Flipswitch Panel

"Switch Panel" redirects here. For the orange P Switches also known as Switch Panels, see P Panel.

Flipswitch Panels as they appear in Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario 3D World respectively.

A Flipswitch Panel is a type of switch that appears in Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2. They start off as blue panels with a question mark on them. The panel turns yellow with an exclamation mark when it is stepped on, but back to a blue question mark if it is stepped on again (the only exception is the Flipswitch Panels in the Gateway Galaxy, which all have circles on them rather than a "?" or "!"). However, a Flipswitch Panel will not change if Mario or Luigi jumps and lands on it again before walking off it; Mario or Luigi must step onto another Flipswitch Panel or a regular platform in order to change the color of the Flipswitch Panel. When all of the Flipswitch Panels are stepped on in a specific area, they turn green and display a square on them. After this has happened, they will no longer change. After this, an event will occur within the immediate area. A galaxy called the Flipswitch Galaxy has a planet made completely out of Flipswitch Panels. Sometimes Mario or Luigi will be chased by Cosmic Clones on Flipswitch Panel planets.

Some Flipswitch Panels in Gateway Galaxy of Super Mario Galaxy.

Some Flipswitch Panels in the Sky Station Galaxy of Super Mario Galaxy 2.

When Flipswitch Panels are stepped on, a tone is heard. The only exception is the panels in the Rolling Masterpiece Galaxy in Super Mario Galaxy 2, where no distinct tone can be heard and instead produces a strange atonal sound when rolled on. The tones always remain in harmony with the background music and its chord structure, though they are detached.

Flipswitch Panels appear in Super Mario 3D World, where they are known as Switch Panels. They act as they did in the Super Mario Galaxy series, except this time a Switch Panel can be changed between yellow and blue even if the player jumps off and back on it without completely leaving the switch. When all Switch Panels in a series are activated, they turn into green "!" Switch Panels. Making the last Switch Panel yellow gives the player 2000 points. The on the Wii U or the button on the Nintendo Switch can also be used to activate them.

Flipswitch Panel locations

Super Mario Galaxy

Galaxy	Level	Area	Function
Gateway Galaxy	Grand Star Rescue	Located inside the second of the two metal planets in the galaxy.	When all of the Flipswitch Panels have been deactivated, the first Grand Star will be released.
Good Egg Galaxy	Dino Piranha, Dino Piranha Speed Run	Optional planet of Flipswitch Panels found between the Bitten Apple Planet and the Block-Climb Planet.	First set of Flipswitch Panels makes the next set appear, and the second set makes a Launch Star appear.
Flipswitch Galaxy	Painting the Planet Yellow	The entire main planet in the galaxy is composed of multiple Flipswitch Panels.	The player must activate all of the Flipswitch Panels on the planet to make the Power Star appear.
Dusty Dune Galaxy	Soaring on the Desert Winds	Found under a Thwomp in a secret tunnel accessed via a Warp Pipe to the right of the Starting Planet.	When the player activates the two Flipswitch Panels, a large number of Star Bits will appear.
Toy Time Galaxy	The Flipswitch Chain	Found at various points on the Chain Planets near the end of the galaxy.	The player must activate all of the Flipswitch Panels on these planets to make the Power Star appear.
Dreadnought Galaxy	Dreadnought's Colossal Cannons	Located at various intervals separated by electric fences on the Mini Wanwan path.	First set will deactivate the electric fence leading to the next set; the next set will deactivate all electric fences and make any remaining Mini Wanwan disappear.
Snow Cap Galaxy	Star Bunnies in the Snow	Scattered at different points around the small planetoid, some hidden under snow.	After all five Flipswitch Panels have been pressed, a small hatch on the top of the planetoid will open and reveal a Fire Flower.

Super Mario Galaxy 2

Galaxy	Level	Area	Function
Sky Station Galaxy	Storming the Sky Fleet	The Flipswitch Fleet Planet in this galaxy consists mainly of multiple Flipswitch Panels.	When the first set has been activated, it will reveal the next set, which will make a Launch Star appear when activated.
Rolling Masterpiece Galaxy	Silver Chomp Grudge Match	Just after the Palette Planet is an elevator leading to six Flipswitch Panels in a triangular formation.	When the Flipswitch Panels have been activated, the ruler bridge leading to the next planet will appear.
Sweet Mystery Galaxy	Bulb Berry's Mysterious Glow	Just before the Present Planet are five Flipswitch Panels located on various small planetoids.	After all five are pressed, a Launch Star leading to the next planet will appear.
Mario Squared Galaxy	Make Mario a Star	The hands, face, and overall buttons on the 8-Bit Mario Planet all consist of Flipswitch Panels.	Once every Flipswitch Panel has been activated, the Power Star will appear back on the starting platform.
Grandmaster Galaxy	The Ultimate Test, The Perfect Run	Just beyond the Flower Grapple Area are 21 Flipswitch Panels in a square-like formation.	When every switch has been flipped, the Launch Star will appear on the starting platform.

Super Mario 3D World

World	Level	Area	Function
World 1-5	Switch Scramble Circus	Almost the whole level consists of multiple sets of Switch Panels.	When every switch of one set has been flipped, a path gets opened, often leading into another set of Switch Panels.
World 4-5	Spike's Lost City	In a secret room with Spikes.	When all switches are flipped, a Green Star appears.
World 6-Mystery House	Mystery House Throwdown	The final room has 3 Switch Panels behind Thwomps.	When all switches are flipped, the last Green Star appears.
World Castle-2	Switchblack Ruins	Several rooms have sets of Switch Panels.	When every switch of one set has been flipped, the room gets lit up and a path opens.
World Flower-1	Switch Shock Circus	Almost the whole level consists of multiple sets of Switch Panels (and Fizzlits). There is also a set in a Mystery Box.	When every switch of one set has been flipped, a path gets opened, often leading into another set of Switch Panels or a Green Star.
World Crown-Mystery House	Mystery House Marathon	A room has 3 Switch Panels, which are on walls behind Thwomps and Rock Blocks, similar to the room in 6-Mystery House.	When all switches are flipped, a Green Star appears.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
German	Umdrehboden[?]	Reverse Ground
Italian	Interruttore a pannello (O variants) Pannello Alternato (?/! variants)[?]	Switch-panel Alternate Panel
Korean	플립패널[?] Peullip Paeneol	Flip Panel
Spanish	Panel alterno	Alternate panel