Nintendo Switch Game Card Reading Issues

This blog post is the first in a series of short posts on common Nintendo Switch problems and what to do about them; that might mean sending it in to us for a quick repair. This week we’re going to tackle common issues regarding the console not reading game cards correctly. We’ll look at the different reasons that this might happen: from your game cards being faulty to the game card slot being faulty. Let’s jump right in…

Nintendo Switch Game Card Reading Issues

The Nintendo Switch commonly has trouble reading game cards. This problem can be occasional and random with the system only reading games every other time or it can be consistent with the console not reading games at all. The problem can appear in a couple of different ways:

• A game card is inserted in the Nintendo Switch but the software cannot be started.

• A game is inserted in the console but a message appears stating “There is nothing inserted in the game card slot.”

This can be caused by a game card being defective or damaged. But it can also be a sign of an issue with the console’s game card reader if it happens with more than one game. Many people suggest trying to fix game card read errors by blowing into the console and on the cartridge (it originates from the NES days.) It’s strongly advised that you don’t blow into the console as the moisture in your breath can cause corrosion on the card and console contact points and eventually lead to permanent damage also all you are doing is blowing debris back deeper into the card reader not out.

The first thing to try if your console has trouble reading a game card are the following steps:

1. Ensure your console has the latest system update.

2. Power off the console and remove the game card.

3. Verify that the game card is compatible with Nintendo Switch and not a fake.

4. Make sure that the gold contact points are clean.

5. Reinsert the game card and power on the console.

6. Check for any software updates for the problematic game, then attempt to start the game.

7. If the issue persists, try using a different game card for Nintendo Switch. If a second game card works, then the non-working game card will need to be repaired or replaced.

If your console won’t read multiple game cards anymore, then it will likely be necessary to repair the Nintendo Switch’s game card slot.

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