How To Make Group Folders On Nintendo Switch
It's been a little over five years since Nintendo's portable Switch console first hit the scene — and it just got a feature players have levied for since it was released. For years, players who installed more than 12 pieces of software on the console found themselves without any real method to organize titles or customize the way they're able to browse owned games and apps. The 12 most recently opened options would remain on the console's home screen, but anything else would be hidden behind an "All Software" icon.
While players could press the R button on their Joy-Cons to filter results a few different ways after opening "All Software," everything was dumped onto the screen and could only be governed by simple rules. Sorting a library by alphabetical order or by play time makes life a little easier, but it still felt like a herculean task for those with sizable collections installed on their Switch.
Now, Nintendo recently released an update for Switch consoles that — among other quality of life enhancements — finally lets players organize software into customizable folders. Here's how players can sort their own titles by making group folders on Switch.
How To Create Groups On Nintendo Switch
Nintendo released a new update to Switch consoles on Monday, March 21st, alongside a tweet announcing the long-awaited inbound feature. The tweet also included a link to the company's support site detailing the steps players would need to take in order to make use of Groups on their own console. Of course, the first step is for players to install the new version 14.0.0 update.
Once players have their Switch up to date, navigating to the "All Software" icon will reveal some new options. In addition to the usual filters for software after pressing R, players can now use L to sort by Groups they've created. The first time a player goes into the Group menu, they'll be greeted by a prompt explaining the process and offering the option to create the console's first group. From there, players will be taken back to their library and allowed to select up to 200 titles for the new Group. Players can arrange the selected titles in any manner they like in the Group and can give the selection a name when the process is complete. Currently, players can create up to 100 individual Groups.
Why Are Switch Groups A Big Deal?
The ability to organize and sort installed software on Switch may not seem all that important to players who only own a handful of titles or to those who've only just recently purchased a Switch for the excellent "Pokémon Legends: Arceus" or "Metroid Dread" releases, but it's a priceless feature for players that have built — or are currently building — an extensive library on the portable console.
As more and more classic games find a second life on the Switch, and contemporary titles continue to include Nintendo's hardware in release strategies, the Switch will only become more attractive as a central gaming destination. With the addition of Groups, players now have a useful way to help make sense of their own library — able to round up all "Mario" games or RPGs together in a single location. It's a shame that it took five years of players asking for something better before it finally happened, but now that the Groups feature is here it's hard to imagine the Switch without it.