You can customize a Nintendo Switch profile icon in two different ways: edit a built-in character or Mii in your profile settings, or assemble a custom icon from collectible parts in Nintendo Switch Online’s Missions & Rewards. The first is the simpler profile-editor option; the second requires an active paid membership and uses a separate icon collection.
What is the difference between the two icon options?
A Mii icon is edited through the console’s standard profile settings. Nintendo documents selecting a Mii and changing its expression and pose; the editor also lets you change the background. The available source does not describe importing a photo or drawing a freeform graphic in this editor. Nintendo’s profile-icon instructions and its Japan support instructions cover the built-in route.
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A Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) custom icon is assembled from eligible character, frame, and background elements obtained through Missions & Rewards. It is not the same editor as the ordinary profile-icon picker: you create and select these icons in the Nintendo Switch Online app on the HOME Menu. Nintendo’s custom-icon instructions explain this process.
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| Feature | Built-in character or Mii | NSO custom icon |
|---|---|---|
| Where you edit it | User profile or System Settings profile settings, using the standard icon editor; see Nintendo’s instructions. | Nintendo Switch Online on the HOME Menu → Missions & Rewards, then Icon Collection; see Nintendo’s instructions. |
| Customization | Select a character or Mii and adjust the background. For a Mii, Nintendo Japan also documents changing expression and pose; see Nintendo Japan support. | Combine eligible character, frame, and background elements. Compatibility rules limit which elements can be combined; see Nintendo’s instructions. |
| Membership and points | The cited standard profile-editor instructions do not state that an NSO membership is required. | Requires an active paid NSO membership and internet access. Elements can be redeemed with My Nintendo Platinum Points or obtained by meeting any condition shown for that element; see Nintendo’s instructions. |
| Saved icons and account access | The cited standard settings instructions state no saved-icon limit. | Nintendo says the collection can store up to 100 created icons. It is managed per Nintendo Account and appears on consoles linked to that account; redeemed elements cannot be shared with other Nintendo Accounts. See Nintendo’s instructions. |
How to make an NSO custom icon
Nintendo’s documented process applies to Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch, including Switch Lite and OLED models listed in its North American guide. You need an internet connection and an active paid NSO membership. Regional wording may differ slightly in the console menus.
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- From the HOME Menu, open Nintendo Switch Online and select the user profile you want to use.
- Choose Missions & Rewards. Review the available icon elements and any condition displayed for an element.
- Select an element and redeem it using My Nintendo Platinum Points, or complete the stated condition if the element has one.
- Open Icon Collection. Start from the Icons screen with the plus icon, or choose an element from Icon Elements to begin creating.
- Choose compatible character, frame, and background elements, then save the icon.
- Select the saved icon from Icon Collection to use it as your profile icon.
Which NSO parts can you combine?
The custom-icon maker is a parts-based editor, not an unrestricted graphic tool. Nintendo says elements generally combine only with elements from the same game collection, with generic frames and backgrounds as exceptions. A character element that already includes a background may not allow you to add a separate background. Check the collection and the choices offered in the editor before redeeming parts for a particular design.
What happens to icons and rewards if membership ends?
Nintendo says redeemed elements remain accessible if the paid membership later ends, and created icons are managed through the Nintendo Account. However, the documented workflow requires an active paid membership to create and use NSO custom icons. Nintendo also says the rewards are not transferable between Nintendo Accounts. For the current effect of a membership change on your account, follow the console’s current prompts and Nintendo’s support guidance.
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Why might an element be missing?
The NSO catalog changes, so a character or frame shown elsewhere may not be available in your console’s current collection. Nintendo says themes change monthly and available elements refresh weekly. Some rewards may also have an extra condition, such as a particular membership tier or recent play of a game. Check Missions & Rewards for the live catalog and the conditions attached to each item. Nintendo’s Missions & Rewards explainer, dated June 5, 2025, gives an overview of the program; the live console menu is the place to confirm current availability.
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Which option should you use?
- Choose a built-in Mii if you want a quick profile edit and prefer changing the Mii’s expression, pose, or background in the standard settings editor.
- Choose an NSO custom icon if you want to build a design from eligible collectible elements and are willing to use the separate Nintendo Switch Online app workflow.
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