You Must Have The Software in Order to Play (2024)

Information

This message usually indicates that you are trying to start DLC for a game that is not present on your Nintendo Switch console. It does not indicate that there is a problem with your system.

What to do

• Error occurs when starting a game card
  1. Restart your Nintendo Switch.
     • How to restart a Nintendo Switch system
       1. Press and hold the POWER Button for at least three seconds.
       2. Select Power Options.
       3. Select Restart.
  2. Remove the game card.
     • How to remove a game card from a Nintendo Switch

       Important: Remove a game card only while on the HOME Menu, or when the system is powered off. If you have suspended a software title, make sure you have closed it before removing its game card.

       1. Open the game card slot cover located on the top right side of your Nintendo Switch system.
       2. Gently push down on the inserted game card until the card clicks.

          

       3. Release the game card and it will partially eject.
       4. Slide the game card out of the game card slot and close the cover.

       For more information, see How to Insert/Remove Game Cards.

  3. Delete the software data—this will not delete any save data.
     • How to delete software data from the HOME Menu on Nintendo Switch
       1. Select the icon for a game or application from the HOME Menu.

          

          See Also

          How to Redownload Nintendo eShop Content for Nintendo SwitchError Message: “This User Cannot Play This Software”Unable to Load Nintendo Switch eShop (White Screen)How to Play Your Games Across Multiple Nintendo Switch Systems

       2. Press the - or + Buttons on the Joy-Con controllers to access the software menu.
       3. Select Manage Software.
       4. Select Delete Software. This will not delete any save data for the game.
  4. Reinsert the game card.

  • How to insert a game card into a Nintendo Switch
    1. Open the game card slot cover located on the top right side of your Nintendo Switch system.
    2. Hold the game card so that the label of the game card faces in the same direction as the Nintendo Switch screen.

       

    3. Slide the game card into the game card slot until it clicks into place. If the game card seems difficult to insert, remove it and verify that it is facing in the correct direction.
    4. Once inserted, the software icon of the inserted game card will be displayed on the HOME Menu.

       

    For more information, see How to Insert/Remove Game Cards.

• Download any available software updates for the game.
  • How to update game software
    1. Ensure the Nintendo Switch console is connected to the Internet.
    2. From the HOME Menu, select the icon for the software you wish to update without starting the game or application.
    3. Press the + Button or – Button on your controller, then select Software Update followed by Via the Internet.

    For more details, see How to Update Software on Nintendo Switch.

• If you purchased any DLC for the game, redownload it.
  • How to redownload DLC for a game
    1. From the HOME Menu, open Nintendo eShop with the Nintendo Account that purchased the DLC.
    2. Select the picture of your icon in the upper right corner to access your Account Information.
    3. Highlight Redownload on the left side of the screen. A list of titles and DLC you’ve purchased will appear.
    4. Highlight the downloadable content you want to redownload and select the orange icon to begin downloading all of the DLC for the game that you have purchased. You can check the download status on the HOME Menu.

    For more details, read How to Redownload Nintendo Switch eShop Content.

  • DLC is not available for redownload

    If you previously played DLC for the game but there is no DLC available to redownload for the game with your Nintendo Account, a different user purchased the DLC.

    The user that purchased the DLC will need to redownload it to your system. If they no longer use your system, you will need to purchase the DLC from the Nintendo eShop in order to play the DLC with your game.

    See Also

    How to Link or Unlink a Nintendo Network ID to a Nintendo Account
• Open the game again—it should now start.
• If the error message appears again, check what regions the game is intended for.
  • How to check physical software region compatibility
    1. Select the icon for the game from the HOME Menu.

       

    2. Press the - or + Buttons on the Joy-Con controllers to access the software menu.
    3. Select Software Information.
    4. Select Support Information.

       

    5. The supported regions for the software will display:

       

• Check what country/region the DLC is intended for.
  1. Visit accounts.nintendo.com and sign in with the Nintendo Account that you used to make the purchase.
  2. In your profile information, verify that the country/region of residence for your account matches the compatible regions for your version of the game.
• Compare the supported regions for the game and DLC to see if they match.
  • Game and DLC are both intended for the Americas

    If the game and DLC are both from the Americas region, but the error persists, please contact us for support.

  • Game and DLC regions match, but are not intended for the Americas

    If the game and DLC are not from the Americas region and the error persists, please contact the support for your region for further assistance.

  • Game and DLC regions do not match

    If the regions do not match, the DLC you purchased will not work with your version of the game. Please contact us for additional assistance.

    For more information about compatibility across regions, please read the Regional Compatibility FAQ.