With the release of Animal Crossing New Horizons 3.0 on Nintendo Switch 2, a quirky new tool has taken center stage: the megaphone. Fans who remember hunting for villagers across their islands will appreciate this clever addition. In this blog, you'll get a complete overview of the megaphone, including how to obtain it, how it works, its platform restrictions, and some memorable in-game moments, plus what actually happens if you try to use it on the original Switch or with certain NPCs.
What is the Megaphone in Animal Crossing New Horizons?
The megaphone is a brand-new item designed to help you find villagers or certain NPCs on your island faster. Instead of running in circles hoping to bump into your favorite resident, you can now grab this tool, hold down the A button, and call out their name. If that character is outside and within earshot, they'll respond, sometimes with a wave, a shout, or even a funny comment if you're too close. The effect is almost like talking directly to your villagers, bridging the gap between player and character in a fun, immersive way.
Players find that using the megaphone adds another layer of connection to the island experience. It quickly became a fan favorite for those tired of searching endlessly for elusive villagers. Plus, the feature injects plenty of humor, especially when your accent or pronunciation leads to unexpected reactions, or when villagers tease you for yelling too close to their ears.
How To Get A Megaphone in ACNH 3.0?
To get your hands on the megaphone, head to Nook's Cranny while playing on the Nintendo Switch 2 edition of Animal Crossing New Horizons. The megaphone appears in the shop's cabinet, priced at 4,200 Bells. It's not available at all on Switch 1, so you’ll need to be playing the upgraded version to see it for sale. Some players even tried visiting a Switch 2 island while on Switch 1, but the item simply doesn't appear in the shop for them.
Interestingly, if you receive a megaphone as a gift from another player or catalog one, you might be able to order it from the Nook Shopping app. This is a loophole players noticed, and it's something Nintendo might address in a future update.
What To Do With the Megaphone in ACNH 3.0?
Once you’ve picked up the megaphone, you’ll find it’s more than just a novelty—it’s a surprisingly handy (and amusing) part of island life:
1. Find Villagers Quickly
The most practical use of the megaphone is to locate villagers without having to search every corner of your island. Simply hold the A button and call out the villager’s name. If they’re outside, you’ll hear a reply or see them wave, letting you know exactly where they are. This feature is a huge time-saver, especially when you need to deliver items or complete daily tasks.
2. Enjoy Silly Interactions
The megaphone isn’t just about efficiency, it’s also about fun. Try calling out different names and see how your villagers react. Sometimes, they might make a joke about the volume if you’re right next to them, or they’ll tease you for yelling in their ear. If you mispronounce a name or say something the game doesn’t recognize, you might get a funny mix-up or no response at all, which adds to the amusement.
3. Experiment With Speech and Accents
Players have found that the megaphone’s voice recognition can be a little finicky, especially with similar-sounding names or strong accents. This has sparked a trend of experimenting with various pronunciations and even calling out random words just to see who (or what) responds. The unpredictability turns each use into a little game of its own.
4. Try Calling Special NPCs
Curious about how special characters will react? Use the megaphone on NPCs like Snowboy or Gulliver to see what happens. While some NPCs don’t respond at all, many players enjoy testing the limits of the tool, even if the result is just silence or a missed opportunity for a unique reaction.
5. Get Creative With Friends
If you have friends visiting your island, you can turn the megaphone into a group activity. Compete to see who can get the most villagers to answer, or try shouting names in different languages. The tool encourages creative and playful experimentation, making multiplayer sessions more lively.
6. Bring Laughter to Daily Routines
Whether you’re using the megaphone to find a villager or just to inject some spontaneity into your day, it’s a great way to make your interactions with island residents feel more personal and interactive. Even if it doesn’t work perfectly every time, the moments of surprise and laughter are what make this tool a favorite among many ACNH 3.0 players.
How To Use Megaphone in ACNH 3.0?
Using the megaphone is as simple as it is entertaining. Equip the tool, hold down the A button, and speak the name of the villager you want to find. The Switch 2’s microphone listens for your voice. If you pronounce the name clearly and your target is outside, they’ll respond, sometimes with a shout, a wave, or a playful remark if you’re too close.
Keep these points in mind:
The megaphone only works if the villager is outside. If there's no reply, they're probably inside a building.
Proper enunciation helps, as similar-sounding names (like Curly and Cookie) may trip up the speech recognition.
Using the megaphone right next to a villager can result in them scolding you for the volume, jokingly asking if you’re trying to wreck their hearing.
The tool even works in docked mode, but speaking a bit louder and clearer helps with recognition.
It’s not limited to villagers, sometimes special characters, like certain NPCs, will also respond.
Players have reported a range of outcomes, from villagers acknowledging their presence to humorous misunderstandings when names sound alike or are spoken with a strong accent. The tool feels like an interactive bridge between you and your animal friends, making daily life on the island even more lively.
Can Megaphone Be Used on Nintendo Switch 1?
The megaphone feature is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2 edition of Animal Crossing New Horizons. When playing on the original Switch (Switch 1), the item does not appear in Nook's Cranny. Even if you visit a Switch 2 island from a Switch 1 console, you won't see the megaphone for sale in the cabinet.
However, if a Switch 2 player gives a megaphone to a Switch 1 player, the item can be held and carried. But actual use on Switch 1 is blocked.
What Happens If You Use the Megaphone on Nintendo Switch 1?
If you try to use the megaphone on Switch 1, you'll run into some amusing and slightly sad limitations. The character can hold the item, but when you attempt to use it, you'll just get static. The game displays a message indicating the megaphone is picking up feedback, and the character may even look disappointed or sad. Once you clear the notification, everything returns to normal, but the megaphone’s main function remains inaccessible.
This restriction provides a clever nod to the new hardware and might be Nintendo’s way of nudging players to upgrade. Some players found that cataloging the item lets them order it through Nook Shopping, but it still won’t work as intended on Switch 1.
What Happens If You Try to Wake Gulliver With Your Megaphone in ACNH 3.0?
One of the first things many players wanted to try with the megaphone was waking up those hard-to-reach NPCs, like Gulliver. Unfortunately, the megaphone doesn’t have any effect on Gulliver when he’s washed up on the beach. There’s no response, no witty dialogue, and no shortcut to getting him back on his feet. The same goes for other non-villager characters like Snowboy, while you can try calling them, the game doesn’t register a response. Many players saw this as a missed opportunity, wishing Nintendo had added some special interactions or Easter eggs in these cases.
ACNH Megaphone Not Working & How To Fix
Common Megaphone Issues
Since the introduction of the megaphone in Animal Crossing: New Horizons 3.0 (Switch 2 Edition), many players have reported problems, including:
No response from villagers when using the megaphone
Wrong villager responding (e.g., calling for Olivia and Bob answers)
Villagers not responding at all, even when the correct name is spoken
Megaphone missing from Nook’s Cranny even after the update
Megaphone works inconsistently with some villager names, especially those with unusual pronunciations or when using accents
Megaphone doesn’t work on Switch 1 - you can hold it, but the tool won’t function
Why The Megaphone Might Not Be Working
1. Not on Switch 2 or Without Upgrade Pack:
The megaphone only functions on the Nintendo Switch 2 version of ACNH. If you’re playing on an original Switch or haven’t purchased/installed the Upgrade Pack, the megaphone simply won’t work.
2. Villager Is Inside or On-Screen:
The megaphone only works if the villager you’re calling is outside and not currently visible on your screen. If they’re in a building or nearby, you won’t get a response, or you might get a playful reaction about yelling too close.
3. Speech Recognition Issues:
The megaphone uses voice recognition, which can:
Struggle with strong accents or non-standard pronunciations
Mix up similar-sounding names (e.g., Wendy and Gwen, Raymond and Skye)
Sometimes respond with the wrong villager, or, rarely, with a villager not even on your island (reported bug)
Have trouble with names that are hard for the software to distinguish or those with unique sounds
4. Background Noise:
Loud environments, music, TV, or lots of chatter can confuse the microphone and cause the wrong response or no response at all.
5. Language Settings:
Some players suspect the feature works best with the game set to Japanese, or struggles if your pronunciation doesn’t match the language or region selected in your game.
6. Not Yet Available in Shop:
If you don’t see the megaphone in Nook’s Cranny, you might not have the right edition or upgrade, or your store hasn’t refreshed yet. The rollout can be staggered for some players.
How To Fix Megaphone Issues?
1. Check Your Edition & Upgrade
Make sure you’re playing on Nintendo Switch 2 and have the Upgrade Pack or the latest version of Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
If you’re on Switch 1, the megaphone won’t work for calling villagers (only for holding/animation).
2. Buy the Megaphone
Visit Nook’s Cranny (green cabinet) on Switch 2 to purchase the megaphone.
If it’s not there, wait for the shop to refresh, or ask a friend with the right version to let you catalog it.
3. Use Proper Conditions
Only use the megaphone when the villager you’re calling is outside and not on your screen.
Try to avoid calling villagers who are in buildings or directly in front of you.
4. Improve Microphone Accuracy
Use the megaphone in a quiet environment, turn off background music, TV, or other noise.
Hold the Switch 2 close to your mouth and pronounce the name clearly.
Try saying the name slowly or phonetically (e.g., “Gra-ham” for Graham, “Cuh-nox” for Knox).
If you have a strong accent, experiment with different pronunciations, or try the villager’s name as it appears in the game’s language.
5. Restart & Troubleshoot
Save and restart your game if the megaphone seems bugged.
Double-check your system microphone settings and permissions.
If issues persist, try removing and re-equipping the megaphone.
6. Report Bugs
If you consistently get the wrong villager (or a villager not on your island responds), consider reporting the bug to Nintendo through their support channels.