How to update Animal Crossing New Horizons

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Updating Animal Crossing New Horizons works just like any other Nintendo Switch game, where the option to update should appear when you try to launch the game. However, with ACNH's 3.0 update going live surprisingly early, it seems like it's being a bit finnicky for some players. Also bear in mind that the premium Switch 2 upgrade is not out yet, so if you're wondering why that isn't installing, you just need to wait! But if the game is refusing to upgrade to version 3.0 at all, the following steps and advice should help you update Animal Crossing New Horizons.

Before you get started, please make sure you've done everything you need to transfer your Animal Crossing New Horizons island to Switch 2 if you've just upgraded!

How to download the Animal Crossing New Horizons 3.0 update

Animal Crossing New Horizons manual software update menu — (Image credit: Nintendo)

The Animal Crossing New Horizons 3.0 update should install automatically, or you'll have the option to start the update as soon as you try to boot up the game, as with all other Switch games. To manually check for game updates, hover over the ACNH tile on your Switch's home screen then press the + button, scroll down to the 'Software Update' tab, and select 'Via the Internet' to download any available updates.

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However, if those update methods aren't working, there are a couple of things to check:

Make sure your Switch or Switch 2 is connected to the internet, otherwise you won't be able to install the update at all – make sure it's not in Flight Mode or otherwise disconnected from your network.
Make sure your Switch or Switch 2 is update to date. Open the 'System Settings' menu, scroll all the way down to the 'System' tab, then select 'System Update' and your console will begin installing any outstanding software updates if there are any. While you're in this menu, scroll down to find the 'Automatic Software Updates' setting and make sure it's toggled on so that any game updates can install themselves as soon as possible.
Try restarting your Switch by holding down the power button for a couple of seconds, then choosing 'Power Options', followed by 'Restart'. This might be enough to jog your Switch into recognizing the update, as confirmed by a fellow GamesRadar+ writer!

Now that you've got the update installed, you'll be able to check out the new island hotel on the pier, slumber islands, and a whole host of quality-of-life changes.

If you're new or returning after a long vacation, here are 30 Animal Crossing New Horizon tips to help you get into island life. Or you might want to redecorate your island with some help from Resetti in Animal Crossing New Horizons.

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Will Sawyer is a Guides Editor at GamesRadar+ with over five years of experience in writing online guides, news, and features, and has a BA (Hons) in Journalism. Starting as a freelancer, Will contributed to startmenu and Game Rant before joining the GamesRadar+ team in August 2021. Since then, he has written hundreds of guides about a huge range of games, with shooters and action games being his areas of expertise. Outside of writing about games, Will hops between multiplayer shooters with friends, such as Darktide and Helldivers 2, and delves into whatever has been on his backlog for far too long. He also tries to get through his never-ending Warhammer pile of shame of grey Tyranids, Aeldari, and Chaos Space Marines.