To move data between Nintendo Switch consoles, choose the method based on the data you need: transfer the whole user profile for a console replacement, transfer individual saves for selected games, restore a supported cloud backup, or use Animal Crossing’s separate island-transfer tool. The wrong method can leave shared island data behind or delete a save from the old console without creating a duplicate.
The right transfer method depends on what you want to move. To replace an old console, use System Settings > Users > Transfer Your User Data. To move only particular game saves, use System Settings > Data Management > Transfer Your Save Data. For a supported game with a Nintendo Switch Online backup, you can instead download the save from Save Data Cloud. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the major exception: its island data requires Nintendo’s dedicated island-transfer process and does not move through the ordinary user-transfer tool.
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If you are upgrading hardware, a Nintendo Switch 2 is a compatible destination for Nintendo’s documented Switch-to-Switch 2 transfer process. The console itself does not perform the migration automatically, however; you still need to complete the appropriate Nintendo transfer steps.
Choose the correct transfer method
| What you want to move | Use this method | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Your user profile, associated saves, and account-related data | Transfer Your User Data | This is a move, not a duplicate. The transferred user and associated data are removed from the source console. |
| One or more individual game saves | Transfer Your Save Data | The save is deleted from the source after it is sent. |
| A supported game with an existing online backup | Save Data Cloud | Nintendo Switch Online and cloud support are required; not every game supports cloud saves. |
| An Animal Crossing island or resident | Animal Crossing’s dedicated transfer process | Ordinary user transfer does not move shared island data. |
Before you begin
- Have both consoles available if you are performing a direct local transfer.
- Connect both systems to the internet and update their system software.
- Keep the consoles near each other so they can communicate locally.
- Make sure the relevant user is linked to the same Nintendo Account on the destination system.
- Check which console is the source and which is the target before confirming any prompt.
- Connect the consoles to power or make sure they have enough battery. Do not turn either system off or interrupt the process.
- Check the destination console’s available internal storage before downloading software or downloadable content.
For a complete replacement-console transfer, be especially careful if the target console already has a user linked to the same Nintendo Account. Existing users and account relationships can prevent the transfer or create confusion about which profile is being moved. Review the on-screen warnings rather than selecting a source or target role based only on the console’s age or position.
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Method 1: Move your entire user profile
Use this method when you are replacing your main Nintendo Switch with another compatible Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 and want to move the profile and its associated data together.
On the old, or source, console
- Open System Settings.
- Select Users.
- Select Transfer Your User Data.
- Choose the option identifying this system as the source console.
- Follow the prompts until the system is ready to find the destination console.
On the new, or target, console
- Open System Settings > Users > Transfer Your User Data.
- Choose the option identifying this system as the target console.
- Sign in with the relevant Nintendo Account when prompted.
- Allow the consoles to discover each other, then follow the confirmation prompts on both systems.
This process moves the user profile, associated save data, and related account information described by Nintendo’s system-transfer workflow. It is not a backup or cloning operation: after completion, the transferred user and associated data are no longer available on the source console.
Use whole-user transfer only when that is what you want. If you intend to keep playing the same profile on both consoles, transfer individual saves where supported or use Save Data Cloud for eligible games instead. A direct whole-user transfer is not the right choice for maintaining two independent copies of a user’s local data.
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Method 2: Move individual save files
Use individual save-data transfer when the consoles will both remain in use or when you want to move only selected games.
- On the source console, open System Settings > Data Management > Transfer Your Save Data.
- Choose Send Save Data to Another Console.
- Select the user whose save you want to move.
- Select the game or software containing the save.
- Confirm the send operation.
- On the target console, open the same Transfer Your Save Data area and choose the option to receive save data.
- Follow the prompts to complete the transfer.
The corresponding user must be linked to the same Nintendo Account on both consoles. The save is deleted from the source console after it is sent, so this process does not produce a second playable copy. Confirm that you selected the correct user and game before accepting the final prompt.
Compatibility is software-dependent. Nintendo’s current transfer instructions cover Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, including compatible software across the two systems, but you should not assume that every Switch game or every save can move between every console combination. A game with shared system-level data or a special migration tool may require a different process.
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- One-touch Display Switching: Press the TV/Tabletop Mode button at the back of the dock, you can choose Tabletop Mode or TV Output Mode.
- Special Design: The guide notch have a spring buffer function, You don't have to worry about damaging the port over time when docking the console in. The switch fits into the dock tight and secure (NOT compatible with protective cases). The anti-skid pad at the bottom prevents it from sliding around or falling over by accident.
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Method 3: Download a save from Save Data Cloud
Nintendo Switch Online is not required for a direct nearby save-data transfer. It is relevant when you want to restore a cloud backup for a game that supports Save Data Cloud.
If the original console created a valid cloud backup, sign in to the relevant Nintendo Account on the replacement console and download the backup through the game or the system’s save-data cloud controls. The exact menu wording can vary by software and system version.
Cloud restoration is an alternative, not a universal solution. It requires the applicable Nintendo Switch Online access and a game that supports Save Data Cloud. Some titles do not support the feature, and a backup that was never uploaded cannot be restored later. Check the game’s cloud-save status before relying on this method.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons requires a separate transfer
Do not use ordinary user transfer as the only step for Animal Crossing: New Horizons. An island is shared at the system level rather than belonging solely to one user, so transferring an individual user does not transfer the island data.
Use Nintendo’s dedicated Animal Crossing: New Horizons transfer process instead. It supports moving an entire island or transferring an individual resident to another system. Decide which of those outcomes you need before starting: moving the whole island and moving one resident are different operations.
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What happens to games, purchases, and downloadable content?
User transfer is not the same as copying every installed game file. Digital purchases and downloadable content are associated with the Nintendo Account. After the account is transferred or you sign in to the replacement console, eligible digital software can generally be downloaded again, subject to the current console’s account, virtual-game-card, and system setup requirements.
Allow time for software to download on the destination console. The transfer should not be described as instantly moving all installed games. The save data, ownership of digital purchases, installed software, and downloadable content are separate categories:
- Save data: moved through user transfer, individual save transfer, or cloud restoration, depending on the game and situation.
- Digital purchases: associated with the Nintendo Account and available for redownload on a compatible console after sign-in.
- Installed game files: may need to be downloaded again and require destination storage.
- Physical game cards: can be inserted into the new console, but the card is not a backup of the save. Save data remains managed by the console and account-transfer systems.
- Downloadable content: is account- and software-dependent and may need to be redownloaded or configured on the destination.
microSD cards do not transfer game saves
A microSD card is not a method for copying Nintendo Switch game save data. Nintendo states that game save data cannot be copied to a microSD card.
For the original Nintendo Switch, compatible licensed microSDXC cards can provide additional storage for supported software and console data, with capacities listed by Nintendo up to 1TB. Those ordinary Switch microSDXC cards should not be recommended for Nintendo Switch 2: Nintendo says they are not compatible with Switch 2.
Nintendo Switch 2 uses the newer microSD Express standard. If you need expandable storage for Switch 2, verify that the card specifically supports microSD Express rather than assuming a standard card from the original Switch will work.
Screenshots and videos are separate from game saves. Depending on the consoles and transfer route, media may be handled through the relevant system-transfer or storage workflow. Preserve any screenshots and videos you want before formatting, erasing, or reusing a card. Never format a card simply because it is not a save-transfer solution until you have checked whether it contains media you still need.
Rank #4
- Switch docking station Compatible with Switch1 & Switch 2
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If the old console is unavailable
Nintendo’s direct local-transfer method requires the original and replacement consoles to communicate. If the old system is lost, broken, or already unavailable, you cannot complete that nearby transfer.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteSign in to the Nintendo Account on the replacement console to redownload eligible digital purchases. You may also restore cloud-backed saves for supported games if the account has the applicable Nintendo Switch Online access and a usable backup exists. Without the old console or a valid cloud backup, a local-only save cannot be recreated through the account sign-in alone.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting
The consoles do not detect each other
- Confirm both consoles are connected to the internet.
- Install available system updates.
- Move the consoles close together.
- Check that one console is set as the source and the other as the target.
- Restart the setup and select the transfer option on both systems rather than waiting for one console to begin automatically.
- Keep both consoles powered and do not interrupt the transfer.
The Nintendo Account cannot be linked on the destination
Check whether that Nintendo Account is already attached to an existing user on the target console. Whole-user transfer has account and user-count restrictions, and an account already associated with a target user may prevent the expected setup. Do not delete a target user until you have confirmed what data belongs to it and whether you need it.
The save is missing after transfer
First confirm that you are viewing the destination with the correct user. Then check whether the game uses shared system-level data, lacks Save Data Cloud support, or requires a dedicated transfer process such as Animal Crossing’s island migration. A successful user transfer does not guarantee that every type of game data is included.
I want to keep the old save as well
Do not use direct save-data transfer expecting a duplicate: Nintendo deletes the sent save from the source. For supported games, create or confirm a Save Data Cloud backup before moving and then restore it on the other console. Because cloud support varies by title, verify the specific game rather than assuming the feature is available.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteMy storage card does not work in Switch 2
Check the card standard. A standard microSD or microSDXC card made for the original Switch is not the same as a microSD Express card required for Switch 2 expandable storage. Also remember that changing cards will not move game saves.
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- 3-IN-1 DOCK SET: Includes a replacement TV dock, AC charger, and high-speed HDMI cable for a complete setup right out of the box.
- ORIGINAL IC MODULE: Built with an original IC chip to ensure stable, reliable performance and full compatibility with your Nintendo Switch or Switch OLED console.
- 1080P HD OUTPUT: Connects your Nintendo Switch or Switch OLED to your TV for crisp, high-definition 1080p video output via the included HDMI cable.
- COMPATIBILITY NOTE: Designed specifically for Nintendo Switch and Switch OLED models only. Not compatible with Nintendo Switch 2.
- SEAMLESS REPLACEMENT: Serves as a direct replacement for the official dock, letting you enjoy TV mode gaming without interruption or complicated setup.
I am selling or trading in the old console
- Complete the intended transfer first.
- Open the destination console and verify the user, important saves, purchases, and any required game-specific data.
- Preserve screenshots and videos before erasing or formatting storage.
- Only after verification, prepare or initialize the old console using Nintendo’s current instructions.
The source-console consequences differ by method. Do not assume that every transfer route leaves the old console with a usable copy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Nintendo Switch Online to transfer data between two Switch consoles?
No. Nintendo Switch Online is not required for a direct transfer between nearby Nintendo Switch consoles. It is needed for Save Data Cloud restoration for supported games.
Does Nintendo Switch save-data transfer keep a copy on the old console?
No. Individual save transfer sends the save to the target and deletes it from the source. Use a supported Save Data Cloud backup if you need a restore option, but cloud support varies by game.
Will transferring my Switch user move my Animal Crossing island?
No. Animal Crossing island data requires the dedicated Animal Crossing transfer process. Ordinary user transfer does not move the shared island.
Can I use a microSD card to transfer Switch saves?
No. Game saves cannot be copied to a microSD card. Also, Switch 2 requires microSD Express for expandable storage; ordinary Switch microSDXC cards are not compatible with Switch 2.
The Bottom Line
For a full replacement, use Transfer Your User Data. For selected games, use Transfer Your Save Data, remembering that it removes the save from the old console. Use Save Data Cloud only for supported games with an existing backup, and use Animal Crossing’s dedicated island-transfer process for island data. A microSD card cannot copy saves.
Quick Recap
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