How to use the Nintendo Switch’s hidden browser

The Japanese hybrid console hides a browser inside. Here's how to launch it and use it to surf online

The Nintendo Switch's gaming qualities should be beyond doubt by now. The fixed/laptop hybrid console of the Japanese manufacturer, despite the doubts that accompanied it in the phase that preceded its launch, has beaten several sales records and in two years has scored the figure of 33.15 million pieces sold.

The merit of a different gameplay than that offered by other consoles (PlayStation and Xbox) and a versatility out of the ordinary. Many don't know, for example, that the Switch allows you to surf online, taking advantage of an ad hoc browser present in the folds of the operating system that runs the Japanese console. Sure, the browser is hidden pretty well, but you just need to know a little trick to launch and use it. What's the point of a browser in Nintendo Switch? Given the size and technical features of the video game console, it could be used as a tablet replacement to check email, social and consult news portals.

How to access the Nintendo Switch browser

To navigate, however, you'll have to manage to unearth the web browser present in the Japanese video game console. First of all, open the System Settings, choose the Internet item, then Internet Settings and select the Wi-Fi network to which you are already connected. In the menu that appears, choose Change Settings: scroll down the page until you find the item DNS Settings and select it to change from Automatic to Manual.

Now you can change the DNS address of the connection: set the primary DNS as 045.055.142.122 and save the changes made. This will let you return to the previous screen: from here try to connect to the Wi-Fi network again and wait a few moments. Then a screen will appear with a button in the center, with which you can select Continue to Google. By clicking on this button you'll see a new tab open up: this is the Nintendo Switch's hidden browser, from which you can now visit any site you want.

Once you're done using the browser, all you have to do is go back to Wi-Fi Settings and change the preferences again, selecting Automatic instead of Manual.