iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
To speed up a Nintendo Switch download, first compare the console’s connection test with another device on the same network. If both are slow, troubleshoot the router or internet service; if only the Switch is slow, focus on its Wi-Fi signal, saved connection, or wired setup. A game or update can also appear stuck because open software has paused it.
Check whether the Switch or the network is slow
- Test the Switch: On the HOME Menu, open System Settings > Internet > Test Connection. Note the Download Speed and Upload Speed.
- Test another device: Run a speed test on a phone or computer connected to the same home network, ideally in the same area as the console.
- Compare the results: If both devices are slow, investigate the internet service or home network. If the other device is fast but the Switch is slow, troubleshoot the console’s connection or Wi-Fi path.
Nintendo lists 3 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload as comparison values for troubleshooting—not as ideal game-download speeds or a guarantee of a particular download time. If the Switch’s results remain below those figures, Nintendo recommends asking the internet service provider whether they are expected for the service. See Nintendo’s slow download and upload troubleshooting guide.
Improve a slow Wi-Fi connection
Test close to the router
Move the console near the router temporarily and run the connection test again. If the result improves, distance, obstructions, or interference may be weakening the signal where you normally play. Move metal objects and nearby electronic devices away from the console or router where practical.
Try a fresh connection or another Wi-Fi band
In the Switch’s Internet Settings, create a new connection to your network. If your router offers separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks, test the band the console is not currently using. Neither band is always faster: the result depends on signal strength and the environment, so compare the console’s test results.
#1 Best Overall
- Compatible with Nintendo-Switch (NOT Nintendo-Switch 2)
- Incredible speeds in a microSD card officially licensed for the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo OLED, and Nintendo Switch Lite systems
- Spend less time waiting and more time playing with read speeds up to 100MB/s(1) and write speeds up to 90MB/s(1).
- Instantly add up to 256GB (1GB=1,000,000,000 bytes. Actual user storage less.)
- Store your downloaded games, screenshots and video captures in 1 place so you can travel light.
Restart the network equipment
- Unplug the modem and router.
- Wait 30 seconds.
- Reconnect the modem, then the router, and allow them to reconnect to the internet.
- Run the Switch connection test again.
If the problem persists, ask the router manufacturer about firmware updates or its recommended reset procedure. Nintendo identifies slow internet service, unresponsive networking equipment, weak or interfered-with wireless signals, and several devices using excessive bandwidth as common causes of slow speeds.
Use Ethernet to test whether Wi-Fi is the problem
A wired connection can help isolate a Wi-Fi issue, but it does not increase the speed supplied by your internet service or guarantee faster downloads. If your Switch dock has a built-in LAN port, connect the console to the router with an Ethernet cable. If the dock lacks one, a compatible USB LAN adapter is required to establish a wired connection.
Rank #2
- EXPAND YOUR STORAGE. Insert your card to add massive storage up to 1.5TB[1] to your Android smartphones and tablets, digital cameras, and laptops.
- SPACE FOR MORE. With expansive capacities up to 1.5TB[1], capture and store hours of Full HD video[4], movies, music, games, photos, and podcasts.
- MOVE FILES FAST. Use your card with the SANDISK QuickFlow microSD UHS-I Card USB-A Reader[6] to achieve up to 195MB/s[2] read speeds [128GB-1.5TB models] and offload your content fast.
- LOAD APPS IN A SNAP. Rated A1[3], the SANDISK Ultra microSD card is optimized for faster app launch and overall app performance.
- EASY CONTENT MANAGEMENT. Easily back up, organize, and transfer your photos and videos with the SANDISK Memory Zone desktop or Android mobile app[5].
If Ethernet is already in use, power-cycle the network equipment, try another Ethernet cable, and, for diagnosis, test a direct connection to the modem. Contact the router manufacturer for firmware or reset guidance if the wired connection remains slow. Compare the Switch’s connection-test results on Wi-Fi and Ethernet rather than assuming one will always be faster.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix a download that is paused or appears stuck
Some software pauses downloads while it is being played. Save your game, close the software from the HOME Menu, then refresh the download:
Rank #3
- Nintendo Switch 2 uses a new standard of expandable memory card called microSD Express (sold separately). This kind of memory card is needed for faster access speeds and to ensure games will run smoothly.
- Please note: Nintendo Switch 2 is only compatible with microSD Express cards. If the microSD cards you have used for Nintendo Switch do not support microSD Express standards, you cannot use them with Nintendo Switch 2.
- Open your user page from the HOME Menu.
- Select User Settings > Update Download Progress.
- If progress does not resume, restart the console and wait for it to reconnect to the internet.
- Keep software that may pause the download closed, and test the connection if progress remains slow.
Nintendo’s UK troubleshooting steps for stuck software and update downloads cover downloads that do not begin, are paused, or appear stuck.
Check sleep-mode downloads
The Switch can continue downloading in sleep mode when it has an internet connection and enough free space on system memory or the inserted microSD card. Keep a Wi-Fi-connected console within range of the router and avoid obstructions. Sleep mode is a way to let a download continue while the console is idle; Nintendo does not say that it raises the connection’s maximum speed.
Rank #4
- [Gaming Series] Especially designed for Gaming Consoles. A1 spec enables high speed data transfer for game professionals
- [Ultra HD] Read/Write up to 100/60 MB/s. UltraHD video displaying/recording
- [Compatibility] Storage for Laptop, Tablet, PC, Smartphones, Camera, e-Reader. Files, Videos, Music [Notice] Compatible with Nintendo Switch 1; not compatible for gaming with Nintendo Switch 2
- [Environment] Waterproof, shockproof, temperature-proof and X-Ray proof
- [Support] Gigastone 5-year limited warranty
For a wired connection, enable System Settings > Sleep Mode > Maintain Internet Connection in Sleep Mode. If a download does not progress while the console sleeps, update the system, restart it, check available storage, and try downloading with the console on. Nintendo’s sleep-mode download troubleshooting guide provides these checks.
Recommended Free Tools
What to do when the slowdown affects every device
If a second device on the same network is also slow, the Switch is unlikely to be the only bottleneck. Restart the modem and router, check whether other devices are using substantial bandwidth, and contact your internet service provider if speeds remain below the service’s expected range. Nintendo also recommends checking with the provider when the Switch’s test results stay below its troubleshooting comparison values.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Compatible with Nintendo Switch (NOT Nintendo Switch 2). Always check your device's max supported capacity.
- Reliable Real-World Capacity - Labeled Capacities/Usable Capacities: 64GB/≥58GB; 128GB/≥116GB; 256GB/≥232GB; 512GB/≥465GB; 1TB/≥908GB (Due to OS formatting and binary/decimal calculation differences)
- 4K & Full HD Ready — Optimized for high-bitrate video recording and burst-mode photography. Handles RAW files, time-lapse sequences, and smooth 4K UHD playback without lag or frame drops.
- UHS-I U3 + A2 Certified Speed — Up to 100MB/s read speed (lab-tested); meets Video Speed Class V30 and Application Class A2 for fast app loading, responsive multitasking, and reliable performance on Android devices.
- Built for Adventure — Shock-resistant, IPX6 water-resistant, and rated for extreme temperatures (−10°C to +80°C). Also resistant to X-rays and magnetic fields — ideal for travel, outdoor use, and dashcams.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
