Why do I keep getting the error message “The software has stopped because an error occurred.” when playing game on Nintendo Switch? Even if the Nintendo Switch doesn’t really cause any problems, except for the thing with the weak WLAN reception , we kept getting the error message “The software has been closed because an error has occurred” while playing the game has ended or more precisely, the game has crashed. This can be quite annoying, especially if you haven’t saved and lose some game progress due to the game crashing.
Fixing a software error on your Nintendo Switch can vary depending on the nature of the error. Here are some general steps you can follow to troubleshoot and resolve common software issues:
Restart the Switch: Sometimes, a simple restart can fix minor glitches. To restart the Switch, press and hold the power button on the top of the console until the power menu appears. Then, select “Power Options” and choose “Restart.”
Update the Software: Ensure that your Nintendo Switch’s software is up to date. Go to “System Settings” > “System” > “System Update” to check for any available updates and install them if necessary.
Check for Corrupt Data: If a specific game or application is causing the error, there might be corrupted data. Go to “System Settings” > “Data Management” > “Manage Software” to find the problematic software and delete any corrupted data associated with it.
Clear Cache: In some cases, clearing the cache can help resolve issues. To clear cache, turn off the Switch, then press and hold the volume up and down buttons simultaneously. While holding these buttons, press the power button. Keep holding the volume buttons until the maintenance menu appears. From there, select “Initialize Console without Deleting Save Data.” This will clear the cache without affecting your saved games.
Check for system memory: If your Nintendo Switch is running low on system memory, it might cause errors. Delete any unnecessary games, screenshots, videos, or other data to free up space.
Test in handheld and docked mode: Some errors may be specific to either handheld or docked mode. Test your Switch in both modes to see if the issue persists in one but not the other.
Check for overheating: Overheating can cause performance issues and errors. Make sure the Switch is adequately ventilated and not exposed to direct sunlight or other heat sources.
Contact Nintendo Support: If none of the above steps resolve the issue, it’s best to contact Nintendo Support for further assistance. They can provide more specific troubleshooting steps or advise on potential hardware issues.
Remember to back up your game data regularly, especially if you encounter frequent software errors. This way, you won’t lose progress in your games if a more severe problem arises.
“The software has exited because an error occurred” Error on Nintendo Switch
When looking for a solution to the problem, you usually find two answers.
Restart the Nintendo Switch and continue playing as normal.
Remove the game card briefly, reinsert it and continue playing.
These “solutions” didn’t really help us. After a while we came across an interesting feature in the settings. With this setting you can check the game data for errors, similar to what some might already know from Steam. So just searched for faulty files in the settings and lo and behold, something must have gone wrong with the download or installation of the Nintendo Switch game. After a while the process was complete and so far Zelda Breath of the Wild hasn’t crashed with the error message “The software has stopped because an error has occurred.” So it seems to have helped.
Start the Nintendo Switch and open System Settings.
In the settings you select “Data management” and “Software”.
Now select the game that crashes with the above error message and then tap on “Scan for corrupted files”.
If that doesn’t help either, reinstalling the game might help. Have you also had your own experiences with the error message and do you know any other solutions that could help here?
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