An increasing number of Nintendo Switch 2 owners are advising potential buyers to exercise extreme caution when considering secondhand purchases. The concern stems from Nintendo's rigorous anti-piracy enforcement, which may leave unwary consumers with consoles permanently banned from online services.

The updated Nintendo Account User Agreement, implemented in May 2025, clearly states Nintendo's authority to disable or restrict functionality on any Switch or Switch 2 system suspected of modification for piracy purposes. This policy began affecting users shortly after its introduction, with the first wave of console bans reported in June 2025.

Reports of banned Switch 2 consoles have become sufficiently common that community members are actively warning against purchasing pre-owned units without proper verification. One Reddit user shared their experience of buying what appeared to be a new 'open box return' from Walmart, only to discover the console had been permanently banned from online services.

The primary indicator of a banned console is Error Code 2124-4508, which appears during the system setup process. This message explicitly states that online services have been restricted by Nintendo. According to official support documentation, such bans typically result from violations of the user agreement, including piracy-related modifications or fraudulent transactions.

Testing a used Switch 2 before purchase presents significant challenges. The ban notification only appears after completing the full setup process, which typically takes several minutes - longer than most buyers spend inspecting secondhand electronics. Some users suggest asking sellers not to factory reset the console, allowing potential buyers to test online functionality with the seller's existing account.