This is how you safely replace the microSD card on your Nintendo Switch (2024)

Nintendo has made it super easy to expand the internal storage on the Switch with microSD cards, but the removable storage offers a secondary benefit. Once a card is inserted, things like screenshots are immediately saved to the new storage instead of the internal system memory. This means that those of us who don't want to immediately post screenshots to Facebook or Twitter can quickly take screenshots and other files from the Switch and move them to another place by removing the card.

If you need to quickly swap microSD cards back and forth on the Switch, it's important to know that there's both a right and a wrong way to do it. Here's the right way.

You may not need to remove the microSD card

Whatever you needmicro SD cardbecause you can do a few things before removing it. For example, if you just want some screenshots, you can do thatsend Nintendo Switch screenshots to your phonewithout messing with the microSD card.

If you also want to format the card so that it can be immediately switched from one device to another for use, your Switch has a feature toformat this microSD card on Nintendo Switch.

If you're trying to migrate data, there's actually a handy service in the Nintendo Switch operating system that will help you through ithow to transfer data from one Nintendo Switch to anotherwithout having to worry about manually backing up your microSD card.

But if you just want to get the screenshots and videos off your card or install a larger card to store more, all you need to do is make sure you remove the card safely.

How to safely remove a microSD card from your Nintendo Switch

To prevent the Switch from disconnecting when you try to save something, it is best to only remove a microSD card when the Switch is completely turned off. When the Switch restarts, the console is ready to use and you can reinsert the card at any time. To safely remove your microSD card from a Switch:

1. Hover over open games or apps andPress X to close and then select Close.

2. Press and hold the power buttonat the top of the console for about 20 seconds until the screen shows a power menu.

3. to electEnergy settingsfrom the menu.

4. Scroll down toTo swallowand busyIN.

5. Wait until the screen goes black andopen the tailgateby pulling it up out of contact with your fingernail. You shouldn't need much force.

6. Push the microSD card in until you feel some resistance and then release. This will remove the card from the slot and allow you to remove it easily.

7. Currentcontact backup.

It is now safe to reinsert the old microSD card or insert a new one. If you install a new one, your Switch console will warn you that the card is not formatted and give you the option to format it on the spot. You canformat the card manuallyif you haven't seen this screen.

While it may seem a bit annoying to turn off the console when you quickly retrieve files from the console, this is much safer and ensures that no file corruption occurs. It's also quite a bit of lag considering how quickly the Nintendo Switch restarts. Better safe than damaged.

A card for every need

If the reason for removing your SD card is to purchase a new one, we have a few suggestions. If you're getting a new microSD card for your Nintendo Switch, our top pick is Samsung's EVO+, which has 256GB of storage and is at the top end of the large microSD cards. You'll have plenty of room for all the great games that arrive on the Switch every day, some of which use a whopping 15GB. You'll also shorten loading times, as this is one of the fastest microSD cards money can buy.

If you plan on having a mix of downloaded games and physical cartridges for your Nintendo Switch, a 64GB Samsung EVO may be your best option. It can still hold a good number of downloaded games, but at almost a quarter of the cost of larger capacity microSD cards. And as a bonus for keeping a mix of games, it can be even more budget-friendly, as physical copies go on sale more often than digital ones. Get the best of both worlds.