Do Not Remove the Protective Film From Your Switch 2
After years of rumors, speculation, and hype, the Nintendo Switch 2 is almost here. On June 5, stores will start selling you the new console (while supplies last), and pre-orders will start arriving on your doorstep. It’s an exciting time for Nintendo fans, but also for gamers in general, as it’s the console’s first major release in nearly five years.
If you do buy a new Switch 2, there are a lot of things you should do with it: You should try out the new mouse mode in games that support it; you should replay classics like Tears of the Kingdom at higher resolutions with higher frame rates; and you should set charging limits to extend battery life . You shouldn’t remove the plastic film from the display, though. That would be a mistake.
This movie should stay on Switch 2 forever.
Nintendo published the Switch 2’s instruction manual on Sunday, ahead of the console’s launch. You can skim through it if you want to learn important Switch 2 strategies, like not using the console if the battery is leaking, or taking a 10-15 minute break every hour “even if you don’t think you need it.” But there are actually some less obvious tips tucked away in the manual. As Gizmodo noted , Nintendo warns in the “Use with Caution” section: “The screen is covered with a layer of film designed to prevent shattering if damaged. Do not remove it.”
Nintendo doesn’t go into detail, but the explanation gives you a good idea of how the company is thinking about this. If you drop your Switch 2 and the screen shatters, this film will keep shards of the display from flying all over the room. If you remove the film, the broken Switch 2 screen could injure someone unless you pick up every little piece of the display you were playing Mario Kart World on. Lose, lose.
Whether the display itself will look different with or without the film remains to be seen, but I recommend waiting for the teardown video to see the difference. Even if you don’t plan on dropping your Switch 2, it’s not worth the risk of removing this film.
What else is in the operating instructions?
The guide is full of tips on how to get the most out of your Switch 2, but most of it is common sense. However, there are a few interesting tips you should know about.
Nintendo says you should charge the batteries at least once every six months. If you play games often, you’ll do this without thinking twice. But for those gamers who like to play once or twice a year (or less), the company warns that it may be impossible to charge the batteries if you don’t use them for an extended period of time.
You may know that the Switch 2 Joy-Con controllers are attached magnetically. Nintendo warns against “rocking or hanging the console” on the attached Joy-Con or “applying force to the connecting parts.” Avoid applying stickers to the Joy-Con controllers where the SL/SR buttons are, as this could weaken the connection and cause the Joy-Con controllers to come off (and risk breaking said screen).
Apparently, the magnets are strong enough to attach other magnetic items, such as screws or buttons. Nintendo recommends that if these items stick to the Switch 2 or Joy-Con, you use a cotton swab to remove them. In general, you should clean the Joy-Con any time they accumulate dust or debris before use.