Download Nintendo Switch Games In Sleep Mode When Turned Off


How To Download Nintendo Switch Games In Sleep Mode When Turned Off

Using the Nintendo eShop is a great way of accessing the games you want to play for your Switch console, especially when certain physical Nintendo Switch games always seem to be out of stock. However, it can be quite frustrating to find a game you wish to purchase, start downloading it, and then sit around waiting for an indeterminate period until it is available to play.

The good news is that by downloading games using sleep mode, you might just be able to save yourself from that particular frustration. The even better news is that it's really easy to use, and you should be able to benefit from it as soon as you've read this article.

How To Download Games While The Switch Is In Sleep Mode

As mentioned earlier, it really is a straightforward process. You do need to make sure the Switch has a stable internet connection, and ideally don't have other games running in the background. Other games will take bandwidth from the download, which will slow things down. Then just do the following:

  • Choose the title you wish to download and purchase it.
  • Once the download has started, you can put your console into sleep mode.
  • The download will continue in the background.

That's all there is to it. There are suggestions that games actually download faster when your console is in sleep mode, which is an added bonus.

If you find yourself struggling to download games while your Switch is in sleep mode, check to ensure that you have a reliable internet connection, and ensure you have sufficient space in the system memory for the game itself. If your internet connection drops out, this will stop the download from progressing.

And similarly, if you don't have enough space for the game you wish to download, then clearly, you aren't going to be able to install it either. It's also worth making sure you have updated to the latest system version.

What Is Sleep Mode?

Sleep mode is the Nintendo equivalent of rest mode on the PS5 or Xbox.

It basically puts the console in a low-energy mode that can be restarted with a single button press. It is a much faster reboot than switching off the console completely. Another huge benefit of sleep mode is that it will allow some background processes, such as downloading games, to run.

And there you have it. A simple way to download Nintendo Switch games while your console is at rest. Doing it this way will hopefully save you time and energy, as you'll be able to download games while you get on with the rest of your life.

For more articles like this, take a look at our How To and Nintendo page.