The first time I tried my Allmiibo with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, I thought the thing was broken. I had the device, I had the game, and I was ready to use it. What I had forgotten was one small detail: turning on amiibo scanning in the game.
Once I enabled it, the Allmiibo scanned great with the Joy-Con 2 controllers that came with my Switch 2. In my experience, it acted just like an amiibo. Apparently, my first troubleshooting step should have been checking my own settings. Not my finest Red Reviewer moment, lol.
If you are getting started with the same setup, here is the setting to check, how to reach the scanning ability, and where to hold the device.
Start here if yours seems unresponsive: Check the game’s amiibo setting first. In the confirmation screen pictured below, Disable amiibo means it is already on. Select Cancel to keep it enabled.
The setup I used
| Console | Nintendo Switch 2 |
|---|---|
| Game | Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, using the upgrade |
| Controllers | The included Joy-Con 2 controllers |
| Accessory | My Allmiibo |
| Result | Scanned great after I enabled amiibo in the game |
Those details matter because this is the combination I actually used. The photos throughout this guide are from my setup. I am not treating my experience as a test of every Allmiibo version or third-party controller.
If you are still deciding whether the device is worth buying, my full Allmiibo review covers almost a year of ownership, battery life, the controls, and the $35 I paid. This guide focuses on getting it working in the game.
1. Enable amiibo in Tears of the Kingdom
On the title screen shown in my photo, select amiibo. Read the message that appears and enable the feature if it is off.
If you are already playing, Nintendo documents this route: press +, use R to reach System, then open Options → amiibo → Enable amiibo. Back out with B. You can check these controls in Nintendo’s Tears of the Kingdom amiibo instructions.
Pay attention to the wording on the confirmation screen. My second photo says the current settings allow amiibo use and asks whether I want to disable it. That is confirmation that the feature is already switched on.
Choose Cancel on that screen. Selecting Disable amiibo would turn off the feature you are trying to use. The button describes an action you can take, rather than simply displaying the current setting.
This is the check that would have saved me the initial confusion. An accessory can be ready while the game is not set up to read it. Before you start changing things on the Allmiibo itself, make sure this part is correct.
2. Choose the amiibo entry on your Allmiibo
Use the small control at the top of the Allmiibo to find the amiibo entry you want to use and select it for scanning. Follow your particular unit’s instructions for activating that entry; the exact control actions can vary with its software.
The little top control took some getting used to for me. Once I figured it out, though, navigation became super easy. Give yourself a moment to learn how your device moves through lists and confirms a selection.
For the first attempt, I would keep things simple: choose one entry and leave it selected while you work through the game-side steps. Changing several things at once makes it harder to tell which change helped.
My unit came with amiibo data installed already, and more can be added. You do not need to turn this initial setup into a transfer project if the entry you want is already there. The Allmiibo website describes the device’s different modes; this walkthrough is about scanning, rather than transferring files.
3. Select the amiibo ability in the game
During gameplay, hold L to open the ability wheel, choose the amiibo icon with the right stick, then release L. Aim the glowing marker at the spot where you want the items to appear.
My photo shows the colorful amiibo symbol highlighted in the lower-left part of the wheel. Use the symbol and its label to identify it, rather than confusing it with one of Link’s other abilities.
If the ability is unavailable on a new save, progress through the opening until it unlocks. Nintendo notes that amiibo scanning is not available immediately at the start.
4. Hold Allmiibo over the right Joy-Con 2 stick
The NFC touchpoint on Joy-Con 2 is in the right control stick. With your entry ready and the game waiting for a scan, position the Allmiibo over that stick. Nintendo illustrates the reader location in its Switch 2 amiibo scanning guide.
Hold the device steady while the game responds. My placement photo is a close-up, so the Allmiibo covers the contact point; use the right stick as your reference when lining yours up.
With this setup, scanning worked great for me after I corrected the game setting. That was the missing step in my case. I did not need to buy a separate controller to get my Allmiibo working.
If Allmiibo still is not scanning
I would work through the following checks one at a time. These are troubleshooting suggestions; the disabled game setting is the issue I personally encountered.
Read the game’s message before changing anything
There is a difference between no response and a message explaining why a scan cannot be used. Make a note of the actual wording. That gives you something specific to investigate instead of assuming every unsuccessful attempt means faulty hardware.
Confirm the entry is ready
Check that you have selected the intended entry on the Allmiibo. If you are unsure what its current screen means, consult the instructions for your unit. I would resolve that uncertainty before making changes to stored data or firmware.
Check placement and power
Line the device up with the right stick and make sure the Allmiibo has power. If you have another controller connected, confirm which one you are trying to scan against. My result here was with the included Joy-Con 2, so that is the clearest starting point for matching my setup.
Check whether it was already used
Nintendo’s standard rule is one use per amiibo per day. Its support page also describes a bonus-use feature for Switch 2 Edition through the Nintendo Switch App. A usage-limit message is different from the controller failing to detect a scan.
Rewards can vary, too. Not receiving a particular item does not by itself mean the scan failed. See Nintendo’s game instructions linked above for the reward and usage details.
Frequently asked questions
Did Allmiibo work with the upgraded version of TotK?
Yes, in my experience. I used the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade on Switch 2 with the included Joy-Con 2 controllers. Once amiibo was enabled, it scanned great.
Why does my menu say Disable amiibo?
In the confirmation screen shown here, the message says amiibo functionality is currently allowed. Choose Cancel to leave it enabled. Disable amiibo would switch it off.
Was your Allmiibo actually broken?
No. I initially thought it was, but I had forgotten to enable amiibo in the game. Correcting that setting resolved my problem.
Is navigating Allmiibo difficult?
The top control can be a little tricky initially. Once I understood it, navigating became super easy. Learning that control and checking the game setting were the two useful starting points for me.
Do I need a Switch 2 Pro Controller?
I did not need one for the setup described here. I used the controllers supplied with my console. For my broader experience with the system, see my Nintendo Switch 2 review.
My advice before you blame the device
Check the game setting before deciding your Allmiibo is broken. That small oversight was the entire problem with my first attempt, and it is easy to miss when you are concentrating on a new accessory.
With amiibo enabled, the device ready, and the correct controller position, my experience with Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition was straightforward. Hopefully these photos save you the confused look I had on my face the first time around.