The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →You can get your old island back in Animal Crossing: New Horizons if you still have the console it’s saved on, or if Island Backup was enabled before that console became unavailable. Use Nintendo’s Island Transfer Tool to move an accessible island to another console. If the old console is lost or unavailable, restore an existing Island Backup on a replacement console with the same Nintendo Account that enabled it. Without a backup, Nintendo’s instructions do not provide a recovery method.
Choose the right way to recover your island
| Your situation | What to do | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| You can use the old console and want the whole island on another console | Use the Island Transfer Tool on both consoles. | The island moves off the original console; this is a transfer, not a copy. Nintendo’s transfer overview and transfer instructions describe the process. |
| The old console is unavailable, and Island Backup was enabled beforehand | Restore the backup on a replacement console. | Use the Nintendo Account that enabled the backup. Nintendo’s recovery guide explains the steps. |
| The old console is unavailable, and Island Backup was not enabled | Contact Nintendo Support to discuss your circumstances. | Nintendo says backup must have been enabled on the original console; its guidance does not describe another recovery method. |
| Only one player is moving to a separate island | Use individual-resident transfer. | It moves one resident’s data, not the island. The island representative cannot be moved by themself. Nintendo’s transfer overview explains the distinction. |
Move the whole island when the old console is available
Nintendo’s current transfer instructions cover Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 systems. For a Switch-to-Switch 2 move, Nintendo also points to its system-transfer guidance; follow the route for your console setup.
- Prepare both consoles. Update Animal Crossing: New Horizons on the source and target systems. Nintendo says existing Animal Crossing save data on the target must be deleted before the island transfer can finish, so check the target before proceeding.
- Open the transfer tool on both systems. Download and start the Island Transfer Tool on each console. In the tool, choose Source on the old console and Target on the new console.
- Follow the on-screen prompts. Complete the transfer, then start the game on the target console. The island save is removed from the source and placed on the target, so it will no longer be available on the old system.
- Check backup settings on the new console. If you want protection against future loss, enable Island Backup after the move. Backup is a separate feature from transferring an island.
See Nintendo’s step-by-step island-transfer instructions for the full procedure.
Restore an island when the old console is unavailable
This option works only if Island Backup was enabled on the original console before you lost access. It is not turned on by default, cannot be enabled remotely, and is separate from Nintendo Switch Online Save Data Cloud. Nintendo confirms that Animal Crossing: New Horizons does not support the general Save Data Cloud feature in its recovery guide and Save Data and Multiplayer Support FAQ.
#1 Best Overall
![Animal Crossings New Horizons - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ErvUL40zL._SL160_.jpg)
- Build your community from scratch on a deserted island brimming with possibility; Create your personal getaway and customize your character, home, decorations, and even the landscape itself
- Collect materials to construct everything from furniture to tools. Then, use what you create to give your island a personal touch
- Watch as the time of day and seasons match real life—even your hemisphere. Each day holds potential for surprises and discoveries
- Get to know the island residents, garden, fish, decorate, hunt for fossils, and more.
- Show off your paradise – play on the same system with a total of 4 people, or play together online or over local wireless for fun with up to 8 players
You need a replacement console, an internet connection, the game, and the same Nintendo Account that enabled Island Backup. On the replacement console:
- Start the game using that Nintendo Account.
- As the Nintendo logo fades to a fully black screen, hold the minus button.
- When prompted, select Begin, then follow the recovery prompts to search for island data and select the island to restore.
If the replacement console already has a new island, restoring the backup replaces it; Nintendo warns that the new island will be lost. If the console was serviced, open the game and check whether the old island is already present before starting recovery—it may have been retained. If no backup appears, Nintendo advises checking the internet connection and confirming that you are using the Nintendo Account that enabled the backup.
Rank #2
- Share Your Paradise - Show off your island utopia to family and friends - or pack your bags and visit theirs.
- Get Building - Experience a robust new crafting system - collect materials to construct everything from furniture to tools!
- Create Your Perfect Getaway - Craft everything from tools to creature comforts as you create and customize your island community.
- Explore Your Island - Collect bugs, decorate your paradise throughout the day, or enjoy sunset on the beach while fishing in the ocean.
- Play Together - Up to eight players can reside on an island; four residents of the same island can play together simultaneously on a single system.
If the old console is unavailable and Island Backup was never enabled, Nintendo’s instructions do not describe a way to restore the island. Contact Nintendo Support if you need help assessing your account or console circumstances, but recovery is not guaranteed.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What transfers and what a backup contains
| Method | What moves or is restored | What stays behind or may be replaced |
|---|---|---|
| Whole-island transfer | The island, its progress and customizations, items, animal residents, player residents, associated Happy Home Paradise save data, and Slumber Islands. | The island is no longer available on the source console. |
| Island Backup restore | The last saved version of the island and its residents, plus the listed associated data. | An existing new island on the replacement console is replaced. |
| Individual-resident transfer | One player resident and their associated data. | The original island and animal residents remain on the original console; the island representative cannot be moved alone. |
Nintendo describes these contents and transfer distinctions in its island-transfer overview.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Rank #3
![Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Happy Home Paradise - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51JAzQozLgL._SL160_.jpg)
- Take in-game photos of your designs and add them to your portfolio. Show them to other characters and you may get more requests to create vacation homes. Share the photos with other players using the in-game Showroom in the Happy Home Network app and they can tour your personally-designed resort islands or go tour theirs for some relaxation and inspiration.
- Purchase the Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Happy Home Paradise DLC from Nintendo eShop, or download and play it as part of an active Nintendo Switch Online plus Expansion Pack membership at no extra cost.
Enable Island Backup before you need it
Enable backup while you can still access the island. Nintendo requires an active Nintendo Switch Online membership and a Nintendo Account with a resident on the island; only one resident account can enable backup for an island.
- Go to the game’s title screen and press the minus button to open Settings.
- Choose Island backup, then Enable island backup.
- After setup, check the title screen for the last backup time.
Nintendo says backups occur periodically while the console is connected to the internet and nobody is playing. It does not publish a fixed hourly or daily schedule. See Nintendo’s Island Backup guidance for details.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
