If you’re having difficulty connecting your Nintendo Switch to a hotel or public Wi-Fi, don’t worry – you’re not the only one!
Many people travel with a gaming console, so connecting to the Internet can take time and effort. Especially if the Wi-Fi is password protected. Sometimes, you may be required to sign up for a mailing list when offered free Wi-Fi.
Connecting to your home network is easy, but connecting to public Wi-Fi is more challenging.
How to connect Nintendo Switch to hotel Wi-Fi
Connecting to Wi-Fi from a Nintendo Switch can be challenging, especially on a hotel router.
You can access your games online by following these steps:
- Turn on the settings toggle on your home screen by navigating to Internet> settings.
- Your Switch should begin searching for a network, and if you’re in a hotel, the Wi-Fi should appear soon after.
- Enter your password, click next and then an internet browser window should open up where you can enter your details.
Once all is complete, you should be able to access it.
My Switch won’t connect to the hotel’s Wi-Fi
When you’re staying at a hotel, you are usually provided with a password for the Wi-Fi. If you follow all the steps to connect to the network, you should be able to get in.
However, if you need help, We have compiled a list of common problems with connecting the Nintendo Switch to the wireless network and how to resolve them.
The Wi-Fi connection may be slow
While waiting for the popup to enter your details, it may seem as if your Switch is not doing anything when you try to connect. Generally, it is much faster than it is in a hotel. Due to the number of connections on the Internet, it may slow it down. Your hotel may not have strong Wi-Fi reception. For some users, it took up to 20 minutes to get the web applet up so they could log in.
If it connects after a while, make sure your Switch doesn’t go to sleep as it disconnects from the Internet, and you have to retry.
Contact the IT department for assistance
You may find that the hotel has an IT department if you stay in a chain hotel. In order to connect your Switch, contact reception and ask to speak with the IT department. The reason for this is because you need an IP address to connect without finding a way to register.
Nintendo Switch can’t access a browser
Because Nintendo devices do not have a web browser, signing up for hotel Wi-Fi can be a nightmare. Therefore, if you intend to sign in via an actual web page, you will need to follow these steps:
- Head to system settings on your Switch (at the bottom) and scroll down to Internet.
- Select a Wi-Fi network, but choose the option labeled “settings” instead of “connecting”.
- Change the DNS settings from Automatic to Manual.
- Set the primary DNS to 045.055.142.122, and save.
- Wait for 10 seconds for reconnection; if this doesn’t work, open News on your Nintendo Switch dashboard and select Switch channels.
When you’re done signing up, change the settings back to Automatic.
Other methods to connect your Nintendo Switch to Hotel Wifi
There are other ways you can access the Internet on your Switch if you can’t connect to the hotel Wi-Fi directly. These methods, however, require additional devices. These methods may work if you have a phone, laptop, or tablet.
Use your Phone as a hotspot
Here’s how you can use your Phone as a hotspot if you have one:
- Go to settings and select mobile data, then hotspot, and turn on ‘allow others to join’.
- Set up a password that needs to be entered when connecting your Switch.
- Use your Switch to find the device, e.g.’ Phone 1′, and enter the password.
On an Android device
- Choose Network & Internet from the settings menu.
- Then hotspot & tethering.
- Select Wi-Fi hotspot, and turn it on.
- Then use your Switch to find the device in the networks list.
Using a laptop
Even though it’s slightly more tricky than the above, you can still wirelessly connect your Switch to your laptop. The difference is that you’ll use public Wi-Fi instead of your data.
Connecting your Switch to your laptop’s Wi-Fi might seem a bit trickier, but it’s still pretty easy. The only difference is that instead of using your data, you’ll be using public Wi-Fi through your laptop.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Connect your laptop to a Wi-Fi network, like the one at your hotel.
- Create a special network on your laptop (it’s called an ad hoc network). If you’re using a Microsoft device, you can find instructions on how to do this here.
- Connect your Switch to the ad hoc network you just created.
Voila! You now have full internet access on your Switch.
Remember that this connection might be slower because it goes through another device. However, it should work fine for games that use less data.
Connect Switch lite to hotel wifi
You can also connect your Nintendo Switch lite to hotel Wi-Fi using any of the methods above, just like you would when connecting a standard full-sized Switch.
