Latest Nintendo Switch Update Patches Annoying "Wireless Access Points" Issue

Nintendo rolled out its latest system update for the Nintendo Switch console on 22nd April 2024, which addressed persistent issues regarding the hardware's connectivity. In its brief patch notes, the update notes the few problems that have plagued "the user's experience" recently.

In addition to addressing the annoying connectivity issues, the system update also brought some general improvements, which are vaguely explained as with previous updates. While the latest system update for the Nintendo Switch is relatively small to some, it could be a while before another system update is released, given the console's lifespan—it has been on the market for over seven years—and recent reports and rumors of a Switch 2 continuing to circulate online.

The latest Nintendo Switch system update Ver. 18.0.1, was released on 22nd April 2024. Owners are required to update their hardware to install the new bug fixes and improvements. The brief patch notes for Ver. 18.0.1 highlights a key issue that has been experienced recently relating to an error in which "some wireless access points" were not appearing to owners when establishing a new wireless connection.

The patch notes addressed this issue, which should be resolved as Switch owners should be able to locate these access points to establish a new wireless connection for their console. We've detailed the patch notes for the Ver. 18.0.1 system update for Nintendo Switch consoles below sourced from the official Nintendo Support page:

• Fixed an issue where some wireless access points cannot be found when setting up a new wireless network.
  • If you're unable to update to Version 18.0.1 because of the issue, temporarily change the security settings for your wireless network to use only "WPA2 (AES)" so you can connect wirelessly to download and install the system update.
  • After updating to Version 18.0.1, restore your network's security settings to its previous settings.
• General system stability improvements to enhance the user's experience.

In other related news, Nintendo has ceased online capabilities for the previous generation consoles, the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, as of 8th April 2024. Some of these online capabilities included exclusive 3DS software, co-op play, online rankings, and "data distribution;" however, any features and gameplay modes that don't require online capabilities have remained accessible to players on these consoles.