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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss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 →The safest method depends on whether you still have the original console. With both consoles available, use System Settings > Users > Transfer Your User and Save Data to move one user’s profile, associated saves and Nintendo eShop purchases. If you only need particular game saves, use System Settings > Data Management > Transfer Your Save Data. If the old Switch is gone, sign in on the replacement with the Nintendo Account that owns your games and redownload digital software; saves can be restored only from Save Data Cloud backups for supported games.
Choose the right transfer method first
Nintendo provides separate tools for a complete user migration, a selected-save move and a cloud restoration. Choosing the wrong one can leave a profile behind, overwrite a target save or make the old console unavailable before you have recovered what you need.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
| Situation | Use this method | Nintendo Switch Online required? | What happens to the source | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Both Switch consoles are available and you want to move one person’s account, saves and purchases | System Settings > Users > Transfer Your User and Save Data | No membership is specified for the local transfer | The transferred user profile and its associated local saves are removed after completion; the source no longer has that user’s local access to the transferred purchases | Moves one user at a time and does not merge data |
| Both consoles are available but you need only one or several game saves | System Settings > Data Management > Transfer Your Save Data | No; Nintendo explicitly says a membership is not required for this feature | The selected save is sent to the nearby console | A save already on the target can be overwritten |
| The old Switch is lost, broken or already disposed of | Sign in on the replacement and redownload purchased digital games; restore saves from Save Data Cloud when available | Yes for Save Data Cloud, and the game must support cloud backup | There is no source console to change | Without a compatible cloud backup, the local save cannot be recovered through this process |
| You are moving from a Switch to a Switch 2 | Follow Nintendo’s documented local-transfer or server-transfer procedure for that migration | Depends on the method and service used | A server upload initializes the old console | Confirm the method before starting; server transfer is not reversible in the same way as a nearby-console move |
Prepare both consoles for a complete user transfer
Nintendo’s standard transfer moves a complete user rather than individual pieces of a profile. It includes the user profile, that profile’s associated save data and Nintendo eShop purchases. Nintendo describes the feature as a way to move “your user profile, along with all its associated save data and Nintendo eShop purchases, from one Nintendo Switch system to another.”
Check the software version
The standard user-transfer process requires system menu version 4.0.0 or higher. Update both consoles before opening the transfer tool. Keeping both systems current also reduces the chance that a system-menu change interrupts the process.
#1 Best Overall
- Compatible with Nintendo-Switch (NOT Nintendo-Switch 2)
- Incredible speeds in a microSD card officially licensed for the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo OLED, and Nintendo Switch Lite systems
- Spend less time waiting and more time playing with read speeds up to 100MB/s(1) and write speeds up to 90MB/s(1).
- Instantly add up to 256GB (1GB=1,000,000,000 bytes. Actual user storage less.)
- Store your downloaded games, screenshots and video captures in 1 place so you can travel light.
Put the consoles in the right conditions
- Have the source Switch, which currently contains the profile, and the target Switch, which will receive it, together.
- Connect both systems to the internet and keep them near each other so they can use local communication during the transfer.
- Make sure the target has enough practical storage for the games and saves you intend to use after the profile move. The user transfer does not turn a game card or microSD card into a copy of the user profile.
- Use the Nintendo Account belonging to the person whose profile is being moved. A transfer is organized around one user, not around every account on the console.
Decide whether a full move is appropriate
A full user transfer is the right choice when the person is moving to the new console permanently. It is not a way to combine progress from two users or two consoles. Nintendo does not merge save data between users, so decide which existing profile and save set is authoritative before confirming the transfer.
Transfer an entire user, saves and eShop purchases
Use this procedure when both consoles are present and you want the profile owner’s complete Nintendo user identity moved to the new system.
- On the original Switch, open System Settings.
- Select Users.
- Choose Transfer Your User and Save Data.
- Follow the prompts to identify the source console and begin the transfer. When asked, designate the other nearby Switch as the receiving system.
- On the target console, open the matching transfer prompts and follow the on-screen instructions. Keep both systems nearby and connected while they communicate.
- Review the final confirmation screens on both consoles. Confirm that you selected the intended user and target before accepting.
- Wait until Nintendo reports that the transfer is complete before closing the settings screens or powering down either system.
What the complete transfer carries
- The selected Nintendo Switch user profile.
- Save data associated with that user.
- Nintendo eShop purchases associated with the user’s Nintendo Account, so the account can be used on the new console to obtain the purchased software again when necessary.
What is deleted from the old console
Completion removes the transferred profile and its associated saves from the source console. The old system therefore should not be treated as a backup after you accept the completion screen. The transfer is a move, not a copy. If another person still uses the original Switch, check that their separate profiles are not the ones selected for transfer.
Moving several people
Because Nintendo transfers one user at a time, repeat the process for each person who is moving. Before every repetition, identify the correct source profile and verify the target console. Separate users keep separate save ownership; transferring one person does not merge or migrate another person’s saves automatically.
Rank #2
- EXPAND YOUR STORAGE. Insert your card to add massive storage up to 1.5TB[1] to your Android smartphones and tablets, digital cameras, and laptops.
- SPACE FOR MORE. With expansive capacities up to 1.5TB[1], capture and store hours of Full HD video[4], movies, music, games, photos, and podcasts.
- MOVE FILES FAST. Use your card with the SANDISK QuickFlow microSD UHS-I Card USB-A Reader[6] to achieve up to 195MB/s[2] read speeds [128GB-1.5TB models] and offload your content fast.
- LOAD APPS IN A SNAP. Rated A1[3], the SANDISK Ultra microSD card is optimized for faster app launch and overall app performance.
- EASY CONTENT MANAGEMENT. Easily back up, organize, and transfer your photos and videos with the SANDISK Memory Zone desktop or Android mobile app[5].
Move only selected game saves
Use the individual-save tool when the new Switch already has the user you need, or when you want to send only certain games rather than relocate the entire profile.
- On the Switch containing the save, open System Settings.
- Select Data Management.
- Choose Transfer Your Save Data.
- Select the nearby receiving console when prompted.
- Choose the game save or saves to send, then follow the instructions on both systems.
- Confirm the destination and wait for the transfer to finish before leaving the consoles’ communication range.
The two consoles must have the same Nintendo Account linked to a user on each system. Nintendo says a Nintendo Switch Online membership is not required for this nearby-console save transfer. This method is useful for a one-game move, but it is still a transfer: if the target already contains that game’s save, the incoming data can overwrite it. Check the target first if its existing progress matters.
When a selected-save transfer is better than a full user transfer
- You are keeping the original Switch active for another user.
- You need to move one title while leaving the rest of the profile arrangement unchanged.
- The target already has the correct user profile and account link.
- You want to avoid moving every save associated with a user.
Do not use this tool as a way to combine two progress histories. It sends the selected save to the target; it does not reconcile conflicting checkpoints.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Recover games and saves when the old Switch is unavailable
If the original console cannot be used, there is no local-console transfer to run. Set up the replacement Switch with the Nintendo Account that owns the purchases.
Rank #3
- 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.
Redownload purchased digital games
- On the replacement Switch, create or select a user and sign in with the Nintendo Account that purchased the digital software.
- Open the account’s eShop software list and choose the games you previously purchased.
- Start the redownload for each title you want on the replacement console.
- After installation, launch the game under the account and user that should use its save.
The account proves ownership of purchased digital software; the software itself must be downloaded again to the new system. A game card can provide the game software when inserted, but it does not carry the user profile or save data from the missing console.
Restore a save from Save Data Cloud
Local saves can be recovered only if they were backed up with Save Data Cloud before the old system became unavailable. This service requires an active Nintendo Switch Online membership, and the particular game must support cloud backup. If either condition was not met, signing in and redownloading the game will not recreate the missing local progress.
- Sign in on the replacement Switch with the same Nintendo Account used for the cloud backup.
- Ensure the Nintendo Switch Online membership associated with that account is active.
- Install the supported game.
- Use the system’s save-data cloud controls to download the available backup for that title.
- Open the game and verify that the restored progress is the expected profile and date before continuing to play.
Cloud restoration is a backup recovery path, not a general-purpose copy of every Switch save. Compatibility is determined per game, so check support for each title you need before assuming its progress is recoverable.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesUnderstand the Switch-to-Switch 2 exception
Nintendo documents a separate migration path for moving from a Nintendo Switch to a Nintendo Switch 2. It provides local and server transfer methods, and the choice has a critical consequence for the old console.
Rank #4
- [Gaming Series] Especially designed for Gaming Consoles. A1 spec enables high speed data transfer for game professionals
- [Ultra HD] Read/Write up to 100/60 MB/s. UltraHD video displaying/recording
- [Compatibility] Storage for Laptop, Tablet, PC, Smartphones, Camera, e-Reader. Files, Videos, Music [Notice] Compatible with Nintendo Switch 1; not compatible for gaming with Nintendo Switch 2
- [Environment] Waterproof, shockproof, temperature-proof and X-Ray proof
- [Support] Gigastone 5-year limited warranty
Local transfer
A local method keeps the two systems together while they communicate. Use it when both systems are available and you want to supervise the move directly. Read the Switch 2 transfer screens carefully because the menus and confirmation language are specific to that migration rather than the older standard user-transfer flow.
Server transfer
With the server method, the old console uploads the migration data and is initialized as part of the process. Initialization means the previous setup on that Switch is cleared. Choose this method only after confirming that you no longer need the old system in its current state and that every required user and save is included in the upload. If you expected to keep the old console usable, stop and select the local method instead.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Exceptions that need a separate plan
Animal Crossing: New Horizons island data
Animal Crossing: New Horizons island data uses a separate island-transfer process. The normal user transfer does not move an island. Plan the island migration independently and do not assume that transferring the player’s user profile has transferred the island itself.
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 →Multiple users and conflicting saves
Save data belongs to the user who created it, and Nintendo does not merge saves between users. If two people have progress in the same game, choose the correct user and preserve the other profile rather than attempting to combine the files. A complete user transfer and an individual-save transfer solve different problems; neither creates a merged timeline.
Best Value
- Compatible with Nintendo Switch (NOT Nintendo Switch 2). Always check your device's max supported capacity.
- Reliable Real-World Capacity - Labeled Capacities/Usable Capacities: 64GB/≥58GB; 128GB/≥116GB; 256GB/≥232GB; 512GB/≥465GB; 1TB/≥908GB (Due to OS formatting and binary/decimal calculation differences)
- 4K & Full HD Ready — Optimized for high-bitrate video recording and burst-mode photography. Handles RAW files, time-lapse sequences, and smooth 4K UHD playback without lag or frame drops.
- UHS-I U3 + A2 Certified Speed — Up to 100MB/s read speed (lab-tested); meets Video Speed Class V30 and Application Class A2 for fast app loading, responsive multitasking, and reliable performance on Android devices.
- Built for Adventure — Shock-resistant, IPX6 water-resistant, and rated for extreme temperatures (−10°C to +80°C). Also resistant to X-rays and magnetic fields — ideal for travel, outdoor use, and dashcams.
Game cards and microSD cards
A physical game card supplies game software, not the console user profile or save data. A microSD card likewise does not transfer a user identity or local save through physical relocation. Use the console transfer tools, Nintendo Account sign-in and, where eligible, Save Data Cloud instead of relying on removable media.
Troubleshoot the most common transfer failures
The transfer option is missing
- Check the system menu version on both consoles; the standard user transfer requires version 4.0.0 or later.
- Install available system updates, reconnect both systems to the internet and reopen System Settings > Users.
- Confirm that you are looking for the complete-user option under Users, not the selected-save option under Data Management.
The consoles cannot find each other
- Bring the systems close together and keep them connected to the internet.
- Leave the transfer screens open on both consoles while local communication is being established.
- Restart the procedure from the beginning if either system was put to sleep or left the transfer flow.
The target shows the wrong progress afterward
- Check that you transferred the intended user, since saves are associated with profiles.
- For a selected-save move, verify whether an existing target save was overwritten.
- If the old console is still available and the target result is wrong, stop playing the target copy until you decide which save should be authoritative.
The old console is gone and the save is missing
Verify the Nintendo Account, Nintendo Switch Online status and game compatibility for Save Data Cloud. If the title did not support cloud backup or no backup existed, the replacement console can recover the purchased software but not the missing local save through Nintendo’s documented methods.
An island is missing from Animal Crossing
Use the game’s separate island-transfer procedure. Repeating the ordinary user transfer will not move island data.
Verify the new Switch before retiring the old one
When both consoles are available, perform this check before selling, giving away or resetting the source:
- The expected user appears on the new console.
- Each required game can be launched under that user.
- Important saves open with the expected progress.
- Digital purchases are available to the Nintendo Account for redownload.
- Any separate Animal Crossing island migration has been completed if applicable.
- No other person’s profile was selected accidentally.
Only after these checks should you treat the source as ready for disposal or reset. For a Switch-to-Switch 2 server transfer, make this decision before uploading because the old console is initialized during that method.
Bottom line: which option should you use?
Choose the complete user transfer when you are permanently moving a person’s profile, associated saves and eShop purchases and still have both consoles. Choose the selected-save tool when the target already has the correct account and you need only particular games; it does not require Nintendo Switch Online, but it can overwrite a target save. If the old Switch is unavailable, redownload the games with the owning Nintendo Account and rely on Save Data Cloud only for supported titles with an existing backup and an active Nintendo Switch Online membership. Treat Animal Crossing island data and Switch-to-Switch 2 server migration as special cases, and never assume a game card or microSD card contains the profile or save data.
Quick Recap
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.
