Nintendo‘s wildly popular Switch console takes gaming on-the-go to the next level. And an ever-growing 95 million users have opted into subscriptions for Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) to access coveted features like online multiplayer, retro classics and cloud save data backups.
But keeping up with recurring subscription charges isn‘t viable or necessary for all gamers. Fortunately, turning off automatic renewal for Nintendo Online is quick and straightforward.
In this guide, we’ll cover:
- Overview of Nintendo Online tiers and pricing
- Step-by-step instructions to cancel on Nintendo‘s website or your Switch
- Summary table of features available to paid vs. cancelled memberships
- Expectations around final billing, expiration timing and account access after cancelling
- Answers to frequently asked questions on obtaining prorated refunds, avoiding surprise charges and more
Let’s help make your Switch gaming experience even more carefree. Whether you ultimately choose to renew or cancel Nintendo Online, you’ll have the insights to make the best decision for your gaming needs after reading.
Nintendo Online Subscription Options and Value
First, a refresher on the Nintendo Online membership tiers available along with their pricing as of February 2023:
| Membership | Monthly Price | Annual Price |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | $3.99 | $19.99 |
| Family (up to 8 users) | $9.99 | $34.99 |
| Expansion Pack (N64/Genesis) | $6.99 | $49.99 |
For less than the cost of a single new Switch game annually, a base subscription unlocks crucial features including:
- Online multiplayer gaming
- Cloud storage for save game data
- Growing library of classic NES and SNES titles
- Member-exclusive offers and discounts
Meanwhile, the pricier Expansion Pack throws in libraries of nostalgic Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games. This adds up to a compelling value that over 48 million subscribers to date deem worthwhile paying for.
However, as your gaming habits and financial situation evolves, you may no longer benefit enough to justify another year of payments for maintaining online access. Let’s dive into how you can easily manage your Nintendo Online subscription going forwards.
Step-by-Step Guide: How To Cancel Nintendo Online
You can quickly halt automatic subscription extension (or “auto-renewal”) on either Nintendo‘s website via desktop browser or directly through the Switch console and eShop platform.
Both methods involve accessing your membership status and toggling off future billing for another term. We’ll walk through each process in detail, but the general steps are:
- Access your Nintendo Account details
- Navigate to membership status
- Turn off auto-renewal
Without further ado, let‘s begin:
Method 1: Cancel Through Nintendo Account Website (Recommended)
If you have your Nintendo credentials handy for login, utilizing a web browser is the fastest way to manage your Switch Online subscription.
Here is how to cancel renewal on your computer:
Step 1: Log In to Your Nintendo Account
- Open any internet browser and head to the Nintendo account website at accounts.nintendo.com.
- If you see language or region selection, choose based on where you originally registered your Nintendo Account.
- Sign in by clicking Log In. If prompted, verify using two-factor authentication.
- If you have trouble recalling login credentials, use Forgot password? prior to Step 2 and check the email on file for a reset link from Nintendo.
Step 2: Access Shop Menu
- From the main Nintendo Account page after login, click Shop menu in the upper right corner as shown to access purchase and subscriptions history.
Step 3: Click Into Nintendo Switch Online Details
- Scroll down until you see the Nintendo Switch Online section. Click directly on the membership name.
Step 4: Turn Off Auto-Renewal
- On the next screen detailing your membership status, click the obvious Turn off automatic renewal button.
- Confirm your choice in any follow-up dialogs to complete cancellation of future billing.
And you‘re all set! Expect an immediate confirmation email from Nintendo specifying when your paid subscription access concludes.
Let‘s move onto cancelling Nintendo Online directly on your Switch console next.
Method 2: Cancel Through Nintendo Switch eShop
Alternatively, you may prefer managing your Nintendo Account subscriptions directly on your Switch device rather than logging into a browser. Here is how to halt automatic renewal for Nintendo Online via the eShop:
Step 1: Access the eShop
- From your Switch system‘s main menu, navigate to and select the eShop icon. You may need to confirm your login details or parental controls if enabled.
Step 2: Click Nintendo Switch Online Details
- Once signed into the eShop, tap on your profile icon at the upper-right corner of the top menu.
- Select Nintendo Switch Online information the dropdown.
Step 3: Turn Off Auto-Renewal
- In the membership details screen, toggle the auto-renewal switch off to Off.
- Confirm cancellation of future subscription extension or billing.
Similar to changing settings on Nintendo‘s website, you will immediately receive confirmation via email that renewal and billing are now halted.
Via either method, you retain full access to Nintendo Online for the remainder of the current paid term before things lapse or expire. Keep reading to learn what happens post-cancellation.
Comparing Active vs. Expired/Cancelled Nintendo Online Memberships
To set accurate expectations before and after cancellation, refer to this comparison of membership status and what features you can or cannot access:
| Membership Status | Online Multiplayer | NES/SNES Games | Cloud Saves | Special Offers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Expired | No | No | No* | No |
*Console will warn before erasing cloud saves when status becomes inactive
As you can observe, canceling prior to expiration allows you to continue enjoying all Nintendo Online benefits without interruption until the current renewal term concludes.
However once membership lapses, core functionality like online gaming, legacy game libraries and data backups become disabled and inaccessible. For continued access to these conveniences, you would need to resubscribe or renew your membership down the road.
Other considerations around cancellation:
- Nintendo does not offer prorated subscription extensions if you renew partway through an expired term. You must pay the full renewal price.
- Unlike software and entertainment subscriptions such as Microsoft 365 or Netflix, Nintendo also does not issue any partial or prorated refunds if you cancel a subscription mid-term. You retain full access until original expiration, but no credits are granted for unused remaining time afterwards.
- With auto-renewal halted, Nintendo will not charge any future membership fees to your payment method on file. Feel free to cancel worry-free.
Now let‘s tackle some frequently asked questions around other Nintendo Online cancellation issues.
FAQ: Common Nintendo Online Cancellation Queries
Here are answers to some additional questions you may have around canceling your Nintendo Online membership:
I successfully canceled auto-renewal, but got charged again unexpectedly. What should I do?
Check the confirmation and expiration timeline in the email Nintendo sent immediately after disabling future automatic billing. If you canceled prior to expiration but still observe additional charges from Nintendo, contact their billing support team referencing the email that you initially received confirming your cancellation. They should be able to refund any mistaken or unauthorized renewal fees.
Can I change the credit card or payment method used for my current Nintendo Online membership?
Yes! On both the Nintendo Account website and eShop subscription management screens, look for the Change button close to your current payment method details shown. Selecting this option will allow you to safely input an updated or new credit/debit card, PayPal account or other payment profile. Your subscription access continues unchanged.
If I only play online intermittently, are there options to reduce my subscription cost?
Consider sharing a Family membership plan! At only $5 more annually than an Individual membership, this bumps maximum number of accounts from 1 to 8. So by getting just a couple friends or family to chip in and join your family group, each person ends up paying reduced fees.
What happens to my save data if my console breaks before I can renew?
If your Switch experiences damage or hardware malfunctions while still actively subscribed, immediately contact Nintendo Support referencing your situation once obtaining a repair or replacement console. Especially for situations like lost/stolen systems, they can help restore game save data that was backed up online prior to device failure. But act quick before the subscription expires!
If I change my mind later, are previously purchased NES/SNES games still accessible if I resubscribe?
Yes! Your entitlements for any individual classic games purchased with real-world funds will persist even across subscription lapses, allowing you to download and play them again indefintely if you do opt to resubscribe to Switch Online later on. Just archived cloud save data and non-purchased legacy game access require maintaining an active membership.
I hope going over the cancellation process plus perspectives around managing your Nintendo Online membership long-term gives you clarity on the right choice for your evolving gaming needs. Let me know in the comments if this guide helped you make informed console online access decisions!
