Nintendo Switch 2 users reporting Wi-Fi connectivity issues

Nintendo’s new Switch 2 hit store shelves last week amid plenty of excitement. But for some early adopters, it seems the thrill is being dulled by spotty Wi-Fi. Players say the console is stubbornly clinging to slower 2.4 GHz bands, while others report it won’t pick up home networks at all.

Tom Warren of The Verge tested his Switch 2 on several routers. He says it defaults to 2.4 GHz even when a faster 5 GHz network is available. His download speeds barely top 60 Mbps on 2.4 GHz, while he had expected closer to 700 Mbps on the newer band.

Similarly, there are several other complaints on X and Reddit from users who are frustrated with the Wi-Fi issues. Check out these reports below for reference:

So apparently I gotta use a wired connection for switch 2 cause the wifi drops consistently – (Source)

Anyone’s Switch 2 having issues connecting to 5GHz WiFi? Mine will only connect to the 2.4GHz band. – (Source)

Something is seriously broken with the WiFi firmware. As of now I can only connect to 2.4ghz. I’m using a WiFi 6 capable router too, XT8, and none of my other devices have issues. – (Source)

Some players have come up with clever workarounds. One Reddit user detailed a multi-step fix when their Switch 2 couldn’t obtain an IP address or even spot a hotspot. They removed the saved network from the console, then re-added it in their router’s admin panel by MAC address. After manually typing in the IP and DNS entries — helped along by AI tools like Google Gemini — the console sprang back to life.

“I first removed the WLAN from the saved list on the Switch,” they wrote. “Then I added the device via the WLAN settings of my router via MAC address. Finally I typed in various addresses using Gemini on the Switch.”

Another workaround involves splitting 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz into distinct network names. Ban the Switch 2 from the 2.4 GHz SSID so it’s forced onto 5 GHz. That trick boosted one player’s speed to a steady 300 Mbps. Others suggest locking the 5 GHz band to AX mode only, disabling DFS channels, or setting a fixed channel like 36.

Not everyone is seeing trouble. A few voices say their Switch 2 cruises online in Mario Kart World with zero hiccups. One user reported download and gameplay speeds that beat their older Switch OLED. But these success stories are far outnumbered by complaints.

Docked play over Ethernet seems rock solid though. The Switch 2 dock finally includes a LAN port, and wired downloads sail along at full speed. Of course, that only helps if you’re stationary. Handheld gamers are stuck wrestling with Wi-Fi.

Nintendo hasn’t publicly addressed the issue yet. The company’s firmware team will likely roll out a patch soon, if history is any guide. The original Switch needed several updates to iron out network quirks. Hopefully this will be a faster fix.

For now, players can tweak routers or plug in a cable. If you’re setting up a Switch 2, spend some time in your Wi-Fi settings. You might need to split 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz into separate network names, or lock the console onto a single channel.

The Switch 2 still delivers crisp graphics and longer battery life than before. It’s just missing one big thing: a reliable wireless connection. Once Nintendo sorts that out, this console might get back to being the handheld hero everyone hoped for.