How to send Nintendo Switch screenshots to your PC or phone

The latest Nintendo Switch software update, version 11.0.0, makes it much easier to transfer screenshots and game videos to your smartphone or PC. The new methods are much better than the post-on-social-media-then-delete workaround we have been forced to use since the launch of the console, or the equally heavy “find a microSD card reader in your messy desk drawer » approach.

How to send screenshots from Switch to your smartphone

This first method sends files directly to your smartphone over Wi-Fi, albeit in a very Nintendo way. Nintendo limits transfers to only 10 screenshots or one video at a time, and you must use of them QR codes every time you send files. This will make batch transfers tedious to perform, but it’s better than awkwardly posting four screenshots to your public Twitter feed, saving them, and then deleting the Tweet every time you want to save a screenshot. .

Unfortunately, the Switch turns off the screenshot feature when using the transfer tool, so we can’t specifically show you what the new menu looks like, but the steps are pretty straightforward to follow:

1. Select the “Album” on the Switch home screen.
2. On the Album screen, highlight a screenshot or video, and then press the A button to open the “Sharing and Editing” menu.
3. The system will ask you how you would like to share your screenshots. To select “Send to a smartphone.”
4. To select “Only this one” to send a single screenshot, or “Send a batch” to select and send up to ten screenshots.
5. A QR code will appear on the Switch screen. Scan it with the camera app on your smartphone. The two devices will sync via wifi.
6. A second QR code will now be displayed. Scan this to send the selected file (s) to your phone.
7. Wait for the download page to open in your phone’s navigation app. It may take a few moments, but the files will be downloaded automatically when they are ready.
8. hurry “End” on the switch to close the share tool.
9. Repeat for all the screens and videos you want to transfer.

Note: Do not let your smartphone screen lock or your Switch go into sleep mode, as this will break the connection and you will have to start over. (I learned this the hard way.)

How to copy screenshots from Switch to your PC

Sending your Switch screenshots to your smartphone is tedious, especially compared to the simplicity of the Xbox and PlayStation sharing features. Fortunately, you can also copy screenshots and game recordings from your Switch to your PC with no arbitrary transfer limit.

1. Connect the Switch to your PC via USB-C (the USB-C cable from the charging station will work perfectly),
2. Open the switch system settings, then navigate to Data management> Manage screenshots and videos.
3. Scroll down and select “Copy to a computer via USB”, then wait for your computer to recognize the console.
4. On your PC, open File Explorer and navigate to Nintendo Switch> Album. Copy and paste the files you want to transfer.
5. When you are finished, select “Disconnect” on your Switch screen.

Whether you use the USB or wifi methods, the transferred files will not be automatically deleted from your Switch. If you are offloading images from your Switch album to free up system memory, you will need to use the console’s data management menu to delete the files manually after copying them to another device.