Nintendo has released firmware version 21.0.0 for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, delivering a range of enhancements, visual refinements, and system optimizations.
The update adds icons above games in the HOME Menu to indicate whether a title is a physical cartridge or a digital purchase, expands options for virtual game cards, and broadens data-transfer settings between consoles. Volume control is now available in VR, and overall performance improvements make system operation smoother.
The Nintendo Switch 2 receives additional features, including improved GameChat, the ability to cancel all downloads at once, expanded accessibility and audio settings, enhanced HDR calibration, and two new languages — Thai and Polish. This release highlights Nintendo’s focus on usability and technical refinement.
List of changes:
Nintendo Switch Ver. 21.0.0:
- Icons above game tiles now indicate whether a title is a physical cartridge or a digital purchase.
- Data for virtual game cards can be downloaded even when the “Use Online License” option is turned off.
- Information related to Save Data Cloud backups has been updated.
- The “Platinum Point Notification Settings” entry has been renamed to “Nintendo Switch Online Notification Settings”.
- During data transfer to a Nintendo Switch 2, you can opt out of redownloading software and transferring album data.
- Volume adjustment is now available through Quick Settings in VR.
- General stability improvements.
Nintendo Switch 2 Ver. 21.0.0:
- Icons above game tiles now indicate whether a title is a physical cartridge or a digital purchase.
- Option to cancel all downloads when multiple downloads are in progress.
- A “Receive Software” option for bundles that include downloadable software.
- Expanded player-search functionality from GameChat friends.
- GameChat improvements: the console no longer enters sleep during chats, you can disable “Chat Audio Panning,” and chat sessions persist when switching console modes.
- Accessibility: text-to-speech (TTS) now reads predictable characters and supports speeds up to 400%.
- Audio: choose between “Stable” or “Low Latency” audio modes for the Pro Controller.
- Display: “HDR Output” has been renamed and HDR calibration has been improved.
- Notifications: the Platinum Point Notification setting has been renamed.
- System: added “Stop Charging Around 80–90%” and introduced Thai and Polish language options.
- General stability improvements.
Version 21.0.0 has been available since November 10, 2025 and can be installed via System Settings on both consoles.
Source: iXBT.games