Use Nintendo’s built-in System Transfer during the Switch 2’s initial setup if you are replacing your old console. Choose local communication when both consoles are together. Choose server transfer when the old Switch is being traded in, sold, or will not be available during setup. If you only want particular game saves to move while keeping the old console intact, use System Settings > Data Management > Transfer Your Save Data instead.
A full transfer moves users, Nintendo Accounts, settings, friends, activity history, screenshots, videos, purchases, and other eligible data. Digital software downloads, virtual game-card registrations, and the Parental Controls app may still need follow-up. Individual save transfer moves selected saves only, does not require Nintendo Switch Online, and removes each transferred save from the old console.
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Choose the right transfer method first
Your choice determines which data moves, whether the old console is wiped or altered, and whether you can keep playing from the original system.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches| Method | When to use it | Both consoles available? | What moves | What happens to the old Switch? | Nintendo Switch Online required? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local System Transfer | You are replacing the old Switch and have both consoles together during Switch 2 setup | Yes | All users, accounts, settings, eligible saves, activity, friends, screenshots, videos, and other system data | Some source saves are deleted; the transfer cannot be reversed | No |
| Server System Transfer | The old Switch is being sold, traded in, or will not be present during Switch 2 setup | No, after the source upload | The source console’s transferable system data, downloaded by the target during setup | The old console is initialized after uploading | No membership is specified, but a Nintendo Account is required for the upload |
| Transfer Your Save Data | You want one or more game saves on the new console while retaining the rest of the old console’s users and data | Yes; they must be near each other and connected to the internet | Only the selected game saves | Each transferred save is removed from the source | No |
| Save Data Cloud | The old console is unavailable and the game supports cloud backup | No | Only an existing cloud backup for a supported game and user | No source console is involved | Yes, with an active membership and an available backup |
If a save is not backed up to Save Data Cloud, is not supported by that service, or belongs to a user who was not linked to a Nintendo Account, signing in on Switch 2 cannot recreate it after the old console is gone.
#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 moving anything
Update the systems and connect them
- Install the latest available system software on both consoles before starting.
- Connect each console to the internet. Local transfer also uses a direct nearby-console connection, while server transfer needs an internet connection for the upload and download.
- Keep both systems connected to power. Do not close the setup screens, remove power, or put either console away until the transfer reports completion.
- Have the Nintendo Account credentials available for every user who will sign in again.
Nintendo’s legacy user-transfer prerequisite specifies system menu version 4.0.0 or higher on both systems. Updating beyond that minimum is the safer choice because Switch 2 setup and account services can change with newer system software.
Decide whether the old console must survive unchanged
A full transfer is intended for a replacement console, not for making a permanent second copy of every account and save. Local transfer can remove certain saves from the source, and server transfer initializes the source after its data is uploaded. If the old Switch must continue to hold users, games, or saves, use the individual save-transfer feature for the games you want to move.
Check every user on a shared Switch
System Transfer includes all users on the source console. Nintendo warns you to confirm that every user is ready before starting. Someone else’s profile, settings, or save can be included even if you began the process for your own account.
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Use local communication when the old Switch and Switch 2 are in the same place. This is normally the best route when you are keeping the old console temporarily and want the broadest migration during setup.
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].
- HEAT MANAGEMENT REIMAGINED. SanDisk ThermAdapt helps keep devices from overheating with a specially designed enclosure and controller that uses dynamic adaptive thermal management.
- Turn on the Switch 2 and begin its initial setup.
- When setup offers a transfer from an existing Nintendo Switch console, select the system-transfer option.
- Place the old Switch nearby, powered on, and connected to the internet when requested.
- Confirm that you intend to transfer all users and review the source-console warning before proceeding.
- Allow the consoles to establish local communication and follow the on-screen confirmation on each system.
- Leave both consoles powered and nearby until the transfer finishes.
- Complete Switch 2 setup, then perform the digital-download and account-registration follow-up described below.
The important local-transfer save warning
For users linked to Nintendo Accounts, saves supported by Save Data Cloud are copied to Switch 2 and remain on the old Switch. Saves belonging to users who are not linked to a Nintendo Account, and saves for games that do not support Save Data Cloud, are deleted from the source as part of the local system transfer. If you need to preserve any of those source saves, move them individually with Transfer Your Save Data before performing a full transfer.
A local system transfer from Switch to Switch 2 cannot be reversed back to the original Switch. Treat the confirmation screen as a one-way migration decision.
Full migration with server transfer
Server transfer is designed for a handoff situation: you are trading in or selling the old Switch, or it will not be available when the Switch 2 is set up. The source uploads its transferable data to Nintendo’s server, after which the old console is initialized. A Nintendo Account is required for the upload.
- Start Switch 2’s initial setup and choose the system-transfer option.
- Select server transfer rather than local communication when the two-console choice appears.
- Sign in with the Nintendo Account requested for the source-console upload.
- On the old Switch, follow the transfer instructions and wait for the upload to complete.
- Do not interrupt the source while it is uploading. After the upload, Nintendo initializes that old console as part of the server-transfer process.
- Finish Switch 2 setup and allow the target to retrieve the uploaded data.
- Redownload software and complete any virtual game-card or Parental Controls steps that remain.
Because initialization is part of this route, do not choose server transfer until you are certain that the old console no longer needs to retain its local-only saves or other data. A save that was never uploaded, transferred individually, or backed up to Save Data Cloud cannot be recovered from the initialized system.
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.
What a full system transfer moves—and what it does not finish automatically
| Data or feature | Result after System Transfer |
|---|---|
| User profiles | All users on the source console move to the Switch 2. |
| Signed-in Nintendo Accounts | Accounts associated with the transferred users move with them; verify credentials if setup asks you to sign in again. |
| User settings and system settings | Eligible settings move as part of the system transfer. |
| Friends and Play Activity | Friend information, Play Activity, and Users You Have Played With are included. |
| Screenshots and videos | System screenshots and videos are included, subject to the transfer instructions’ storage requirements. |
| Game saves | Handling depends on the transfer route, the user’s Nintendo Account link, and whether the game supports Save Data Cloud. |
| Digital purchases and software | Purchases and eligible software entitlements move with the account, but digital software may need to be downloaded again. |
| Virtual game cards | Registrations may require a separate follow-up on Switch 2. |
| Parental Controls | The Parental Controls app may need to be re-linked after setup. |
A transfer carries account ownership and eligible data; it does not guarantee that every game is immediately installed and ready to launch. Plan time for downloads and for any registration screens Nintendo presents after setup.
Move selected saves with Transfer Your Save Data
Use this option when you are not replacing the whole console, when a game does not support Save Data Cloud, or when you want to keep the old Switch’s other users and data in place.
- Connect both consoles to the internet and put them near each other.
- On the source Switch, open System Settings > Data Management > Transfer Your Save Data.
- Choose the option to send save data from the source console.
- On Switch 2, open the same System Settings > Data Management > Transfer Your Save Data area and choose the receiving option.
- Select the game and user save to move, then confirm the matching source and target users.
- Verify that the same Nintendo Account is linked to the source user and the target user.
- Wait for the transfer to complete before launching the game.
Nintendo Switch Online membership is not required for this nearby-console feature. The save is removed from the source after a successful transfer, so this is a move, not a duplicate. Repeat the process for each game save you want to relocate.
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Why this works for games without cloud support
Save Data Cloud covers only supported games. Individual save transfer can move saves directly even when a title does not support cloud backup, which makes it the appropriate route for preserving those saves before a full migration or before retiring the old console.
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.
If the old Switch is already unavailable
Sign in to Switch 2 with the Nintendo Account used on the old console. Open the eShop and redownload digital games associated with that account. The account can restore ownership of purchased software, but signing in alone does not recreate local save files.
Restore from Save Data Cloud
For a supported game, an active Nintendo Switch Online membership and an existing cloud backup are required. Restore the backup for the same Nintendo Account and user, then launch the game and confirm that the expected progress appears.
Cloud recovery cannot help when the game is unsupported, the backup was never created, the backup is too old for the progress you need, or the save belonged to a different unlinked user. In those cases, the only reliable source is the original console itself.
Games, cartridges, downloads, and microSD Express storage
Where Switch 2 saves live
Game saves are stored in Switch 2 system memory and generally follow the selected user. The location does not change merely because you play a compatible title from a game card instead of a digital download. Reinstalling a game or inserting its card supplies the software; it does not supply a missing local save.
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.
What a microSD Express card is for
Switch 2 uses microSD Express cards for compatible removable storage. A card can be useful for downloaded software, screenshots, or videos, and Nintendo’s transfer instructions may ask you to insert one temporarily when moving media from the old system.
Nintendo explicitly states that save data cannot be saved or copied to a microSD Express card. Do not buy or format a card expecting it to act as a save-transfer device. Use System Transfer, Transfer Your Save Data, or supported Save Data Cloud recovery instead.
After the transfer: verify before retiring the old console
- On Switch 2, confirm that every expected user appears and that each user is linked to the correct Nintendo Account.
- Open the games that matter most and check their save slots, progress, settings, and downloadable content.
- Redownload digital titles that are not installed.
- Check virtual game-card registrations and complete any required re-registration.
- Reconnect or re-link the Parental Controls app if your household uses it.
- Open the Album and verify that important screenshots and videos are present.
- Keep the old Switch powered on and untouched until these checks pass.
- Only then complete a sale, trade-in, factory reset, or other disposal of the old console.
Common problems and the correct fix
A game appears, but its progress is missing
First verify that you opened the game with the same user who owned the original save. If the old console is still available, use Transfer Your Save Data for that user and title. If it is gone, check whether the title supports Save Data Cloud and whether an active membership and backup exist. A redownload cannot restore a save that was never transferred or backed up.
The target has the account but not the installed game
This is expected for software that requires a separate download. Open the eShop with the purchasing Nintendo Account and redownload the title. Installing the game does not alter the save location in system memory.
Only some users appeared
Review the transfer choice and the source-console user list. A full System Transfer includes all users; an individual save transfer moves only the selected user’s save. If a user was omitted from a selective transfer, repeat the process with the correct matching account.
The transfer will not start
- Update both systems and confirm they are connected to the internet.
- For local or individual transfer, move the consoles closer together and keep them powered.
- Confirm that the target is still in the required initial-setup stage for a full System Transfer.
- For individual save transfer, verify that the same Nintendo Account is linked to both selected users.
- Do not initialize the old console until the target has been checked.
The old console was sold before transfer
Your remaining option is Nintendo Account sign-in, eShop redownloads, and Save Data Cloud recovery for supported games with existing backups. Local-only saves and unsupported, unbacked-up saves cannot be reconstructed from the account alone.
Quick Recap
A practical decision checklist
- Replacing the old Switch and moving everything: use System Transfer during Switch 2 setup.
- Both consoles together: choose local communication, but protect any unlinked or non-cloud saves with individual transfer first.
- The old console is being traded in or sold: choose server transfer, provide the required Nintendo Account, and understand that the source is initialized.
- Keeping the old console active: use Transfer Your Save Data for selected games.
- No Nintendo Switch Online membership: individual nearby-console save transfer still works; cloud recovery does not.
- Considering a microSD Express card: use it for compatible software and media storage, never as a save-file backup.
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