The Nintendo Switch home screen serves as the central hub for launching games, accessing system features, and managing your library. While Nintendo has kept customization options relatively simple compared to smartphones or other gaming consoles, there are effective ways to personalize it to suit your preferences. This comprehensive guide covers everything from built-in features to advanced modifications, ensuring your home screen reflects your gaming style efficiently.

Whether you have a large collection of digital titles cluttering the interface or simply want a darker theme for late-night sessions, mastering these techniques will streamline your experience. Official methods focus on organization and basic visual tweaks, while custom themes unlock endless possibilities for those comfortable with modifications.

Understanding the Nintendo Switch Home Screen Layout

The home screen displays up to 12 most recently played or installed games as large icons. Below these, you’ll find quick-access buttons for Nintendo eShop, News, Album, and System Settings. Scrolling right reveals the All Software section, a grid view of your entire library. This dual layout balances quick access with comprehensive browsing.

Key elements include the user profile icon in the upper left, showing your avatar and friend notifications. The search functionality, available in All Software, allows instant game lookups. Understanding this foundation is crucial before diving into personalization.

Recent system updates have refined stability and added minor usability tweaks, but core customization remains consistent. No major overhauls have introduced dynamic wallpapers or free icon rearrangement on the home screen itself.

Official Ways to Customize Your Home Screen

Nintendo provides straightforward tools to declutter and adjust your home screen without any third-party involvement. These methods are safe, reversible, and available on all Switch models, including the OLED and Lite versions.

Switching Between Basic Themes

The simplest visual change is selecting between Basic White and Basic Black themes, which alter the background and menu colors. Basic Black offers better visibility in low light, reducing eye strain during extended play.

From the home screen, select the gear icon at the bottom right to open System Settings.
Scroll down the left menu and choose Theme.
Select Basic White or Basic Black, then press A to confirm.

This change applies instantly across the entire interface, including docked and handheld modes.

Decluttering with Game Archiving

Archiving removes games from your home screen and All Software grid without deleting save data or purchase history. Ideal for managing storage on the 32GB internal memory or microSD cards, it keeps your interface clean for favorites.

Highlight a game icon on the home screen or in All Software.
Press the + button to open the options menu.
Select Manage Software > Archive Software.
Confirm to free up space instantly.

Redownload archived titles anytime via the eShop under your profile’s Redownload section. This method effectively “hides” unused games, making the home screen feel more personalized.

To restore, revisit eShop > your profile icon > Redownload. Save data remains intact on the console.

Organizing Your Library with Groups (Folders)

Introduced in system update 14.0.0, Groups function as folders within the All Software section. While not directly on the home screen, they revolutionize library navigation, indirectly enhancing home screen usability by prioritizing key games.

Scroll right to All Software.
Press L or R to enter Group view if available.
Press and hold A on multiple games to select them.
Choose Create Group from the menu, name it (e.g., “RPGs” or “Multiplayer”).

Rename or edit groups anytime by selecting the group icon and pressing +. Drag groups to reorder in the list.

Benefits include thematic organization, like grouping indie titles or family games, reducing scroll time.

Sorting Options in All Software

Customize the grid order to match your habits. Press R in All Software to cycle sorts.

Most Recently Played: Defaults to latest sessions, keeping active games front and center. This dynamically updates the home screen too, as playing pushes icons up.
Longest Play Time: Prioritizes favorites by hours logged, perfect for completionists tracking progress across titles.
Title: Alphabetical listing simplifies finding obscure games without memorizing covers.
Publisher: Groups by developer, useful for fans of specific studios like Nintendo EPD or FromSoftware.
Group: Displays your custom folders first, streamlining access to curated collections.
Most Recently Downloaded: Highlights new purchases, aiding in trying fresh library additions promptly.
Most Recently Updated: Surfaces games with patches, ensuring you’re always on the latest version.
Play Log Order: Based on play history, reinforcing habitual access patterns.

Each sort persists until changed, offering persistent personalization.

Using the Search Feature

A magnifying glass icon in the upper right of All Software enables keyword searches. Type partial titles or developer names for instant results, bypassing manual scrolling.

Open All Software.
Select the search icon.
Enter query using on-screen keyboard.
Press A on results to launch.

This is invaluable for expansive libraries exceeding 100 titles.

Advanced Customization: Custom Themes via Homebrew

For users seeking true personalization—like animated backgrounds, custom icons, and layouts—custom firmware (CFW) enables thousands of community-created themes. Sites like Themezer.net host options inspired by games, anime, movies, and abstract art.

Critical Warnings: Installing CFW voids your warranty, risks permanent bans from online services (including eShop and multiplayer), and could brick your console if mishandled. Only proceed on a modchip-equipped or vulnerable Switch (most pre-2018 models). Backup saves via JKSV homebrew first. Never go online with CFW active.

Requirements for Custom Themes

You’ll need:

A hackable Switch (check ismyswitchpatched.com).
MicroSD card (128GB+ recommended).
PC for setup.
Atmosphere CFW, Hekate bootloader, SigPatches.

High-Level Installation Steps

Follow trusted guides like NH Switch Guide for full details. Overview:

Format microSD to FAT32.
Download Atmosphere, Hekate, latest firmware from official sources.
Copy files to microSD root.
Boot into Hekate via jig (RCM mode), install CFW.
Launch Atmosphere, install NXThemes Installer homebrew.
Download .nxtheme files from Themezer.
Place in /atmosphere/contents/0100000000001000/ folder.
Install via NXThemes app; select and apply.

Reboot to see changes. Themes alter backgrounds, icons, fonts, and animations.

Examples: Zelda-inspired with Hylian symbols, Splatoon splash effects, or minimalist dark modes.

Troubleshooting: If themes fail, verify file paths and restart. Use Themezer’s installer for vertical covers.

Optimizing for Specific Switch Models

The OLED model’s vibrant screen enhances dark themes, while Lite’s compact size benefits from minimal clutter. Archive aggressively on base models with limited storage.

For docked play, themes sync seamlessly. Custom themes shine on OLED’s display with animations.

Maintain updates offline for CFW stability.

Best Practices for a Clutter-Free Interface

Regularly archive seasonal games. Use Groups for genres: Action, Adventure, Puzzles, etc. Sort by playtime weekly to spotlight progress.

Weekly Cleanup Routine: Spend 5 minutes archiving dormant titles, ensuring home screen features only current obsessions. This prevents visual overload and improves load times slightly.
Genre-Based Groups: Categorize like “Nintendo Exclusives” for first-party hits, keeping platformers together for quick swaps. Expand with sub-tags if needed.
Playtime Tracking: Leverage Longest Play Time sort to celebrate milestones, motivating completion of long RPGs.
Search Shortcuts: Pin mental notes for frequent searches, like developer names, accelerating library dives.
Theme Rotation: Alternate Basic White/Black monthly for refresh, or cycle custom themes seasonally.
Backup Integration: Pair with cloud saves via NSO for seamless archiving.
Family Profiles: Customize per user for shared consoles, avoiding cross-contamination.
Icon Familiarity: Though unchangeable officially, consistent sorting builds muscle memory.

Pro Tips for Master Customization

Combine archiving with microSD management: Transfer large games to expandable storage, archiving smaller ones internally.

For CFW users: Install Tesla overlay for real-time theme previews. Experiment with animated packs from GBAtemp showcases, like pixel art loops.

Avoid over-grouping; limit to 5-7 folders max for efficiency. Use publisher sort for discovering hidden gems from the same studio.

Monitor system version via Settings > System for compatibility. Offline mode preserves custom setups safely.

Enhance aesthetics with custom Joy-Con grips or stands, complementing screen tweaks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I rearrange icons freely on the home screen?

No, officially the order is recent-play based. Archiving and playing adjusts it dynamically. CFW allows full layouts.

Are there more themes in the eShop?

No system-wide themes beyond basics. Game DLC may include UI elements, but not home screen.

Does archiving delete saves?

No, saves stay on the console. Redownload preserves progress.

Is CFW safe for OLED models?

Yes, if unpatched, but ban risk remains. Use emuNAND for separation.

How do I unarchive games quickly?

eShop > Profile > Redownload lists all archived titles.

Will updates break custom themes?

Possibly; update CFW components first via homebrew.

Can groups appear on home screen?

No, only in All Software.

Mastering these techniques transforms a static interface into a tailored gaming dashboard. Official options suffice for most, offering safety and simplicity.

Conclusion

Customizing your Nintendo Switch home screen blends organization, visual appeal, and efficiency. Official features like themes, archiving, Groups, sorting, and search provide robust tools for decluttering and quick access. For immersive personalization, custom themes via CFW open a vibrant community ecosystem, albeit with inherent risks. Balance your approach based on technical comfort—start official, explore advanced cautiously. Regularly maintain your setup for optimal performance, ensuring every session launches seamlessly from a screen that feels uniquely yours.