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For people who are just now getting the console, the big question is how to actually play games. Whether it’s a Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite, or Switch OLED model, that discussion starts with putting a cartridge into the unit. Here’s how to do it.
How to Insert a Game Card into the Nintendo Switch
On all models of the Nintendo Switch, cartridges can be inserted into a slot on the top right corner of the console when viewing its screen side. The slot is covered by a bendable cover labeled “GAME CARD” that can simply be opened with a fingernail.
To insert a game, hold the cover back and insert the cartridge with the label side facing the screen and the contacts facing the back of the console. Push the cartridge in until you feel a click. The click guarantees that the cartridge is fully secured in the Switch. From there, put the cover back and press it down to snap it in place.
Removing a cartridge is just as easy. Pull back the cover and press down the cartridge, then let go. The cartridge will pop out slightly, allowing you to grab the cartridge and pull it out.
How to Put a Digital Game Onto the Switch
Alongside the ability to purchase physical copies of games and insert them directly into the Nintendo Switch, people can purchase digital copies of games and run them off a memory stick. This is done by purchasing the game and downloading it through the Nintendo Switch eShop.
The eShop is Nintendo’s online store which allows users to purchase and download games and other content. The eShop is pinned by default to the Switch’s main menu, with an icon that resembles a yellow shopping bag. After creating an account, users can purchase almost every game that has received a physical release and a long list of digital-only games, some of which are free to start. There are some exceptions, however.
Worth noting is that this requires the creation of a Nintendo account. Purchases made through the eShop are attached to the Nintendo Switch account and are non-transferrable. A physical copy of a game also does not offer access to a digital version of the game, requiring users to have the cartridge inserted in order to play.
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