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| Nintendo Switch system software | |
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| Developer | Nintendo HAL Laboratory[1] |
| Written in | C,C++ andHTML for eShop and online services settings |
| OS family | Proprietary OS, derivative of theNintendo 3DS system software (containing components which are based onFreeBSD andAndroid) |
| Working state | Current |
| Source model | Closed source |
| Initial release | 1.0.0 / March 3, 2017; 8 years ago (2017-03-03) |
| Latest release | 21.0.1 / November 24, 2025; 3 days ago (2025-11-24)[2] |
| Available in |
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| Update method | Direct download |
| Supported platforms | |
| Preceded by | Nintendo 3DS system software Wii U system software |
| Official website | support.nintendo.com |
TheNintendo Switch system software (also known by its codenameHorizon[3]) is an updatablefirmware andoperating system used by theNintendo Switch andNintendo Switch 2hybrid video game consoles. It is based on a proprietarymicrokernel. Theuser interface (UI) includes the game library organized in a horizontal row, with numerous additional options and shortcuts underneath.
Nintendo has released only limited information about the Switch's internals to the public. However, computer security researchers,homebrew software developers, and the authors ofemulators have all analyzed the operating system in great depth.[4][5][3]
Notable findings include that the Switch operating system is codenamed Horizon, that it is an evolution of theNintendo 3DS system software, and that it implements a proprietarymicrokernel architecture.[4][3] All drivers run inuserspace, including the Nvidia driver which the security researchers described as "kind of similar to the Linux driver". The graphics driver features an undocumented thin API layer, called NVN, which is "kind of likeVulkan"[4] but exposes most hardware features likeOpenGL compatibility profile with Nvidia extensions. All userspace processes aresandboxed and useAddress Space Layout Randomization (ASLR), a computer security technique involved in preventing exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities.[4][3]
Nintendo made efforts to design the system software to be as minimalist as possible, with the home menu's graphical assets using less than 200kilobytes. This minimalism is meant to improve system performance and launch games faster.[6]
As early as July 2018, Nintendo has been trying to counter Switchhomebrewing andpiracy. Measures include an onlineban, and on the hardware side,patching of theTegra SoC to preventexploits.[7] On 11 December 2018, Nintendo sued Mikel Euskaldunak for selling a Switchmodification that can playpirated games.[8] Since August 2019, the difficulty of homebrewing has gone up, as the new Mariko chip replaced the old Erista chip.[9][10] After the release of the Lite in late 2019, tools for hacking all Switch consoles were announced.[11] In September 2020, Gary Bowser was arrested in theDominican Republic, and later appeared in court in the USA afterwards.[12] The prosecution alleges that Bowser was a piracy group leader.[13]
Despite popular misconceptions to the contrary, Horizon is not largely derived fromFreeBSD code, nor fromAndroid, although the software license[14] and reverse engineering efforts[15][16] have revealed that Nintendo does use some code from both in some system services and drivers. For example, the networking stack in the Switch OS is derived at least in part from FreeBSD code.[15] Nintendo's use of FreeBSD networking code is legal as it is made available under the permissiveBSD license, and not even particularly unusual – for instance andinterface, theMicrosoft WindowsTCP/IP stack (used since at least2000 andXP) was originally derived from BSD code in a similar fashion, using part of its TCP/IP code for its implementation of TCP/IP, which was legal.[17][better source needed][18]
Components derived fromAndroid code include the Stagefright multimedia framework,[19] as well as components of the graphics stack[5] including thedisplay server (derived fromSurfaceFlinger)[16] and the graphics driver (which seems to be derived from Nvidia's proprietary Linux driver).[20]
Although a full web browser intended for general browsing is not available on the console as of January 2025[update], several so-called 'applets' are included which utilise theWebKit rendering engine to display web content within a stripped back interface. A WebKit-poweredapplet is used to allow users to log in tocaptive portals when connecting to certain wireless networks, as well as for operating system features such as the Nintendo eShop, social media integrations, and digital manuals.[21][22]
The version of the Nintendo Switch system software that runs on theNintendo Switch lacksIPv6 support, whereas the version that runs on theNintendo Switch 2 does not.[23] There is no support for RFC 4941, thus as of version 20.1.5, all IPv6 packets disclose the uniquely identifiable MAC address ifSLAAC is in use.[citation needed] Enabling IPv6 breaks 5GHz support,[23] and support for RDNSS is absent.[citation needed]
The Nintendo Switch home screen has battery, Internet and time information in the top-right corner, and below it is a grid showing all software on the system, downloaded or physical. Underneath that it has shortcuts to OS functions such as Nintendo Switch Online, GameChat (on Nintendo Switch 2), the News, eShop, Album, GameShare, Controller settings, Virtual Game Cards, System Settings, and a Sleep Mode button.[24] Unlike previous Nintendo systems, the Nintendo Switch home screen currently lacks a web browser and a messaging system.[citation needed]
The News function of the Nintendo Switch software allows users to read gaming news and advertisements provided by Nintendo and third-party developers.[25] News is also displayed when the system is locked.[26]
The News interface was originally available in the 1.0.0 version of the software; however, new headlines were not transmitted until the 2.0.0 update was released. The 3.0.0 update revamped the News system, adding multiple news "channels" for different games that users can subscribe to. The news headlines that appear depend on which channels are subscribed to. The 4.0.0 update further improved the News screen, updating its layout. The 9.0.0 update added search support to the News channel, allowing users to narrow the list via filters or free text.[2] The 10.0.0 update added a "Bookmark" feature, allowing users to save their favorite News articles.[27][25]
GameChat is a voice chat feature exclusive to theNintendo Switch 2, similar toDiscord andSkype. For local wireless play, which with other the game is shared from the Switch 2 to nearby Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 systems. For online multiplayer, GameShare shares the game via the internet, and GameChat enables voice and video chat for online multiplayer sessions. Up to 12 people can participate in a single chat room, and up to 4 people can use screen sharing at the same time.[28]
The Nintendo eShop option on the Home menu opens a WebKit-based[22] interface that allows games to be purchased and downloaded from the Nintendo eShop.
As well as games, the eShop offers select non-gaming apps.Niconico, a popular Japanese video service, launched for the Switch in Japan on 13 July 2017 and was the Switch's first third-party media app in any market.[29]Hulu was the first video streaming application released for the Switch in the United States on 9 November 2017.[30] In June 2018, Fils-Aimé said that conversations to bringNetflix to the Switch were "on-going".[31] AYouTube application was released on 8 November 2018.[32] On 4 November 2020, a trial version app of theTencent Video streaming service was launched exclusively for Nintendo Switch consoles officially distributed byTencent in mainland China. An official version app will be launched at a later date.[33]Funimation launched their own streaming app for the Nintendo Switch, featuring a reworked layout and new functions. The app became available via eShop in the United States and Canada on 15 December 2020, and will launch in various other countries at a later date,[34] such as the United Kingdom and Ireland on 22 March 2021.[35] A version of theTwitch app launched for the Nintendo Switch on 11 November 2021 in most regions worldwide. The eShop version of the app allows users to watch or follow any live or recorded content on Twitch, but does not support any native ability for Switch players to contribute content.[36] The Twitch app for the Nintendo Switch was discontinued on 31 January 2024.[37]
Korg Gadget, a music production app, was released for the Nintendo Switch on 26 April 2018.[38]InkyPen, a comics and manga subscription app, launched exclusively on the Switch worldwide in December 2018.[39] Izneo, another comics and manga subscription service, was released for the Switch in February 2019.[40]FUZE4, a text-based programming language app, was released in August 2019.[41]
The Album stores captured screenshots and videos. Pressing the "Capture" button on the controller, in supported software, will save a screenshot, either to themicroSD card, or to the system memory. The Album allows users to view screenshots that have been taken. Screenshots can be edited by adding text, and they can be shared toFacebook orTwitter.[42] In addition, in supported games, holding down the Capture button briefly will save the last 30 seconds of video to the Album. It can then be trimmed and posted online.[43]
The 2.0.0 update added the ability to post screenshots to Facebook or Twitter from within the system UI, making it easier to share screenshots. The 4.0.0 update added support for saving 30-second videos, in compatible games. The 14.0.0 update added the ability to download screenshots and videos to aPC via aUSB cable or to a Mobile device via a webpage hosting the files generated by the Switch.[citation needed]
Regardless of the amount of free space on the system's internal memory or microSD card, there is a hard limit on the number of screenshots and videos that can be stored, being 1,000 and 100, respectively.[44]
On May 9, 2024, it was announced that, as of June 10, 2024, that it would no longer be possible to post screenshots and videos on Twitter due to API changes.[45][non-primary source needed]
GameShare is a feature similar toDS Download Play, where users can play multiplayer games using a single copy of the game. While the feature was introduced to the Nintendo Switch in the 20.0.0 update,[46] GameShare requires a Nintendo Switch 2 system in order to share a copy of the game. The feature also works online on the Nintendo Switch 2 via theGameChat service.[28]
The Controllers menu allows controllers to be paired, disconnected, or reconnected. The 3.0.0 update added the "Find Controllers" option, which allows any nearby controllers that have been paired to be remotely turned on and vibrated, to help find lost controllers.[47][non-primary source needed]
Introduced in version 20.0.0, the Virtual Game Cards menu allows the user to manage digital games purchased in theNintendo eShop similar to physicalgame cards, allowing the user to load, move, and lend them to another system tied to the users'Nintendo Account or Nintendo Account Family Group.[46]
The Settings option allows for system settings to be changed, and includes other functionality, such as creatingMiis.[48]
The Nintendo Switch has a hidden Recovery Mode (RCM) feature, which can be accessed by powering off the unit, then using a specially constructed jig to short-circuit two pins on the right-hand Joy-Con connector, and then holding down the volume up button while powering on the unit. The unit would then boot without the Nintendo logo, indicating that Recovery Mode has been successfully activated. The feature is also used as an exploit on unpatched version 1.0.0 units to run homebrew software, which has been investigated for the purpose ofdigital forensics acquisition.[49]
The initial version of the system software for Nintendo Switch on the launch day consoles was updated as a "day one" patch on 3 March 2017, the console's launch date.[50] The update added online features that were previously missing from the original software before its official launch date. Some notable features of this update are access to theNintendo eShop as well as the ability to add friends to a friends list, similar to that of theNintendo 3DS.[51] On 7 June 2021, patch 12.0.3 was released, but was removed 12 hours later for problems with network connections as well as issues with MicroSDXC cards.[52]
The April 2021 firmware update was found bydataminers to have added rudimentary support forBluetooth audio.[53][54] This support was expanded and made available to regular users on September 14, 2021, when patch 13.0 was released. Patch 13.0 also added the ability to apply software updates to the Switch Dock (only applicable for docks released with the Switch OLED Model, which have a built-in LAN port), and a new setting for Sleep Mode that allows the Switch to maintain an Internet connection when the Switch is asleep to download updates. When disabled, the console will only connect to the Internet occasionally when asleep, in order to save power. Additionally, Patch 13.0 changed the method to initiate a control stick calibration and allowed users to view their wireless Internet frequency band (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz) on the Internet Connection Status page.
In November 2021, the 13.1.0 version update added support for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.[55][non-primary source needed]
The 14.0.0 update in March 2022 added a Groups feature, allowing users to sort games into groups as a means to declutter the game collection screen.[56]
The 20.0.0 update added GameShare and Virtual Game Cards, as well as updated icons to match the Switch 2's user interface.[46]
| Hardware | |
|---|---|
| Services | |
| Games | |
