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Pokémon HOME does not run on Nintendo 3DS. But Pokémon Bank, the 3DS app, can still transfer Pokémon into HOME. As of August 18, 2026, that transfer remains available for eligible users—but Nintendo has scheduled Pokémon Bank and Bank-to-HOME transfers to end on February 25, 2027, at 7:00 p.m. PST. If you have Pokémon in Bank, move the ones you want to keep well before then.
The short answer
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Pokémon HOME available as a Nintendo 3DS app? | No. HOME is available on Nintendo Switch, Switch 2 and compatible mobile devices. |
| Can Pokémon from 3DS games reach HOME? | Yes, through Pokémon Bank on the 3DS. |
| Can anyone download Pokémon Bank now? | No. The 3DS eShop no longer offers new downloads. The official route is for people who downloaded Bank before the eShop closure. |
| Is HOME Premium required? | Yes, for a Bank-to-HOME transfer. Nintendo Switch Online is not required. |
| Can a Pokémon moved to HOME go back to Bank or a 3DS game? | No. The transfer is one-way. |
| When does the service end? | February 25, 2027, at 7:00 p.m. PST. |
How Pokémon Bank and HOME work together
Think of Bank as the 3DS-side bridge, not as another name for HOME:
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3DS Pokémon game → Pokémon Bank on 3DS → Pokémon HOME on Switch, Switch 2 or mobile → compatible newer Pokémon game
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Pokémon Bank remains usable for existing users despite the broader 3DS online shutdown. Nintendo says the Bank-to-HOME transfer will continue only until its separately announced end-of-service date. Nintendo’s Bank end-of-service notice has the deadline and service details; its Pokémon HOME FAQ explains the app availability and account relationship.
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What you need before transferring
- Pokémon Bank already downloaded: Nintendo 3DS eShop stopped allowing purchases and new software downloads on March 27, 2023. Bank became free to use for people who had downloaded it before that date, but it is not currently offered as a new download.
- Pokémon to move: They must be in Bank or be moved there from a supported 3DS Pokémon game first.
- Pokémon HOME: Use the Switch/Switch 2 app or the compatible mobile app.
- An active paid HOME Premium Plan: Premium is required for the Bank transfer. The free Basic Plan does not enable this transfer. HOME Premium is separate from Nintendo Switch Online, which is not required.
- Correct account details: Make sure you are using the Nintendo Account associated with your HOME data and, when relevant, the Nintendo Network ID used with Bank.
- Internet access and both devices ready: The Moving Key is valid for only three minutes.
See Nintendo’s transfer instructions and Pokémon Support’s explanation of the Premium requirement and one-way transfer.
How to transfer with Pokémon HOME on Switch or Switch 2
- Open Pokémon HOME on your Switch or Switch 2 and press A on the title screen.
- Choose Move from the main menu, then select Begin Move and Begin.
- Select Ready!, then Display. HOME will show a Moving Key.
- While the key is displayed, open Pokémon Bank on the 3DS. Press A on Bank’s title screen and choose Move Pokémon to Pokémon HOME.
- Select the Bank boxes you want to move, press Y, then choose Yes.
- Enter the Moving Key shown in HOME before it expires.
Have the 3DS and HOME ready before displaying the key; if it expires, generate another and repeat the process. If Bank prompts you to update, follow that prompt rather than relying on an assumed version number. Confirm your box selections carefully: the move to HOME cannot be undone.
Using the mobile version of HOME
The mobile app can also provide the Moving Key. Open HOME and sign in, then open the menu and go to Options → Move Pokémon → No Nintendo 3DS. Continue through the prompts to display the key. On the 3DS, open Bank, choose Move Pokémon to Pokémon HOME, select the boxes, and enter the key before its three-minute expiration. Make sure the mobile and Switch versions, if you use both, are connected to the relevant Nintendo Account so they access the same HOME data.
What if you no longer have the 3DS?
Losing the console does not automatically make the Pokémon inaccessible. Nintendo’s HOME FAQ describes a transfer route that can use the Nintendo Network ID linked to Pokémon Bank, through HOME’s No Nintendo 3DS option. The account relationship matters: use the Nintendo Account associated with your HOME data and verify that it corresponds to the Nintendo Network ID used with Bank.
Do not assume it will work in every account situation. Multiple accounts, mismatched IDs, regional differences, or missing credentials can complicate recovery. If HOME cannot identify the correct Bank account, contact Nintendo or Pokémon Support before deleting, unlinking, or changing accounts.
What happens after a Pokémon reaches HOME?
The transfer from Bank is one-way. A Pokémon moved into HOME cannot be returned to Bank or used in a Nintendo 3DS Pokémon game. Treat the decision as permanent, especially if you still want to use a Pokémon in its original 3DS game.
Moving a Pokémon into HOME also does not guarantee that it can enter every newer game. Compatibility depends on the destination title and the individual Pokémon; some may stay in HOME if they cannot be withdrawn into a particular game. Check the Pokémon’s compatible games in HOME before buying a game or planning a team. Nintendo’s HOME FAQ covers compatibility.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWhat if Pokémon Bank was never downloaded?
If you never downloaded Bank before the 3DS eShop stopped offering new software downloads on March 27, 2023, there is no normal official route to get a fresh Bank download from that eShop. Owning a 3DS or a Pokémon cartridge does not by itself provide access to Bank or make a transfer to HOME possible. Nintendo’s eShop FAQ explains the closure. Avoid unofficial downloads or installation services presented as equivalent official options; they can put accounts and saved Pokémon at risk.
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Why Pokémon Bank still works after the 3DS online shutdown
Nintendo ended online play and other online-communication functions for 3DS and Wii U software on April 8, 2024. Pokémon Bank had a separate period of continued service, so that shutdown did not immediately end Bank or its HOME transfer. It also did not restore online battles, trading, GTS or other online features in 3DS Pokémon games. Bank’s distinct continuation period is scheduled to end on February 25, 2027, at 7:00 p.m. PST. Nintendo’s service and eShop notice distinguishes the changes.
Should you transfer now or wait?
Leaving Pokémon in Bank temporarily avoids making an irreversible move before you are ready. But it also leaves them dependent on a 3DS app and service with a firm shutdown date. Transferring now puts them in HOME, where eligible Pokémon can be moved to compatible newer games—but they cannot return to Bank or 3DS games, and HOME Premium is required for the transfer.
If you have decided which Pokémon you want to preserve in HOME, transfer them well before the deadline rather than waiting until the final day. That leaves time to resolve account, device, or Moving Key problems. If you are unsure about a particular Pokémon, check its destination-game compatibility and decide whether you still need it in a 3DS game before moving it.
Deadline: February 25, 2027, at 7:00 p.m. PST. Nintendo says Pokémon Bank service and Bank-to-HOME transfers end then. Do not treat that time as a recommended transfer appointment.
Quick Recap
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