How to Cancel Nintendo Switch Online in 2026 (Individual + Family Plans)

Nintendo Switch Online costs $3.99/month or $19.99/year (with Expansion Pack: $49.99/year). If you're not playing online multiplayer or the classic game libraries, here's how to cancel — and what happens to your cloud saves.

How to Cancel (Turn Off Auto-Renewal)

On Your Switch

Go to the Nintendo eShop on your Switch
Tap your profile icon (top right)
Scroll down to Nintendo Switch Online
Select Turn Off Automatic Renewal

Via Website

Go to ec.nintendo.com/my
Log in with your Nintendo Account
Find Nintendo Switch Online
Click Turn Off Automatic Renewal

Your membership continues until the current period ends — you just won't be charged again.

⚠️ Cloud Saves — The Critical Detail

This is the most important thing to know:

Cloud saves are kept for 180 days after your membership expires
After 180 days, cloud saves are permanently deleted
If you resubscribe within 180 days, your saves sync back
Not all games support cloud saves (Splatoon, Pokemon, Animal Crossing use local saves)
Local saves on your Switch are NOT affected — only cloud backups

💡 Backup strategy

Your local saves stay on the Switch even without the subscription. Cloud saves are just a backup. If your Switch breaks or gets stolen, you lose everything without cloud saves. Consider if that risk is worth $20/year.

What You Lose

Online multiplayer — Splatoon, Mario Kart, Smash Bros, etc. all require NSO for online play
Cloud save backups — kept 180 days then deleted
Classic game libraries — NES, SNES, Game Boy, N64, Genesis games
Expansion Pack extras (if applicable) — Animal Crossing DLC, Mario Kart DLC courses
Nintendo Switch Online app features — voice chat, game-specific features

Family Plan Cancellation

Only the family group admin can cancel the Family plan:

Log in as the admin at ec.nintendo.com/my
Turn off auto-renewal — all family members lose access when it expires
Family plan covers up to 8 Nintendo Accounts
At $34.99/year for 8 people, it's $4.37/person/year — extremely cheap

Is Nintendo Switch Online Worth It?

$19.99/year ($1.67/month): If you play ANY online multiplayer, it's worth it. It's the cheapest gaming subscription.
$49.99/year Expansion Pack: Only worth it if you actively play N64/Genesis games or use the included DLC (Animal Crossing Happy Home Paradise, Mario Kart Booster Course)
Cancel if: You only play single-player games and don't care about cloud saves or retro games

Refund Policy

Nintendo is strict on refunds:

Generally no refunds on Nintendo Switch Online
Some regions (EU, Australia) have consumer protection laws that may apply
If charged by mistake, contact Nintendo Support: 1-800-255-3700

🎯 Bottom Line

Turn off auto-renewal on your Switch (eShop → Profile → NSO) or at ec.nintendo.com/my. Cloud saves survive 180 days after expiration. At $20/year, it's the cheapest gaming subscription — only cancel if you genuinely don't play online or want the retro games. Local saves are safe regardless.

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Quick Cancel Guide: Nintendo Switch Online

Direct cancel link + step-by-step instructions