How to Turn Off Motion Controls on Nintendo Switch in 6 Steps (with Photos)

Motion controls are an integral part of the Nintendo Switch gaming experience. Nintendo has been pushing hard for motion controls ever since the Nintendo Wii came out, which almost entirely relied on user motion.

Many players do not want to get up and dance around just to play a video game and would rather use standard buttons. So, it’s understandable to want to turn off the motion controls on your Nintendo Switch console!

Below, we will walk you through the steps to disable motion controls in select games. The downside is that this only works in certain games, and there is no way to turn off motion controls altogether on your Nintendo Switch console.

Let’s get started with the super simple steps.

Step 1: Launch a Compatible Game

The first thing you need to do is launch a compatible game. This is very important because not every game works without motion controls. One of the best examples of games that let you turn off motion controls is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

Simply insert the cartridge if you have one and start the game form the home screen.

Compatible with Motion Controls

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

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• 4-player multiplayer in 1080p while playing in TV Mode
• Every track from the Wii U version makes a return, including DLC
• All-new guest characters, along with returning favorites, such as King Boo, Bowser Jr., and Dry Bones
• Choose a new Smart Steering feature that makes driving and staying on the track easy for anyone

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04/20/2023 12:15 pm GMT

Step 2: Open the Settings Menu

Next, open the Settings menu once the game is running by pressing the A button.

This can be confusing because each game has a slightly different menu system. Some games will list this as an options menu or just have a gear icon.

Step 3: Scroll Down to Motion Controls

After getting the menu open, you will need to scroll down until you find the option for motion controls.

There is no set terminology that is used, but typically the selection will have the words Motion Controls in it. If you can’t find a Motion Control setting, then it may not be an option for that game.

Step 4: Toggle Motion Controls to Off

Now that you found the setting for motion controls, you will need to actually turn it off. Most games have a toggle function that you can change by using the right D-pad button.

Be sure that you don’t use the left D-pad button because some menus use it to return to default settings.

Step 5: Go Back to Game

Finally, you can go back to the game and start playing. On most games, you can do this by pressing the B button, the + button, or even the down button on the D-pad.

From there, you will want to go back to the game’s Main Menu. Pick a game mode that would normally require motion controls to make sure the changes worked correctly.

Step 6: Choose Button Controls If Necessary

On certain games, there is another option once you start playing to either use the Joy-con’s motion controls or turn them off. For games that allow different controller configurations, this is where it will ask how you will play. Keep in mind that you can use the Joy-cons with one in each hand, with the included Joy-con holder, or even with a Switch Pro Controller.

Disable All Motion Controls on Switch

While the steps above will help you disable motion controls and games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, it will not disable motion controls altogether on your Switch. In addition, not every game supports the disabling of motion controls. For instance, certain games like 1 2 Switch require motion controls in order to play them.

Unfortunately, there’s no way to get around that, and it seems like a great oversight for people who have physical limitations since it would not allow them to play these motion-based games. If you’re struggling to find a way to play a specific game without motion controls, it is best to look at the game’s manual or contact its developer for more information.