SD Card - Official Nintendo Site (2024)

FAQs

What is the correct SD card for Nintendo Switch? ›

Only microSD cards can be used on the Nintendo Switch console. Due to the slot size, SD cards and miniSD cards are not compatible with Nintendo Switch.

The following types of microSD cards are supported on Nintendo Switch: microSD (up to 2 GB) microSDHC (4 GB - 32 GB) microSDXC (64 GB and above)

MicroSD cards are available in different sizes, and are also useful for future digital purchases. Nintendo does not currently sell microSD cards. However, they are available through many different retailers. For information about using microSD Cards on Nintendo Switch, click here.

Open the SD card slot cover. For Nintendo 3DS, the SD card slot is located on the left side of the system. For Nintendo 3DS XL and Nintendo 2DS, the SD card slot is located on the right side of the system. For New Nintendo 2DS XL, the microSD card slot is located on the front side of the system.

The Nintendo Switch can accommodate such cards up to 2TB in size! It sounds amazing but it turns out that regular microSD cards don't go up to 2TB. It might be available in the future but the best you can do right now is a 1TB card.

In order to improve your gameplay experience, using a microSD card with a higher transfer speed is recommended. High-speed microSD card recommendations: UHS-I (Ultra High Speed Phase I) compatible. Transfer speed 60 - 95 MB/sec (the higher the transfer speed, the better gameplay experience on Nintendo Switch)

With 1TB of storage, the SanDisk Ultra A1 SD card is an excellent choice for the Nintendo Switch. The SanDisk Ultra A1 has transfer speeds of up to 150MB/s, which is well above the range needed for fast downloads on the console.

Luckily, the prices of SD cards have been rapidly falling and, in 2024, there's never been a better time to consider an upgrade. You can easily triple or even quadruple your console's storage for less than the price of some of the best Nintendo Switch games.

Nintendo Switch memory cards: FAQ

We'd recommend a 128GB SD card for most users; this will give you enough room for about 15-18 Nintendo Switch games on your console, but it's worth noting that smaller indie titles will take up far less space.

If you don't have enough funds, you can use a Nintendo eShop Card, a Paypal account, or a valid VISA or MasterCard to add more. For released games - the game will begin downloading to your system as soon as you place your order.

Do switch games stay on SD card? ›

Managing save data

As your save data is a valuable record of your progress in games, it's saved to the system memory in order to keep it safe. (It's never stored on the microSD card or game cards.)

32 GB of internal storage, a portion of which is reserved for use by the system. Users can easily expand storage space using microSDHC or microSDXC cards up to 2TB (sold separately).

The following types of microSD card are supported on Nintendo Switch: microSD (up to 2 GB) microSDHC (4 GB - 32 GB) microSDXC (64 GB and above)

If the microSD card is not compatible with the console, replacing it with a compatible type may resolve the problem. If the microSD card label indicates it is SDXC, reinsert the microSD card back into the console. Then power on Nintendo Switch and be sure to perform a system update.

Nintendo recommends using the SD Association's SD Memory Card Formatter to format any SD cards that will be used with a Nintendo product. Nintendo products strictly adhere to the SD card standard.

The file format supported by Switch for SD cards is FAT32 or exFAT only. Before jumping to the perfect format for the SD card needed for the Switch, it is essential to know about SD card size and types. Nintendo Switch Not Reading SD Card?

We'd recommend a 128GB SD card for most users; this will give you enough room for about 15-18 Nintendo Switch games on your console, but it's worth noting that smaller indie titles will take up far less space.

The best microSD cards for the Nintendo Switch can help you fit dozens of additional games and files on your console, nearly all for a budget price. Our top picks include the classic SanDisk 256GB, which is officially licensed by Nintendo, and the Samsung Pro Plus 256GB, which even comes with its own USB adapter.

Verify that the microSD card is compatible with Nintendo Switch. If the microSD card is not compatible with the console, replacing it with a compatible type may resolve the problem. If the microSD card label indicates it is SDXC, reinsert the microSD card back into the console.