A Guide to Updating Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Updating Animal Crossing: New Horizons is similar to any other game on the Nintendo Switch, with the update option appearing when you launch the game. However, the rollout of the 3.0 update has caught some players off guard, leading to a few hiccups. Keep in mind that the anticipated Switch 2 upgrade isn’t available yet, so if you’re wondering about that, just hang tight! If you’re having trouble getting the game to update to version 3.0, follow these steps to get Animal Crossing: New Horizons up to date.

Before diving in, ensure you’ve completed any necessary steps to transfer your Animal Crossing: New Horizons island to the Switch 2 if you’ve recently upgraded!

The 3.0 update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons should install automatically, or you’ll be prompted to start the update when you boot up the game, just like with other titles on the Switch. To manually check for updates, highlight the ACNH icon on your home screen, press the + button, scroll to the ‘Software Update’ section, and select ‘Via the Internet’ to download any available updates.

If those methods aren’t working, here are a few troubleshooting tips to consider:

Once the update is successfully installed, you can explore the new island hotel at the pier, visit slumber islands, and enjoy a variety of quality-of-life improvements.

For newcomers or those returning after a break, check out these 30 tips to help you settle back into island life. You might also want to give your island a fresh look with some assistance from Resetti in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.