The account that you use has to have been used on a Nintendo Switch console at least once before. This error is signaling that the account you are linking does not have a link to a Nintendo Switch console. If this is not the problem, please let me know, but if it is, then simply just temporarily make a new user on your Nintendo Switch and link that account to it.

I didn't know that the friend account must be linked to the console, i did what you sugested and it works, thank you!

Hi, I have the same problem but I did link an account that is linked to the console, what do i do????

This error is to do with you never loading the account on a Nintendo switch (This should be added somewhere as a note/requirement in the quick start)

This error is to do with you never loading the account on a Nintendo switch (This should be added somewhere as a note/requirement in the quick start)

I hadn't an idea that it was even a problem beforehand, as I did not think that someone could even friend another user without first linking to a Nintendo Switch. Theoretically, I'm still not even sure if that's possible. No, seriously, how do you friend someone without a Nintendo Switch? The mobile app, which is the only other method of friending people, doesn't work without a Nintendo Switch linked, right?
Am I missing something glaringly obvious here?

This error is to do with you never loading the account on a Nintendo switch (This should be added somewhere as a note/requirement in the quick start)

I hadn't an idea that it was even a problem beforehand, as I did not think that someone could even friend another user without first linking to a Nintendo Switch. Theoretically, I'm still not even sure if that's possible. No, seriously, how do you friend someone without a Nintendo Switch? The mobile app, which is the only other method of friending people, doesn't work without a Nintendo Switch linked, right? Am I missing something glaringly obvious here?

I just made a blank Nintendo account, after logging in I got the following window (Note this is android so IOS may act different)
So it's hard to believe that its possible to friend someone without using a switch.

Well, since this has been figured out and dealt with accordingly, I'm going to close this issue now. Thank you for bringing this to light!