2168-0008
Nintendo Nintendo Switch
Severity: MinorWhat Does This Error Mean?
Error 2168-0008 is an account or parental control error on Nintendo Switch. It means an action you tried to perform was blocked by parental control settings or an account restriction. This can happen when purchasing games, accessing certain content, or changing account settings.
Affected Models
- Nintendo Switch
- Nintendo Switch Lite
- Nintendo Switch OLED
Common Causes
- Parental controls are blocking the game or content based on its age rating
- The Nintendo Account linked to this profile does not have permission to make purchases
- A spending limit set in the parental controls has been reached
- The Nintendo Account is classified as a child account and requires parent approval
- Two-step verification on the Nintendo Account is blocking access from this device
How to Fix It
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Check the parental control settings. On the Switch, go to System Settings > Parental Controls. Enter your PIN to review what is currently restricted.
If you do not know the PIN, you can reset it using the Nintendo Parental Controls app on your phone.
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Check whether the content's age rating is within the allowed range. Parental controls can block games rated above a certain age, such as blocking Teen or Mature content.
You can temporarily raise the restriction level in parental controls if you are an adult who set up the controls yourself.
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If this is a child account under a Nintendo Family Group, the family manager's account may need to approve the action. Log into accounts.nintendo.com on a browser with the manager's account and check for pending approval requests.
Child accounts require parental approval for purchases and certain account changes by design.
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Check for a spending limit. In the Nintendo Account settings at accounts.nintendo.com, a spending limit may have been set. The family account manager can adjust this limit.
Once the spending limit is reached, all purchase attempts are blocked until the limit is raised or the period resets.
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Verify two-step verification is set up correctly. Log into accounts.nintendo.com on a browser and check that your authenticator app or backup codes are working.
If you have lost access to your two-step verification method, Nintendo Support can help you regain access to your account.
When to Call a Professional
Error 2168-0008 is an account permissions or parental control issue — not a hardware fault. No repair is needed. If you believe the parental controls are incorrectly blocking content, the parental control PIN or the Nintendo family account manager's credentials are needed to change the settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
I set up parental controls but forgot my PIN. How do I reset it?
Download the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app on your smartphone. You can use the app to reset your parental control PIN if you forgot it. The app is free and available on iOS and Android. You will need to sign in with the Nintendo Account that set up the controls.
Can I buy a game for a child account as the parent?
Yes. As the family account manager, you can purchase games for child accounts from your own account. You can also approve purchase requests that your child makes from their account. Visit accounts.nintendo.com and look under Family Group to manage your child's account settings.
What is a Nintendo Family Group?
A Nintendo Family Group lets you link up to 7 Nintendo Accounts together under one family manager account. The manager can set spending limits, parental controls, and review purchase requests for child accounts in the group. You set up and manage the family group at accounts.nintendo.com.