The difference between archiving and deleting games on Nintendo Switch - SlashGear (2024)

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If you ever found yourselfshould free up space on your Switch, chances are you've seen it: the choice between deleting a game or "archiving" it. If you need more storage space right now, you may not have much time to think about your decision. Fortunately, the most important thing (i.e. keeping your save data) is consistent between both options, so whatever you choose, you won't have to worry about having to start over if you ever return to a game you deleted from your system. have deleted.

Regardless of whether you have insufficient space on your internal memory and/ormicro SD card, and decide you need to clean up some things; You can wait for your Switch to prompt you, highlight a game's settings individually and select the 'Manage Software' settings from the Home screen, or go through Data Management in System Preferences.

With the choice between the two options, it all ultimately comes down to how likely you are to come back later to play the games you delete.

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Functionally, archiving and deleting are virtually identical processes (viaNintendo). As mentioned earlier, your saved data is safe no matter which one you choose. The same goes for any videos or screenshots you've saved from that game; all these things will toostay on your Switchuntil you delete it manually, from the album or via the Delete Saved Data menu.

Both choices simply remove the game software itself from your Switch to free up storage space. That said, archiving makes it a little easier to get back to a game you deleted if you decide to reinstall and play the game again.

When a game is deleted, all evidence of it is gone from your Switch (except save data and saved screenshots or videos). To re-download it, select 'Re-Download Software' at the bottom of the All Software menu or go to the account details page in the eShop.

But if you save a game instead, the icon willstay on your Switcheven after the game is deleted. Selecting that icon will prompt you to download the game again, after which you may have to shuffle a few more things to make room for it. If you decide that you'd rather not have the game's icon fill up your home screen or library full of all the software, you can still go in and select Uninstall Software to remove the icon (while still keeping save data etc. ).