Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 Update Version 22.0.0 Now Available with Handheld Mode Boost
Nintendo has officially released system update version 22.0.0 for both the Switch and the Switch 2 consoles on March 16, 2026.
The most notable addition for the Switch 2 is the new Handheld Mode Boost option which allows compatible games to run with the performance profiles usually reserved for TV Mode.
This feature is designed to provide improved visual fidelity and higher resolutions while playing in portable mode on the newer hardware.
Both systems now feature updated animations and text that appear when a virtual game card is loaded from the HOME Menu.
Users can now save private notes about friends on their Friend List which are only visible to the user and can be edited via the Nintendo Switch App version 3.3.0 or higher.
Significant updates have been made to GameChat including the ability to invite friends to active rooms even if they have not completed the initial setup process.
The quality of shared game screens within GameChat has been enhanced when viewed in the expanded display mode.
Media playback in the News and Nintendo eShop sections now supports a ten second rewind and fast forward function using the ZL and ZR buttons.
The Album feature has been expanded to include clip videos and screenshots with added text in the automatic upload settings.
Accessibility options now include Portuguese and Russian language support for GameChat voice to text conversion.
The system’s text to speech functionality has been updated to read text within the Album and during the initial console setup process.
Users can now view a detailed breakdown of storage capacity by data type for both the internal system memory and microSD Express cards.
A new audio test feature has been added to the settings to verify Linear PCM 5.1 Surround sound configurations.
The regional settings for Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea have been updated to include South East Asia within the device menu.
Airplane Mode now saves specific preferences for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and NFC and allows these connections to be toggled individually from the Quick Settings menu.
Parents can now receive push notifications on their smart devices whenever a Parental Controls PIN is successfully entered on the console.
The update also includes general system stability improvements intended to enhance the overall user experience across both platforms.
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