How to transfer save data from one Nintendo Switch to another

Your Nintendo Switch is packed with invaluable game save data, not to mention your precious screenshots and captivating game recordings. You don’t need to switch to the new OLED Switch, but if you do, or if you just need to switch between consoles, you’ll have to transfer all that data. There are several ways to do this.

Transferring game save data and your screenshots involves different processes, and for these, you will need a separate MicroSD card. Things are also quite different (in a good way) if you’re paying for Nintendo Switch Online. Here, we break down all the details so that you can go through the process that’s best for you. Here’s how to transfer your Switch data.

How to transfer backup data and user profiles

Your most valuable data, all save data, and the progress you’ve made in your games, is tied to the user profile you created when you first set up your Switch. This is the profile you choose each time you start a game, with a name and an avatar. All of this associated data is stored on your Switch and must be copied to your new console.

There are two ways to do this, and one of them costs money. If you subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online, this process is (much) easier.

Method 1: If you have Nintendo Switch Online

When you first sign up for Nintendo Switch Online, your games will automatically be set up to save data to the cloud. However, you can individually control which games to back up and you can manually back up data by going to Settings> Data Management> Save Data Cloud.

On your new Switch, sign in to your Nintendo Account. You can do this during the normal setup process when you first get your Switch or by selecting an existing profile on the home page and selecting “Link Nintendo Account”. When you do, you will be able to manually download the save data for each game by going to the aforementioned settings page. To redownload your games, go to Nintendo eShop, tap your profile picture at the top right and go to Redownload.

You can continue to play games on both switches if you plan to keep both. Just make sure to enable automatic backup data download in Settings> Data management> Backup data cloud> Settings. This ensures that the backup file is always updated with the most recent data, no matter which switch is used, meaning you can pick up where you left off on any of your consoles.

If someone else in the household wants to play a game you own on the old console, the Switch will need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network and you will need to unregister it as the primary console after the transfer, which we are coming up with more far below.

It should be noted that Animal Crossing: New Horizons has a special process to transfer your island from a Switch to a new system. You can read the instructions here. Additionally, developers can choose to turn off syncing of cloud game saves, so some games like Splatoon 2 and Pokémon Sword and Shield will not transfer. If this happens, you can transfer them manually by following the steps below.

Method 2: If you don’t have Nintendo Switch Online

If you don’t have a Nintendo Switch Online and don’t want to get it, you can still transfer data, but it’s a bit more annoying. You will need both Switch devices handy, as well as an internet connection and a Nintendo Account. Make sure the profile you want to transfer is signed in to your Nintendo Account on the Switch you are transferring data from.

Important note: Not Sign in to your Nintendo Account on the console you want to transfer data to. If you link your Nintendo Account to a profile on the new Switch, this process will not be able to merge them, so wait until you are prompted to sign in.

Once you have everything ready, you can follow these steps on both the source switch that you are transferring data from and the target switch that you are transferring data to:

1. Go to System settings from the home screen.
2. To select Users from the left menu.
3. To select Transfer your user and save the data.
4. Click on Next.

At this point, the process for each console will differ. On the old Switch, choose Source console, and click To continue. On the new Switch, choose Target console. You will then be able to sign in to the Nintendo Account associated with the profile you wish to transfer.