Fix: Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Stuttering and Freezing Issue in Switch

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a newly launched 2023 action-adventure video game by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch only. This is an epic adventure and a sequel to the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild title where players will have to decide their own path by progressing their in-game journey and floating around mysterious islands in the sky. Though the game is getting so much appreciation, Legends of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom stuttering and freezing issue in Nintendo Switch is a major concern.

Now, if you’re also one of the victims to encounter such an issue then make sure to follow this troubleshooting guide to fix it. Since Legends of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom allows players to get into an open-world environment, it’s most likely to happen performance issues because of the outdated Nintendo Switch hardware. Though there are no jaw-dropping settings available in the Legends of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom, there are some adjustments or tweaks that can help you out.

Fix: Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Stuttering and Freezing Issue in Switch

The chances are high that there are several possible reasons applicable behind the game stuttering or freezing issue in the Nintendo Switch console. It includes playing the game in the handheld mode, slow internet connection, an outdated game version, insufficient storage space, slower MicroSD card speed, Nintendo Switch overheating issue, and more. Luckily, here we’ve shared with you a couple of potential workarounds that can fix this issue easily. So, without further ado, let’s jump into it.

1. Reboot the Game

First of all, you should try restarting the Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom game on the Nintendo Switch console to ensure there is no freezing or stuttering issue whatsoever. Sometimes a temporary glitch with the application can trouble you a lot.

2. Restart the Nintendo Switch

The second thing you should do is reboot your Nintendo Switch console to refresh the temporary glitch or cache data issue. Mostly restarting the device system helps you to resolve the game launching or stuttering issues a lot. To do so:

• Press and hold the Power button on the console for around three seconds to turn the device on.
• Go to the Power menu and select Restart from the drop-down menu.

3. Check for Game Updates

You can try checking for the game updates and then make sure to install the update on the console. An outdated game patch version may include several issues or bugs that can trigger game launching issues. Keep in mind that your Nintendo Switch is online and the internet connectivity is working well. To do that:

• Head over to the home screen of your Nintendo Switch.
• Select the Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom game.
• Hit the right controller’s Plus button.
• Now, select Software Update from the drop-down menu that appears.
• Choose Using the Internet as a Source and proceed.
• Wait for the update process to be completed.
• Once done, make sure to reboot the Nintendo Switch console.

4. Update the System Firmware

Sometimes your Nintendo Switch system software can also cause multiple issues with the game launching and gameplay experience because the system becomes outdated. If you haven’t updated the system on your console for the last couple of months or more then it’s time to check for pending updates and install the update to the latest version. To do so:

• Ensure that the Nintendo Switch console is sufficiently charged to install updates.
• Head over to the HOME Menu on your Nintendo Switch.
• Select System Settings > Scroll down a bit and select System.
• Now, select System Update, and the system update process will start.
• During the process, the system will first perform a check to determine if there is a new system update available or not.
• If a new update is available, the system will start downloading and installing it automatically.
• Make sure to wait for the update process to be completed and then you can reboot the device.

5. Clear the Cache Memory

If the above methods did not resolve the problem then you’ll need to clear the cache memory from your console’s system by following the steps below. To do so:

• Navigate to the Nintendo Switch Home menu.
• Now, select System Settings from the drop-down menu.
• Choose a System > Select Formatting Options from the drop-down menu.
• Next, select the option to Delete All Content and Settings from your browser’s menu.
• Clear the cache for the selected user and then follow the on-screen instructions to proceed.
• Finally, check for the issue whether it has been fixed or not.

6. Check for Free Storage Space

You’ll need to check for the free storage space on your Nintendo Switch to ensure if the storage space is running out or not. Sometimes a low storage space can eventually go through multiple issues or conflicts to run the application properly.

7. Try Playing the Game in Docked Mode

Sometimes playing the game in the Docked Mode can also be helpful to fix the stuttering or freezing issue on the Nintendo Switch console. Well, Docked mode basically provides a consistent power supply to your Nintendo Switch which avoids running out the battery juice. You can try to do so.

8. Check the Internet Connection

You should also try checking out the internet connection at your end to ensure there is no issue with a poor or unstable network. If the internet connection isn’t working well then ensure to switch the wired network to wireless or vice versa. Otherwise, you can try performing the power cycle method on a Wi-Fi router to refresh the connectivity.

9. Try Playing the Game in Airplane Mode

You might also play the game in Airplane Mode on your Nintendo Switch from System Settings > Airplane Mode to ensure the game runs fine without interfering with the slower internet connection. As some of the Legends of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom players have already reported that they have fixed the game freezing by following this method.

10. Use a Higher Class of MicroSD Card

Make sure to use a higher class of MicroSD card inside your Nintendo Switch to get better gaming performance. We generally don’t focus on the speed class and only check about the price-to-storage space ratio apart from the brand value. But the class rating should also be a major factor.

11. Avoid Overheating

You can also try to avoid overheating issues in your Nintendo Switch console to reduce performance drops or stuttering problems with the gameplay. Some of the users have claimed that using their Nintendo Switch consistently for a couple of hours eventually dropped the overall performance. Whereas using the Nintendo Switch in the hot humid weather environment might also trigger overheating issues.

12. Try Lowering the Resolution in Dock Mode

Last but not least, you can try lowering the display resolution in docked mode on your Nintendo Switch to ensure there is no stuttering or freezing issue. To do so:

• Turn On your Nintendo Switch > From the Home Screen interface, select System Settings.
• Go to TV Output > Scroll down the menu options.
• Next, locate the ‘TV Output’ section > Select TV Resolution.
• Adjust the Display Resolution > Once you’ve selected the TV Resolution option, just switch the resolution to 720p (HD).
• Finally, confirm the settings, and reboot the Nintendo Switch.

That’s it, guys. We assume this guide was helpful to you. For further queries, you can comment below.