Can I transfer my save data from Switch 1 to Switch 2?

9.66

Overall Score: 9.66/10

Consumer:9.66/10

📖 Read TLDR Review to learn more →

Watch This Product

Watch products with ShopSavvy for price drops, stock alerts, deals and more.

Ask Agent About This Product

Absolutely. There are a few ways to move your saves over, and none of them are particularly complicated.

The Easy Way: Cloud Saves

If you have Nintendo Switch Online, your saves are probably already in the cloud. Just sign into your Nintendo Account on the Switch 2, flip on Automatic Save-Data Download in Settings, and put the console to sleep. It'll pull down your saves automatically.

One heads up: if your membership expires, you've got 180 days to renew before losing access to those cloud backups. Don't wait too long.

The Direct Way: Local Transfer

Have both consoles handy? Do a local transfer. The two systems talk to each other wirelessly and copy everything over. Save data, user profiles, settings. The whole package.

The "I'm Trading In My Switch" Way

Nintendo lets you upload your data to their server, then download it on Switch 2 later. Handy if you need to sell or trade your old Switch before the new one arrives.

The Pokemon Problem

Here's the catch. Pokemon games don't use standard cloud saves. Same with Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The transfer process will flag these games so you know what won't come over automatically.

For Pokemon specifically, you might need to use Pokemon HOME or other workarounds. Look into that before wiping your old Switch.

Good News for Non-Subscribers

Don't have Nintendo Switch Online? You can still do a direct local transfer between two consoles. Cloud saves require the subscription, but console-to-console doesn't.