Pokémon HOME is the hub for moving eligible Pokémon into supported Nintendo Switch games, but there is no single route that works for every Pokémon from Generations 1–8. Your path depends on where the Pokémon is now, which games it has passed through, and whether HOME lists it as compatible with your destination. If your Pokémon are still in Pokémon Bank, act before the service ends on February 26, 2027, at 03:00 UTC.
Start by checking the Pokémon’s current location
Choose the route based on where the Pokémon is now—not just the generation it came from. Pokémon HOME handles connections to supported Switch game saves, while Pokémon GO and Pokémon Bank have their own separate transfer processes.
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| Where the Pokémon is now | Route to HOME | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|
| A supported Nintendo Switch game save | Use the Nintendo Switch version of Pokémon HOME to move eligible Pokémon between that save and HOME. | Compatibility is checked per Pokémon and destination game. |
| Pokémon GO | Link GO to the Nintendo Account used by HOME’s mobile app, send Pokémon through the GO Transporter, then receive them in HOME. | GO transfers cannot be returned to GO or sent to either Let’s Go game. |
| Pokémon Bank | Move Pokémon from Bank to HOME using a Moving Key with a 3DS, or the linked-account process without a 3DS. | HOME Premium is required, and Bank-to-HOME transfers end February 26, 2027, at 03:00 UTC. |
| An older game from Generations 1–8 | First establish the exact route from that game into Bank or another supported intermediary; then use the applicable route into HOME. | The full legacy-game chain depends on the specific game and is not established here for every title. |
Move Pokémon between HOME and a Switch game
The Switch version of Pokémon HOME connects to supported game saves on the console. Select a game and its save data, move eligible Pokémon between its boxes and HOME, and save the arrangement. Pokémon HOME can display an icon when a Pokémon cannot be moved into the selected game. The games supported by HOME are not a guarantee that every Pokémon can enter each one.
Check each Pokémon’s destination compatibility
In the mobile app, open the Pokémon’s details and look for “Games it can travel to.” In the Switch app, inspect its summary and Connected Games. Use this check before moving Pokémon out of HOME or planning a team for a particular title. Pokémon Support explains the per-Pokémon check in its HOME compatibility guide.
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Use the same Nintendo Account on mobile and Switch
The HOME boxes on mobile and Switch are shared when both versions are set up with the same Nintendo Account. Pokémon Support warns that starting the mobile app under the wrong account prevents it from being linked to the intended account later. See the account setup instructions before creating or linking your account.
Transfer Pokémon from Pokémon GO to HOME
GO sends Pokémon to HOME through the mobile app; it does not connect directly to HOME’s Switch app. You do not need a paid HOME Premium Plan or paid Nintendo Switch Online for the GO-to-HOME transfer.
- Link the accounts. In Pokémon GO, link the Nintendo Account used by the mobile version of Pokémon HOME.
- Send Pokémon with the GO Transporter. The Transporter spends energy for each Pokémon. The amount depends on the Pokémon; energy recharges over time, or PokéCoins can refill it immediately.
- Receive the Pokémon in HOME. Open the mobile HOME app and receive the transfer. You must receive the Pokémon before attempting another GO transfer.
- Check its destination. If you want to use the Pokémon in a Switch game, make sure the Switch and mobile versions of HOME use the same Nintendo Account, then check its compatibility in HOME.
A Pokémon sent from GO cannot be returned to GO, and some special Pokémon cannot be sent at all. Pokémon sent from GO to HOME cannot be transferred to Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!. Consult the official GO transfer steps and the Let’s Go restriction before sending anything you may want to keep in GO.
Move Pokémon from Pokémon Bank to HOME
A paid Pokémon HOME Premium Plan is required for a Bank-to-HOME transfer. Pokémon Bank’s old subscription is separate from HOME Premium; an expired Bank subscription does not by itself mean Pokémon stored in Bank have disappeared. Pokémon Support says you can check whether Pokémon remain in its boxes even after the subscription expires. Its expired Bank subscription FAQ explains the distinction.
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With a Nintendo 3DS
- In Pokémon Bank, select the boxes you want to move.
- Start the move to Pokémon HOME and display the Moving Key.
- Enter that key in HOME within three minutes.
Without a Nintendo 3DS
Link the Nintendo Network ID associated with Pokémon Bank to the Nintendo Account associated with Pokémon HOME. This process transfers the entire Pokémon Bank collection at once, rather than letting you select boxes. Pokémon Support’s HOME connection guide describes both methods.
Bank transfers have a deadline
Pokémon Support’s announcement, dated August 18, 2026, says Pokémon Bank service and Bank-to-HOME transfers will end on February 26, 2027, at 03:00 UTC. After that time, it will no longer be possible to move Pokémon from Bank to HOME. If your Pokémon are stored there, complete the transfer before the cutoff. Check the Pokémon Bank and Pokémon HOME announcement for the official notice.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What changes when a Pokémon moves between games?
Moves can change to fit the destination
If a Pokémon’s current moves are unavailable in a destination game, HOME can replace them with moves it can learn there. If the Pokémon later returns to a game it previously visited, HOME restores the move set associated with that game. Pokémon Support details this behavior in its explanation of changed moves.
Moving out of Let’s Go is one-way for those games
Pokémon caught in Let’s Go and moved into the other games listed by HOME cannot return to either Let’s Go title. Pokémon that originated in GO and entered HOME also cannot be sent to Let’s Go. Treat a move out of Let’s Go as permanent if you want to keep that Pokémon available in those games.
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Displayed information can differ
HOME may display game-specific differences in a Pokémon’s information, including status or moves. Pokémon Support says a display difference in HOME does not overwrite the Pokémon’s underlying data. See its display information FAQ.
Can every Generation 1–8 Pokémon reach Switch?
Do not assume a Pokémon can reach Switch solely because of its generation or species. For Pokémon already in HOME, the compatibility display tells you which supported games accept that individual Pokémon. For Pokémon still in an older original game, the route into Bank or HOME depends on the specific game and any required intermediary software or hardware.
The exact legacy steps are not established here for every game, including routes involving Virtual Console releases, the Gen 3-to-4 Pal Park step, Gen 4-to-5 transfers, and Poké Transporter eligibility. Verify the specific game, version, and prerequisites before relying on a route to move a particular Pokémon forward. Once it reaches HOME, check the destination in HOME rather than treating a generation-wide or species-wide list as a guarantee.
Using Pokémon HOME on Nintendo Switch 2
For linking HOME with games such as Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet on Nintendo Switch 2, the relevant game save data must be present on the same console where HOME is launched. Console or account migration is a separate process from moving individual Pokémon. Check Pokémon Support’s Switch 2 HOME FAQs if you are setting up HOME on that console.
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