If you’re playing the Nintendo Switch versions of Pokémon FireRed or Pokémon LeafGreen, Nintendo says you’ll be able to transfer Pokémon from those games to Pokémon HOME beginning in October 2026. Nintendo has not yet published the exact start date or the transfer steps. This announced connection is for the Switch rereleases—not a direct link from an original Game Boy Advance cartridge.
First, identify which version you have
The transfer announcement applies to the standalone digital releases of Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo says these versions will connect to Pokémon HOME. They have no physical editions, and a Nintendo Switch Online membership is not required to purchase or play them. See Nintendo’s FireRed and LeafGreen FAQ for the release and compatibility details.
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If you mean an original GBA cartridge, the announced Switch-to-HOME connection does not apply. Nintendo’s historical instructions describe a different, multi-generation route for those Pokémon.
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Transferring from the Switch rereleases to HOME
Nintendo’s support FAQ says players will be able to transfer Pokémon from the Switch versions of FireRed and LeafGreen to HOME. The Pokémon Company’s announcement gives October 2026 as the planned start of the connection. The available official information does not establish the precise launch day, the menus or buttons to use, whether the transfer requires a HOME Premium plan, or whether Pokémon can return to the games after transfer. Check the current in-game notice and official guidance before confirming a move; do not assume the procedure or return rules match another HOME connection.
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Nintendo describes local trades and battles in these rereleases as using the Wireless Club and built-in local wireless. Those features are separate from transferring to HOME; the FAQ says online play is not supported.
Why an original GBA cartridge cannot transfer directly to HOME
The documented legacy route begins by migrating Pokémon from a GBA game into Pokémon Platinum through Pal Park. Nintendo’s Pokémon Platinum manual says this becomes available after obtaining the National Pokédex. It is a historical step in a longer chain, not a direct GBA-to-HOME transfer.
Nintendo’s current compatibility information lists Pokémon Black, White, Black 2 and White 2 as Poké Transporter inputs; it does not list FireRed or LeafGreen as direct inputs. The GBA-to-Platinum migration therefore should not be described as sending a cartridge’s Pokémon straight to Bank or HOME. Consult Nintendo’s Pokémon HOME and Bank information for the listed compatibility and service details.
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Pokémon Bank is a separate route—and has a deadline
Pokémon Bank is a 3DS service, distinct from the new connection announced for the Switch rereleases. For Pokémon already eligible and stored in Bank, Nintendo documents moving them to HOME with a Moving Key generated in HOME. The key expires after three minutes, and Pokémon moved from Bank cannot return to Bank or be used with Nintendo 3DS titles. Those rules describe Bank transfers; they do not establish whether a Pokémon sent from the Switch rereleases can return to its game. See The Pokémon Company’s Bank-to-HOME instructions.
Nintendo says Pokémon Bank service and Bank-to-HOME transfers will end Thursday, February 25, 2027, at 7:00 p.m. PST. Bank is no longer available to download. If you already have Bank and eligible Pokémon stored there, move them before the stated end time; after service ends, Bank-to-HOME transfers will no longer be possible. The deadline is stated in Pacific Standard Time, so account for the difference from your local time zone. Nintendo’s service notice has the current closure information.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Does Pokémon HOME Premium have to be paid for?
Nintendo’s captured guidance requires Premium for transfers from Pokémon Bank to HOME, but does not say whether Premium will be required for the separate Switch rerelease connection. Do not buy a subscription on the assumption that it is needed for that new feature; check the official instructions when the connection becomes available.
Pokémon HOME’s service page lists Premium at $2.99 for one month, $4.99 for three months and $15.99 for twelve months through Nintendo eShop, excluding tax; prices may change. The page lists deposit capacity of 6,000 Pokémon for Premium and 30 for Basic. These service details describe HOME plans and do not resolve the Switch transfer’s subscription requirement. See Pokémon HOME’s Premium plan page.
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What to do now
- Playing the Switch rerelease: Look for Nintendo’s transfer instructions and the in-game notice when the announced October 2026 connection is available. The exact date and steps are not yet established.
- Using an original GBA cartridge: Do not expect a direct connection to HOME. Nintendo documents migration to Pokémon Platinum through Pal Park, but that is only the beginning of a longer legacy route.
- Already using Bank: If you have eligible Pokémon there, complete any Bank-to-HOME transfer before February 25, 2027, at 7:00 p.m. PST.
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.
