control parental settings within my account but now that’s gone. My child had trouble getting the device to work after i installed my parent app. I did get a notification that the parental control password had been attempted / failed access. That was good. But the app has a lot of work to be truly functional.
I’m able to monitor total usage time ( daily or monthly ) at the touch of a button on the app as well as make time limit adjustments quickly. I can easily set any time limit I desire. I like the alarm that sounds on the video screen, as the game is being played, that warns of the impending time limit. I haven’t explored all the bells and whistles of the app, but pleased with it so far.
The app is great because I am notified when my daughter plays her console or what she downloads. The one issue I have is with signing in. It appears that some keyboard apps want to enter the email with a capitol letter in the beginning. I am told that this shouldn’t matter but I can’t seem to sign in with a capitol letter at the beginning of my email. I always have to change it to lower case. I use swipe keyboard. Does anyone else have this issue.
Severely lacking in options. As others have said, you can have a bedtime shut-off but not a similar option for preventing play before a set “wake-up” time. In the event you do unlock the switch (say, if you’re allowing an extended play session) , you lose visibility within the app of what activity has taken place.
Works very well for the most part, although some aspects could be improved, such as the method of whitelisting apps. Also, some apps contain multiple titles, such as the NES and SNES classic library apps, and it is not possible to whitelist the interior games in examples like these. Otherwise, it’s very useful and well designed.
Love this app but there are definitely some improvements they can make. I use it control how much time my son has each day. If I want to add time (which happens all the time) that is easy but then that will persist for the next week if I forget to change it back. It would be nice to either have it add time each day but not change the default amount per day or each week reset the timers for each day back to where they were.
Total game changer in our household. I’d love it to allow minute changes instead of 15 min increments. That cannot be that hard of a code change…so pretty please make it happen. I’d also love to see a feature to set limits per player and a kill switch. Besides a desire to see a bigger feature set, I really do love this app and feature that it DOES offer.
Great app with easy controls and reports. I just wish three things: 1. That the timer DIDN’T decrease while in the main Switch screen. No reason for it to decrease on a screen where a game isn’t being played. 2. I wish the timer was per profile, not just for the system. 3. Would be nice if the system “stopped” once the time was up.
Great, but needs to be individualized by account. The app enables you to control the WHOLE switch. It counts the time the console was active, not a given account. I want my daughters time on the console on her account to be tracked and limited. not mine. Unfortunately, there’s no way to discriminate between us (unless I clearly missed it). Otherwise this is an awesome app.
A good app but there are things that could be improved. It would be better if the parental controls were tied to a profile & not the whole switch. For example, I do not like that I have to disable it everytime I want to play. I also would like to approve games for me to play but restrict them for my children. It’s a design flaw that causes some issues & inconvenience for me as a parent.
App is very straightforward. Extremely simple to set up. In case you’re wondering, yes you can use your nintendo account that’s not on the switch itself. You can link multiple switches to your nintendo account. And it tracks playtime of all games played every day the switch(es) are played in real time. Easy to set up time and game constraints. Easy to understand data displayed in a pleasing way. Overall a fantastic app!
App is ok but missing a feature: a STOP option. I would love the option to stop/lock the device with one button at will. In order for me to stop the switch before the alloted time is up, I have to go into the individual day and toggle to 0min and update it then whwn I want to turn ir back onb go have and add the original allotted time (which starts the time over) and update it again.
This is great! I bought my kids switches for christmas, but we’ve never done electronics before so I was looking for a way to limit the time they spend on it. It works great for my 6 year Olds switch and times out after an hour. My 9 year old though, isnt timing out. Other than that this app let’s me know when they are on it, when they get off, and what games they played.