What you need to know before you start
You can share screenshots and video clips from your Nintendo Switch directly to Twitter, but the process requires a Nintendo Account linked to a Twitter account. The Switch does not post automatically — you choose which captures to share, and Twitter receives them as images or videos from your Nintendo Account, not from the Switch itself.
The connection works in one direction: from Switch to Twitter. You cannot control your Switch from Twitter or receive Twitter notifications on your Switch. If you want to share gameplay, you will need to take a screenshot or video clip on the Switch first, then send it to Twitter through the built-in sharing menu.
Key Takeaways
- You need both a Nintendo Account and a Twitter account before you can connect them.
- The connection happens through Nintendo's website, not through the Switch itself or Twitter's settings.
- After linking, you can share screenshots and video clips by pressing the Capture button on your Switch and selecting Twitter from the share menu.
- Twitter will receive your captures as posts from your Nintendo Account name, and you can add text before sharing.
- If the link stops working, you can disconnect and reconnect through your Nintendo Account settings on the web.
Step 1: Make sure you have both accounts ready
Before you link anything, confirm you have a Nintendo Account and know the email address and password. If you do not have a Nintendo Account yet, go to accounts.nintendo.com and create one — you will need a valid email address and a password you can remember.
You also need a Twitter account. If you do not have one, go to twitter.com and sign up. You will need an email address or phone number, a name, and a password. Make sure you can log into both accounts before moving forward, because you will need to switch between them during the linking process.
Step 2: Link your Nintendo Account to Twitter on the Nintendo website
Go to accounts.nintendo.com in a web browser and log in with your Nintendo Account email and password. Once you are logged in, look for "Connected Services" or "Social Media" in the left menu — the exact name depends on which version of the Nintendo Account page you see, but it will be in the settings area.
Click on Twitter or "Connect to Twitter." The page will ask you to log into Twitter to confirm the connection. You will be sent to Twitter's login page. Enter your Twitter email (or phone number) and password, then click "Authorize" or "Connect" when Twitter asks if you want to allow Nintendo to post on your behalf. After you authorize, you will be sent back to the Nintendo website, and the connection is complete.
If you see an error message, the most common cause is that you are already logged into Twitter in another browser tab or window. Log out of Twitter completely, close that tab, and try the connection again.
Step 3: Take a screenshot or video on your Switch
On your Nintendo Switch, play a game or open an app. To capture a screenshot, hold down the Capture button (the square button on the left side of the controller). To capture a 30-second video clip, press and hold the Capture button for about one second, then release it.
The Switch will save the capture to your gallery. You do not need to do anything else at this moment — just take the screenshot or video you want to share.
Step 4: Share your capture to Twitter
Press the Home button to go to the Switch home screen. Go to your user profile (the icon in the top left corner), then select "Album." Find the screenshot or video you just captured and open it.
Press the A button to open the options menu. Select "Post to Social Media" or "Share." You will see a list of services — select Twitter. The Switch will show you the image or video and ask if you want to add text. Type any message you want to include, then select "Post" or "Share." The capture will be sent to your Twitter account.
If Twitter does not appear in the share menu, the connection between your Nintendo Account and Twitter may not be active. Go back to accounts.nintendo.com, check the Connected Services section, and make sure Twitter shows as connected. If it does not, repeat Step 2.
Troubleshooting: Twitter is not showing up in the share menu
The most common reason Twitter does not appear is that your Nintendo Account and Twitter account are not actually linked yet, or the link has expired. Go to accounts.nintendo.com, log in, and check Connected Services. If Twitter is not listed, click "Connect to Twitter" again and complete the authorization process.
If Twitter is listed as connected but still does not show up on your Switch, try restarting your Switch completely. Power it off, wait 10 seconds, and power it back on. Then try taking a new screenshot and sharing it. If it still does not work, disconnect Twitter from your Nintendo Account, wait a few minutes, and reconnect it.
Make sure you are using the same Nintendo Account on your Switch that you linked to Twitter. If you have multiple user profiles on your Switch, each one needs its own Nintendo Account, and only the account you linked will be able to share to Twitter.
What happens after you post
Once you share a capture to Twitter, it will appear on your Twitter timeline as a regular post from your account. The image or video will be attached, and any text you added will appear above it. Your followers will see it the same way they see any other tweet from you.
You can delete the post from Twitter like any other tweet — just go to your timeline, find the post, and select "Delete." Deleting it from Twitter does not delete the original screenshot or video from your Switch, so you can share it again later if you want.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I schedule tweets from my Switch?
No. The Switch sends captures to Twitter immediately when you select "Post." You cannot schedule them for later. If you want to schedule a post, you will need to share the screenshot to Twitter on your phone or computer and use Twitter's scheduling feature there.
Will my followers know the post came from a Switch?
Twitter will show that the post was made from a mobile app or web browser, but it will not specifically say "Nintendo Switch." The post will look like a regular tweet from your account with an image or video attached.
What if I want to disconnect Twitter from my Nintendo Account?
Go to accounts.nintendo.com, log in, find Connected Services, and select Twitter. Click "Disconnect" or "Remove." After you disconnect, you will not be able to share to Twitter from your Switch until you reconnect them using Step 2.
Can I share video clips longer than 30 seconds?
The Switch only records 30-second video clips with the Capture button. If you want to share longer gameplay, you will need to record it using a capture card or external recording device, then upload it to Twitter separately from a computer.
Do I need Nintendo Switch Online to share to Twitter?
No. You do not need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to connect your accounts or share captures to Twitter. The sharing feature works whether or not you have an active subscription.