Nintendo Switch console code 2121-0002, 2121-2101: meaning and exact next steps

Every code on this page

What Nintendo's article says about each code

Nintendo publishes a separate article for every code below, and the fix on this page is the fix all of them share. The line beside each code is what that code's own article adds: the message, the situation, or the one step that differs.

What the code names

Nintendo lists 2121-0002 as an error that showed when a friend request was sent, and says the problem was resolved in system update 6.0.0. A console on an older version can still show it, and a console that is current should not.

Why a friend request

Friend requests pass through Nintendo's account servers and need your console to be signed in to the Nintendo Account. A console that has lost its sign-in, or is blocked by a restrictive network, can fail at this step, so check that other features such as the eShop open before you suspect the request.

What to try first

The fastest check is the version number under System Settings. If it is current, restart the console, make sure the date and time are set automatically and try again later in case a Nintendo server was busy.

After the fix

Once a request goes through, the other person must accept it from their own console, which can take time. A request that stays pending is not an error.

Related account problems

A code that begins with 2124 or 2618 points to other account or sign-in problems, so read the page for the exact number rather than assuming the same cause.

When the code returns

If the code comes back on a console that is fully updated, note the date and time, and whether the friend request was sent from the Friends menu, from a profile you opened through an app or from a friend suggestion. Nintendo support can look up the account when you contact them with the code and your Nintendo Account email, and they may ask which console and system version you use. Keep a screenshot of the message if you can, since a photo of the screen with the code visible saves a round of questions. Changing the router's DNS settings or switching to a different network, such as a phone hotspot, is a quick way to tell whether the problem sits in the home network or in the account.