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. Select “Send Save Data”.

If you have multiple consoles, you can transfer your latest save data from one console to another so you can keep playing from where you left off. *Some save data cannot be transferred. *The save data for some titles, such as 1-2-Switch and Animal Crossing: New Horizons is not saved on a per-user basis.

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.

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

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.

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. Select “Send Save Data”.

From the HOME Menu, select "System Settings" > "Data Management" > "Save Data Cloud." Once you're there, you can also turn on a feature that automatically downloads backed-up save data onto another system. You must be using the latest firmware to do this.

You can copy PS4 game saved data from your source console to a USB drive, and then use the USB drive to copy the data to your destination console.

Can I link my Nintendo Account to more than one Nintendo Switch console? You can link your Nintendo Account to multiple consoles. You can play digital games you've purchased on any Nintendo Switch console. Please note that you can register one primary console per Nintendo Account.

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.

How do I get my old data back on my switch? ›

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.

If you're connected to the internet, your save data will be backed up automatically, even when your Nintendo Switch is in sleep mode. No complicated settings or updates required.

Where is game save data stored? 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" > "User" > "Transfer Your User". Select "Next", then "Next" again, then select "Target Console" to indicate that the content will be transferred to this console. Select "Sign In" and choose to sign in using your Nintendo Account email address or sign-in ID.

No. We are not able to combine two different Nintendo Accounts together into one. Please note that you can link up to 8 Nintendo Accounts to a single Nintendo Switch console. Games that you've purchased are playable by everyone on the active Nintendo Switch console for your Nintendo Account.

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.

Purchases made using a Nintendo Account can be redownloaded and played on any Nintendo Switch console it is linked to. You can link your Nintendo Account to user profiles on multiple consoles. Only one Nintendo Switch console can be the primary console for your Nintendo Account at any given time.

How to Use Multiple Switch Units With the Same Account. To add your existing Nintendo account to an additional Switch, simply create a new local account on your Switch with your preferred name, then complete the process by linking that account to your Nintendo account by using your login and password.

Yes. Anyone that uses your primary Nintendo Switch console will be able to play games you've purchased with your Nintendo Account*. Please note that you can set one console per Nintendo Account as your primary console.