Nintendo often makes changes to the functionality and stability of the Nintendo Switch console through firmware updates. Occasionally, some of these updates are minor. They don’t require a full system reboot, thus earning the name “rebootless updates.”

These updates may seem insignificant, but it’s essential to understand what these changes can encompass, why they’re used, and how to check if your system has the latest.

What Are Rebootless Updates?

As the name implies, rebootless updates are small tweaks to the Nintendo Switch firmware that don’t necessitate a system restart to apply. This differs from standard firmware updates which prompt you to reboot the console once completed.

Although not always the case, rebootless updates typically contain minor behind-the-scenes modifications such as:

Bad Word List Management: Nintendo utilizes a filter to prevent offensive usernames or in-game chat messages. Changes to this list are frequent in rebootless updates to add or remove terms.
System Stability Fixes: Minor code changes designed to address very specific bugs or improve the overall user experience in subtle ways.
Security Patches: Updates that plug newly discovered system vulnerabilities for better protection.

Why Do Rebootless Updates Happen?

There are a few key reasons why Nintendo employs this update method:

Urgency: Some modifications, like closing security loopholes, must be deployed as quickly as possible. Requiring a complete reboot adds an extra barrier for some users.
Convenience: Updates that offer negligible gameplay changes don’t warrant interrupting your game; it’s much less intrusive to have them occur in the background.
Targeting a Specific Issue: In cases where there’s a limited problem or an issue related to a particular online component, a rebootless update fixes it quickly.

How to Know If You Have the Latest Update

It can be tricky to identify a new rebootless update since your Nintendo Switch won’t alert you when they happen. To manually check your current firmware version and see if updates are pending:

From your Switch’s HOME Menu, go to “System Settings”.
Scroll to the bottom of the menu and select “System.”
Select “System Update.”
Your Switch will check for the latest updates. If an update is available, it will prompt you to download and install it. However, remember that rebootless updates may already be applied without changing the version number you see.

Do You Need to Worry About Rebootless Updates?

For the most part, no. Unless you have technical reasons to investigate every minute firmware change, these updates are intended to provide subtle, unobtrusive enhancements to your console.

Nintendo employs rebootless updates as a streamlined way to keep your device secure and running smoothly.

Additional Points to Remember

Since they don’t involve reboots, you won’t be alerted when rebootless updates happen. While there are online resources tracking changes, don’t stress yourself trying to keep up with every single one.
Major new features or substantial upgrades to the Switch’s operating system won’t arrive through rebootless updates; these generally get announced ahead of time and prompt a traditional system restart.