It is 2026, and the dream of curled-up couch sessions watching The Mandalorian on your Nintendo Switch is, well, still mostly a dream. If you’ve spent any time scouring the eShop lately, you’ve probably noticed a glaring, Mickey-shaped hole in the lineup. You’re not alone in your frustration. Honestly, it’s one of the weirdest things about the Switch’s legacy.
Here is the short, cold truth: You cannot get Disney Plus on Switch as a native, downloadable app.
Despite the console being nearly nine years old and the follow-up "Switch 2" hardware already making waves, Nintendo’s hybrid wonder remains a bit of a desert for streaming services. While the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X act as all-in-one media hubs, Nintendo has stayed stubbornly focused on the "gaming" part of "gaming console."
But the story actually got more complicated this year.
The 2026 Streaming Shake-up
If you’re wondering why this conversation is heating up again right now, look at what’s happening with Hulu. For years, Hulu was the "golden child" on the Switch—the one major US streaming service that actually worked.
That’s ending.
As of February 5, 2026, the Hulu app is officially being discontinued on the Nintendo Switch. Disney, which now fully owns Hulu, is migrating everything into the "Hulu on Disney+" experience. Since there is no Disney Plus app for the Switch, this move effectively kills off the last major way to watch Disney-owned content on the hardware.
It’s a bummer.
Basically, if you were using your Switch as a bedroom media player, your options just shrunk significantly. We are left with YouTube, Crunchyroll, and... not much else. Pokémon TV? That’s gone too. It feels like the Switch is moving backward when it comes to multimedia, even as the hardware remains incredibly popular.
Can you get Disney Plus on Switch with a "Workaround"?
You might have seen some YouTube videos claiming you can use the "hidden browser" to watch movies. I’ll save you some time: Don't bother. The Switch technically has a built-in web browser used for logging into Wi-Fi at hotels or reading manuals, but it’s not meant for public use. Even if you use the DNS trick to force the browser to open Google, Disney Plus uses heavy-duty Digital Rights Management (DRM) software.
The Switch browser simply doesn't have the "brains" (or the security certificates) to decode that video stream. You’ll just end up staring at a black screen or a spinning loading circle until the browser eventually crashes.
What about the Switch 2?
There was a lot of hope that the next-gen Nintendo hardware would finally fix this. Early reports from 2025 and early 2026 suggests that Nintendo is sticking to its guns. The new system is vastly more powerful, but the focus is still 100% on play.
Some insiders like Roger Palmer from What’s On Disney Plus have pointed out that it probably isn't "cost-effective" for Disney to maintain a specialized app for Nintendo's unique operating system when everyone already has a smart TV or a phone. It’s a classic case of "why bother?" from a corporate perspective.
Why Nintendo Says No
It feels personal, doesn't it? Like Nintendo specifically wants to stop us from being cozy. But the reality is more about money and "purity."
- The Cut: Nintendo takes a cut of sales on the eShop. Streaming apps are free. Unless Disney is willing to give Nintendo a piece of your monthly subscription fee (which they aren't), Nintendo doesn't have a huge financial incentive to host them.
- Resource Management: Keeping an app like Disney Plus updated across millions of devices requires constant work. Every time Nintendo updates the Switch firmware, Disney has to make sure their app doesn't break.
- The "Distraction" Factor: Nintendo has always been a bit elitist about their consoles being for games. They don't want the Switch to be seen as a "cheap tablet." They want it to be the place where you play Zelda.
Practical Alternatives That Actually Work
Since the eShop is a dead end, you’ve basically got three choices if you’re desperate for Disney Plus on a portable screen.
The Tablet Route Honestly, a second-hand iPad or even a cheap Amazon Fire tablet is going to give you a better experience than the Switch ever could. The Switch screen—especially the non-OLED version—is only 720p. Most modern phones have higher-resolution displays anyway.
The "Hack" (Not Recommended) Yes, people have successfully installed Android on the Nintendo Switch. Once the console is running Android, you can download the Disney Plus app from the Play Store.
However, this is risky. You risk getting your Nintendo account banned, and you can even "brick" your console if you don't know what you're doing. Plus, the DRM issues often persist, meaning you might only be able to stream in low resolution (480p) even after all that work. It's just not worth the headache.
The "Wait and See" There is a tiny sliver of hope that as the Switch 2 settles into the market, Nintendo might relax its rules to stay competitive with the Steam Deck and other handheld PCs. But for now? Keep your Switch for Mario and your phone for Mickey.
Final Takeaway
The lack of Disney Plus on Switch is a reminder that Nintendo does things their own way, even when it’s annoying. With the Hulu app disappearing in February 2026, the era of streaming on Switch is effectively coming to a close.
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Next Steps for You:
If you’ve been relying on your Switch for Hulu, you need to find a new device before the February 5th cutoff. Check your Smart TV apps or consider a cheap streaming stick (like a Roku or Fire Stick) which can be plugged into the same HDMI port your Switch dock uses. If you're looking for a portable solution, downloading movies to your phone or a tablet is your only reliable bet for that upcoming road trip.