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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The safest way to move a Nintendo Switch profile is Nintendo’s built-in transfer process. With both consoles available, update them, connect them to the internet, and use System Settings > Transfer Your User and Save Data. This moves the selected user, that user’s save data, and the associated Nintendo Account to the new console; in the standard Switch-to-Switch workflow, the moved profile and saves are then removed from the original console.
Digital games are handled separately from save files. Nintendo says, “Game save data and your digital games and downloadable content are tied to your Nintendo Account.” Sign in to the purchasing account on the new console to redownload its games and downloadable content. A Nintendo Switch Online membership is not required for a normal direct transfer, although its Save Data Cloud feature can help when the old console is unavailable and the particular game supports cloud backup.
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Choose the right transfer method
Your best method depends on whether the old console still works, whether you are moving one game or a whole profile, and whether the destination is another original Switch-family console or a Switch 2.
| Situation | Use this method | What happens to the source console |
|---|---|---|
| Both original Switch-family consoles are available | Transfer Your User and Save Data | The selected profile and its saves are removed from the source when the standard transfer finishes. |
| Only one game’s save must move | Transfer Your Save Data | The selected game’s save is moved according to the on-screen instructions rather than transferring the entire profile. |
| The old console is lost, broken, or already gone | Sign in to the purchasing Nintendo Account and redownload games; use Save Data Cloud for compatible titles if a backup exists. | No direct copy is possible. Games can be redownloaded, but a save is recoverable only from a compatible cloud backup or another supported Nintendo transfer. |
| Switch to Switch 2, both consoles together | Switch 2’s local communication transfer | Retention differs by save type: some cloud-compatible saves can remain on the source, while unlinked-user and non-cloud saves are deleted after transfer. |
| Switch to Switch 2, old console will be traded in or unavailable later | Switch 2’s server transfer | The source is initialized after its data is uploaded. The target must retrieve the transfer during its initial setup. |
Do not copy save files by moving a microSD card. Save data is managed through the account and system-transfer tools, not as ordinary files on the card.
#1 Best Overall
- Nintendo Switch 2 uses a new standard of expandable memory card called microSD Express (sold separately). This kind of memory card is needed for faster access speeds and to ensure games will run smoothly.
- Please note: Nintendo Switch 2 is only compatible with microSD Express cards. If the microSD cards you have used for Nintendo Switch do not support microSD Express standards, you cannot use them with Nintendo Switch 2.
Prepare both consoles before a direct transfer
- Install the latest available system update on the source and target consoles.
- Connect both systems to the internet and keep them near one another for a local transfer.
- Plug in or sufficiently charge both consoles so neither shuts down during the process.
- Have the Nintendo Account credentials available for every profile that will be moved. The account that bought a game is the account that authorizes its redownload.
- Decide whether you are moving a complete user profile or only one game’s save. A full profile transfer affects that user’s saves across games; a single-save transfer is more limited.
- Do not erase, sell, or initialize the original console until you have verified the target profile, saves, and game downloads.
Move a complete profile and its saves between Switch-family consoles
Use this route when the original console is available and you want to move a user account together with its save data. Nintendo’s direct workflow also carries saves for games that do not support Save Data Cloud, which is why it is preferable to relying on cloud backup alone.
- On the original console, open System Settings.
- Choose Users, then select Transfer Your User and Save Data. If your system presents the transfer command directly in System Settings, select that command.
- Choose the source console when prompted, then select the user profile to move. Repeat this process for each profile that should be transferred; profiles are handled individually.
- On the destination console, open the same transfer function and identify it as the target console.
- Follow the instructions shown on both screens. Keep the systems connected and do not power them off while the transfer is running.
- After completion, open the destination user’s profile and check the games that matter to you. The associated Nintendo Account, profile, and transferred save data are removed from the original console under the standard Switch workflow.
- Open the destination console’s software library or home screen and redownload digital games as necessary. The transfer of a save does not itself copy the installed game data.
The transfer is a move, not a duplicate. If another person still needs the original profile on the old console, do not use this procedure for that profile without first deciding how that person’s saves and account access will be handled.
Move only one game’s save
If the user should remain on both consoles but one game’s progress needs to move, use Nintendo’s Transfer Your Save Data option instead of the full user transfer.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →- Open System Settings on the source console.
- Choose the save-data transfer command and select the game and user whose save should move.
- Open the corresponding transfer command on the destination console when instructed.
- Confirm the source and target systems and follow the prompts until the transfer completes.
- Launch the game on the destination and verify the expected save before making further progress.
Because this is still a transfer, treat the destination as the new location for that save. Keep the source copy only if Nintendo’s on-screen instructions explicitly say it will remain; do not assume a direct save transfer creates a backup.
Rank #2
- NEXT GEN GAMING: Works with Nintendo Switch 2.
- READY FOR TOMORROW. Ready for future products with a PCIe-NVMe interface; performs at UHS-I speeds with microSD UHS-I and UHS-II devices.
- EXPONENTIALLY FASTER PERFORMANCE. Up to 4.4 times faster transfer speeds than our fastest microSD UHS-I cards [9]. Transfer a 2-hour HD movie in less than 3.5 seconds [1]; save up to 2.8 minutes transferring 60 minutes of 4K UHD video [4] shot at 30 fps when paired with the SanDisk PRO-READER SD Express Dual Card (sold separately) [9]
- DURABILITY YOU CAN COUNT ON: Cards are waterproof, temperature-proof, humidity-proof, drop-proof, shock-proof, magnetic-proof, x-ray proof, and wear-out proof [5].
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Redownload digital games on the new console
Digital ownership and save movement are separate tasks. A game bought by one Nintendo Account is licensed to that account; it is not permanently tied to the console’s internal storage or to a microSD card.
On the new console:
- Sign in to the Nintendo Account that purchased the game or downloadable content.
- Open the account’s software library or eShop redownload area.
- Select the game and choose the download command.
- Wait for the download and any updates to finish, then start the game with the user whose save was transferred.
If a title is missing, first check that the console is using the exact purchasing Nintendo Account. A different family member’s profile may be able to play the downloaded title on that console, but that does not change which account owns it.
When the old console is unavailable
If the old Switch cannot be turned on or is already gone, you cannot perform a direct system transfer from it. You can still recover digital purchases:
- Set up the new console and sign in to the Nintendo Account that bought the games.
- Open the account’s redownload list and download the titles again.
- If that account has an active Nintendo Switch Online membership, open the game’s Save Data Cloud area and download an available backup.
- Start the game and confirm that the recovered progress is present.
Save Data Cloud is game-dependent. A cloud backup cannot restore a title that does not support the service, and it cannot help if no backup was uploaded. For that reason, direct transfer is the safer choice whenever the old console is still available, especially for games without cloud support.
Rank #3
- Ultra-Fast Read Speeds — Experience read speeds up to 900 MB/s and write speeds up to 620 MB/s, delivering rapid file transfers and smooth performance for gaming, photography, and 4K video recording.
- Optimized for Gaming & Devices – Tested with Switch 2 and compatible with laptops, tablets, cameras, and Android devices that support microSD Express or UHS-I. Ideal for expanding storage without lag.
- 4K Video & High-Resolution Support – Capture and store 4K UHD videos and high-res photos seamlessly thanks to Class 10, U3, V30, and A2 performance ratings.
- Reliable & Durable Design – Built for long-term use with shockproof, temperature-resistant, waterproof, and X-ray-resistant protection, keeping your data safe wherever you go.
- Multiple Capacity Options – Available in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB options to suit your storage needs. Note that actual usable storage may be slightly less due to system formatting and a portion reserved for card management functions, which is a standard industry practice to ensure optimal performance and reliability.
Transfer from a Switch to Switch 2
Switch 2 has its own system-transfer guide with two distinct routes. Choose between local communication and server transfer before you initialize or trade in the old console.
Local communication: both consoles are together
Local communication is Nintendo’s recommended route when the two systems can be used at the same time. During the process, data is copied directly between the consoles.
- Cloud-compatible saves for Nintendo Accounts that are linked to the systems can remain on the original console while also being copied to Switch 2.
- Saves belonging to unlinked users and saves for games without cloud support are deleted from the source after the transfer.
- The target Switch 2 downloads digital software after setup, so an internet connection is required even though the save transfer itself uses local communication.
- Turn on both systems and complete the required updates and network connection.
- On Switch 2, open the system-transfer option during setup or from the relevant System Settings path, then select the local-communication method.
- Place the original Switch nearby and follow the pairing and confirmation prompts on both screens.
- Review the warnings about which source saves will be retained or deleted, then confirm.
- Allow the transfer to finish without shutting down either console.
- After Switch 2 reaches its home screen, sign in as prompted and redownload digital games. Check each important save before wiping the old console.
Because retention varies by account link and cloud-support status, read the confirmation screen rather than assuming every source save will remain.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsServer transfer: the old console will not stay with you
Server transfer is intended for a situation in which the old console will be traded in, returned, or unavailable after the upload. The original console is initialized after it uploads its transfer data, so use this method only after checking that you no longer need anything left on it.
Rank #4
- EPIC WORLDS, LOADED INSTANTLY. From the Mushroom Kingdom to Hyrule, your card delivers read speeds up to 880 MB/s[2] and write speeds up to 650 MB/s[2].
- OFFICIALLY READY FOR NINTENDO SWITCH 2. Officially licensed for Nintendo Switch 2, this microSD Express card offers dependable, high-performance storage.
- CAPTURE IN STUNNING CLARITY. Capture screenshots and record short video clips of your gameplay in Full HD.
- ROOM FOR YOUR ADVENTURES. With capacities up to 512GB[1], your card gives you the freedom to store your digital games in one place.
- On the original console, start the Switch 2 system-transfer process and choose the server-transfer option.
- Let the console upload the requested data. Nintendo then initializes the source console.
- During the initial setup of the target Switch 2, choose the option to retrieve the server transfer and connect it to the internet.
- Download the uploaded data and digital software as directed, then check your profiles and saves.
Nintendo says server-transfer data is stored for up to one year, with a download deadline displayed during the process. The target must retrieve this transfer during its initial setup; if setup has already been completed, Nintendo says the target must be initialized before using that server-transfer path. Do not postpone retrieval until after the displayed deadline.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Use digital games on more than one console
Nintendo’s Virtual Game Cards menu controls where a purchased digital title is loaded on a supported console. Load the virtual game card on the console you want to use, then download the software. Once the title is downloaded, all users on that console can play it, subject to the game’s own user and account requirements.
If only one console is available, or a title is not loaded as a virtual game card, Nintendo documents an Online License setting. With that setting, the purchasing account can play while the console is connected to the internet. This is an access check, not a replacement for transferring save data.
Moving a game between consoles does not merge progress. Save data remains associated with the relevant Nintendo Account and console. Use direct transfer for a one-time move, or a compatible cloud backup when you deliberately need a recoverable copy.
Best Value
- NEXT GEN GAMING: Works with Nintendo Switch 2.
- READY FOR TOMORROW. Ready for future products with a PCIe-NVMe interface; performs at UHS-I speeds with microSD UHS-I and UHS-II devices.
- EXPONENTIALLY FASTER PERFORMANCE. Up to 4.4 times faster transfer speeds than our fastest microSD UHS-I cards [9]. Transfer a 2-hour HD movie in less than 3.5 seconds [1]; save up to 2.8 minutes transferring 60 minutes of 4K UHD video [4] shot at 30 fps when paired with the SanDisk PRO-READER SD Express Dual Card (sold separately) [9]
- DURABILITY YOU CAN COUNT ON: Cards are waterproof, temperature-proof, humidity-proof, drop-proof, shock-proof, magnetic-proof, x-ray proof, and wear-out proof [5].
- HEAT MANAGEMENT REIMAGINED. SanDisk ThermAdapt helps keep devices from overheating with a specially designed enclosure and controller that uses dynamic adaptive thermal management.
Nintendo Switch Online and cloud saves
You do not need Nintendo Switch Online for Nintendo’s normal direct user-and-save transfer. The membership matters when you want to use Save Data Cloud instead.
- Only games that support Save Data Cloud can create or restore these backups.
- The membership must be active on the Nintendo Account using the service.
- A cloud backup is useful when the old console is unavailable, but it does not transfer a profile or digital ownership by itself.
- Games without cloud support require a direct system or save-data transfer while the original console is available.
Storage and microSD cards
Do not treat a microSD card as a save-transfer device. The official process moves account and save data through the console’s transfer tools, while digital games are redownloaded from the purchasing account.
Ordinary microSD cards are incompatible with Switch 2. If you need expanded Switch 2 storage, use a microSD Express card that meets Nintendo’s compatibility requirements for your exact console model. During some Switch 2 transfers, the system may ask for a card temporarily for screenshots and videos; that request is separate from moving profiles, saves, or game ownership.
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Troubleshooting common transfer problems
The game appears on the new console but the save is missing
Installing a game does not install its save. Confirm that you transferred the correct user profile, then check whether the game supports Save Data Cloud and whether a backup can be downloaded. If the game has no cloud support and the original console was already initialized, its save may not be recoverable.
A digital purchase cannot be redownloaded
Sign out of assumptions about who used the game and verify the purchasing Nintendo Account. The account that bought the title must be signed in on the new console. Family members’ profiles can use a downloaded title on that console, but they cannot authorize a purchase made by another account.
The transfer will not start
- Update both consoles and reconnect them to the internet.
- Confirm that the source and target are identified correctly in the transfer screens.
- Keep both consoles powered and close together for local communication.
- Remove any uncertainty about which profile is being moved before confirming.
You want to keep playing on the old console too
Stop before using the standard full-profile transfer: it removes the moved profile and saves from the source. For supported games, a cloud backup can provide another recovery route, and Virtual Game Cards or the Online License setting can govern game access, but neither option automatically duplicates a transferred save.
You finished Switch 2 setup before deciding on server transfer
Nintendo’s server route is tied to the target’s initial setup. If setup is complete, the documented path requires initializing the target Switch 2 before retrieving the server transfer. Do not initialize it until you have confirmed that the server-upload deadline is still valid and that you have no new data on the target that must be preserved.
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Quick Recap
Final verification checklist
- Every intended user profile appears on the new console.
- Important games open with the expected save progress.
- The purchasing Nintendo Account is signed in.
- Digital games and downloadable content have been redownloaded or are queued to download.
- Any needed Save Data Cloud backups have been restored for compatible games.
- Virtual Game Cards or Online License settings are configured for the console arrangement you plan to use.
- Switch 2 storage uses microSD Express rather than an ordinary microSD card.
- The original console is not initialized, traded in, or erased until all checks are complete—unless you deliberately chose server transfer and accepted its initialization step.
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