Sometimes you need a clean slate.

There are times in life where things just don't go as planned, and you need to just wipe the slate clean and try again. With technology, that sometimes means a factory reset on a device. If you've got a Nintendo Switch 2 that's giving you problems, or you simply want to wipe all of your data from it to sell or give to someone else, you'll probably need to do exactly that. Here's how to factory reset a Switch 2.

Before you begin a full reset of your Switch 2, it's extremely important to remember that a factory reset will wipe all of your data from the console, including your user profiles, settings, game downloads, and any save data not saved to the cloud via a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. (Keep in mind, some games don't support cloud saves.) Once this stuff is gone, it's gone for good. Be absolutely sure you want that to happen before proceeding.

When you're ready to reset your Switch 2 to factory settings, you'll first need to turn the console on. Then, follow the instructions in the order outlined below.

Navigate to the Settings icon on the home screen of your Switch 2.

Select System.

Select Data-Clear Options.

Select Restore Factory Settings.