The safest first choice is Nintendo’s nearby-console save-data transfer. Update the original Switch, connect both consoles to the internet, keep them close together, and link the same Nintendo Account to the relevant user on each system. On the old Switch, open System Settings > Data Management > Transfer Your Save Data > Send Save Data to Another Console, select the user and save file, then receive it on Switch 2. Nintendo says Nintendo Switch Online is not required. The transfer moves the save and deletes it from the old console, so it is not a duplicate or backup.
Choose the transfer method before touching the old console
Your best method depends on whether the old Switch is available, whether Switch 2 is still in its first-time setup, and whether you need to preserve the original save. The Ocarina of Time save also has an important qualification: Nintendo’s published cloud guidance is game-specific and does not explicitly identify the Nintendo 64 Nintendo Switch Online app’s Ocarina of Time save. Treat cloud restoration as conditional, not guaranteed.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Nintendo Switch 2 System | $499.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Nintendo Switch 2 System with Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 Bundle | $568.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle with Bonus HDMI Cable & Screen Cleaning Cloth | $617.98 | Buy on Amazon |
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
| Method | When it fits | Nintendo Switch Online required? | Does it keep the old save? | Ocarina of Time cloud compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nearby-console save-data transfer | Both consoles are available and can be placed near each other | No | No. The source file is deleted after sending | Use only if the transfer screen lists the compatible software and save |
| System Transfer during Switch 2 setup | Switch 2 has not completed initial setup | Not stated as required by Nintendo’s setup requirements | Not a backup; follow the transfer prompts and Nintendo’s on-screen warnings | Moves certain save data as part of the broader transfer; eligibility is determined during setup |
| Save Data Cloud | The old console is unavailable, or you deliberately use a cloud backup | Yes, for Nintendo’s Save Data Cloud service | The original local save can remain, if it still exists | Check the current compatibility indicator for the Nintendo 64 app before relying on it |
For two working consoles, nearby transfer is the clearest route because Nintendo specifically documents it for moving save data between consoles and states that membership is unnecessary. If Switch 2 is still showing its initial setup screens, the full System Transfer can be more convenient because it handles eligible games, saves and settings together.
Recommended Free Tools
What you need for nearby transfer
- The original Switch with the Ocarina of Time software and its save.
- Switch 2 powered on and available to receive the data.
- Both consoles connected to the internet.
- The consoles positioned near each other during the operation.
- The same Nintendo Account linked to the source user on the old Switch and the corresponding user on Switch 2.
- Current system software on the old Switch. Nintendo’s instructions require the sending system to be updated.
Nearby transfer is for compatible software. The Nintendo 64 Nintendo Switch Online application’s save must appear as an eligible item in the transfer flow; do not assume that every application or every save type is transferable simply because another game is.
#1 Best Overall
- The next evolution of Nintendo Switch
- One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
- Larger, vivid, 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR and up to 120 fps
- Dock that supports 4K when connected to a compatible TV*
- GameChat** lets you voice chat, share your game screen, and connect via video chat as you play
Nearby-console transfer: exact procedure
1. Prepare both consoles
- Turn on the old Switch and install any available system update. The transfer guide requires the sending console to use current software.
- Connect both systems to the internet.
- Place the consoles close to one another and keep them powered during the process.
- On Switch 2, confirm that the intended user is linked to the same Nintendo Account used by the user who owns the save on the old Switch. A matching account is a requirement, not an optional convenience.
2. Start the send operation on the old Switch
- Open System Settings.
- Choose Data Management.
- Select Transfer Your Save Data.
- Choose Send Save Data to Another Console.
- Select the user profile that contains your Ocarina of Time save.
- Select the Ocarina of Time application or the eligible save file shown by the console.
If the application or save is not shown, stop rather than selecting an unrelated file. That indicates that the item is not currently eligible in this transfer flow, that the wrong user was selected, or that the account and software conditions have not been met.
3. Receive the file on Switch 2
Follow the receiving prompt on Switch 2 and select the matching user when asked. Keep both consoles connected and nearby until the consoles report that the transfer is complete. Do not interrupt power or close the settings screens while the file is moving.
4. Understand the consequence before confirming
Nintendo’s warning is explicit: “This does not create a copy of your save data. Once sent, the save data file will be deleted from the source system.” Confirm only when you are comfortable losing the local source copy. After completion, open the Nintendo 64 application on Switch 2, launch Ocarina of Time, and verify that the expected in-game save is present before treating the move as finished.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →If Switch 2 is still in initial setup
Nintendo’s System Transfer is intended for a new Switch 2 that has not completed its initial setup. It can move digital games, certain save data and settings from a Switch to Switch 2 in one broader process. Nintendo requires an active internet connection and at least one user profile linked to a Nintendo Account.
Rank #2
- The next evolution of the Nintendo Switch system
- One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
- Larger, vivid, 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR and up to 120 fps
- Supports up to 4K resolution** when using a compatible game and TV connected via the included Nintendo Switch 2 dock
- Nintendo Switch 2 plays compatible physical and digital Nintendo Switch games.***
Use System Transfer when these conditions are true
- You are still working through Switch 2’s first-time setup screens.
- You want eligible settings and digital content handled together instead of moving saves one at a time.
- Both consoles can connect to the internet and the source profile is linked to a Nintendo Account.
What to expect
Start the transfer from the setup flow on Switch 2 and follow the on-screen instructions for the source Switch. The setup process determines which games and save data qualify. Because Nintendo describes this as moving “certain” save data, it is not a blanket promise that every application’s data will be included. Watch the confirmation screens for the Nintendo 64 application or its save before proceeding.
If you have already finished Switch 2’s initial setup, use the nearby-console procedure instead. The full System Transfer is specifically associated with the initial setup state.
Can Save Data Cloud restore Ocarina of Time?
Nintendo Switch Online includes Save Data Cloud for the vast majority of Switch and Switch 2 games, and members can download compatible backups on another console where the game is playable. Compatibility is determined per game or application. Nintendo’s available guidance does not explicitly name the Nintendo 64 Nintendo Switch Online app’s Ocarina of Time save, so a membership alone does not prove that this particular save can be restored.
Check before you depend on the cloud route
- On the console or service screen where Nintendo displays Save Data Cloud support, inspect the current compatibility indicator for the Nintendo 64 application and its Ocarina of Time save.
- Proceed only if the indicator confirms that the relevant save supports cloud backup and download.
- On Switch 2, make sure the same Nintendo Account and user are being used and that the game or application is playable there.
- Download the compatible backup through Nintendo’s save-data controls, then launch Ocarina of Time and verify the in-game save.
If no compatibility indicator is shown, or it excludes the application, do not treat cloud restore as a guaranteed fallback. Use nearby transfer while the original console is available, or retain the old console until you have confirmed another supported path.
Rank #3
- 【Ultimate Nintendo Switch 2 Bundle – Ready to Play】Includes the complete Nintendo Switch 2 console and a full-game download of Mario Kart World, so you can start racing right out of the box. Perfect for gamers of all ages and playstyles.
- 【Next-Gen Hybrid Gaming with Stunning Visuals】Experience a vivid 7.9‑inch 1080p LCD touchscreen with HDR support, and enjoy 4K TV output at up to 60 fps when docked — for immersive gameplay at home or on the go.
- 【Versatile 3 Play Modes】Seamlessly switch between Handheld, Tabletop, and TV modes — all featuring intuitive controls and smooth performance, wherever you choose to play.
- 【Enhanced Social Gaming with GameChat & Multiplayer】Connect with friends locally, enjoy online multiplayer with up to 24 players, and use voice chat via GameChat (internet connection and Nintendo Switch Online membership required after trial period).
- 【Powerful Storage & Joy‑Con 2 Controllers】Includes 256 GB internal storage (expandable with microSD), magnetic Joy‑Con 2 controllers, docking station, HDMI cable, AC adapter, grip, and straps — everything you need for the ultimate gaming setup.
Common problems and the correct response
The Ocarina of Time save does not appear
- Check that you selected the user profile that actually created the save.
- Confirm that the same Nintendo Account is linked to the source and destination users.
- Update the old Switch, reconnect both consoles to the internet and restart the transfer flow.
- Verify that the Nintendo 64 application is installed or otherwise playable on Switch 2 when the receiving screen requires it.
- If the application still does not appear, treat it as unsupported by that transfer flow rather than choosing a different save.
The consoles cannot find each other
Keep both systems near one another, confirm internet access on each, and leave the transfer screens open. A nearby transfer is not a cable copy; it depends on both consoles being online and available at the same time.
You want to keep playing on the old Switch
Do not confirm nearby transfer if preserving the old local save matters. Nintendo says the source file is deleted after it is sent. Make a decision about the one-way move before selecting the final confirmation.
The old Switch is lost, broken or unavailable
Nearby transfer cannot be started without the sending console. The remaining practical route is a compatible Save Data Cloud backup, but Ocarina of Time’s Nintendo 64 app save must first be confirmed as cloud-compatible. If no supported backup exists, Nintendo’s documented methods do not provide a way to reconstruct that local save on Switch 2.
Switch 2 setup is already complete
Use System Settings > Data Management > Transfer Your Save Data > Send Save Data to Another Console on the old Switch and receive the file on Switch 2. The initial-setup System Transfer is no longer the relevant route once setup has been completed.
How to verify the move without risking confusion
- Wait for both consoles to display a completion message.
- On Switch 2, open the Nintendo 64 Nintendo Switch Online application with the receiving user.
- Start Ocarina of Time and check that the expected save slot and progress are present.
- Only after verification should you reset, sell or otherwise relinquish the old Switch.
Verification is especially important because nearby transfer is a move, not a duplicate. If the game opens without the expected progress, stop and investigate account, user and compatibility conditions before making any changes to the source hardware.
Quick Recap
Decision checklist
- Both consoles present, Switch 2 already set up: use nearby-console save-data transfer.
- Switch 2 still in first-time setup: consider System Transfer and confirm that the setup flow includes the relevant application or save.
- Old console unavailable: check Save Data Cloud compatibility for the Nintendo 64 application; do not assume Ocarina of Time is covered.
- You need the old save to remain: do not use nearby transfer, because Nintendo deletes the source file after sending.
- You do not have Nintendo Switch Online: that does not block nearby transfer.
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.
