On the covered Nintendo Switch console, 2318-0521, 2306-0501, 2306-0502, 2318-0501, 2618-0201, 2618-0501, 2618-0502, 2318-0531, 2318-0532, 2318-0533, 2318-1401, 2318-0522, 2318-0564, 2318-1201, 2318-1202, 2318-0551, 2306-0520, 2160-0103, 2618-0521, 2318-0031 means the connection to the service or to the other consoles dropped before or during matchmaking, which Nintendo puts down to a dropped or timed-out connection, another player leaving, or maintenance First, check the network status page and try again a few times before changing anything.
Differential
Likely causes of “Nintendo Switch console codes 2318-0521, 2306-0501 and 18 more”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The connection dropped or timed out before matchmaking finished
What separates it The code appears while joining a lobby, and the same network held earlier connections
How to confirm Try again a few times, then improve the signal; Nintendo says dropped and timed-out connections cause most of these codes
- 2
A friend or another player disconnected
What separates it The code appears when joining a specific friend's game
How to confirm Ask the friend whether they left or lost their connection; Nintendo's 2318-0535 article says to check this
- 3
Maintenance or a service problem
What separates it Several players fail at the same time and the network status page lists it
How to confirm Check the network status page and retry when it says maintenance has finished
- 4
Weak signal or interference on your side
What separates it The console is docked or far from the router, and metal objects or electronics are nearby
How to confirm Move within 10 to 15 feet, out of the dock, and move metal, glass and electronics away
- 5
A network problem that needs your internet provider
What separates it The code persists on your network and not on another
How to confirm Test on a different network; Nintendo says to contact your ISP or network administrator for 2306-0520 and 2160-0103
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The exact code and the message that came with it
- Whether the failure occurs when joining, during a match or with a specific player
- What Nintendo's network status page says at that moment
- Whether other devices on your network have any trouble at the same time
Try in this order
0 of 8 completedWhat to do first
Reversiblecheck the network status page and try again a few times before changing anything.
Correct only the documented fault domain
ReversibleBring the console closer to the router, remove it from the dock, try the other band, reduce interference, and check whether the other player left on purpose before you troubleshoot the network.
Wait and retry a few times
ReversibleNintendo's articles for 2318-0531 to 2318-0533 and 2318-1400 to 2318-1401 say to try again later a few times before you change anything.
Check the network status page
ReversibleOpen support.nintendo.com/networkstatus. If maintenance is posted, try again once it is resolved, as Nintendo says for 2318-0521, 2318-0522, 2318-0564, 2318-1201 and 2318-1202.
Check the other player
ReversibleFor 2318-0535, confirm your friend did not disconnect on purpose or lose their own connection.
Improve your signal
ReversibleTake the console out of the dock, hold it within 10 to 15 feet of the router, move metal objects, speakers, power strips, glass and cordless phones away, and try the other band.
Update and restart
ReversibleUpdate the console, then restart it with POWER held for three seconds and Restart, as Nintendo says for 2618-0521.
Involve your provider only if it fails elsewhere too
ReversibleIf a different network works, contact your ISP or network administrator, which is Nintendo's advice for 2306-0520 and 2160-0103.
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.
- 2318-0521
- "One or more other consoles are not responding"; check network status, try again after maintenance.
- 2306-0501, 2306-0502
- Unable to join an online match; disconnected from the service before matchmaking started, from a dropped or timed-out connection; twin 2306-0502.
- 2318-0501
- Disconnected from the service before matchmaking so unable to join the lobby.
- 2618-0201
- Disconnected before matchmaking; a dropped or timed-out wireless network or internet connection.
- 2618-0501, 2618-0502
- Disconnected before matchmaking; twin 2618-0502, same cause.
- 2318-0531
- "Unable to communicate with the other console(s)"; an interrupted internet connection; try again a few times.
- 2318-0532
- Same message and cause as 2318-0531.
- 2318-0533
- Same message and cause as 2318-0531.
- 2318-1401
- Same cause and steps as 2318-1400.
- 2318-0522
- "A communication error has occurred"; check network status and try again once maintenance is resolved.
- 2318-0564
- Same message and steps as 2318-0522.
- 2318-1201
- "An error has occurred"; check network status.
- 2318-1202
- Nintendo's article names no cause; check network status and try again.
- 2318-0551
- "A communication error has occurred. Please try again later."
- 2306-0520
- Unable to join an online match; contact your ISP or network administrator if network troubleshooting continues to fail.
- 2160-0103
- Unable to join an online match; the same advice as 2306-0520.
- 2618-0521
- Using an online service; remove the console from the dock, check status, update and restart.
- 2318-0031
- Try again later a few times, then move the console closer to the router and reduce interference.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the error appears on several networks, contact Nintendo Support with the code
- !Router and provider settings belong to the router's maker or your internet provider
- !Do not repeat the join request more than a few times in a minute; waiting is Nintendo's first suggestion
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Where the manufacturer's article stops. These articles cover a connection that dropped, timed out or never formed while joining or during an online match, including a friend leaving. They do not cover the NAT-specific match-making codes (see the NAT page) or local wireless play.
Exact questions
Common questions
What does 2318-0521, 2306-0501, 2306-0502, 2318-0501, 2618-0201, 2618-0501, 2618-0502, 2318-0531, 2318-0532, 2318-0533, 2318-1401, 2318-0522, 2318-0564, 2318-1201, 2318-1202, 2318-0551, 2306-0520, 2160-0103, 2618-0521, 2318-0031 mean on a Nintendo Switch console?+
the connection to the service or to the other consoles dropped before or during matchmaking, which Nintendo puts down to a dropped or timed-out connection, another player leaving, or maintenance
What is the difference between 2306-0501 and 2318-0501?+
Both mean you were disconnected before matchmaking started, which is why you could not join the lobby; the network dropped or timed out.
Could the other player be the problem?+
Yes. Nintendo's 2318-0535 article says to check that a friend did not disconnect intentionally.
Should I restart the router?+
It rarely hurts, but Nintendo's first step is to try again a few times and to check the network status page.
Why are there so many codes for the same thing?+
Each code names a different point at which the connection dropped, but Nintendo's steps for them are the same.
When do I contact my provider?+
When the error follows your network and clears on a different one.