Although the Nintendo Switch Online service has a lot to offer subscribers, it’s not for everyone. If left alone, Nintendo will automatically renew a subscription whether you have a long-standing account, or took up a free trial.
In this article, we’ll show you how to cancel the auto renewal option on your Nintendo Switch account to avoid getting charged.
Types of Auto Renewal
The Nintendo Online service has different renewal types for each account. It’s important to know which one you have, as the auto renewal can be turned off, but can’t be changed to a different type.
- Fixed Term
As per the name, this subscription plan is renewed to a fixed term. This can either be every three months, or every 12 months, depending on what term you originally selected. This type is counted per minute, and the time left until it’s renewed will be displayed on your subscription page. - Monthly
Monthly subscriptions are renewed at the end of every month. This is the default renewal if you opted for the seven-day free trial. Monthly subscriptions cost more per month than the fixed term ones. If you have a free trial and wish to extend it, it’s a good idea to go fixed term rather than monthly.
If your free trial is about to end, turn off your renewal before the deadline. Otherwise, you’ll automatically be renewed for a month.
Nintendo will first charge the funds available on your Nintendo eShop if you let the Automatic Renewal deadline lapse. If there are no, or insufficient funds on your account, Nintendo will charge you via the payment method that you chose when you created it.
Subscriptions are renewed depending on the last type that you purchased. If you’ve recently taken a monthly subscription, even if you’ve had fixed term ones in the past, your renewal will be monthly and vice versa.
Remember that Automatic Renewal will turn on every time you buy a new subscription. This happens even if you turned it off the last time.
How to Cancel Auto Renewal Step by Step
Automatic renewal cancellation can be done either through the Switch or by using the Nintendo website.
To do this on the Switch, follow these steps:
- Make sure that your console has an internet connection.
- Select your profile on the upper left corner of the screen.
- Choose User Settings on the menu.
- On the Nintendo Switch Online menu, choose Check Your Subscriptions.
- Wait for the eShop to load.
- Your subscription details will be shown. Click on Turn Off Automatic Renewal.
Note that once automatic renewal has been turned off, it can’t be turned back on. An alternative method on the Switch would be to do the following:
- On the HOME menu on the Switch, choose Nintendo eShop.
- Choose your account.
- Click your icon on the upper-right corner to see your account information.
- Once your account info loads, click on Turn Off Automatic Renewal.
To do this by using a web browser, you can follow these steps:
- Log in to the accounts page, on the Nintendo website.
- Choose Shop Menu from the list.
- Choose Nintendo Switch Online.
- Select which account you want to cancel.
- Choose Turn Off Automatic Renewal.
As mentioned, once Automatic Renewal is turned off, it can’t be turned on again until you buy another subscription.
Changing Payment Methods
If you don’t want to cancel your subscription, but instead change the payment details, that option is also available on the subscription page.
On the Switch console, go to your subscriptions page by following the steps above. Under Automatic Renewal Payment Method, click Change. The same can be done via the website. On the Shop Menu, choose Change under Payment Method for Automatic Renewal, then select which method you want.
The payment methods available are via Credit Card, PayPal, or Available Funds. Once you choose a method, follow the instructions to fill in your payment details.
Additional Notes About Online Subscriptions
There are a few things about the Nintendo Online Service that you might take note of before choosing to turn off automatic renewal. These aren’t all the details available about the service, but they may prove useful.
- Turning off Automatic Renewal doesn’t cancel your current subscription. You’ll have full use of the account until the current period expires.
- You have 48 hours before the expiration period of the current subscription to turn off the Automatic Renewal. Nintendo will charge your account 48 hours before the period expires. If you don’t turn it off before this deadline, you’ll be charged for the new subscription.
- Although there are no details in the Nintendo terms of Service, Nintendo has been known to offer no refunds.
- Individual accounts renew for one-month, three-month, or 12-month periods. Family accounts are always for 12 months.
- If you have a current subscription and then buy a new one before it expires, the period of your new subscription will be added to current time remaining. Automatic renewal period will be based on the newest subscription, not the old one.
- If you have an Individual membership and decide to buy a Family membership, your Individual membership’s renewal will automatically be turned off. Time won’t be added to your individual membership though. It will continue to run until its original expiration.
Avoiding Surprise Charges
The Automatic Renewal option was made by Nintendo for those who can’t be bothered to renew their subscriptions. This is well and good if you want to keep subscribing, but can prove unwelcome if you never really had any intention of doing so. Knowing how to cancel the Nintendo Switch’s auto renewal keeps you from getting charged without realizing it.
Do you have any experiences regarding Nintendo’s Auto Renewal system? Do you have opinions on the topic that you wish to share? Head to the comments section and give us your thoughts.
