It’s a big day for video game consoles and major, performance-enhancing system updates. Hot off of the PS5 Pro’s anticipated upgrade to PSSR, Nintendo has just dropped a firmware update of its own – a big Version 22.0.0 for the Nintendo Switch 2 that adds a new Handheld Boost Mode.
Here’s what you need to know about this new feature:
What is the Switch 2’s Handheld Boost Mode?
Handheld Boost Mode essentially enables Docked Mode behaviour in Switch 1 games when playing in Handheld Mode on the Switch 2, meaning that the game will behave as if its running on a docked Switch console with all of the performance benefits that come with that.
A lot of original Switch games are designed to pull back on things like resolution, frame rate or even whole graphical features when played in Handheld Mode on their target hardware, owing to the need for lower power consumption when running from a battery, and so what’s happening here is that the Switch 2’s extra grunt is being put to use to remove those limits as if the games were being played on a docked Switch.
This should result in Switch 1 titles looking and running much nicer on the Switch 2 in Handheld Mode, though the results naturally vary depending on how the games were optimised for each situation in the first place. Games like Pokémon Legends Arceus, Persona 5 Royal and Dark Souls have already been tested out by the community and show very promising results – often offering crisp 1080p resolutions that perfectly match that of the Switch 2’s handheld screen.
It’s worth noting that Nintendo warns of increased power consumption and some potential weirdness with games being told they’re running on a TV when they’re not, so the Handheld Boost Mode toggle is completely optional.
How to enable Handheld Boost Mode on Switch 2
Nintendo has provided instructions on how to enable this feature, which you can see below:
Information
When enabled, Handheld Mode Boost causes the performance of Nintendo Switch software while undocked to run as if it were being played in TV mode.
Complete these steps
- Select System Settings on the HOME Menu.
- Scroll down through the System Settings menu and select System.
- Scroll down on the right and select Nintendo Switch Software Handling.
- Select Handheld Mode Boost to enable or disable this setting.
Additional information
- While enabling this setting can result in improved visuals, it may also increase the system’s power consumption.
- The effect of Handheld Mode Boost will vary based on the software. Some Nintendo Switch software will be unaffected, and this option has no effect on software for Nintendo Switch 2.
- Because this option forces TV mode operation, some instructions may be incorrect or fail to operate correctly.
- Handheld Mode Boost may prevent Nintendo Switch software from using the system’s touch screen, and will cause attached Joy-Con 2 controllers to be treated as a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller.
- To use other controllers, first detach the Joy-Con 2 controllers from the console.
Nintendo Switch 2 Ver. 22.0.0 Update Notes
Here’s a look at the full patch notes for this update:
Ver. 22.0.0 (Released March 16, 2026)
- Changed the on-screen text and animations when you load a virtual game card in the HOME Menu.
- Added the ability to save notes about friends on your Friend List. The note content is not displayed to friends.
- Added the ability to see and edit these notes from the Nintendo Switch App. The app must be on version 3.3.0 or higher to use this feature.
- The following features were added to support GameChat:
- Added the ability to invite friends to GameChat rooms you’re participating in. Some friends may not be able to be invited, such as supervised accounts.
- Friends that haven’t finished GameChat initial setup can now be invited to GameChat. Some friends may not be able to be invited, such as supervised accounts or those who haven’t used a Nintendo Switch 2.
- It may take a while for this change to be reflected after updating your console to system version 22.0.0.
- Improvements were made to the quality of the game screen shared in a GameChat when expanded.
- Added the ability to rewind 10 seconds/advance 10 seconds with the ZL and ZR Buttons when watching a full screen video in News or Nintendo eShop.
- Added the option to add the following data to “Automatic Uploads” from Album.
- Clip Video, Video saved as a screenshot, and screenshot with added text.
- Added Portuguese (Portugal) and Russian to “GameChat Voice ⇔ Speech to Text” languages in Accessibility.
- Text-to-Speech, under Accessibility, can now read the text in Album and during first-time setup.
- Please see Nintendo Switch 2 First-Time Setup and Connection for instructions on how to turn text-to-speech on in the first-time setup.
- Added the ability to see the breakdown of storage capacity by data type for the system memory and microSD Express card.
- Added the ability to perform an audio test when “Linear PCM 5.1 Surround” is selected for TV Sound in Audio.
- Changed the “Hong Kong/Taiwan/South Korea” region to “Hong Kong/Taiwan/South Korea/South East Asia” in Device.
- Added “Handheld Mode Boost” to Nintendo Switch Software Handling in System.
- Handheld Mode Boost will cause compatible Switch software to run as if in TV Mode, so certain functionality may be affected. Please see the on-device description for more details.
- The following features were added to Airplane Mode:
- When Airplane Mode is activated, the previously set preferences for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or NFC while in Airplane Mode will be saved and applied.
- Added the ability to individually enable or disable Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or NFC during Airplane Mode from the Quick Settings.
- Added the ability to see a notification in the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls smart device application when the Parental Controls PIN is input successfully on the console. This can also be set up to be a push notification to your smart device.
- The app must be on version 2.4.0 or higher to use this functionality.
- General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience.