To fix communication errors in Splatoon 3, restart your switch and router. For more severe cases, consider reinstalling the game or resetting the switch to factory defaults.
Prerequisites for Troubleshooting
Check if the Splatoon and Switch services are operational.Minimize electromagnetic interference by turning off devices such as mobile phones and smart watches around the switch.Test your Internet connection by navigating to System Settings > Internet > Test Connection on the switch.Test Connection of the Nintendo Switch
1. Re-launch the game after enabling airplane mode
If the Splatoon game can’t use the Switch’s existing Internet connection, enable airplane mode and relaunch the game.
2. Restart the Nintendo Switch and Router
If a firmware malfunction occurs in the Nintendo Switch or router, it may result in a communication error in Splatoon 3. In such cases, restarting both devices should resolve the issue.
3. Update Firmware for Nintendo Switch and Router
Update your router and Nintendo Switch firmware if they are outdated, as this can cause incompatibility and frequent communication errors on Splatoon 3.
Update the Firmware of the Nintendo Switch
Update the Router Firmware
4. Clear the Cache of the Nintendo Switch
If invalid Splatoon game entries are found in the Switch’s cache, they can lead to game disconnections. Clearing the Nintendo Switch’s cache should resolve this issue.
5. Change your Character in the Game
If your game character’s configuration file is damaged or fails to load correctly, the game may disconnect. Thus, changing your in-game character is the solution.
6. Connect the Switch to the 5 GHz Band
If the network speed doesn’t meet the game’s requirements, it may cause a communication error on the switch. To solve this issue, connect the switch to the router’s 5 GHz band, which is faster than the 2.4 GHz band. TIP: Bring the switch close to the router, as the Wi-Fi band’s range is limited.
7. Change the Region in the Switch Settings
If you attempt to play in a server region differing from your Switch settings, servers may deny the connection, causing communication errors. Changing the region in your Switch settings can resolve this issue.
8. Change the DNS Settings of the Nintendo Switch
If the DNS settings of your Switch aren’t optimized for Splatoon 3, you may experience constant disconnections and communication errors. Resolve this issue by modifying these settings.
9. Change the MTU Settings of the Nintendo Switch
The Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) is the size of the largest data packets your switch can send or receive. If the MTU does not align with the router’s MTU, it can disrupt communication and cause errors. In this scenario, adjusting the Nintendo Switch’s MTU settings will solve the problem.
10. Try Another Network or Network Type
If you experience a communication error in Splatoon 3, it’s likely due to a non-optimal network or network type. Switching to a different network or network type should solve the problem.
Try the Other Network Type
Try Another Network
11. Delete the Saved Data of Splatoon 3
If the Splatoon 3 saved data on the Switch or cloud is damaged, it can cause communication errors during gameplay. This issue can be resolved by deleting the game’s saved data. Remember, if you don’t back up your game data in the cloud, you will lose all progress.
12. Reinstall the Splatoon 3 Game
If the core modules of Splatoon 3 are damaged or invalid, you’ll encounter a communication error. To fix this, reinstall the game on your Switch.
13. Reset the Nintendo Switch to factory defaults
If the firmware core components of your Nintendo Switch are damaged, it may lead to frequent disconnections and communication errors in the Splatoon game. Resetting the Switch to its default configuration should resolve this issue. This will erase all the data from the switch, so, make sure to back it up. If the issue persists on other networks, contact your ISP to inspect your UPnP and NAT type settings, or consider requesting them to disable CG-NAT for your connection. Ensure that the necessary game ports are properly forwarded in your router settings if UPnP is unavailable. As a final resort, you may reach out to Nintendo Support.
