By Jon Scarr
Nintendo has released system update Ver. 23.0.0 for Nintendo Switch 2, adding variable refresh rate support in TV mode and system transfers between Nintendo Switch 2 consoles. Released September 9, the update also brings changes to GameChat, Virtual Game Cards, Handheld Mode Boost, Mii characters, TV settings, and play activity.
TV mode VRR is one of the biggest changes in Ver. 23.0.0. Before launch, Nintendo's website referenced VRR support on compatible TVs. In May 2025, Nintendo clarified that the TV mode information had been published in error and that VRR was limited to handheld mode. Ver. 23.0.0 now adds the TV mode support that wasn't available at launch.
TV Mode VRR Arrives on Nintendo Switch 2
Variable refresh rate lets a compatible display adjust its refresh rate to better match the frames coming from a game. This can reduce tearing and uneven motion when frame delivery changes.
With Ver. 23.0.0 installed, Nintendo Switch 2 can now use VRR while connected to a compatible TV. Both the software and TV need to support the feature. Nintendo Switch 2 can then adjust its refresh rate as the game’s frame rate changes.
There's one extra step before you can use it. The Nintendo Switch 2 dock needs its own firmware update. You can check for it under System Settings > System > Dock Update while the console is docked and connected to the internet.
Nintendo has also updated Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour to go along with the change. Version 1.1.0 lets the VRR Slider tech demo run in TV mode. It gives you a built-in way to see the feature on a VRR-compatible display once the dock is updated.
Nintendo Switch 2 System Transfers Are Now Supported
Ver. 23.0.0 also adds system transfers from one Nintendo Switch 2 to another. Nintendo's update notes confirm that the new transfer option is available under System Settings > System.
Nintendo also made it easier to manage digital games across multiple systems. Virtual Game Cards now have a Settings option from the HOME Menu, where you can review and edit which systems can use them. If a Virtual Game Card can't be ejected from another offline console, the user who purchased the software can be prompted to start it using an online license.
Play activity has been adjusted too. Play time for the same software can now be combined across multiple systems. Nintendo specifies that play time recorded after the update is what gets combined. TV Sound settings can also be saved and applied automatically on up to eight TVs.
GameChat and Handheld Mode Boost Gain New Options
GameChat gets several quality-of-life changes. Chats you've previously joined can now appear in the list of chats available to join. You can also start a new chat without inviting friends first. Pressing the C Button during a chat opens an option for changing the displayed screen size.
Handheld Mode Boost, which Nintendo added in Ver. 22.0.0 in March, can now be enabled or disabled from Quick Settings. You can also use other controllers while Handheld Mode Boost is active without removing the attached Joy-Con 2 controllers.
The rest of the update includes QR Code sharing for Mii characters and music while creating or editing a Mii. Video Output Information now provides more detail about the signals supported by a connected TV, and VRR settings have been added under Display in System Settings. Portuguese (Brazil) is also supported for additional accessibility features, and Nintendo includes its usual system stability improvements.
Ver. 23.0.0 is available now. If you're updating specifically for TV mode VRR, make sure you update the Nintendo Switch 2 dock too. The console update alone won't enable the feature.
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