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Nintendo Switch Marketplace Not working “Couldn’t access the Marketplace. Try again in a few minutes ” 2025
“Couldn’t access the Marketplace. Try again in a few minutes.”
If you’re a Nintendo Switch user (or even a PlayStation user!) running into frustrating connection errors with a specific game’s marketplace, you’re not alone. Our inbox has been flooded with reports from players hitting frustrating roadblocks trying to buy or download content, often despite having a perfectly working internet connection for everything else—phones, tablets, and even other Switch features work fine.
This isn’t just a temporary hiccup; for some, this marketplace “meltdown” has lasted days, weeks, or even months.
The Problem: Connection Errors on One Platform
The core issue users are reporting is a specific, persistent failure to connect to the in-game marketplace (like the one in Minecraft) on their Nintendo Switch, and sometimes even on PS5.
Common error messages include:
- “Couldn’t access the Marketplace. Try again in a few minutes.”
- “We’re unable to connect to the marketplace. Maybe check your internet connection?”
What makes this issue so puzzling is the highly selective nature of the problem:
- The Internet is fine: Users confirm their consoles, tablets, and other devices are connected and working perfectly.
- Other consoles work: One user even reported that logging into their PSN account on a friend’s PS5 worked perfectly for downloading the game, proving the issue wasn’t with their account or the game files themselves.
- The game itself works (mostly): Users can often still play the game, but the Marketplace, Realms, or online server access simply remains broken.
What Users Have Tried (And Why Standard Fixes Fail)
The standard troubleshooting steps often recommended by support teams are frequently reported to be exhausting and ineffective for this specific issue.
| Standard Fixes Tried | Outcome Reported by Users |
| “Restart your game” | Did not work. |
| “Restart your console” | Did not work. |
| “Check your network” | Users confirmed their network was fine. |
| “Uninstall and reinstall the game” | Did not work. |
| Clearing Profile / Re-signing In | Worked for some accounts temporarily, but often resulted in permanent loading images or persistent errors on others. |
One user noted they had to tell support multiple times that they had already tried these basic steps, suggesting the issue is beyond simple user-side troubleshooting.
Potential Insights & User-Found Workarounds
Since the problem appears to be deep-seated and not easily fixed by standard methods, users have stumbled upon a few potential insights and odd workarounds.
1. Performance Issues and Account Fluctuations
After successfully signing back into an affected account, one user noted that the Marketplace images were still sitting forever loading. They suspected performance issues on the server side, not a local connection problem.
Furthermore, the issue often fluctuates in scope:
- It affects one family member’s account but not another’s.
- It sometimes resolves itself “somehow” for one feature (like being able to download packs you own in Global Resources) but keeps the Marketplace completely blocked.
This strongly suggests the problem lies with server-side account authentication and content delivery, not your home Wi-Fi.
2. The Mysterious Ethernet/Wi-Fi Switch 🔌
One of the strangest potential “solutions” came from an Xbox user (which shares similar connection protocols):
“In my case, previously I was playing using my WiFi connection on Xbox and didn’t present any problems. But when yesterday I connected the Ethernet cable directly, then this situation happened. After I disconnected it, went back to using WiFi and restarted the game it was fine.”
Actionable Tip: If you are currently using a wired (Ethernet) connection, try switching to Wi-Fi. If you are on Wi-Fi, try connecting an Ethernet cable if possible. A change in connection type sometimes forces a different server path that resolves the block.
3. The “Drowned” Code and the Reddit Trick
A user facing issues logging into their Microsoft account or accessing shared realms mentioned getting the error code: “drowned.”
They stated it took two days and a “Reddit trick” to finally get back on. While the exact trick isn’t specified, these community-found fixes often involve specific steps like:
- Clearing cached data on the console.
- Deleting and re-downloading specific profile data linked to the game.
We strongly recommend checking online forums (like Reddit communities dedicated to your specific game) for the latest community-tested, advanced troubleshooting steps, as they are often more current than official support fixes for recurring server issues.
Conclusion: It’s Probably Not You
Based on the volume and nature of the complaints—including the fact that the issue can be resolved on a friend’s console, persists across platforms (Switch, PS5), and lasts for extended periods—it is highly probable that the error is on the developer’s end and is related to their account authentication or Marketplace server infrastructure.
If the standard fixes fail, your best course of action is to:
- Keep Emailing Support: Clearly state that you have already performed their standard troubleshooting steps and believe the issue to be server-side.
- Try the Connection Switch: Experiment with switching between Wi-Fi and wired Ethernet.
- Check Community Forums: Look for recent, specific workarounds posted by other affected users.