Why change your Nintendo account region
Changing your Nintendo account region gives you access to a different country's eShop: different prices, different sales, and sometimes exclusive games not available in your home region. Most users change region to use gift cards from a specific country — for example, Turkish or US cards.
It is important to understand the difference: the account region and the console region are separate things. The Switch is a multi-region console, and most games work regardless of region. You only need to change the Nintendo account region.
What stays after a region change
- Your games and DLC remain in your library
- Cloud saves are preserved (if an NSO subscription is active)
- Purchase history is preserved
- My Nintendo points (Gold Points) are preserved
What changes
- eShop wallet balance: funds remain but may be unavailable for spending in the new region — it is best to spend your balance before switching
- Nintendo Switch Online subscription: if purchased in the old region, it continues until the end of the paid period
- Some in-game content may change (age ratings, regional restrictions)
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1. Open the My Nintendo website. Go to accounts.nintendo.com in a browser on your computer or phone. Sign in to the account you want to change.
Step 2. Go to your profile. In the left menu click "Profile" or "User Info." Find the "Country/Region" section.
Step 3. Select a new region. Click "Edit" next to the country field. Choose the desired country from the dropdown menu. For the Turkish eShop, select "Turkey."
Step 4. Enter valid local details. When switching regions the system may ask for a current address in the new country. For Turkey, any real Turkish address works (look up a public location in Istanbul if needed).
Step 5. Confirm the change. Click "Save." Nintendo may send a confirmation email.
Step 6. Sign back into the eShop on Switch. Sign out of the account on your console and sign in again. The eShop will now show content for the new region.
Frequently asked questions
How often can I change my account region? Nintendo does not set a strict limit, but frequent region changes may trigger the account protection system. We recommend creating a separate account for another region rather than changing your primary one.
Do I need a VPN to change region? No. Changing region through the My Nintendo website works without a VPN. A VPN is only needed if the Nintendo website is blocked in your country.
I changed region but eShop didn't update. What do I do? Fully close the eShop app on Switch by pressing Home and holding X over the eShop icon. Then reopen it. If that doesn't help, restart the console.
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