Huge Nintendo Switch 2 Update Adds Handheld Mode Boost For Switch 1 Titles

Nintendo has announced a large caller Switch 2 diagnostic that improves the show of astir Switch 1 games erstwhile played successful handheld mode.

A "Handheld Mode Boost" enactment has been added successful today's chunky Switch 2 firmware update, which brings the console up to mentation 22.0.0. The feature, which is buried astatine the bottommost of Nintendo's spot notes, allows for boosted Switch 1 games erstwhile playing successful handheld, with show akin to playing with the console docked.

A abstracted enactment leafage connected Handheld Mode Boost suggests Nintendo has achieved this by simply having your Switch 2 enactment arsenic if you were playing portion docked, adjacent if you're not, which does adhd a fewer method issues — elaborate successful afloat below.

"Because this enactment forces TV mode operation, immoderate instructions whitethorn beryllium incorrect oregon neglect to run correctly," Nintendo notes. The enactment whitethorn besides disable the touchscreen, and origin the Joy-Con 2 controllers to beryllium treated arsenic a Switch 2 Pro Controller.

Lastly, Nintendo notes that portion this enactment tin effect successful improved visuals, it volition besides summation the system's powerfulness consumption. Fancy giving it a try? Just caput to the console's Settings menu, prime "System", past "Nintendo Switch Software Handling" to toggle it on.

The remainder of today's Switch 2 strategy bundle spot notes prevarication below, and see a fewer different bully additions. These see the quality to adhd notes astir your online friends (which, don't worry, they won't see), and improvements to the prime of shared crippled surface footage connected GameChat.

Switch 2 firmware mentation 22.0.0 (Released March 16, 2026)

• Changed the on-screen substance and animations erstwhile you load a virtual crippled paper successful the HOME Menu.
• Added the quality to prevention notes astir friends connected your Friend List. The enactment contented is not displayed to friends.
  • Added the quality to spot and edit these notes from the Nintendo Switch App. The app indispensable beryllium connected mentation 3.3.0 oregon higher to usage this feature.
• The pursuing features were added to enactment GameChat:
  • Added the quality to invitation friends to GameChat rooms you’re participating in. Some friends whitethorn not beryllium capable to beryllium invited, specified arsenic supervised accounts.
  • Friends that haven't finished GameChat archetypal setup tin present beryllium invited to GameChat. Some friends whitethorn not beryllium capable to beryllium invited, specified arsenic supervised accounts oregon those who haven’t utilized a Nintendo Switch 2.
    • It whitethorn instrumentality a portion for this alteration to beryllium reflected aft updating your console to strategy mentation 22.0.0.
  • Improvements were made to the prime of the crippled surface shared successful a GameChat erstwhile expanded.
• Added the quality to rewind 10 seconds/advance 10 seconds with the ZL and ZR Buttons erstwhile watching a afloat surface video successful News oregon Nintendo eShop.
• Added the enactment to adhd the pursuing information to “Automatic Uploads” from Album.
  • Clip Video, Video saved arsenic a screenshot, and screenshot with added text.
• Added Portuguese (Portugal) and Russian to “GameChat Voice ⇔ Speech to Text” languages successful Accessibility.
• Text-to-Speech, nether Accessibility, tin present work the substance successful Album and during first-time setup.
  • Please spot Nintendo Switch 2 First-Time Setup and Connection for instructions connected however to crook text-to-speech connected successful the first-time setup.
• Added the quality to spot the breakdown of retention capableness by information benignant for the strategy representation and microSD Express card.
• Added the quality to execute an audio trial erstwhile “Linear PCM 5.1 Surround” is selected for TV Sound successful Audio.
• Changed the "Hong Kong/Taiwan/South Korea" portion to "Hong Kong/Taiwan/South Korea/South East Asia" successful Device.
• Added “Handheld Mode Boost” to Nintendo Switch Software Handling successful System.
  • Handheld Mode Boost volition origin compatible Switch bundle to tally arsenic if successful TV Mode, truthful definite functionality whitethorn beryllium affected. Please spot the on-device statement for much details.
• The pursuing features were added to Airplane Mode:
  • When Airplane Mode is activated, the antecedently acceptable preferences for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, oregon NFC portion successful Airplane Mode volition beryllium saved and applied.
  • Added the quality to individually alteration oregon disable Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, oregon NFC during Airplane Mode from the Quick Settings.
• Added the quality to spot a notification successful the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls astute instrumentality exertion erstwhile the Parental Controls PIN is input successfully connected the console. This tin besides beryllium acceptable up to beryllium a propulsion notification to your astute device.
  • The app indispensable beryllium connected mentation 2.4.0 oregon higher to usage this functionality.
• General strategy stableness improvements to heighten the user's experience.

Finally, the archetypal Switch was besides updated today, with a shorter database of additions:

Switch 1 firmware mentation 22.0.0 (Released March 16, 2026)

• Changed the on-screen substance and animations erstwhile you load a virtual crippled paper successful the HOME Menu.
• Added the quality to prevention notes astir friends connected your Friend List. The enactment contented is not displayed to friends.
  • Added the quality to spot and edit these notes from the Nintendo Switch App. The app indispensable beryllium connected mentation 3.3.0 oregon higher to usage this feature.
• Added the quality to spot a notification successful the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls astute instrumentality exertion erstwhile the Parental Controls PIN is input successfully connected the console. This tin besides beryllium acceptable up to beryllium a propulsion notification to your astute device.
  • The app indispensable beryllium connected mentation 2.4.0 oregon higher to usage this functionality.
• General strategy stableness improvements to heighten the user's experience.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You tin scope Tom astatine [email protected] oregon find him connected Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social