This guide will demonstrate how to add friends on your Nintendo Switch and how you can connect with your Nintendo Switch friends in Pokemon Sword and Shield.

Adding Friends

Pokemon Sword and Shield has no friends feature within the game itself, but you can use your Nintendo Switch Profile to add friends, which can be accessed indirectly within Pokemon Sword and Shield's Y-Comm feature.

Accessing Nintendo Switch Friends In-Game

Priority of Stamps in Y-Comm

When you or your friend sent a request in Y-comm for Link Trade, Link Battle, Max Raid Battle, Camping, or League Card Swap, your friends and your stamps will be prioritized in notifying you or your friends. While stamps from random online players will sometimes have a hard time showing up, stamps made by friends have a much higher chance of showing up on your feed. This will make it easier to join your friends in trading, battling, swapping cards, camping and doing Max Raid Battles.

Be reminded that you need a Nintendo Online Subscription in the case that you want to be notified on an online session. Otherwise, your friends' stamps will only appear when connected over Local Connection.

How to Receive and Send Friend Requests

Go to the Nintendo Switch Home Menu

Go to the Nintendo Switch home page; if you are in-game, press the Home Button to go back to the Home Menu of the Nintendo Switch.

Go to your Profile

Go to your profile by selecting the icon at the top left corner of the screen and go to the user tab under the Profile menu.

Friend Code

Under the user tab you will see your Friend Code. This code must then be given to your friend so he/she can add you as a friend.

Locally

You can add your friends who are near you by picking the Add Locally option in the Add a Friend section in the profile menu. Both you and your friend should select the same image for you to find each others' profile.

Finding Old Playmates

You can send friend requests to players with whom you have played previously. Simply go to the Add a Friend tab and choose Search for Users you Played With. In the menu you will see players who you have played with previously and will be able to send a friend request to users of your choice.

How to Accept Friend Requests

Accept Friend Requests by Friend Code

Go to the Add a Friend tab in the Profile menu and select the received friend request, then accept the friend request of your partner to become friends.

Accept Friend Requests Locally

Select the profile of your friend from the available choices of people who chose the same image for adding locally. You and your friend will need to choose each other for the friend request to go through. Be reminded that you will need to connect to the internet for the request to be finalized.

Related Links

Beginner Tips and Guides