How To Fix Nintendo Switch Can’t Join Friend Lobby | NEW in 2025!

If your Nintendo Switch can’t join match making, play in a lobby with your friend, or if your friend can’t join your hosted match, this guide should help. There are a number of possible reasons for any of these cases so you’ll need to perform a few solutions.

Many Nintendo Switch users encounter problems playing with others all the time. This is because networks are not set up in the same way. Some connection problems are easily fixable while others may require external help from Nintendo or an Internet Service Provider.

Below are some of the common scenarios that are reported to us: 

  • can’t join game with certain friend
  • can’t join online match with anyone
  • friends cannot join you in an online match
  • getting 2618-0513 or similar
  • getting NAT errors like “traversal process has failed”

Reasons why you are unable to join match with friends online

If you are having a problem joining a match with your friend in whatever game on your Nintendo Switch, there can be a number of factors that you need to check. We list the common causes for this type of problem below.

New changes to your local network.

If you were able to play online with your friend/s before, the first thing that you must ask yourself is: were there any changes to your local network recently?

Mundane things like changing router settings may cause connectivity problems if you are not careful. The same can occur if you have a new modem or router installed. 

In some cases, changing security settings on your ISP’s end may change the NAT type on your Nintendo Switch without you knowing it.

NAT on your Nintendo Switch is restrictive.

The type of your Nintendo Switch NAT is often the cause of connectivity problems. Ideally, you want to have NAT type A although NAT type B is also fine. Any other NAT types (C, D, and F) may be problematic and may prevent your console from performing certain online activities.

Your friends NAT type is not set optimally.

If your NAT type is either A or B but you’re still having an issue playing online or performing certain online activities, it’s possible that the problem may have something to do with your friend’s NAT type. To fix the problem, you’ll need to tell your friend to troubleshoot his or her NAT type.

Too much latency.

Latency or high ping can result to connectivity problems. Nintendo Switch users with slow download and upload speeds may find out that they can’t join the lobby of their friend. Try running a connection speed test on your console to check the download and upload speeds.

How to fix a Nintendo Switch that can’t join friends online or on match making

Suggested readings:

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