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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11“Restart Pokémon Sun & Moon” usually means one of two things: you want the game to behave like you just booted it up (quick reset), or you want a truly fresh playthrough with a blank save (full restart).
The good news: you can get a fast reset back to a clean start in about 5 seconds. The other good news: if you actually need a brand-new game, you can still do it—just follow the save deletion steps carefully.
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Pokémon Ultra Sun (Nintendo 3DS) | $104.88 | Buy on Amazon |
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Pokemon Moon - Nintendo 3DS Moon Edition | $38.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Pokémon Moon (Nintendo 3DS) | $37.54 | Buy on Amazon |
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Pokémon Alpha Sapphire - Nintendo 3DS | $68.77 | Buy on Amazon |
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This guide covers both, with exact Nintendo 3DS menu paths and the practical gotchas that cause most “why didn’t it restart?” problems.
What You Can and Can’t Do in 5 Seconds
On Pokémon Sun/Moon, the game relies on autosaves. Closing the app and reopening may not remove progress—you’ll often land at the last autosave point.
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If your goal is session-level restart (get out, come back immediately, try again), the 5-second method works. If your goal is story-level restart (new character, new trainer, new save), you must delete the save data.
Restart Option A (Real 5 Seconds): Close the Software and Reopen
This is the fastest way to “restart” your game session—return to a fresh boot without deleting saves.
When this works
Use it if you’re dealing with a momentary problem like a menu glitch, a bad choice you regret for a battle/encounter you can repeat, or you just want to stop and restart right now.
When it doesn’t
If you need a brand-new playthrough, this won’t do it. Pokémon Sun/Moon will load your existing save as soon as you reopen the game.
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While you’re in Pokémon Sun or Pokémon Moon, press the HOME Menu button (on the 3DS).
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Select Pokémon Sun/Moon from the top row.
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Choose Close Software (wording can appear as a menu item like “Close Software”).
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Wait about 1–2 seconds, then open the game again from the HOME Menu.
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That’s your “5 seconds” approach: Home → Close Software → reopen. Expect the game to continue from the last autosave, not from “New Game.”
Restart Option B (True Restart): Delete the Save Data
For a real restart, you need to delete the Pokémon Sun/Moon save file stored on your system. After deletion, you can start a brand-new game as if it were the first time you played.
Prerequisites before deleting
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You will lose your current save. There’s no undo for deleted save data.
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Choose the correct game. Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon have separate save data.
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If you have multiple user profiles on the console, confirm you’re deleting the save for the correct profile.
On Nintendo 3DS / 2DS (system menu method)
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From the HOME Menu, open System Settings.
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Go to Data Management.
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Select Nintendo 3DS (this is the internal storage category).
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Choose Software.
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Find Pokémon Sun or Pokémon Moon in the list.
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Select it, then choose Delete (or “Delete Save Data,” depending on your menu wording).
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Confirm the deletion when prompted.
After deletion, reopening the game should send you to the start menu (New Game / Continue prompt gone) so you can begin from scratch.
On New Nintendo 3DS (same logic, different button feel)
The menu structure is effectively the same: HOME Menu → System Settings → Data Management → Nintendo 3DS → Software → pick the title → Delete. Follow the exact wording shown on your console since Nintendo occasionally tweaks labels.
If you can’t find Pokémon Sun/Moon under Software, double-check that you’re in the Nintendo 3DS storage category (not SD card) and that you’re viewing the right user profile.
After you delete: start fresh and verify
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Return to the HOME Menu and launch Pokémon Sun/Moon.
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Verify you can choose New Game (and you no longer have the option to Continue your old save).
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Play through the opening steps to confirm everything is truly blank.
Which “Restart” Do You Need? (Pick Based on Your Goal)
Most restart failures happen because people pick the wrong method for the job.
Reset the current session
If you want to stop the app, fix a glitch, and try again quickly, use Option A (HOME → Close Software → reopen).
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You’ll still resume from the latest autosave point, so it’s not a full restart.
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Use Option B and delete the save data from System Settings → Data Management.
This is the only method that guarantees a true fresh start.
Fix a stuck game state or glitch
Try Option A first. If the glitch persists, do Option B. For stubborn save-related issues, deleting the save is the cleanest fix.
Change game language or cartridge region issues
Restarting the software usually won’t change language. If your goal is language, check the game’s language settings (if available) and the console language. For region mismatch problems, a save delete won’t help—cartridge compatibility does.
Troubleshooting: If Restarting Doesn’t Behave
Here are the most common problems players hit and what to try next, in order.
It keeps loading my old save
You likely used Option A. Closing the software does not delete saves, so the game loads your last autosave when you reopen.
Fix: Use Option B and delete the save data from System Settings.
The Delete option is missing or greyed out
Common causes: you’re not in the right storage view, the wrong user profile is active, or the save isn’t present where you’re looking.
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Fix checklist:
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Confirm HOME Menu user profile (if applicable).
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System Settings → Data Management → Nintendo 3DS → Software.
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Make sure you selected Pokémon Sun/Moon, not just a generic category.
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My cartridge isn’t recognized
If the cartridge isn’t detected, you can’t correctly manage its save from inside the game.
Fix: clean the cartridge contacts with a soft dry cloth, reinsert firmly, and confirm the game appears on the HOME Menu.
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If the game won’t load properly or crashes on boot, a save delete is often the fastest “hard reset.”
Fix: Option B. If you have important progress, consider backing up your data if you’re using services or workflows that support it on your setup (not all setups make backup easy).
Time stamps and autosave surprises
Pokémon Sun/Moon autosaves frequently. If you “restart” via close-software, you might not return to where you expect because the autosave already captured the outcome.
Fix: for a do-over, you need either a save delete (full restart) or to return earlier than the autosave trigger.
Alternative: If You’re Playing on Citra (Emulator)
If you’re emulating Pokémon Sun/Moon on a PC, “restart” means deleting or resetting the emulator save state, not using a 3DS System Settings menu.
Delete save files the emulator way
In Citra, saved games are stored as files in the emulator’s directories. The exact path varies by version and your setup, but the workflow is consistent: locate the Pokémon Sun/Moon title folder and delete the corresponding save data.
Fix checklist:
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Open Citra.
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Find the Pokémon Sun/Moon save location under the emulator’s user data directories.
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Delete the save file(s) for that title.
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Reboot the game in the emulator to confirm it shows New Game.
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Best practice: keep a backup folder
Before deletion, copy the save file(s) to a safe backup location. If you deleted the wrong file, you’ll have no automatic “undo.”
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This is especially useful if you’re testing the “5-second” method versus true restart and want to roll back instantly.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Expecting “Close Software” to erase progress. It won’t. It only stops the game; autosaves remain.
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Deleting the wrong title. Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon have separate saves.
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Deleting the wrong profile’s data. If multiple 3DS users exist, confirm you’re operating in the correct context.
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Forgetting that autosave may already recorded the moment you want to undo. Session restarts will often return you to that state.
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Skipping verification. After deletion, open the game and confirm you see the New Game flow.
FAQs
Can I restart Pokémon Sun/Moon without deleting my save?
Yes, for a quick session reset you can close the software and reopen it. But you won’t get a true new playthrough unless you delete the save data.
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On 3DS, deleting local save data affects your in-game progress on that system. Whether transferred Pokémon remain depends on where they were sent and how you manage storage after transferring. If you moved Pokémon to Pokémon Bank, the bank-side data is separate from the on-console save.
What’s the difference between “Close Software” and “Delete Save Data”?
Close Software stops the running game and later resumes from the last autosave. Delete Save Data removes the stored game progress so the game boots like new.
Is there any way to undo a save delete?
No. Once the save data is deleted from system storage, you can’t restore it through the standard menu.
Does restarting reset my Pokédex progress?
If you only close and reopen, your Pokédex progress remains. If you delete the save data, your Pokédex resets to the starting state.
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Bottom Line
If you want the fastest “restart,” use HOME → Close Software → reopen Pokémon Sun/Moon. It’s a practical 5-second reset for glitches and bad moments, but it won’t erase progress.
If you want a true fresh start, go to System Settings → Data Management → Nintendo 3DS → Software → Pokémon Sun/Moon → Delete. After that, the game will offer New Game like it’s brand-new on your console.
Quick Recap
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