How to Transfer Your Save Data To a Nearby Nintendo Switch Console (2024)

FAQs

How to Transfer Your Save Data To a Nearby Nintendo Switch Console? ›

From the HOME Menu, select “System Settings” > “Data Management” > “Transfer Your Save Data”. Select “Send Save Data to Another Console”, then select the user whose save data file you wish to transfer. Select the save data file for the software title you want to send to another console.

The same Nintendo Account must be linked to a user on both systems to transfer save data. Save data can only be transferred between users that are linked to the same Nintendo Account. The systems must be placed near each other.

You need the original console in order to transfer save data from one to another. This is because save data is saved to the console itself and without it, there is no way to access it. The only saving grace you might have is Cloud Saves.

*Save data is stored on the console you're currently using. In order to play games with your latest save data on multiple systems, you'll need to transfer the save data each time you use a different console.

From the HOME Menu, select System Settings, then Users, and then Transfer Your User Data. Select Next, and then Next again, then select Source Console to indicate that the content will be transferred from this system. Select Continue, and then use the target console for the next steps.

All users of the shared system will be able to play games and DLC purchased by any Nintendo Account that has registered that system as their primary consoleNintendo Accounts can be linked to multiple Nintendo Switch consoles, but can only have one primary console.

Previously backed up save data is automatically restored when re-downloading software from the Nintendo eShop. You can also restore save data using the Save-Data Backup option within Data Management.

Save data is tied to each user account and is stored on the system memory. If there are multiple user accounts on the console, verify that you are using the correct user. If a user account has been deleted, all save data associated to that user will also be deleted and cannot be recovered.

This error occurs while transferring a user or save data if there is a communication failure between the source Nintendo Switch console and the target Nintendo Switch console.

On your new console (called the “Target Console”), go to "System Settings" > "Users" > "Transfer Your User Data." Follow the prompts until you are asked to choose between a Source or Target Console. Choose Target. Wait for the transfer to be done.

Can I transfer games to a new Switch? ›

If you do not have access to the original console, you can still transfer your Nintendo Account and digital games to a different Nintendo Switch console and make that console your account's primary console.

Save data is linked to your Nintendo Account, so you can access it by signing in. If you move to a new system, you can pick up right where you left off in your game by downloading your data. Automatic backup is enabled by default. You can change this in the Nintendo Switch system settings.

Ensure both consoles are connected to the internet. Verify that both consoles have the latest system update installed. Verify that the same Nintendo Account is linked to a user on each console. Ensure both consoles are near each other.

Software downloaded to a microSD card on one system will not be playable on a different system. Do not swap data between multiple microSD cards, or swap your microSD card between multiple systems.

On Nintendo Switch, game save data is stored in the console's system memory. This will not change whether downloadable software or software from a game card is being played. Game save data cannot be saved or copied to a microSD card.

From the HOME Menu, select "System Settings" > "Data Management" > "Save Data Cloud." Select the desired user. Tap the software to back up, then select "Back Up Save Data."

Software downloaded to a microSD card on one system will not be playable on a different system. Do not swap data between multiple microSD cards, or swap your microSD card between multiple systems.

From within the System Settings of the original console, use the option to "Transfer Your User" for each account you wish to transfer. You can also select “Transfer Your Save Data” if you want to move an individual game save file to a different system.

You can play digital games that you've purchased with your Nintendo Account on any Nintendo Switch console. Please note that you can register one primary console per Nintendo Account. Once you've registered a primary console, your digital purchases can be played by anyone that uses the primary console.