What happens to my digital game purchases?

All digital purchases are permanently lost including Switch, 3DS, and Wii U games. You cannot re-download purchased games and there's no way to transfer purchases to a new account. Physical games still work but lose DLC and updates.

Will I get my eShop balance refunded?

No. Nintendo does not refund eShop wallet balances upon account deletion. Any remaining funds, unused gift cards, and Gold Points are permanently forfeited. Spend all balance before deletion.

What happens to my game save data?

All save data is permanently deleted, including Nintendo Switch Online cloud saves. Save data cannot be recovered or transferred to a new account after deletion. Even physical game progress tied to your account is lost.

Can I use the same email for a new Nintendo Account?

Yes. After account deletion is complete, your email address becomes immediately available to create a new Nintendo Account. However, you'll start completely fresh with no purchases or progress from the old account.

What happens to my Nintendo Switch Online subscription?

Your subscription is immediately terminated with no refund for unused time. You lose access to online multiplayer, cloud saves, and classic NES/SNES games. All cloud-saved data is deleted.

Will my physical game cartridges still work?

Yes, physical game cartridges continue to work on any Switch. However, you lose access to any downloaded DLC, game updates, and save data tied to your deleted account. You'll need to start games from scratch.

What happens to My Nintendo Points and rewards?

All Gold Points, Platinum Points, and unredeemed rewards are immediately forfeited upon account deletion. Points cannot be transferred to another account. Any earned discounts or special offers are lost.

How to Delete Your Nintendo Account Account - Step-by-Step Guide (2025)

Written & Verified By

Delete.Directory Content Team

Our team of privacy advocates and gaming industry professionals verify every deletion process through hands-on testing.

This guide helps you permanently delete your Nintendo Account account. We believe in digital autonomy: your right to leave any platform should be as easy as joining it. Follow these verified steps to ensure complete account deletion.

How We Verified This Guide

Methodology: Hands-on testing with live accounts

Quick Information

Time Required

10 minutes

Difficulty

easy

Steps

5 steps

Official Resources

Nintendo - Delete Your Account

Official deletion guide from Nintendo Account

Additional Resources

[1]

Nintendo Account Privacy Policy

Official privacy policy detailing data handling and user rights

[2]

Nintendo eShop Balance and Refunds

Understanding eShop balance and refund policies

[3]

Cancel Nintendo Switch Online

How to cancel Nintendo Switch Online before deletion

Step-by-Step Guide

Cancel Nintendo Switch Online Subscription

Before deleting your account, cancel any active Nintendo Switch Online subscription. Log into your Nintendo Account on the website, go to Shop Menu > Nintendo Switch Online, and turn off automatic renewal.

Tips

•Subscription remains active until the end of billing period
•Cancel auto-renewal to prevent charges after deletion

Warnings

•You'll lose access to online multiplayer immediately after deletion
•Cloud saves will be deleted when account is removed

Spend or Forfeit eShop Balance

Nintendo does not refund eShop balances. Check your Nintendo eShop wallet balance and either spend it on games/DLC or accept that it will be forfeited upon account deletion.

Tips

•Purchase games or DLC you want before deletion
•Gold Points will also be lost, so spend them first

Warnings

•All eShop funds are permanently lost with no refund
•Gold Points cannot be transferred or recovered

Visit Nintendo Account Deletion Page

Go to accounts.nintendo.com/delete_account and sign in. Read the information about what will be deleted, including purchased games, save data, and your My Nintendo points.

Tips

•Review what data will be permanently lost
•Consider downloading your Nintendo data first for records

Review Deletion Consequences

Nintendo will display a comprehensive list of what you'll lose. This includes all digital purchases, game save data, friend connections, and My Nintendo rewards. Carefully review this information.

Warnings

•All digital game purchases are permanently lost
•Save data cannot be recovered, even with cloud backups
•My Nintendo Gold and Platinum Points are forfeited

Confirm Account Deletion

Enter your password to verify your identity and click 'Delete Account'. Deletion is immediate and permanent with no grace period. Your Nintendo Account and all associated data are deleted instantly.

Warnings

•Deletion is immediate with NO grace period or recovery option
•Cannot reactivate or undo deletion once confirmed
•All purchases and progress lost forever

Important Warnings

All Digital Purchases Permanently Lost

When you delete your Nintendo Account, you lose permanent access to all digitally purchased games and DLC across all Nintendo platforms (Switch, 3DS, Wii U). There is no way to recover or transfer these purchases to a new account. Physical game cartridges/discs still work but lose access to any DLC or updates.

Immediate Deletion With No Grace Period

Unlike most platforms, Nintendo Account deletion is IMMEDIATE and PERMANENT with no waiting period. Once you confirm deletion, there is absolutely no way to recover your account, purchases, or data. There is no 'undo' or reactivation option.

eShop Balance Forfeited Without Refund

Nintendo does not refund eShop wallet balances upon account deletion. Any remaining funds, including unused gift card balances and Gold Points, are permanently forfeited. Spend all funds before deletion.

All Save Data Permanently Deleted

All game save data is permanently deleted, including Nintendo Switch Online cloud saves. Even for games with cloud backup, save data cannot be recovered after account deletion. Physical game progress is also lost if tied to Nintendo Account.

My Nintendo Points and Rewards Lost

All My Nintendo Gold Points, Platinum Points, and earned rewards are immediately forfeited. Any unredeemed rewards, discounts, or special offers are lost forever. There is no way to transfer points to another account.

Friends List and Mii Data Deleted

Your entire friends list, Mii characters, and social connections are permanently deleted. Friends will see your account as deleted. Any shared content or multiplayer connections are severed immediately.

Alternatives to Consider

Keep Account Inactive Without Deletion

easy

Instead of permanent deletion, cancel Nintendo Switch Online and simply stop using your account. This preserves your game library, purchases, and save data while addressing subscription costs.

Pros

•Keep all digital purchases and game library
•Preserve save data and game progress
•Can return to Nintendo gaming anytime
•Maintain My Nintendo points and rewards

Cons

•Account data remains on Nintendo servers
•Email address stays tied to Nintendo Account
•Doesn't address privacy concerns fully
•May still receive promotional emails

2 min

Transfer Save Data to Local Storage

medium

Before deletion, transfer important game save data to local Switch storage or SD card. While this won't let you use saves without the account, it prevents accidental loss and may help with certain games on new accounts.

Pros

•Preserve game progress locally
•Create backup before deletion
•May work for games without account DRM
•Free to do with your own Switch

Cons

•Most saves are account-locked and won't work
•Cannot transfer saves to new account
•Time-consuming for many games
•Doesn't preserve digital purchases

30 min

Download Your Nintendo Data First

easy

Request a copy of your Nintendo Account data before deletion. This includes purchase history, gameplay records, and account information for your personal archives.

Pros

•Keep records of all purchases
•Archive your gaming history
•Required for consumer protection
•Free service under privacy laws

Cons

•Doesn't preserve actual games or saves
•May take several days to receive
•Data format may not be user-friendly
•Cannot restore games from this data

5 min

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Nintendo Account deletion is immediate and permanent with absolutely no grace period or recovery option. Once you confirm deletion, your account and all data are instantly and irreversibly gone.

References & Citations

[1]
Nintendo Account Privacy Policy
Official privacy policy detailing data handling and user rights
https://www.nintendo.com/us/privacy-policy/
[2]
Nintendo eShop Balance and Refunds
Understanding eShop balance and refund policies
https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/27608
[3]
Cancel Nintendo Switch Online
How to cancel Nintendo Switch Online before deletion
https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/41203

All citations verified as of 11/8/2025. We regularly review and update all external links to ensure accuracy.

Found incorrect information?

We strive for accuracy. If something's outdated or wrong, let us know.

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Critical Warnings

All Digital Purchases Permanently Lost
When you delete your Nintendo Account, you lose permanent access to all digitally purchased games an...
Immediate Deletion With No Grace Period
Unlike most platforms, Nintendo Account deletion is IMMEDIATE and PERMANENT with no waiting period. ...
eShop Balance Forfeited Without Refund
Nintendo does not refund eShop wallet balances upon account deletion. Any remaining funds, including...

Last Updated

November 8, 2025

Nintendo Account Account Deletion

How We Verified This Guide

Quick Information

Official Resources

Additional Resources

Step-by-Step Guide

Cancel Nintendo Switch Online Subscription

Spend or Forfeit eShop Balance

Visit Nintendo Account Deletion Page

Review Deletion Consequences

Confirm Account Deletion

Important Warnings

All Digital Purchases Permanently Lost

Immediate Deletion With No Grace Period

eShop Balance Forfeited Without Refund

All Save Data Permanently Deleted

My Nintendo Points and Rewards Lost

Friends List and Mii Data Deleted

Alternatives to Consider

Keep Account Inactive Without Deletion

Transfer Save Data to Local Storage

Download Your Nintendo Data First

Frequently Asked Questions

References & Citations

Found incorrect information?

Quick Navigation

Related Guides

Critical Warnings

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