How to Get in-Game Events in Advance by Changing the Date on the Nintendo Switch
There are many reasons to change the Nintendo Switch system clock. Maybe you’re playing with friends in a different time zone and don’t want to do math when scheduling multiplayer sessions, or you take a portable console with you when traveling and need to adjust the clock when you travel.
But the most likely reason people want to change the clock on their Switch is because they use time travel exploits in the game. Many titles, such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons , include date or time events tied to your date, time, or time zone. Adjusting the clock will allow you to see this content even if you accidentally miss it on the same day, or see what your island will turn into for months or years in the future. In some cases, this will even allow you to bypass game timers so you can skip waiting periods, fast-forward to unlock new things, or even just change small details like the day or time you captured a Pokémon in Pokémon Sword and Shield .
(Note: If you change your Switch clock to try to unlock games in the online store earlier, this probably won’t work. However, you can buy games from the online store of another country and play them earlier if the release date is earlier. than yours. the world.)
Note that the time travel exploit does not work in all games, but it is common enough that it is worth checking to see if it works. It’s also pretty easy to do:
- From the Home screen, select Settings> System> Date & Time .
- Set date, time and time zone manually.
- Select “OK” to save your changes.
To reset the switch clock to local time:
- Go back to System Preferences> System> Date & Time.
- Select “Synchronize watch over the Internet.”
What to do if Parental Controls won’t let you change the clock
You cannot turn off the Sync Watch Online feature on a Nintendo Switch while your Switch is connected to the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls mobile app. You can remove your console from the app if you really want to change the clock – just note that you will lose remote controls and features offered by the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app until your devices are paired again. Here’s how to do it:
- From the main Switch screen, go to System Preferences> Parental Controls. Select Unregister App, then follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process.
- You can also disconnect the app from the console in the mobile app. Open the app, tap +, then tap Information next to the console you want to disconnect from. Select “Deregister” and follow the instructions on the screen.
Once the app is disabled, you can manually change the date, time and time zone on your Nintendo Switch by following the steps above.