Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Digital games and DLC usually can’t be moved to a different account, but you can often access the same library on a replacement console by signing in with the account that bought it. The exact options depend on the platform: Nintendo explicitly prohibits transferring purchases between Nintendo Accounts, while PlayStation supports downloading purchases on a destination console and copying supported data to a PS5. Sharing access with another profile is a separate feature, not a change in who owns the purchase.
What does “transfer games” mean?
Before moving anything, identify what you want to move. “Transfer” can refer to four different things, and each has different rules:
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
- Purchase ownership: the account entitled to the digital game or DLC. Moving a console does not, by itself, change that account.
- Access on a replacement console: signing in with the purchasing account and downloading its library, or using the platform’s supported migration process.
- Game data: installed files or saved data copied from one console to another. A copied file is not necessarily a license to play the game.
- Sharing access: allowing other profiles to play some purchased content on a particular console under the platform’s rules. This does not transfer ownership to those profiles.
The first question to answer is whether you’re keeping the same account. If you are replacing a console, retain access to the account that made the purchases; that is generally the route to the existing library. If you want the purchases to belong to a different account, the supported answer varies by platform—and on Nintendo, the answer is no.
It also helps to separate the physical console from the digital entitlement. A game can be installed on a system without the profile currently using that system owning it. Conversely, a purchasing account can retain access to a game even if its files are not installed on the new console yet. Saves, game files, add-on entitlements, and permission to launch a title are related, but they are not the same thing.
Popular on Amazon
- 【90 Degree Full Function USB C Adapter】Supports the latest USB4 standard for up to 40Gbps of bandwidth, 8K video support, and up to 240W Fast charging; Support USB PD 3.1 Extended Power Range (EPR) including 140W, 180W and 240W. Your productivity is easily doubled. *Warm Tip: For the best fit, please make sure the USB-C port is fully exposed; thick or bulky cases may affect compatibility.
- 【Reliable Quality】Made from high-quality, scratch-resistant aluminum alloy, delicate metal frame. get excellent wear resistance and heat dissipation. Non-Slip Design for easier insertion and removal.
- 【Small and portable】Ultra thin size, ultra compact design, a petite physique that matches the minimalist design of your modern laptops. Coming with a slim figure that won't block the port next to the one it's plugged into.
- 【Compatibility】Widely work with most usb c, thunderbolt 4/3 devices. Compatibilit for ROG Ally, Steam Deck, Switch, MacBook Pro, Quest 3 VR headset, Surface Book 2, iPhone 18/17/16/15, Samsung Galaxy S23/S22/S21, Note 20/10, Google Pixel, ChromeBook, etc.
- 【Excellence Customer Support】If you experience any issues or cable failure, simply reach out to our dedicated customer service team. We provide a prompt response within 18 hours, providing you with the necessary technical support to resolve any concerns.
Can you transfer Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 games and DLC to another account?
No. Nintendo says digital purchases cannot be transferred from one Nintendo Account to another. You can use account and console features to access purchases in certain situations, but those features do not make a different account the owner.
Nintendo’s support page states, “It’s not possible to transfer digital purchases from one Nintendo Account to another.” Digital games and DLC bought through Nintendo eShop are associated with the Nintendo Account that purchased them. See Nintendo’s guidance on transferring a digital game or DLC to another Nintendo Account.
If you’re replacing a Switch or Switch 2
- Keep the purchasing Nintendo Account. Make sure you can sign in to the account that bought the game or DLC. Do not treat creating or using another profile as a way to inherit its purchases.
- Use Nintendo’s system-transfer guidance for your situation. If you still have the old console, Nintendo recommends transferring user data when possible. Follow the current instructions for the relevant systems and check which information the process covers; a user-data transfer is not a purchase transfer between accounts.
- Use the purchasing account and Nintendo’s supported game-access features on the destination console. Nintendo’s multi-console guidance covers loading virtual game cards and online-license settings. These affect where and how a game or DLC can be accessed, not which account bought it.
- Check the specific game and DLC after setup. Confirm that the purchasing account, console, and content are the ones you intend to use. Do not assume that moving save data or seeing a game on a console means a different account owns its license.
Nintendo explains how to play games across multiple Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch consoles, including virtual game cards and online-license settings. Consult that page for the current rules that apply to your console arrangement. Those options provide access under Nintendo’s rules; they do not bypass the no-transfer rule.
Can another profile play a Nintendo game?
Nintendo’s virtual-game-card and online-license features can allow other users on a console to access games or DLC in supported circumstances. That is console-based access, not a transfer of the purchase to those users’ Nintendo Accounts. Check Nintendo’s multi-console instructions before relying on access from a second system, because the permitted setup depends on the feature and console arrangement.
In practice, this means you should decide whether you are setting up a replacement for yourself or trying to let a second user play on another console. Those are different arrangements. For a replacement, start with the purchasing account and Nintendo’s user-data transfer guidance. For multiple consoles or profiles, check the virtual game card and online-license instructions for the particular systems involved rather than assuming that one setup grants unrestricted access everywhere.
Also popular on Amazon
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
How do you move PlayStation games and DLC to a PS5?
For access to your existing PlayStation purchases, use the account that bought them: Sony says digital games can be downloaded from the destination console’s game library. If you’re moving from a PS4 or another PS5, Sony also provides a PS5 data-transfer process for supported account information, saved data, and games. Neither operation transfers a purchase to a different PSN account.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCrashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteTo download your library on the destination PS5
- Sign in with the PSN account that made the purchases. A different account should not be assumed to have the same purchase entitlements.
- Open the game library on the destination console and download the digital games you want. Sony identifies the library as the way to download digital games on the destination console.
- Check DLC separately. Confirm that the relevant account and base game are available and that the DLC is compatible with the game version and console you’re using. The available Sony guidance does not establish that every DLC entitlement or compatibility combination migrates in the same way, so verify the specific title if something is missing.
To copy supported data from a PS4 or PS5 to a PS5
- Use Sony’s PS5 migration instructions. The supported process can copy user and account information, saved data, and games. Follow Sony’s current PS4/PS5-to-PS5 transfer steps for the source and destination consoles.
- Distinguish copied game data from the right to play. A migration can move supported game files, but access to digital purchases still depends on the purchasing account and Sony’s rules.
- Check compatibility and content individually. Sony notes that some content and game compatibility vary. Confirm the title’s compatibility and check the source-and-destination console instructions rather than assuming every game or DLC behaves identically.
If you already have a USB extended-storage drive used with PlayStation, Sony says it can be connected to the destination PS5 to access game data. That is a data-access option, not a way to change purchase ownership or a requirement for changing accounts. Confirm current compatibility in Sony’s instructions before relying on a particular drive.
Can other profiles play purchases on a PS5?
Sony’s Console Sharing and Offline Play setting allows other users on an enabled PS5 to play games and media purchased and downloaded by the account holder, including when that console is offline. This shares access on that console; it does not move the purchases to another PSN account. See Sony’s PS5 Console Sharing and Offline Play support information for its current terms and setup guidance.
This feature is useful to distinguish from a library download. A download puts the game data on a console; Console Sharing and Offline Play governs whether other users on the enabled PS5 can access supported purchases there. Neither action changes the account listed as the purchaser. If the owner is moving to a new PS5 and another household member also needs access, check Sony’s current instructions for the intended console arrangement before setting up or relying on sharing.
What about Xbox?
Do not apply Nintendo or PlayStation rules to Xbox. The available official guidance does not establish Xbox’s current account-transfer, replacement-console, Home Xbox, game-sharing, or DLC rules, so specific Xbox steps or promises would be unreliable.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Also popular on Amazon
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
For an Xbox move, check current Microsoft support instructions for the exact situation: a replacement console, access by another profile, and any DLC that is missing or incompatible. Keep the purchasing account available while you confirm the rules. Treat moving installed files or saves separately from changing ownership, and do not assume that a sharing setting grants a different account a permanent license.
If you are comparing Xbox with another platform, use the same questions but verify the answers separately: Is the destination a replacement console or a second household console? Is the same account being used? Are you trying to move installed data, saves, or a purchase entitlement? Does the feature you plan to use cover offline play or DLC? Until you have checked Microsoft’s current guidance for those details, avoid promising that a game or add-on will be playable under a different profile.
Which option fits your situation?
Use this comparison to identify what to verify before beginning. “Same account” means the account that bought the content remains in use; it does not imply that every game is compatible with every console generation.
| Your goal | What you are moving | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Replace a console | Access to the original library, and possibly saves or supported game data | Sign in to the purchasing account, use the platform’s official migration or download process, and check each title’s compatibility. |
| Let another profile play on the same console | Console-based access, not ownership | Use only the platform’s documented sharing or license features. Sony describes this for an enabled PS5; Nintendo’s virtual game card and online-license rules depend on the console arrangement. |
| Move a game to another account | The purchase entitlement itself | Nintendo says this is not possible between Nintendo Accounts. Do not treat a data copy or sharing feature as an ownership change. |
| Move to another platform brand | A license from one platform ecosystem to another | The support details here do not establish cross-platform ownership transfer. Check the publisher and the relevant platform policies for the specific game. |
| Recover a missing add-on | DLC entitlement and compatible base game | Check the purchasing account, base game, region, and console or game version; seek title-specific support if it remains unavailable. |
The practical comparison is not simply “old console versus new console.” Consider six things: whether the account is the same, whether the platform family is the same, whether this is a replacement or another household console, whether you need a license or only data, whether offline access matters, and whether DLC matches the base game and console version. Answering those questions first prevents a common mistake: copying files successfully, then expecting the copy to grant a new account the right to play.
Recommended Free Tools
What should you check before moving a game or DLC?
Use this checklist before removing an old console, changing profiles, or troubleshooting missing content:
Also popular on Amazon
- Portable and powerful USB-C HUB: BENFEI USB Type-C HUB, with super-soft and knot-free silicone woven design cable, meets most mobile office needs. Compact, lightweight, stylish, and powerful portable USB C Hub equipped with 1 x HDMI port, 1 x 100W charging, and 3 x USB ports. 18-month warranty, 24-hour response, to ensure you feel at ease when using our product.
- Design centered on comfort and reliability: Thanks to BENFEI's end-to-end in-house cable production capability, in-house PCBA and assembly capability, using the industry's most advanced silicone woven design and process, 20cm cable in length, no knots, super-soft, the HUB is easy to use in all scenarios: laptop, tablet, stand etc. Super-soft, 25000+ life cycles, to meet your daily carrying and office needs.
- 100W Charging: Support up to 90W USB C pass-through charging via Type-C port to keep your laptop powered. 10W is reserved for other interface operations. No data and video function on the Type-C port.
- 4K HDMI Display: The HDMI port supports media display at resolutions up to 4K 30Hz, keeping every incredible moment detailed and ultra vivid. Please note that the C port of the Host device needs to support video output.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Transfer files and from your laptop at speeds up to 10 Gbps with USB A 3.2 port. Extra 2 USB A 2.0 ports are perfectly for your keyboards and mouse.
- Platform and account: identify the console family and the exact account that bought each item. A different profile is not automatically entitled to the purchase.
- Goal: decide whether you need a new-console download, saved-data migration, installed files, another profile’s access, or a true ownership change. These are not interchangeable.
- Old console availability: if it still works, check the platform’s supported transfer procedure before wiping, selling, or abandoning it. Nintendo advises transferring user data when possible for a replacement; Sony documents supported PS5 migration.
- Game versus DLC: check both the base game and the add-on. DLC entitlements and compatibility can depend on the account, region, game, and console version; do not infer that an add-on has moved just because the base game appears.
- Console generation and title compatibility: check the platform’s current support instructions for the particular game and destination system. Some PlayStation content and game compatibility vary.
- Sharing versus ownership: confirm whether the platform feature grants access only on a specific console or under particular conditions. Shared access is not a purchase transfer.
- Offline needs: account for whether the other profile needs offline access. Sony documents offline play for other users on a PS5 with Console Sharing and Offline Play enabled; do not assume an equivalent feature works the same way on another platform.
Before you start, make a simple inventory of the content that matters: the account that purchased each game, any DLC you need, and the saves you want to keep. This is especially helpful if several profiles use a console, because the profile playing a title may not be the account that purchased it. Confirm that you can still access the purchasing account before relying on its library or sharing features.
Then choose the official route that matches the goal. A library download is appropriate when you need access to purchases on a destination console under the purchasing account. A system migration is relevant when you also need supported user information, saves, or game data copied. A sharing feature is relevant when another profile needs access on a particular console. None should be substituted for the others without checking what the platform says each one covers.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why is a game or DLC missing after a console move?
A missing item does not necessarily mean the data transfer failed. First check whether the destination console is using the account that purchased the content; then separate an absent download from an absent license, save, or add-on.
- Check the signed-in account. A game bought by one account may not appear as a purchase under another. Switch to the purchasing account or check that account’s library.
- Check whether you moved only data. Save files and installed game files do not establish that another account owns the license. Use the platform’s library or license-access feature as appropriate.
- Check DLC against its base game. Verify that the correct base game is available and that the add-on matches the relevant game and console version. Region can also matter; confirm the particular title’s support guidance if the content remains unavailable.
- Check the platform’s sharing or multi-console configuration. On Nintendo, consult the current virtual game card and online-license rules. On PS5, check Console Sharing and Offline Play for access by other users on that console.
- Consult the official instructions for the exact consoles and title. Platform rules and compatibility are not universal. If a purchase still cannot be accessed, use the platform’s account or content support route rather than deleting the purchasing account or assuming the license can be reassigned.
When troubleshooting, describe the problem precisely: “the game is not installed,” “the save is missing,” “the add-on does not appear,” and “this profile cannot launch it” are different symptoms. A migration might address one while leaving another unchanged. For example, Sony’s PS5 process can copy supported saved data and games, while digital game access still depends on the purchasing account and applicable console settings. On Nintendo, moving user data and using virtual game cards or online-license settings are also distinct from changing ownership.
What is the safest way to plan a transfer?
Keep the original purchasing account, use the destination console’s official migration or library process, and confirm access before you retire the old system. If your goal is a different account owning a purchase, check the platform’s policy first: on Nintendo, that transfer is not supported, and PlayStation console sharing is access rather than reassignment. For Xbox, verify Microsoft’s current instructions for the particular console, account, and DLC instead of extrapolating from another platform.
Also popular on Amazon
- 【Read before You Buy】 Note: This adapter is USB 2.0 version and cannot transmit HDM, VGA, or other video signals. Nevertheless, they are fully capable of charging devices,duplicating files, and can be seamlessly integrated with USB-C earphones, wireless network adapters, and SD card adapters.
- 【Easy to Use and Safe】Thanks to modern manufacturing techniques, we've made these adapters sufficiently compact so that they can remain inserted in your device without noticeable protrusion or inconvenience. This means you don't have to constantly plug and unplug them, reducing the likelihood of wear and misalignment, and making them more convenient to carry around.
- 【Reliable Quality】Engineered for enhanced durability, durable aluminum alloy shell material,get excellent wear resistance and heat dissipation,the male USB C and female USB connectors & the male USB and female USB C connectors are designed to be plugged and unplugged up to 20000 times. Provides data transfer, device charging, memory space expansion, and additional computer peripherals.
- 【Think more for you】Do you need to connect a USB-C-enabled device to an odd device that only has USB-A ports? Then these USB-A male to USB-C female adapters are made for you.Simply insert the adapter into the USB-A port on the device, and you can instantly connect your USB-C device to the device that originally didn't have the correct connection port.
- 【Trusted xiwxi Quality and Service】As a responsible brand seller, you will receive xiwxi's 12-month Quality assurance and lifetime friendly customer service, you're not just buying a product,you're investing in peace of mind with all-round quality and exceptional customer service.
A low-risk sequence is to identify the buyer account, verify that you can sign in, check the platform’s instructions for the source and destination consoles, and move the supported user data or download the library. Then confirm the games, saves, and DLC you care about before wiping, selling, or otherwise giving up the old console. If another profile needs to play, verify the relevant sharing feature and its conditions separately. This sequence cannot make an unsupported ownership transfer possible, but it can help avoid confusing a successful data move with a license change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I give a digital game I bought to a friend as a gift after purchase?
The platform guidance described here does not establish a post-purchase gifting or resale mechanism. Do not assume a downloaded game can be reassigned; check the relevant platform’s current policy before buying or promising a transfer.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWill my save file move if I move the game to a new console?
Not necessarily. Save data is separate from installed game files and the purchase license. Sony’s PS5 transfer process supports saved-data migration in covered situations; for Nintendo, use its system-transfer guidance when possible. Check the instructions for the exact source and destination systems.
If I delete a digital game from my console, do I lose the purchase?
Deleting local game data is different from changing the account that owns the purchase. To access a digital game on a replacement console, use the purchasing account and the platform’s current library or download instructions. Do not delete or abandon the account that holds the entitlement.
Can another profile play my purchased game?
Sometimes, under the platform’s console-access rules. Sony says other users can play games and media purchased and downloaded by the account holder on a PS5 with Console Sharing and Offline Play enabled. Nintendo’s virtual game card and online-license features can provide access in supported situations. These features do not transfer ownership.
Can I transfer Nintendo eShop purchases to a different Nintendo Account?
No. Nintendo says digital purchases cannot be transferred from one Nintendo Account to another. Its virtual game card and online-license features can provide access under particular console arrangements, but they do not make another account the purchaser.
The Bottom Line
You can often bring a digital library to a replacement console by using the account that bought it, but moving a console, copying saves, and changing purchase ownership are different jobs. Nintendo does not allow digital purchases to move between Nintendo Accounts; PlayStation supports library downloads, PS5 data migration, and console sharing under its rules. Check game and DLC compatibility individually, and verify current Xbox guidance with Microsoft.
