Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 System Update 21.0.0 Available — Here Are the Patch Notes

Nintendo has issued a fresh system software update for the Switch and Switch 2, bringing both consoles’ firmware up to Version 21.0.0.

The latest patch adds a range of features for both consoles, including a number of useful changes for managing digital games, and upgrades for the Switch 2’s built-in Game Chat.

On both consoles, you can now see a symbol above software icons on the Home Menu that will show whether the game is a cartridge-based or not. You can also set virtual game card data downloading even if you have chosen to disable the “Use Online License” setting.

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On Switch 2, you can now receieve a prompt to download any software bundled alongside the console (like Mario Kart World!) which sounds like it’ll save you from inputting any pesky codes.

Switch 2 Game Chat also gets some upgrades, with the game you’re playing no longer automatically going to sleep if you’re still chatting. You’ll keep chatting, too, if your console is docked and you switch over to a wired connection (or vice versa).

And in a minor but amusing tweak, Nintendo has renamed the battery saving “stop charging around 90%” option to now more accurately reflect how it operates. It’s now named “stop charging around 80-90%”, so you can stop worrying if it’s working correctly.

As ever, a few extra tweaks appear to be in the update that haven’t made it into Nintendo’s official patch notes. On ResetEra, fans report that you can now disable auto-playing videos in the eShop — which is a truly welcome addition. Nintendo dataminer OatmealDome, meanwhile, stats that there’s also a new menu to view your peak brightness value when adjusting HDR settings in TV mode.

Switch 2 GameChat with the Nintendo Camera – Screenshots

Here are Nintendo’s full patch notes:

Nintendo Switch Ver. 21.0.0 (Released November 10, 2025):

• Added symbols above software icons displayed on the HOME Menu to indicate whether the software is a physical or a digital version.
• Added the ability to download data for a virtual game card even if the “Use Online License” setting is turned off.
  • This option is available in the Options of a virtual game card when accessed via Virtual Game Cards from the HOME Menu.
• The information regarding Save Data Cloud Backup that appears when launching certain software has been updated.
• The option “Platinum Point Notification Settings” was renamed to “Nintendo Switch Online Notification Settings” in the Notifications menu in System Settings.
• Added the ability to disable the following options when performing a system transfer from a Nintendo Switch system to a Nintendo Switch 2 system using System Transfer to Nintendo Switch 2 in System Settings.
  • Redownload Software on Nintendo Switch 2
  • Transfer Album Data
• Added the ability to adjust the volume from the Quick Settings menu while in VR mode.
• General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience.

Nintendo Switch 2 Ver. 21.0.0 (Released November 10, 2025)

• Added symbols above software icons displayed on the HOME Menu to indicate whether the software is a physical or a digital version.
• When multiple software downloads are in progress, there is now an option to cancel all.
• If a console bundle includes a software download, there will now be an icon to “Receive Software.” It will display if the system is connected to the internet.
  • The icon will launch Nintendo eShop and you can proceed to the downloadable software.
  • You can still receive the software by navigating to Nintendo eShop from the HOME Menu directly.
• When finding users to send a friend request to, the Search for Users You’ve Played With option under Add Friend now includes people you’ve interacted with in your friends’ GameChat rooms.
• Added the ability to download data for a virtual game card even if the “Use Online License” setting is turned off.
  • This option is available in the Options of a virtual game card when accessed via Virtual Game Cards from the HOME Menu.
• The following updates have been made for GameChat:
  • The game will not automatically go to sleep while chatting.
  • The option to turn off “Chat Audio Panning” has been added.
  • Chat can continue if the console goes from TV mode (docked) to Handheld or Table mode where this scenario changes the internet from a wired connection to a wireless connection.
• The following updates have been made in Accessibility in System Settings:
  • When Use Text to Speech is turned on, the description of the predictive conversion character on the Japanese keyboard is now read out loud.
  • The upper limit of Text-to-Speech Speed was increased from 300% to 400%
• The following updates have been made in Audio in System Settings:
  • The ability to change the audio mode for a wirelessly connected Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller was added. “Stable” or “Low Latency” can be selected.
  • “Low Latency” will reduce audio latency when compared to “Stable” but may be more subject to interference in some wireless environments.
• The following updates have been made in Display in System Settings:
  • “HDR Output” was renamed to “System Screen’s HDR Output.”
  • Improved the screen display when using Adjust Screen Size to make it easier to adjust.
• The following updates have been made in Notifications in System Settings:
  • The option “Platinum Point Notification” was renamed to “Nintendo Switch Online Notification.”
• The following updates have been made in System in System Settings:
  • “Stop Charging Around 90%” was renamed and updated to “Stop Charging Around 80-90%”
  • Thai and Polish were added to the list of options under Language.
    • Thai and Polish will only be available in software when it supports the respective language.
• General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience.

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social