Nintendo Switch bridges the gap between home consoles and portable gaming devices, allowing players to enjoy great titles everywhere. However, the Switch suffers from small storage space, which isn't the best for large libraries. Fortunately, there is a solution to this problem built into the console.
By using microSD cards you can maximize the number of games you can download to your Switch. You don't have to do much and you can learn all about the process by reading on.
Nintendo Switch internal storage capacity
The original Nintendo Switch models only have 32GB of storage, and the system reserves some of that that you can't access. The Nintendo Switch OLED version was released in 2021 and that variant has double the storage. Yet it's still not enough for serious gamers who prefer digital game copies.
Many of Nintendo's best titles are massive games that take up a third of the original Switch's storage space. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is an example that requires 13.4 GB of storage space. That's also without taking into account the DLC you can get.
Another large game, Pokémon Sword and Shield, takes up 10.3 GB. If you want both digital copies of these games, your Switch won't have room for much else - unless you own the OLED version, of course.
The solution for low storage capacity
The easiest solution is to buy physical copies, but that is not possible for every game. Some are digital only.
Therefore, any Switch owner who plans to play a lot of games should invest in a microSD card. This way they can take their favorite titles with them wherever they go, without having to lug around a stack of cartridges.
Nintendo Switch supports microSDHC and microSDXC cards. The first goes up to 32 GB and is cheaper, but the microSDCX cards are much better. These monsters can reach 2TB and even more, but the Switch only supports a maximum of 2TB of external storage.
Moved Switch Games to SD Card
Now that you know what to get, here is the procedure for transferring your installed games to a new microSD card. It may take a while for the game to download to the microSD card, but you can play the game there once the process is complete. Please note that as long as the game files are on the card, the save data will always go to the Switch system's memory.
- Turn on your Nintendo Switch.
- Press and hold the power button until a menu appears.
- Select "Energy Settings".
- Select "Disable" from the list of options.
- Rotate the Switch stand behind the console.
- Reveal the microSD slot.
- Insert a microSD card into the Switch console.
- Turn your ignition back on.
If you already have a microSD card for your Switch and use it often, skip the steps above.
- Go to the Switch home screen.
- Select "System Settings", represented by the gear icon.
- Go to "Manage Software".
- Select the game you want to transfer to your microSD card.
- Select "Archive Software".
- Confirm by selecting "Archive".
- Go back to the home screen.
- Select the game you just archived.
- Select "Download".
- Wait for the game to transfer before you can play it again.
Moving these games to a microSD card will free up large amounts of memory capacity for your game save files as they will never move to the card. But if you have too much data stored, there is nowhere else to transfer it but to another switch.
You can also use these steps to transfer your games to another Switch. However, transferring stored data is a different process.
Things to Remember While Moving Switch Games
According to Nintendo's supportinternet kant, there are some important rules to keep in mind when transferring data. There they are:
- Software transferred to a microSD card will not work on other switches
This rule means that you cannot share games with friends who all have their own Nintendo Switch. The data is only loaded on one switch, the one you started the software migration with.
- A microSD card may only be used for a switch
It's best to only allocate one card for your console, especially if you're transferring games. You can use another one to store photos, playback images, and other data.
- First close the software
To transfer a game, it must be inactive. Therefore, you must stop playing the game or using the software before the process can begin. Luckily, it only takes three seconds to close a game.
Recommended microSD card for Nintendo Switch
Because many Switch games have a larger storage capacity, we recommend purchasing a microSD card with a storage capacity of at least 64 GB. This allows you to play about five large games and gives you more room for smaller games. However, the optimal size will vary depending on individual preferences, so make a note of how many games you would like to have.
While pretty much any brand will do that, SanDisk makes UHS-I microSDXC cards that work perfectly on a Nintendo Switch. These cards are unique in design and feature Mario, Zelda and other themes licensed from Nintendo. You can find them online or in game stores without much problem.
These cards should have transfer speeds of 60-95MBps, but it is possible to go higher.
Depending on your needs, you can purchase a memory card with these capacities:
- 64 GB
- 128 GB
- 256 GB
- 512 GB
- 1 TB
- 2 TB
There are several other cards with different capacities such as 400GB, but you will only get a microSD card from a reputable company. Their products are more reliable and worth the higher cost, and you don't risk losing your games. Luckily, you can always re-download them if you lose them.
Additional frequently asked questions
Where does Switch store data?
When playing Switch games, the save data goes to the internal memory. It doesn't matter whether you own a physical or digital copy. However, Switch save data cannot be transferred to a microSD card.
Can I play the games on another Switch?
Yes, but you cannot access your saved files on that switch unless you transfer the data. Therefore, it is still better to move the data first before doing this.
Can I transfer from one SD card to another?
Yes, you can do this if you bought a better SD card or just want to make the change. However, the process requires a PC.
Does the switch support USB drives?
Unfortunately, the Switch does not support USB drives at all. This used to be possible, but Nintendo disabled the feature. The only way to use external USB drives now is to hack your Switch.
So the only solution is to use a microSD card.
Start transfer
Since archiving and re-downloading Switch games is a hassle, expanding Switch storage is the best course of action. The internal memory is too small for several large AAA games larger than 10 GB. Therefore, it is much better to stick with microSD cards for extended storage.
Are you using a microSD card on your Switch and what brand is it? How big do you think a Switch microSD card should be? Let us know in the comments below.
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