If you still have your original Nintendo Switch, choose local communication System Transfer during Switch 2’s initial setup. Nintendo recommends this route when both consoles are available. Keep them nearby, connect Switch 2 to the internet, and follow the prompts on both systems. Before confirming, note that a full system transfer deletes the source console’s save data, and it can affect every user on a shared console.
Before you start: choose the right transfer method
Use a full System Transfer to move console data from your original Switch to Switch 2. If the original console is available, Nintendo recommends transferring directly between the two consoles. If it will not be available, Nintendo offers a server route, but that has different consequences and a deadline.
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| Method | When it fits | What happens to the original Switch | Timing and requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local communication System Transfer | You have both consoles available. | Nintendo says save data is deleted from the source after transfer. | Keep both consoles nearby. Switch 2 must be online and updated when prompted. Follow the prompts during setup. |
| Server System Transfer | You will not have the original console available for a direct transfer. | The source Switch is initialized—reset to factory settings—after its data is uploaded. | Retrieve the upload during Switch 2 initial setup, using the Nintendo Account that initiated the upload. Nintendo retains the upload for up to one year; check the displayed Download Deadline. |
| Nearby save-data transfer | You want to move a selected compatible game save, not a full console transfer. | Only the selected save is moved; an existing target save may need to be overwritten. | Both consoles must be nearby and online, and the relevant users must have the same Nintendo Account linked. Compatibility and game-specific rules apply. |
These are separate processes. A nearby save transfer is not a way to move all system data, and Nintendo Switch Online cloud saves are a possible recovery option only for supported games and accounts.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteHow to transfer data locally during Switch 2 setup
- Turn on Switch 2 and follow its initial setup prompts until you reach the System Transfer screen.
- Connect Switch 2 to the internet. Install a system update if setup prompts you to do so.
- Select Start System Transfer.
- Follow the on-screen instructions on both consoles. When asked, sign in with the Nintendo Account linked to the user on the original Switch whose account you are using for the transfer. Keep the consoles close together.
- Review the users and transfer details shown on screen before confirming. If the original Switch is shared, tell its other users first: the full system transfer can include all users, and source save data is deleted after transfer.
The exact prompt sequence may vary with the software version, so use the instructions displayed on the consoles. Nintendo’s System Transfer guidance and Switch 2 setup steps explain the current process.
#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
What transfers, and what you must handle afterward
Nintendo says a system transfer may include users and account associations, settings, friends and play activity, save data, system-memory screenshots and videos, registered network devices, parental controls, Mii data, some console registration status, and HOME Menu organization. Digital software is downloaded after transfer and initial setup, so you need an internet connection to download it.
Items that may need separate attention
- Bluetooth audio device settings and custom controller button mappings do not transfer.
- Set the time, time zone, region, and language on Switch 2 as needed.
- Virtual Game Card console registrations, digital software downloads, and relinking the Parental Controls app may require separate steps.
- Screenshots or videos stored on the original Switch’s microSD card may require temporarily inserting that card into Switch 2 to move the media. Original Switch microSD cards are not compatible with Switch 2 for game data. Switch 2 game storage uses the microSD Express format; a card is optional and is not required for setup or transfer.
Check game-specific transfer rules
Some games have special save-transfer procedures. Nintendo specifically says shared-save games such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons cannot be transferred through the System Transfer process. Check the game’s own instructions rather than assuming a full console transfer will move every save.
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.***
If you cannot use both consoles: server transfer
Nintendo’s server method uploads data from the original Switch and retrieves it on Switch 2. Use it only if you will not have the original console for local transfer and can complete Switch 2 setup before the displayed Download Deadline.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →- On the original Switch, start the server System Transfer process and upload the data as Nintendo instructs. The original console is initialized after upload, so do not treat this as a non-destructive backup.
- Keep the Nintendo Account used to initiate the upload available. Nintendo requires that same account to retrieve the data.
- During Switch 2’s initial setup, choose the server-transfer retrieval option and download the upload before the Download Deadline shown during setup or in Nintendo Account settings.
Nintendo says uploaded data is retained for up to one year. That is a maximum retention period, not a promise that every upload will remain available for a full year; follow the deadline Nintendo displays for your transfer. If you have already completed Switch 2 setup, server retrieval requires initializing Switch 2 and beginning initial setup again.
Rank #3
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- 【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.
Moving only selected save files instead
For a compatible game, Nintendo’s nearby save-data transfer lets you move an individual save between nearby Switch-family consoles and Switch 2 without a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Both consoles need an internet connection, and the relevant users must have the same Nintendo Account linked. Nintendo warns that a save already on the target console may need to be overwritten. Check the game’s compatibility and transfer rules first; see Nintendo’s nearby save-data transfer instructions.
Nintendo Switch Online cloud saves may provide another route for supported games. Nintendo’s Switch 2-to-Switch 2 digital games and accounts guidance says cloud-backed saves can be available on a second console if the membership remains active. Cloud recovery is not available for every game or account, so confirm support for the specific title.
After transfer: verify the essentials
- Confirm the expected users and account associations appear on Switch 2.
- Download the digital software you want to play and check that the relevant saves are present.
- Complete any separate Virtual Game Card, Parental Controls app, or other post-transfer steps that apply to your setup.
- Set missing preferences such as time zone, language, Bluetooth audio, or controller mappings.
- If a game’s save is missing, check that game’s own transfer procedure and whether it supports cloud saves before attempting another move.
Nintendo’s transfer overview also describes moving content between Switch systems.
Quick Recap
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