Nintendo Switch 2 Update 23.0.0 Brings Docked VRR and Full System Transfers

Nintendo Switch 2 system update 23.0.0 adds VRR output in TV mode and gives owners a way to move their complete data from one Switch 2 to another. The update also brings new GameChat options, Mii background music, accessibility changes, and several smaller system improvements.

Version 23.0.0 released in Japan on September 10, 2026. VRR remains limited to software on Nintendo’s compatibility list, which currently names Switch 2 Welcome Tour as the sole supported release. A compatible television and an updated Nintendo Switch 2 Dock are also required before the feature can activate.

Variable refresh rate can match a compatible TV’s refresh rate to the game’s current processing speed, which can make uneven frame rates look smoother. Nintendo originally promoted VRR alongside 4K and 120fps output for the docked console, but VRR was missing when Switch 2 launched. Version 23.0.0 now adds the feature through the console’s TV mode settings.

VRR arrives before Ocarina of Time Remake

The timing puts docked VRR in place less than two months before The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake is scheduled to launch exclusively on Switch 2 on November 5, 2026. Nintendo has not said that the remake drove the update, and the game is not among the compatible software named so far.

If the remake receives VRR support, the feature could help smooth small frame-rate changes during demanding scenes, but Nintendo has not announced support for it yet. Other Switch 2 games will also need their own compatibility entries before they can use the dock’s new display feature.

The timing also gives owners an easier path to a new system, since Nintendo announced a Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 console coming in October. The update does not require anyone to buy that system, but complete transfer support will make moving to it less cumbersome for players who choose to do so.

Complete data transfer is another major addition. Players can move save data, screenshots, and other data from one Switch 2 system to a new Switch 2 system. Nintendo had previously addressed specific failures involving transfers from the original Switch to Switch 2 in an earlier Switch 2 update, but this release expands the process to transfers between two Switch 2 consoles.

More changes in Nintendo Switch 2 version 23.0.0

GameChat now keeps previously joined chats in the list of available chats, allows users to join without selecting friends, and adds a screen-size button to the menu opened with the C button. Virtual Game Cards also receive a new Settings option that shows the registration status of the device using the card.

Accessibility options add Brazilian Portuguese text-to-speech support, while TV sound settings can now be saved separately for each connected TV. Nintendo has also renamed Dock Output Information to Video Output Information and added a dedicated VRR Settings option.

Mii editing gets background music with selectable Wii, Nintendo 3DS, and Wii U themes, plus a QR code option for sharing Miis. Other changes cover online-license access when a virtual game card cannot be transferred, controller use during Handheld Mode Boost, and combined playtime records for software used across multiple consoles.

Nintendo Switch 2 Version 23.0.0 Patch Notes

Version 23.0.0 focuses on docked display support and console-to-console transfers, but its full changelog also covers GameChat, accessibility, virtual game cards, Mii editing, handheld play, and general stability.

• We took the following actions in the “game chat”:
  • We’ve added a feature that displays chats you’ve previously participated in, in the list of chats you can join.
  • We’ve made it possible to join a new chat without selecting any friends.
  • We’ve added a button to change the screen size in the menu that appears when you press the C button during a chat.
• We’ve added a “Settings” option to the “Virtual Game Card” list screen.
  • You can check the registration status of the device using the virtual game card.
• VRR output is now supported in TV mode.
  • When both the software and the TV support it, the video will be output at a refresh rate that matches the game’s processing speed.
    • An update to the Nintendo Switch 2 Dock is required to enable this feature.
• Nintendo Switch 2 now supports “complete data transfer” between two Nintendo Switch 2 consoles.
  • You can transfer all your data, including save data and screenshots, from your Switch 2 to your new Switch 2 console.
• We made the following changes in “Settings”.
  • Under “Accessibility” → “Text-to-Speech,” we have added support for text-to-speech in Portuguese (Brazil).
  • Under “Accessibility” → “Voice-to-Text Conversion for Game Chat,” we’ve added Portuguese (Brazil) to the list of languages for “Text-to-Speech Conversion.”
  • We’ve made it so that the “Audio” -> “TV Sound” settings are saved for each connected TV.
  • The item name “Display” → “Dock Output Information” has been changed to “Video Output Information” to allow users to check in detail the video signals that the connected TV can display.
  • We’ve added a “VRR Settings” option to the “Display” section.
  • We’ve added a feature to “Mii” that allows you to create a QR code of your Mii and share it with other users.
  • We’ve added a feature that allows you to instantly play and check the sound when you change the volume under “Sleep” → “Sleep wake-up sound when playing on TV”.
  • We have added an item to “System” → “Switch Software Operation Mode” → “Toggle Handheld Mode Boost in Quick Settings”.
    • Turning this setting ON will allow you to toggle the Handheld Mode Boost ON/OFF in the Quick Settings menu that appears when you long-press the HOME button.
  • We’ve added a new option: “System” → “Transfer all to Nintendo Switch 2”.
• Even if you cannot transfer the virtual game card from another console when starting the software, you can now temporarily play the software using an online license.
  • If another console is offline and you are unable to transfer the virtual game card, the “Play with Online License” button will appear.
  • Only the person who purchased the software can play it using an online license.
• We’ve added a feature to play background music in the Mii editing screen.
  • You can switch or stop the background music (BGM) using the “BGM Settings” button in the upper left corner of the screen.
• Regarding handheld mode boost, we’ve made it possible to use other controllers even while Joy-Con 2s are attached to the console.
• In the “My Page” → “Profile” play record, play time when playing the same software on multiple consoles will now be aggregated.
  • The games you’ve played since the update will be displayed in chronological order.
• We have fixed several issues and improved operational stability.

Will docked VRR change how you use your Switch 2, or is the complete transfer feature the bigger upgrade? Share your thoughts in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.