How to Use Switch Offline Mode: Play Without Internet

Switch Offline Mode lets you play games without an internet connection. Most physical games work offline immediately—insert the cartridge and start playing. For digital games, download them first while connected to Wi-Fi; once downloaded, you can play them offline. Subscription games (like Switch Online retro games) need to be downloaded first, and some require periodic internet checks (every 7 days). Cloud saves won’t sync offline, so back up save data before going offline. Features like online multiplayer, in-game purchases, and game updates are unavailable offline. If you’re traveling, download games and updates beforehand to enjoy offline gameplay.