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Why Won’t My Switch Find Pokémon GO? Pairing and Transfer Fixes

Pokémon GO does not install on Switch. It connects to supported games, with extra progress requirements for Let’s Go transfers.
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If you mean “Why won’t my Switch find Pokémon GO?”, the key distinction is that Pokémon GO is a phone app, not a game you install or open on Nintendo Switch. Instead, the app connects over Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to certain Switch games. Nintendo lists Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!, Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!, Pokémon Scarlet, and Pokémon Violet as connection targets. If you are trying to transfer Pokémon into a Let’s Go game, you must also reach Fuchsia City first.

What “find Pokémon GO” means on Switch

Your Switch cannot find Pokémon GO in its software library because Pokémon GO is not a Switch title. The connection is between the Pokémon GO app on a phone and a supported Switch game; it does not install or run the mobile app on the console. Nintendo describes the connection as using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). The Poké Ball Plus is not used to connect the phone app and Switch. Nintendo’s connection guidance explains which games and devices are involved.

If you are trying to connect a phone app to a game, check that you have one of Nintendo’s supported titles. For transfers into either Let’s Go game, the save must have reached Fuchsia City. Scarlet and Violet are also listed as connection targets, with their connection feature available after reaching the first Pokémon Center in Los Platos. Nintendo’s support page lists these requirements.

Pair Pokémon GO with Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Let’s Go, Eevee!

In either Let’s Go game, pairing starts on both the phone and Switch. The game’s connection feature is not available until you reach Fuchsia City. Nintendo’s connection instructions and Pokémon Support transfer guide describe the process.

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Nintendo Pokémon GO Plus +
  • The packaging is Japanese, but item works the same as the US version.
  • Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!
  • Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
  • Press and hold the central button on the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory and place it by your pillow to track your rest rhythm on the Pokémon Sleep app
  • There’s a Pikachu within your Pokémon GO Plus + that can sing you lullabies and act as your morning alarm; Pikachu grows friendlier the more you sleep, unlocking even more sounds!
  1. On your phone: Open Pokémon GO, tap the Poké Ball, then go to Settings > Nintendo Switch > Connect to Nintendo Switch.
  2. On your Switch: Open Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!. Press X to open the main menu, press Y for Options, and choose Open Pokémon GO Settings.
  3. Agree to pair, then check the Trainer ID displayed on the console to make sure it belongs to the Pokémon GO account you intend to use.

Transfer eligible Pokémon after pairing

Pairing is only the connection step. To send Pokémon, choose the Pokémon storage icon in Pokémon GO, tap the Nintendo Switch icon, select eligible Pokémon, and confirm. In Let’s Go, transferred Pokémon can be collected at the GO Park complex.

What to check if the devices still will not connect

Work through these checks before trying the pairing again:

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Sale
Pokémon GO Plus +
  • Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!
  • Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
  • Press and hold the central button on the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory and place it by your pillow to track your rest rhythm on the Pokémon Sleep app
  • There’s a Pikachu within your Pokémon GO Plus + that can sing you lullabies and act as your morning alarm; Pikachu grows friendlier the more you sleep, unlocking even more sounds!
  • Spin PokéStops or throw Poké Balls automatically in Pokémon GO for hands-free gameplay (and Great Balls and Ultra Balls can be thrown too!)
  • Confirm the game: You need a supported Switch game, not Pokémon GO installed on the console. Nintendo’s supported-game guidance names the two Let’s Go titles and Scarlet/Violet.
  • Check story progress: For Let’s Go, reach Fuchsia City. For Scarlet or Violet, reach the first Pokémon Center in Los Platos.
  • Check the connection basics: Enable Bluetooth on the phone, keep the phone and console close, and make sure the Switch has the latest system update. BLE is the connection method Nintendo identifies.
  • Keep the pairing process active: Avoid interrupting or suspending the app or game while pairing. Pokémon Support warns that interrupting an active transfer can leave it unable to resume.
  • Do not use Poké Ball Plus as a bridge: Nintendo says it is not used for the phone-to-Switch connection.

If an active transfer has stalled, do not casually uninstall Pokémon GO or change Bluetooth settings mid-transfer. Pokémon Support warns that reinstalling during this problem may leave the transfer stuck and the Pokémon may be lost. Its transfer guidance includes this warning.

Nintendo and Pokémon Support do not identify one universal cause for a failed connection. A specific diagnosis depends on the Switch game and progress, phone model and operating system, Pokémon GO version, whether the devices paired previously, and the exact error shown.

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Rank #3
Sale
Pokemon Go Plus +
  • Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!
  • Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
  • Press and hold the central button on the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory and place it by your pillow to track your rest rhythm on the Pokémon Sleep app
  • There’s a Pikachu within your Pokémon GO Plus + that can sing you lullabies and act as your morning alarm; Pikachu grows friendlier the more you sleep, unlocking even more sounds!
  • Spin PokéStops or throw Poké Balls automatically in Pokémon GO for hands-free gameplay (and Great Balls and Ultra Balls can be thrown too!)
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Do not use Pokémon HOME as a route into Let’s Go

Pokémon HOME is a separate storage and transfer destination, not an intermediate step for this workflow. A Pokémon moved from Pokémon GO to HOME cannot then be moved into Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!. If your goal is to put an eligible GO Pokémon into Let’s Go, connect the phone app directly to the game and use the GO Park process. See Pokémon Support’s HOME compatibility guidance.

Quick Recap

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The packaging is Japanese, but item works the same as the US version.; Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!
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Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!; Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
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Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!; Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
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Pokemon Go Plus + (Renewed)
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Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!; Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
Best Value
Pokemon Go Plus + (Renewed)
  • Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!
  • Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
  • Press and hold the central button on the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory and place it by your pillow to track your rest rhythm on the Pokémon Sleep app
  • There’s a Pikachu within your Pokémon GO Plus + that can sing you lullabies and act as your morning alarm; Pikachu grows friendlier the more you sleep, unlocking even more sounds!
  • Spin PokéStops or throw Poké Balls automatically in Pokémon GO for hands-free gameplay (and Great Balls and Ultra Balls can be thrown too!)
Rank #4
Silicone Case for Poke Go Plus + (2023), Go Plus Plus Cover Case with Strap, Soft Protective Case Shockproof Scratch-Resistant (Black)
  • Designed for GO Plus +: The case is specially designed for GO Plus + and its size fits the GO Plus + so well that the gaming switch will not move around and tumble in the case.
  • Premium Silicone Material for Comfort & Safety: Crafted from high-quality silicone, this case delivers a soft, pleasant touch while shielding your Poke GO Plus+ from scratches, dirt, and daily wear.
  • Portable Design with Wrist Strap: The built-in hand strap allows you to wear the case on your wrist, ensuring easy portability and hands-free convenience during outdoor adventures.
  • Designed for GO Plus +: The case is specially designed for GO Plus + and its size fits the GO Plus + so well that the gaming switch will not move around and tumble in the case.
  • Package: Silicone Case x1; Hand strap x1. If you need any support please feel free to contact us.

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.

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