How to Transfer Your Island to Another Switch (Even OLED) - In 2 Minutes!

[@switchunboxing]

Please drop this video a like if it was helpful, and send it to someone you know could use the help! I'm really glad they added this feature. It's a lifesaver! Subscribe for more Switch coverage: kzbin.info/door/-Zi24z2ic5i1HFQl6_SIWQ Join the Discord to talk ACNH and Switch: discord.gg/AZ5VPrK6wc

[@briak3846]

Same. It really is a lifesaver. Thank so much for this video. It really helped. I'll give u lots of likes 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@switchunboxing]

@@briak3846 Haha awesome glad I could help! You are very welcome!

[@briak3846]

@@switchunboxing Thanks and you're welcome. You know what, since ur so nice and so helpful, I'm going to subscribe to you right now.

[@armandocristophermunozpere6782]

I just can't believe how Nintendo managed to turn all this "new horizons transfer thing" into such a hassle... 🙄🙄

[@switchunboxing]

It’s super easy really! I just think the communication it’s a little complicated. I think they do a lot of things to try and make things sound more simple but really in the process they make it more confusing

[@MrJewishfox]

I hope Nintendo learns from Microsoft on how to run Nintendo online service things need to be more user-friendly

[@switchunboxing]

@@MrJewishfox Very true. Hopefully they will improve.

[@JayJay-gj9bu]

@@switchunboxing i actually disagree the whole process could be alot easier and user-friendly. Its unnecessary complicated. Ive been going through both processes and its a nightmare. The translation for the process in my language isnt easy to understand important features aren’t explained. For one process you need an extra app for the other you dont. Instead of making the additional app an easy to understand tool that explains everything and does things for you. And the cherry on top is that the explanation on their site is just as hard to understand and leaves out important information. To decide what i would do and to actually do both things i needed to watch videos from youtubers. The whole thing is overcomplicated and the least Nintendo could do is make a video themselves explain the different options and showing step for step how to do them.

[@switchunboxing]

@@JayJay-gj9bu Most of what you just said falls under communication. With more clear communication, people wouldn’t be anywhere near as confused. To move your island, you just open the app and keep pressing A really.

[@vikkiann7797]

audio and explanations were great - i'm now considering getting a new switch since i want one with a longer batter life (and i want dat NH switch

[@switchunboxing]

Thank you! The battery life truly is great! I look at that bar and I’m like??? BUT I can’t say I’m digging the screens on these. I don’t notice the yellow shade while playing so that’s good, but the interface and eShop etc, everything looks yellow to me. And this fan makes a noise I don’t think my original Switch did. But luckily I got another ACNH Switch to see if it’s any better.

[@SifandThor]

Literally picked my NH Switch yesterday and am AMAZED at the extended battery life. 10/10 recommended.

[@switchunboxing]

@@SifandThor Yayyyyy yeah I just switched mine for this video! The fan is louder. The screen is more yellow. But the battery is better haha!

[@josiemarie3502]

I’m getting my own switch and my brother is going to have the one that we are using right now and this was very helpful thank you!

[@switchunboxing]

Awesome I’m glad it was helpful!

[@ArmageddonHex]

Same, I got the oled to myself 🤪

[@katiecawood2399]

Thanks so much for this video! I'm decently tech savvy, but I was so afraid of messing something up. This video explains what to do really well.

[@switchunboxing]

You are welcome! I’m so glad it helped! Maybe share it with someone else you know could use the help?

[@curlyfries5477]

You explained it so well, thank you so much!

[@switchunboxing]

Very happy to help!! Maybe share this video with someone you think it might help? And join our Discord to talk ACNH and Switch with our community! discord.gg/BgRPMpXJ

[@gottacatchemsome]

I got an AC Switch and am giving my Switch Lite to a friend, and your video was SO much more helpful than any of the articles I found while googling. Thank you so much!

[@switchunboxing]

You are welcome! So glad! I made it because other resources didn’t seem to make as much sense as they could.

[@Dovlphixn]

Thank you. I’ve got the New Horizons Switch and I wanted to transfer the ACNH on my older switch onto this, this really helped! New sub.

[@switchunboxing]

Awesome I’m glad I was able to help!! Otherwise I would be bummed haha

[@skatelynmat3082]

@@switchunboxing I just got the AC Switch and I’m so excited to transfer my data! But, I have to transfer my user profile to the new Switch, as well... can you possibly help me figure out what exactly I should do? I’m so confused.

[@harpharp7909]

I just did this and it worked! Thanks for the step by step help!! I had a switch lite for a year now and got the ac switch for my birthday just as last year lol. I was able to happily transfer my old island over! So happy to play on my tv now, yay!!

[@switchunboxing]

Yayy so glad to help! Maybe share this video with someone else it can help? And join the Discord for all things Switch and Animal Crossing!

[@ColonelDoof]

Thanks! The Instructions were Clear and you got Straight to the point, Much appreciated!

[@switchunboxing]

Yay I’m SO happy it makes sense and was helpful. Ahh that’s amazing!

[@Sackos64]

Very clear instructions and easy to understand, transferring my wife's residency to the other switch will be a whole lot easier and quicker, thanks for explaining this in depth.

[@switchunboxing]

Yayyy you’re welcome! Really glad the video was not useless haha. That’s great. Please share with anyone else you think it could help!

[@officialnofriendo]

Intro song has flight of the concord vibes. Love it!

[@switchunboxing]

Yes! Just without the comedy haha. LOVE Animal Crossing music, although some people aren’t as into the New Horizons jams as previous entries. I just wish there was royalty-free music like this.

[@Guilma_]

thank you so much for this. I was really nervous that the save data would be deleted but its fine so thanks again :)

[@switchunboxing]

You are welcome thanks for watching! Maybe share this video with someone it could help?

[@metadevgirlvsworld]

This is so helpful, but I was really hoping we could finally sync our island across more than one Switch. I really want to use my Lite on the go and my docked Switch at home. This update gives me hope though. 🤞🏽

[@switchunboxing]

Right wouldnt that be cool? I wouldn’t count on it happening. 😭

[@emilynichols220]

Omg me tooooo! This is the perfect game to take on the go but I’m just not willing to transfer to my lite and not be able to play on tv at home anymore:(

[@metadevgirlvsworld]

@@emilynichols220 it sucks sooooo much 😫

[@christopherlawes9286]

Thank you so much. This has been a real pain. Everything else transferred via the cloud. My son was not happy. But now he is.

[@christopherlawes9286]

Actually not so great. He lost all his nook miles and money

[@switchunboxing]

@@christopherlawes9286 Happy to help! Did you move the entire island or did you move a resident off your island? Two different things happening in the video!

[@christopherlawes9286]

@@switchunboxing moved the island

[@shaunm.4148]

My question is, I have 3 houses on my island, so do I have to transfer the user data from each user over individually or is it all at once, moving their profiles over as well? Because My kids don't have Nintendo accounts, they just have a house on my island.

[@switchunboxing]

The island transfer tool just moves over the entire game save. On the new Switch, when opening up the game from a user, it’ll ask you which character you want to link with the profile. You could move the user profiles over, or just start with new user profiles on the new Switch.

[@825angelbesos]

So my son has a switch that I started playing acnh on. I got my own switch now and a copy Of the game. I’m the resident rep. My understanding is that I move the entire island to my new switch and then my son can move to his own island with all his stuff and his house? I hope that’s right haha. I’m too scared to do anything to mess it up

[@switchunboxing]

Yup that's correct! Move the island first, then you can move his resident to his Switch to an existing island if there is one, or if he has no island, he will become resident rep of a new island and will keep his stuff over either way. Keep in mind moving a single resident from one Switch to another requires 2 copies of the game, one opened on each Switch.

[@katiecawood2399]

I came here to ask this exact same thing. Good to know!!

[@kagomemihata6299]

Thank you so much for the clear instructions! I transfered my island safely to my normal switch. My question is: I might want to transfer it back again to my lite in the future when I'm done with my island. Do you recommend it or should I keep it on the normal switch to be safe? Thank you again for doing so much for the Nintendo community!

[@switchunboxing]

Awesome thank you for the compliments! Well in the making of this video I probably transferred my island about five times or more and it was fine. Super quick! But you know, with any type of data with technology you risk corruption or loss. Just make sure you are backed up to the cloud though and you should be just fine!

[@kagomemihata6299]

@@switchunboxing thanks for the comment and tip! I turned my cloud save on so I hope I can use the transfer data in the future again! Hope you have an amazing day!

[@switchunboxing]

@@kagomemihata6299 Thanks you as well! Maybe share this video to someone else you think it could help

[@strictlybrooke154brookew3]

I’m getting the regular switch and I have the lite I still want it to be on the lite and on the new switch does it have to be deleted after I transfer everything to the new switch? I’d like to keep both animal crossing data on the new one and the lite I also want to transfer everything to the new switch from my lite

[@a_bizarreboiz6239]

i wanna trade my first switch to the animal crosssing with out losing my whole island is there a way i could do this with only one

[@switchunboxing]

Do the island back and restore feature by making sure it’s backed up and then calling Nintendo to restore it once you get the new Switch

[@a_bizarreboiz6239]

Ok tysm

[@heythereclaudia]

Thank you so much for making this video! It's very helpful.

[@switchunboxing]

Thanks for watching! Maybe share it to someone else who might be able to benefit from it?

[@spookyghost1o798]

When moving a resident to a brand new island will the resident’s storage come w/ them as well?

[@switchunboxing]

Yup

[@rohnellehamlet5699]

amazing video, super informative tysm. i have one question tho, do i have to sign in to the same Nintendo account that was on the ‘source’ switch on the ‘target’ switch as well or do i have to make a whole new account for the ‘target’ switch i also head about transferring my user from the first switch to the second switch but i’m not sure if that would mess up the transfer, can you clarify?

[@switchunboxing]

No none of that matters and thank you I’m glad it was helpful!

[@jaiden6906]

I usually have questions about stuff like this but this was so thorough and clear that i have nothing left to ask

[@switchunboxing]

Yeah I’m very thorough that’s why it takes me so long to make videos hahaha. Glad it helped!!!! Maybe share this with someone else it might be helpful to? 🙌

[@Steven-kv1dn]

Sorry for the lame question, but will this work if both Nintendo Switches are using the same Nintendo Account?

[@switchunboxing]

Yup!

[@Steven-kv1dn]

@@switchunboxing Is there an limit to transfers? Could you transfer your data back to the switch you originally transfer from? Sorry lol

[@kokonili]

do you need nintendo switch online on BOTH switches to get the tool/island transer tool

[@switchunboxing]

No way you don’t need NSO subscription to download apps. You do need internet connection to download the app though and a Nintendo account.

[@ComaToasterStrudel]

OMG TY! I made a new Nintendo account on my new switch so I thought I couldn't keep my main island representative. Thanks for making it clear how it works

[@switchunboxing]

You are welcome thanks for watching!!

[@Mayangel102]

On the new switch do you have to re buy New Horizons in order to transfer your island from your old switch to the new one?

[@switchunboxing]

Nope you don’t even need a copy of the game to transfer the island, just the island transfer tool. Only time you need the game is if you’re just moving a single resident, as this requires the game to be open on both systems.

[@Mayangel102]

@@switchunboxing ok! Thank you so much!

[@switchunboxing]

Happy to help!

[@asra3415]

hey i’m not sure if you’re still replying to questions on this video, but i’m curious about something. i just got a switch oled as an upgrade and i want to transfer *only* my island representative to it, but that won’t work. if i give all my money, things in storage, fully upgrade the house again, etc to a secondary islander on the same island, and then do the single islander transfer to the new switch, would i keep all the stuff? And if I don’t like the 4 islands I have to choose from at the airport when restarting, would I be able to close the game and cancel the transfer to keep my data on that villager and keep trying? This last part isn’t as important as the first part, I was just curious because I could do that with new leaf. Thanks!

[@switchunboxing]

Did you figure it out? Why not just make a new island on the new switch and then go visit your old island to grab any items and bells that you want? As for the 4 islands I’m not sure honestly I’m sorry! Those are some great questions.

[@beepboop1389]

so if I moved my player (secondary) to a new switch /island, would I still keep all of my diys?? I've been worrying about this for a couple days!! also, can you change the name of your character/ player on the new switch, or will it remain as the old one?? this is so so helpful, thank you so much 😊💗

[@switchunboxing]

Yeah you’ll keep it and no since you are moving the character, you’re not changing their name or anything.

[@switchunboxing]

But you could always instead create a new character to make the new island with, and then transfer your other player. Then you could just trade items and stuff.

[@beepboop1389]

that's perfect, thank you so much 😊😊😊

[@switchunboxing]

@@beepboop1389 So glad to help!

[@paigerina347]

I’ve watched several videos on how to do this, and nobody has clarified this well: I have one Nintendo account and one user profile, I am the resident representative on my island. I have no additional residents or other user profiles. Question 1: If I transfer my Nintendo account/user data onto my new system, will it delete my save data (including my island) on my original system? (I’ve read that if you do the user profile transfer before doing the island transfer tool, you can lose your island because your save data cannot be accessed without a Nintendo account/user profile, nor can you use the e-shop to use the island transfer tool) Question 2: Do I need to make an additional Nintendo account/user profile on my new system to transfer my island and my character? Question 3: Is your in game character/save data connected to an Nintendo account, or is it completely separate? can you access and play your character/island from any account?

[@switchunboxing]

As far as I know, your island save doesn’t automatically delete in any way. It’s either transferred or deleted manually or via initializing the console. For those more detailed questions I would contact Nintendo directly.

[@paigerina347]

@@switchunboxing Thanks!

[@switchunboxing]

@@paigerina347 Sorry I wasn’t more help. I’d say just try to do it like in the video and it should work but for sure ask Nintendo for those other questions or if it feels like something is missing. Theyve been good when I called.

[@bangtanluver]

Where was this when my sister made me redo my entire island when she finally got her own switch

[@switchunboxing]

Omg 😭😭😭

[@BeastxELITE]

You’re video was awesome and easy explanation. I just have only one question, when transferring, do you NEED to have the switches plugged in while doing the transfer? For context, i have a switch where the charging port isn’t working but i have enough battery to do a transfer to a new switch (which is on the way). Do i have to have both switches constantly charging in order to do the transfer because I know you mentioned in the video it prompts to but i’m not clear if it was required. Hope you can help, thank you

[@switchunboxing]

Nope! These were not plugged in during the transfer.

[@switchunboxing]

Also thanks for the compliment. I’m glad I could help!

[@BeastxELITE]

@@switchunboxing thank you so much!

[@vickyquinn5870]

This turned out great and easy to understand! Thank you for helping me with the character transfer. I successfully transferred my character from my friend's switch to my own switch. Discord link isnt working btw. I'd love to join.

[@switchunboxing]

Super happy to help! So I’m guessing you made a new island? We would love to have you on the Discord. I just updated the link so it should be working now!

[@marialucreziadesantis5338]

You explain it so well!! Thank you so much for letting me know about your video I have just one last question, both my old and newest switch have my nintendo account, the same one. I want to delete my new island (on newest switch) but is it a problem that they are both linked to the same account? Or is it a matter of "switch" data being deleted, as in it deletes what's on that specific switch device, not my entire nintendo account. I just wanna make sure the old one doesn't get deleted by mistake!

[@switchunboxing]

Thanks it took too long to come out because I kept editing to make sure it all made sense because I had so many questions to begin with. I was on a mission to figure it out and then try to relay that message in an understandable way for others! Island data exists on the Switch itself so that’s where you’re deleting it from! I delete my new island data in this video at 4:23. Thanks for watching!

[@marialucreziadesantis5338]

@@switchunboxing thanks again for specifying, I had still the doubt because of the Nintendo account situation on my Switch-es Btw the video came out great and I hope to see more!!

[@lozeppy7000]

Awesome job shib

[@switchunboxing]

Tanks

[@BillyMcBillface]

Nice. My sibling went to college with their Switch back in June so I haven’t been able to get onto my island. I just got the Animal Crossing Switch for Christmas so we are working through the process together. Thanks!

[@switchunboxing]

Aww well you might just wanna get your own game and start a new island!

[@andreavasquez8724]

is it possible to transfer an island from one switch to another if they are both set up on different Nintendo accounts?

[@switchunboxing]

Yup!

[@zainabsiddiqui89]

Thank you so much for this! It was sooo easy! Now that I have my island transferred over, how do I go about starting over on my old switch with a new island?

[@switchunboxing]

Hey thanks for watching! All you should have to do is open up the game I believe.

[@sadiepaula6814]

Thanks so much for this!

[@switchunboxing]

You are welcome happy to help! Did you get it working?

[@drummeryan]

Great video. So I have digital version of ac. So would I sign into my new switch with my account and then do this process? Do I have to have 2 copies of the game if I have digital version?

[@switchunboxing]

Thank you! Transferring your island doesn’t require any copies of the game. Moving just a single resident requires 2.

[@Mateo-vz4fl]

Can I transfer the whole island from a Switch to another with a single game cartridge?

[@switchunboxing]

Yup! All you need is the transfer app downloaded on both systems. It uses a separate app for this reason! 🙌

[@Mateo-vz4fl]

@@switchunboxing thx!

[@Wineoclockbookworm]

Mateo9001 asked the question I was going to ask. But one thing confuses me (because I'm not very bright, lol), during the actual transfer, which switch should the game cartridge be loaded into? The old switch, new switch, or does it matter?

[@switchunboxing]

@@Wineoclockbookworm You don’t need the game pulled up at all whatsoever. All it’s doing is moving the save file.

[@sammmiii13]

Hi just wanting to clarify. So I bought a physical copy of the game when first released. Will I still be able to do the island transfer to a new switch if this is the case?? (I’m wanting to buy the limited edition ACNH switch and move all of my data onto that)

[@switchunboxing]

Yup the transfer doesn’t require any copies of the game, just the Island Transfer Tool.

[@jimenapouletterodriguez1485]

So it transfers everything everything? Your bells, items and has everything how it was? :0

[@switchunboxing]

When you move the island, yes. It’s just moving the save file so it’s just moving your game save from one system to another. If you move the resident only, that’s a little different.

[@jesseliverless9811]

Thank god for this video! I have been searching for so long on the internet, even contacted Nintendo Support which btw have never replied, and I just wanted to switch my daughter's island from one user profile to another user profile on the same switch (so that she can use the Online subscription on the main profile, to visit other islands). It's a simple copy-paste, and I have no idea why Nintendo makes it so complicated, and furthermore why it's such an obfuscated method. Still, I really appreciate you sharing this info in a clear and concise manner. Thanks!

[@switchunboxing]

You’re welcome and thanks for watching! What do you mean copy and paste?

[@jesseliverless9811]

@@switchunboxing I meant that, I just wanted to "transfer" the island, from one profile to another one on the same switch, so it's not really a standard transfer to another switch like you show here. The goal was that I wanted my daughter to use the main profile I had created on the switch, since it's the one that has the Online subscription, and as she was using another profile and I don't have the Family plan, she couldn't use the Dodo codes and stuff :) It seemed awfully complicated to "copy-paste" her island & resident to the main profile, but still, I just finished the process a couple of minutes ago using my sister's switch, and finally I was able to set things the right way. And now, I can finally boost her Bell stack by selling her turnips at very high prices :D :D :D Thanks again.

[@switchunboxing]

@@jesseliverless9811 How did you get it to work? In my video I show how to unlink a profile the only way I know how!

[@jesseliverless9811]

@@switchunboxing Oh yeah sorry I was a bit unclear. But I just used my sister's Switch (she doesn't have AC so no issue with deleting an exiting island). And I used the method you show to transfer to the other switch, then straight back to mine where I was able to link it to the "right" profile. :)

[@switchunboxing]

@@jesseliverless9811 Okay well I’m glad that worked!!!

[@briak3846]

Wait, so do you delete data on the new "target" switch before starting the process???

[@switchunboxing]

You can only have one island save per Nintendo switch, so yes if you want to move your island over to a switch that already has an island on it, you must first delete that island or move it somewhere else. You cannot move one island to a switch that already has an island on it.

[@switchunboxing]

If your new Switch does not have an island on it and you just got the switch, no you don’t need to delete anything because there’s nothing on there to delete. I had to delete mine because, for demonstration purposes, before I showed you how to move over an island, I showed you how to move over a character and create a new island. So the first thing I did in this video is I moved over one character from my island over to another switch. This requires another copy of the game. So I did that I move that character over to my new switch and created a new island with a new game. At that point, the new switch had an island on it. Then whenever I wanted to demonstrate how to move my old island over to the new switch, I had to first delete the new island because you can only have one island per switch.

[@briak3846]

@@switchunboxing oh thank you so much. That really helped. Thank you for this video. I'm also going to get the animal crossing switch. But I have another question though.

[@briak3846]

@@switchunboxing But can't you transfer your island from one switch to another through a microsd card?

[@switchunboxing]

@@briak3846 No you cannot move your island using any other method outside of the cloud backup and restore, or the Island Transfer Tool app on the Switch.

[@tiaratwins6559]

Great video but I have a question. I bought a Nintendo Switch in November 2020 (a month ago) and played way too long. Game addiction is a terrible disease. Anyway, I installed ACNH with a downloaded copy from the Nintendo e Store. I just bought a second Switch system, the Animal Crossing limited edition. I plan to transfer my island to the new system following your excellent instructions. Now the question: If I give the old system to my best friend, will she be able to play as a new player with a new island? I understand the one island per system rule and I bought a second copy of the game (physical, this time). Will we need to install the second game? If so, which system will need it? Did my old game transfer with the island or did it stay behind on the old system? Thanks very much for any help you can provide.

[@switchunboxing]

The digital game will be playable from whatever account purchased it. So if they are going to be using your Nintendo account, they can play your downloaded game. If you play the game on a system that doesn’t have any save data, which would be your old system if you transfer your island out of the system, you start the game brand new and you will be the main island resident representative with a new island starting from the tutorial.

[@kylie5481]

Hello, thanks for the video. I hope this question makes sense, getting a new switch in a few days. 😅 Can I be signed in on both switches with my account when doing the second islander transfer or do I need to make another new account on the new switch? Have you got to have nintendo online membership for this? (Btw I'm on about transferring a second islander to a brand new village). Thankyou. :)

[@switchunboxing]

Hello! Well if you’re just moving a resident, you need 2 copies of the game so you wouldn’t be able to have the same digital copy on each switch. But you could have 2 different accounts that each have their own game. Or one digital and one physical, or both physical. Having the same account won’t matter unless you’re trying to have the same digital copy open on each switch. You can’t have a digital game running on 2 switches at once. It won’t allow it! If you don’t have a second copy, you could borrow one or GameStop used game purchases come with 7-day return policy.

[@jtapeach]

I am not at all good with this type of thing. Your video was very helpful but I am hoping you can help me transfer my kids animal crossing island to their new switch. We have had to purchase a new switch due to charging port issues. My kids share a switch and an island. My daughter started the game and is the island representative and my son is a resident. If i am understanding your video correctly i would need to transfer my daughter (the island rep). When I do that will my son still have access on the new switch or will there he an additional step to make sure he has access? I just want to make sure I do this right. They have invested so much time. Thanks in advance!

[@switchunboxing]

Hmmm just move over the island using the directions and when each profile opens the game on the new switch, it’ll ask you what resident you want to link with the profile you’re using I’m pretty sure. For the switch profile, you can transfer it using the transfer profile option or just make a new one on the new switch. You may reach out to Nintendo for more in-depth details

[@ayakonaw]

WOW this video and the comment section are really helpful! thank you so much! I do have a question tho, I hope u didn't answer it already, do you have to have the same Nintendo account of the old switch as the new switch in order to transfer the island?

[@switchunboxing]

Thank you you are very welcome! Maybe share this with someone else who could use the help? No you don’t have to have the same account.

[@ayakonaw]

Shibby120 I’ll try, thanks again!

[@chaosdunk8951]

So im planning to get a new switch soon, i have a digital copy of ACNH on my switch lite, and ive got some questions regarding the transfer; (1) do i need to have 2 copies of the game to transfer? (2) should i do the user and save data transfer before the island transfer or should it be the other way around? (3) do i need internet to do the transfer?

[@switchunboxing]

To transfer the island, you need zero copies of the game and it doesn’t matter what order you go in. You only need internet to download the Island Transfer Tool!

[@chaosdunk8951]

@@switchunboxing thanks! 😊

[@switchunboxing]

@@chaosdunk8951 Yup hope it was helpful!

[@DylanDurdle]

Super helpful and clearly laid out

[@switchunboxing]

Good to hear Dylan that’s what I was going for! Spent way too much time making this one lol

[@Gracey518]

I think I'm in a sticky situation. Without knowing how well the transfer tool worked, I went ahead and used the ACNH transfer tool and moved existing data (entire island) to new console, yes, keeping other console in household. Unfortunately, I'm not the one who purchased the digital game. My husband did on the original console and we had user profiles set up. My two children and I play animal crossing, not my husband. I think there's a loop hole somewhere. My daughter is the island rep and created the island. I was invited in as well as my son. We did not have a family membership at the time nor did we have our own accounts. I think the loophole was that she's the minor and was given permission to play with adult account permission. Creating profiles on the switch doesn't mean you have to also create a nintendo account, not until you purchase a membership. Now that I bought membership and my husband changed admin to me, used transfer tool to move entire island to new console, I was not able to move all the users. It shows up all three. I linked my user to my husband's account. The other users are said to be deleted?! I could not call them in on Animal Crossing New Horizon. I'm on phone with Customer Support. I know it has to do with the accounts being linked. I don't understand how I couldn't link my children's users back into the game in the new console. Now I want to transfer back without knowing their users have been deleted. Daughter is only 6yo. C'mon what is a mom to do? I thought she handled it well at first, but then she realized she wants all her stuff and original game play. I get it. I would be frustrated too. This has to do with the accounts. I'm not the sole purchaser of the digital copy and I've linked my user to my husband's account on the new console. If I transfer back to the old console, will everything get restored with all users able to play? I am really throwing a lot of questions on this rep. I understand once you link a user to an account it cannot be undone. Then when I transfer back, is my user going to be linked still with my husband's account? I think I'm going to have a problem if I'm linked to his account and I'm not the sole purchaser. This might prevent my kids from playing. Does this have to do with the copy being digital and not a hard copy? ....FAST FORWARD....I'm done with call. The old console is my "primary console" and my new console is the "secondary console"...I have no idea what that all means for me. Anyway, the transfer tool will detect any played saved data and won't overwrite it. My daughter started a new game on the old console and I had to stop the transfer tool process mid-way to delete the 222MB of saved data. Then continue the transfer data tool to operate on both consoles and transferred my original game play back into my old console. Now my daughter is happy and she can go into the game with her own user profile. Now how do I go about splitting on my own to the new console? Do I need my own digital purchase? Thank you for reading this. I wanted to share my experience here with you as you were the most thorough of the many I've set my eyes and ears on. Thank you for your video!

[@switchunboxing]

Wow that’s a lot. Yes to move a single resident, you need 2 copies of the game open and you cannot move the main island resident representative. As for the other residents, when you open the game from a profile, it should ask you which resident you wanna play with and then assign that resident to that profile I believe. Otherwise yeah I think contacting Nintendo is a good idea.

[@adriennel4187]

Hi, I have a question about something I’m still a little unsure of. I have the cartridge instead of having the digital version, do I move the cartridge to the new switch before I start the transfer process or after? I don’t need two copies of the game do I? Not sure if it makes a difference but in case it does, I just have the single profile/single resident.

[@switchunboxing]

You would need 2 copies of the game for moving a single resident.

[@jbcadegan]

When we first got our switches my daughter and I traded. The same ACNH was on both switches. Now, nintendo won't let us play at the same time. We'd like to buy another copy, but how can we do that and not destroy either island? Could I delete my copy of ACNH and leave the save data on my switch and pull it into the new software?

[@switchunboxing]

That sounds right. Data doesn’t delete unless you delete it! From my understanding.

[@vaneinvisiblegirl]

Thank you for the tutorial :) ! I have a question: do I have to set up my account at the new switch before doing this? Will there be no problem if the account is on both switch? I have my old switch and want to send everything to a new switch but I'm afraid that it will have a conflicting data thing or something like that, thank you!

[@switchunboxing]

I don’t think you will run into anything like that. You can’t screw it up. Only thing is I think I have heard that if you download the app on each system from the same account, it won’t let you open both at the same time because like for example if you have a digital copy of breath of the wild, you can’t be playing it on two different systems under the same account at the same time. But I’m not sure. You can just give it a shot. On my new switch, I was on a new account so I’m not sure. But you’re not going to break anything. It’s either going to let you move the island over, or it’s not.

[@vaneinvisiblegirl]

@@switchunboxing thank you for answering!!, I'll transfer more confidently now!

[@switchunboxing]

@@vaneinvisiblegirl You are welcome! Let us know how it goes

[@drummeryan]

I have this same question… did it work for you?

[@vaneinvisiblegirl]

@@drummeryan yes, it worked fine! I relocated all my info to my new switch, I had to log in the new switch first but since I did the transfer immediately there where no conflicts of data

[@YAOG]

Hey! Thanks for the video. Island transferred fine. My wife had a secondary user/resident that did not transfer over. He had his own house and the house is still there but not him. Can I still transfer that resident to the island on the new switch? I tried to import that user but it said I can't because when I tried to link the user to the nintendo account it said the account was already linked to a user. I tried to create a new user and it won't let that user play the game. I'm thinking I don't have the new switch set up as the primary console. Anyway, if you can wade through this mess of a question to figure out what I need to do to get that resident on the new switch (or at least be able to interact with items in his house, which the resident rep cannot do right now) I would really appreciate it. Thanks.

[@switchunboxing]

If somebody else doesn’t answer on here, I would say give Nintendo a call if you can’t get things to work with the users! If you transferred the island, you just simply transferred the game save which is what you’re supposed to do. There’s no resident transfer over or anything at that point. You have transferred everything out. Now it’s just a matter of opening the game from a user and choosing that character!

[@TheMnimatt]

Amazing video, so glad I subscribed! Great to know I can transfer Islands back and forth to switch my save data between profiles.

[@switchunboxing]

Yup! I did it about 6 times making this video lol. I actually mentioned that in the video and then cut it out. Also said that I don't recommend it though because you never know, save data CAN become corrupt. I wouldn't quite wanna test its limits. But it didn't stop me haha.

[@TheMnimatt]

@@switchunboxing Dude you’re the patron saint of New Horizons for this info 😂 I got to the end and you kind of mentioned it, appreciate your hard work. I’ll be back to check out more of your content

[@switchunboxing]

@@TheMnimatt Did someone say Patreon? Well, now that you mention it, I..bahaaha jk don't have one. Hey thank you for that title! I'll take it. Upcoming content is: Upcoming Switch games, and related unboxings. Plus random things like this that distract me. If that's your thing, I'll see you there!

[@TheMnimatt]

@@switchunboxing I’m here for it 👀

[@pobmek]

thanks for the instruction! by the way, when linking the character with profile. is it possible to change the island representative character on the new switch? for example, on the old switch character A is the representative, character B is the resident. when moving to the new switch, can character B be the representative?

[@switchunboxing]

There’s only one rep per island and it can’t be changed. You’d be able to move onto a new island though and be the rep of that island.

[@Link-Link]

Okay so hopefully you'll see this comment: I'm planning on buying an OLED Switch but the only thing keeping me from doing so is the transfer stuff for ACNH. I want to play all my other games that can be transfered via cloud save on my OLED Switch BUT the thing is, my mother and brother wants to play ACNH on my old Switch. Thing is, to do the data transfer I think that my old Switch user has to be deleted from the old Switch to get transfered to the new Switch, and if it does so will I loose all my ACNH data from my old Switch? I know it's a bit confusing but overall here's what I'm asking: Is there a way for me to play all my other Switch games on the new OLED Switch while keeping all my ACNH data on the old Switch so I can just play ACNH on it (mother/brother included)?

[@switchunboxing]

Hello thanks for stopping by. So you could move the island to the new switch and then they could make a new island on the old switch. Or yes you could just not move the island but then if anybody on the old switch players on that island, they aren’t going to be the main island resident representative. They’re going to be an additional character from my understanding but you may want to contact Nintendo for clarification because I haven’t done that before.

[@R3DGaming]

Nice video, shibby!

[@EmmaEnder14]

I have a BIG question to ask about this. So, I got a new ACNH Switch to replace my old original Switch. My intentions are to trade in my old original Switch after I have transferred everything onto my new ACNH Switch. When transferring my user data from the old Switch to the new Switch, do I have to make sure my user is linked to both switches in order to do the island transfer? If so, is it possible to delete my account off of the old Switch ONLY after I complete the Island Transfer?? The reason I ask is because I am worried that I will not be able to open up the Island Transfer app without my eShop linked account attached?

[@switchunboxing]

No I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. You just have to simply open up the island transfer tool on both systems to move over the save data. Just download that app before you do anything. But also whenever you transfer user data from the Switch menu, not your island, it will ask you if you want to keep using the old switch. Basically this is just asking if you want them to log you out. It’s not a big deal I don’t think. You you want to hit yes you are using both switches.That’s if you want to stay logged in the old switch if you don’t have the transfer tool yet. So you can download it. But if you don’t hit yes, don’t worry, it just logs you out and then you can just go log back in! Then to erase the switch, just go into the settings and system, and then format options, and initialize the switch.

[@elishamiller2243]

Super helpful video! One question, I have been using my brothers switch for animal crossing but I finally got my own! Is it possible to transfer my main rep and my island to the new switch?

[@switchunboxing]

Of course. That’s what this video is about! Congrats on the new Switch. 😊

[@elishamiller2243]

@@switchunboxing Thank you so much for the quick response, it’s much appreciated!! It felt like a silly question but it’s such a nerve racking process haha

[@switchunboxing]

@@elishamiller2243 True especially when you only get one island per Switch and account!

[@elishamiller2243]

@@switchunboxing Update: IT WORKED!!! Thank you so much for all the help and your amazing video 😊💛

[@switchunboxing]

@@elishamiller2243 Awesome I’m glad! And oh thank for very much I’m happy it helped. 😊

[@freshpapertowel]

Thank you Shibby for making this helpful video, i feel lil more confident going about it, i just have a few questions if i may ask. 1) will my items in my home storage/inventory/on my island items, and >cataloged items< still be there and recorded & transferred over? 2) will my own made pro clothing designs & regular ground designs still be accessible via my kiosk or will it wipe that data? 3) will my NMT, bells, mail and recipes still all be there? 4) any other 2ndary residents i have on my island will transfer over awell with all their belongings/house inventory? 5) is there rly any other changes that happen? or is it literally all 100% there, but just now on a new system like nothing happened? -im just wondering before i proceed for myself cuz i have 2000+hrs on my primary resident island and dont wanna be big sad, i want to transfer that OG island to my bf's switch so i can build a new one on mine again for fun, i just dont wanna loose all that grinding i did for like all the cataloged items of every colour n wut not and inventory stuff please let me know what you think id be really really grateful T^T

[@switchunboxing]

Hey thanks for watching! To be clear, your questions are asking about the feature of moving a single resident right? You’re wanting to move the entire island to a different switch, and then move your resident back to your switch to create a new island, is that right?

[@switchunboxing]

If so, check out the chart on the very bottom of this article here. You may need to swipe around to the side and stuff once you get there, but this should show you what you keep and what you don’t keep when you transfer a resident from one island to another! Of course when you are moving the entire island, this doesn’t apply and the entire game save just moves. www.nintendo.co.za/Support/Nintendo-Switch/Save-Data-and-Multiplayer-Support-FAQ-Animal-Crossing-New-Horizons--1747790.html

[@freshpapertowel]

@@switchunboxing thank you so much for getting back to me so quick! what i was planning to do (if it works like this) -was to transfer my current acnh save data & island resident over to BF's switch (that has acnh game with no saved data) and have it be kept safe there on his console for its final safe resting place, and then i was hoping to just start fresh on my switch with new everything but just hopfully still be able to use my same nintendo account? (i also have one other, a 2nd resident sharing on my island would they transfer over safe too? sorry for all this questions T^T i hope it comes out clear and thank you for taking the time to answer

[@freshpapertowel]

@@switchunboxing thank you so much for this article and your time, i will take a look !!

[@switchunboxing]

@@freshpapertowel You got it! Thanks for watching! Maybe show this video to other folks you think might benefit from it. : D

[@Tankd_0ut]

I have a question 🙋🏾‍♂️. If I'm a resident on a island, get a new switch with game Transfer my data to a new island like you demonstrated in the beginning of the video, is it then possible to have a copy of the island you just came from? In addition to you being the main user? On the new switch? Example. Bro/sis share a switch both use it alot etc. Sis gets own switch now but wants everything the same, but wasn't the main user.

[@switchunboxing]

I’m not 100% what you’re wanting, but some rules to keep in mind that might answer: You can only have one island per Switch. If you want to move an island, you have to move everything with it. If you want to move over a main island resident representative, you must move the entire island with it. If you move a resident who isn’t the main island resident representative, it doesn’t affect the island save they moved from, outside of not being a resident anymore. Does that answer the question?

[@Tankd_0ut]

@@switchunboxing when you say if you want to move over a main island resident you must move the entire island with it - do you mean that when you transfer a resident to his/her own switch they get a copy of the island they were once on?

[@switchunboxing]

@@Tankd_0ut There’s no copy. Your island only exists on one switch.

[@switchunboxing]

You can transfer the island. You cannot copy it or duplicate it.

[@Tankd_0ut]

@@switchunboxing Thankyou. The museum that you helped build on the island you were a resident on, will that carry over or only those in your pedia?

[@SuperSavagepumpkin]

Sorry if this question is stupid, but would it be possible to transfer your island without transfer your Switch profile? I mean transfer it from one profile to a different one and keep everything on the island. Would it keep everything? I mean, it is like transferring a save file? Thanks a lot!

[@switchunboxing]

Yes this transfers the save data no matter the profile!

[@SuperSavagepumpkin]

@@switchunboxing Thank you SO much!

[@switchunboxing]

@@SuperSavagepumpkin You’re welcome!

[@SecretCollage]

omg thanks soooo much for explaining the whole "you get to choose a new island representative" bloody nientendo didn't mention that. And is the main problem i'm stressed about cuz I'm currently playing on my bf's switch profile.

[@switchunboxing]

Well you can’t change who the island representative but you can move out your resident (can’t be the main resident representative) and create your own island and be the resident representative of that island, which requires another Switch!

[@SecretCollage]

@@switchunboxing sorrry I meant you get to relink a switch profile to the existing island representative, which was the problem I need a solution to. So we're all goooddddd.

[@JUANCHOOO0154]

Bro nice vid ! But i wanna ask if im going to spawn onto the island ive transfered in everytime i open the game ? , And will the owner of the island and me can play at the same time ?

[@switchunboxing]

Thanks! Well remember there’s only one island per Switch. So whatever Switch you’re playing on, that’s the island you’ll be on. So yes any time you open the game on that Switch as long as that’s where the island is. To play with multiple residents of the same island at the same time, open the NookPhone by pressing ZL, and selecting “Call Resident”. That should set you up with the multiplayer.

[@MrJewishfox]

This video was a big help. And This merry Christmas

[@switchunboxing]

Awesome I’m so glad it was! Thank you very much and maybe share it to someone else you think it might help!

[@Calkaos]

Thank you, i had no idea this was out yet

[@switchunboxing]

Happy to help! Maybe share it with someone else you know it might help? Cool feature kind of overdue. And still overly complicated lol but hopefully I helped with that.

[@lqtaegi6551]

hi! i did watch this a few times but maybe i missed something because i still have a few questions!! 1. i was wondering if you need a nintendo online membership for this method? 2. do i have to back up the island i want to keep first before doing this transfer?(you would need a membership for that, so that’s what i was wondering haha) because i wasn’t sure if you backed your island up after the transfer or before 😅 and lastly, i was wondering if i have to do the user data transfer first and then the island transfer, because i’m planning on selling my old switch afterwards. i hope i’m not bothering you!! and thank you for making this video :]

[@switchunboxing]

Hey! So there 2 different things there. We’ve had the island backup and restore feature via cloud for awhile. That’s separate. That does require a membership and it saves your island automatically and I recommend it. Nintendo says it’s for emergencies and if your old Switch is broken or lost. You turn on the new Switch and call Nintendo and they restore it with you. They usually help you even if your old switch is NOT lost or destroyed, and they don’t usually ask. So that’s one way to transfer. I recommend using the backup just in case something bad happens to your switch in the future. My video shows you how to transfer your island if you STILL have your old switch. You download the Island Transfer Tool from the eShop, which does not require Nintendo Online member ship, but does require internet, and a Nintendo Account (that’s separate from Nintendo Online membership). For moving user data, it doesn’t matter when you move it. These are separate things. Just note that when you move user data, it may ask “do you want to keep using your old switch”. If you want to keep using your old switch for any period of time, you’ll want to say yes. But don’t worry if you say no, all it does is sign you out. You can always just sign back in. It’s really not a big deal like they try to make it seem.

[@cloverxplays]

Great video!! Does it work if both switch share the same online account? I bought AC on one of my switches and was able to re download it on my switch lite with no charge. Now I want to move my island on my switch lite to my regular switch so will that work/be the same process?

[@switchunboxing]

I believe so! You may have to open up the Island Transfer Tool on a separate profile on the second Switch though. Just try it!

[@Myu142]

Question: When tranfering with the transfer tool, do I use my main account on both systems or do I have to create a new account somewhere?

[@switchunboxing]

Did you get it to work? I think you should be fine with your same account but if it doesn’t work then you might want to make a new one

[@ChocolateCherry]

I know this video is a bit old, but I'm going to get my own switch for Christmas. I'm thinking of transferring my whole island over, along with me, BUT the island doesn't belong to me. It belongs to my sibling. Will anything happen to their island, or will it be fine? I'm asking because you talked about the data being deleted on the old switch after the transfer? Or is that even possible to do? I don't want to lose all the work I did on the island, plus I love all the villagers we have :(

[@switchunboxing]

Well when you transfer an island, it moves from one switch to another. It can only be in one place. It moves the entire thing. So if you’re wanting to transfer the whole island over, it goes to the system you transferred it to. Does that answer the question?

[@ChocolateCherry]

@@switchunboxing it does, thanks but I wish it didn't delete it on the main switch :(

[@switchunboxing]

@@ChocolateCherry Yeahh

[@wishingwisdom]

a bit of a weird question, do you need a copy of the game in the source console to do the transfer? I sold the physical copy a while ago and have it digitally on the target console!

[@switchunboxing]

You don’t need any copies

[@sadiepaula6814]

How do we transfer a secondary player? So I have to add the player to my new switch and that's it? Thanks to you I easily moved my island, but not the second player. Thanks!

[@switchunboxing]

Hey! It’s the first thing I cover in the video. That’s how you move a resident from one island to another. You can move them into a new island or one that already exists. Then when you open up the game, just open it up from the Nintendo profile you want to link to it.

[@jessewomack7564]

@@switchunboxing But if you've transferred your entire island from your old switch, how would you move a secondary resident? The island is now gone from the source (old) switch, so how could you get to your secondary resident if they don't have an island? Sorry, there's just something I'm not getting here lol

[@switchunboxing]

@@jessewomack7564 When you move the island, you were just simply moving the game save data. So it’s the same game just on a different system. Everything has moved to the new system you moved it to. So if you want to move one of those residents, just follow my instructions!

[@paularlv23]

Hey, Thanks for the great video!! Did I understand correctly that, as long as I have saved everything correctly, I can transfer the game from one switch to the other as often as I want? So from A to B and, for example, from B to A again after a year? Thanks in advance! :)

[@switchunboxing]

Yup with the Island Transfer Tool, it seems that way! I did about 6 transfers in the making of this video. Only took a couple minutes each time. I would just remember you do risk corrupting data each time you transfer probably so I wouldn’t say to transfer it every month or anything. But do what you have to do! And make sure that backup is turned on just in case.

[@paularlv23]

@@switchunboxing perfect, thank you so much!! 😍

[@vanessamorales6210]

Very clear and helpful! But when I’m trying to transfer my island from my lite to my new Oled, when it supposedly the starting of the transfer, my oled says that the connection has failed and that cannot be found, and in the lite it says that the connection is lost and I haven’t been able to transfer the Island, do you have an idea how to solve this please? Also when opening up the transfer island app it doesn’t let me chose what is the user i’d want to use for the app

[@switchunboxing]

Did you figure anything out? Sorry I’m not sure. I’d recommend reaching out to Nintendo support!

[@vanessamorales6210]

@@switchunboxing yes, Thank you! And don’t worry I finally could do it successfully after changing the Micro SD (and i don’t know why haha)

[@switchunboxing]

@@vanessamorales6210 Oh interesting! Thanks for letting me know and I’m glad it worked out

[@MjollTheLioness-o4y]

My problem is transferring multiple users. I transferred my island before getting all of my users transferred now I can't access the storage in those houses. I don't know if I screwed up or if nintendo just doesn't support it. Either way my advice is if you're using multiple users to create extra houses be sure to empty out the storage of those houses before transferring in case you screw up like I did.

[@switchunboxing]

You can access the storage. Just gotta play the game from a different Switch user and play as that character! You can make a new user or transfer a user from your old Switch.

[@MjollTheLioness-o4y]

@@switchunboxing thank you!

[@switchunboxing]

@@MjollTheLioness-o4y Welcome. That’s how it should work but I’ve never done it myself. Let me know how it goes!

[@waterboy4081]

I already have a micro SD card on my old switch and I’m wondering if I have to get a new Micro SD card for my OLED? I’m worried that the new switch will wipe out my SD card.

[@switchunboxing]

You don’t need to get a new one, but yes you will have to erase it to be able to use it in the new switch. So you could get a new one, or if you have access to a computer you could try just moving the contents to the computer, then putting the card in the new switch and having it formatted automatically, then plugging it into the computer and moving your stuff back onto it. You may want to look up some articles on Google or KZbin to try it out

[@frecksnova]

Do i have to transfer the user data from one switch to another first before using the island transfer tool?

[@switchunboxing]

Not that I’m aware of

[@merlock7602]

Hi. I currently have 1 account linked to 2 consoles. After successfully transferring my island to the newer one, is it ok to delete my AC save data in my old switch? I'm planning to give it to my sister for a fresh start. Will it affect my current island (that is now in my new switch) since they are connected on the same account? Great tutorial btw!

[@switchunboxing]

The transfer moves your save data. You shouldn’t have any ACNH save data on the old Switch right? If you do, I don’t see what the harm could be in deleting it.

[@merlock7602]

@@switchunboxing oh yes, you're right, it moved the whole data to my new console. I just checked my AC in my old switch and it started anew. Thanks! I just love that you still answer questions here!

[@switchunboxing]

@@merlock7602 Awesome I’m glad it was helpful!

[@zoepearson2265]

So im getting a new switch to swap out my old one (which my mom will instead use), I want to transfer my island from my old switch to my new switch, do I need a ACNH gamecard in each switch? will I have to buy a 2nd game ?

[@switchunboxing]

No you don’t need any copies of the game for transferring your island. Just the Island Transfer Tool on both systems.

[@TjFruichantie]

My wife and son share a Switch where my wife is the island representative. She's getting a new Switch for Christmas and gifting the old one to our son. If we transfer her island to the new Switch does our son's character transfer with it? Do we then need to move his character back to the old Switch so he can start his own island? What's the best route in this scenario?

[@switchunboxing]

That’s right!

[@salbates4322]

You've gained a new subscriber from this video. Thank you! 😊😊

[@switchunboxing]

You are welcome! Glad to have you aboard. Did you get it working?

[@salbates4322]

@@switchunboxing Not tried it yet. I have preparations to do first 🤓

[@kidwithahobby]

Ive tried all these steps, in order to transfer a resident from an old switch to the new one the ACNH settings say I need to transfer the user data. But ACNH does not pop up in the transfer data settings list to do this step. What am I missing or what can i do?

[@switchunboxing]

Well first before I can tell you what you can do, I must first know: What are you trying to do? What do you want to accomplish?

[@denizlyn]

Hi I got some questions do I need to add the my same account on both switch to do the Animal crossing new horizons island transfer tool because I don't want to mess it up?

[@switchunboxing]

No you do not

[@ChristianOGXD]

Would I transfer my User Data or my Animal Crossing Island first from my Source Switch to the Target Switch? Thank you!

[@switchunboxing]

I don’t think it really matters, as they’re separate things.

[@Drainthenight]

@@switchunboxing I just transferred my user over to my new switch and went to use the island transfer app on both and the source console didn’t have my user on it anymore so the app wasn’t working to transfer my data. Am I screwed? I’ve been playing since the beginning!

[@switchunboxing]

@@Drainthenight No you’re not screwed at all. Just sign into your Nintendo account on the switch and download the island transfer tool. You’re only screwed if you go to settings and either erase the Animal Crossing save data off the system or completely erase the entire system. Moving a user doesn’t change the saved game on the system.

[@joeb1288]

Can this be done between two Switches on two different Nintendo accounts? They both have a copy of the game and individual online memberships...

[@switchunboxing]

Yup!

[@jnosal]

So the island can be transferred to a new profile on the new switch and it doesn't have to be the same one that was on the old switch? If so would the custom designs carry over as well to the new profile or is everything regarding custom designs tied to the original online profile?

[@switchunboxing]

The island save is the island save no matter what. It’s the game save. It doesn’t get transferred to a profile it just exists on a system. This moves the island save from one system to another. It’s the game save data. The game file as you know it. To play the game, you must be logged into a Switch User as any game. The first time you open the game with a Switch User, it’s going to of course tell you the resident isn’t linked, and will ask if you want to link it. Basically you’re assigning which resident do you play as when you open the game with that Switch User Profile. But yes all the save data stays the same. Transferring the island doesn’t change your data. Just moves it.

[@jnosal]

@@switchunboxing thank you! Bought the wife a new Switch and all she plays is ACNH so this seems like the perfect scenario to get her island off our existing Switch and onto her new one. Then I’ll just need to get her her own online account so she can access the design portal but I’m glad all that stuff carries over. Appreciate the fast response, was tough for me to track down info on this process and this video makes it so easy. Cheers!

[@switchunboxing]

@@jnosal Thanks glad I made it easy!! When they came out with the transfer ability, I did lots of research and trial and error to make sure I knew how to do it, and lots of editing to make sure the steps were clear and simple and made sense! Sometimes the voice you hear was recorded along with the video you see. Some of it was recorded days later and added in. Or re-recorded etc haha. Lots of work but I’m glad it paid off

[@AdventuresOfKatChat]

hey :D 2 years later still needing help lol soo i have my switch which my bf used when i was in the states, i am now back in Australia and he has a new switch.. one thing that isn't explicitly stated anywhere that i can find.. does it have to be close by to each other or using at least the same network?? Cause atm it looks like thats the case

[@switchunboxing]

Oh woops! Yeah gotta have Switches next to each other for this one. For cloud restore, that doesn’t require the old Switch.

[@AdventuresOfKatChat]

@@switchunboxing sweet. yeah we just started a new island and i dropped everything for him.. cause i want my island back lol thanks for replying to this weirdo! :D

[@switchunboxing]

@@AdventuresOfKatChat Baha that works too! Everyone’s weird let’s go!

[@AdventuresOfKatChat]

@@switchunboxing well next time we seeing each other is July.. until then 14,000kms and a few oceans apart.. to play AC or to not play AC.. we decided to play lol

[@TheGhostSeeker]

So if I purchase a new system, I need to buy another copy of ACNH to move my current island to the new system?

[@switchunboxing]

That’s not what I said! That’s for moving just a resident. You don’t need any copies of the game to move an island. Just the Island Transfer Tool.

[@josephineoto2641]

question do I have to buy the game again to my new oled in order to transfer my island or I can just game share it from my old one??

[@switchunboxing]

No need to buy the game in order to transfer the island save data. It’s just moving the save file! But if you’re moving a single character from one island to another, THAT requires 2 copies.

[@josephineoto2641]

@@switchunboxing omgg! didn't expect u'll respond anyway THANKS MUCH!!

[@switchunboxing]

@@josephineoto2641 Oh you’re welcome! Thanks for watching. 😊

[@bluepuffle]

Okay I know this is super late- but I have a questionnnn I’m the island rep on my brother’s switch; my sister, brother & me are all on the island with linked accounts Once I get a switch for myself I want to transfer the island completely & then move my brother back to his switch so he can start his own island I have a few questions: - when I transfer the island do I need all switch accounts on the other switch so I move my brother & keep my sister on my island? - would anyone at all lose anything, or even get deleted from the game- (I’m hesitant about thisss) - do you need nintendo online at all during both of the processes (island transfer & villager transfer) - are digital copies of the game able to be used during the villager transfer instead of the physical copies? - do you need the nooklink backup thing to be turned on for both devices? ugh I have so many questions about this xd - if you see this please answer asapp

[@switchunboxing]

No no no yes no

[@marcusortiz8391]

I have a big question: I’m the island rep of me and my gfs island but she plays more than me so if I bought a new switch I could do these transfers and turn her into the island rep and she still has the island terraformed and set up the way she had it before?

[@switchunboxing]

The main island resident representative cannot be changed unfortunately.

[@sayde3000]

Great video, but I’m having a little trouble. I did everything correctly, and was about to delete my save data until I saw it didn’t say animal crossing but just had three question marks as the name. It has 222mb and everything, but I’m still very nervous. And this is the only app I have on my new Nintendo switch, just the transfer tool. And my user linked to it. Am I doing it on the wrong switch? Could you help? Thanks :)

[@switchunboxing]

Hi what are you trying to delete? Not trying to delete your island are you!!!? You may wanna reach out to Nintendo if my steps aren’t working

[@sayde3000]

@@switchunboxing I was trying to delete the save data because it said to but my island was deleted anyways. When I was transferring my save data from one switch to another with out transferring the island first, It asked me about if I was gonna play on my old Nintendo switch, so I pressed no. That was a big mistake. I realized this when I came a across a video warning people about that.

[@switchunboxing]

@@sayde3000 Well if you don’t wanna transfer your island and you want to delete it, you don’t need the transfer tool. If you are transferring your island though, the only time you should need to delete island data is like me if you have 2 islands and one you want to get rid of. Because you can only have 1 island per switch. When it asks if you want to use your old switch I think it’s essentially just asking if you want to stay signed in. I believe you can always go sign back in. But yeah contact Nintendo support to be sure. 😊

[@sayde3000]

@@switchunboxing oh well. I think it’s deleted because when I started up the game on my old switch, nothing saved. I tried to transfer the island before but the game didn’t show up on the new switch. I’m a little confused about it. I already restarted my island. But thanks for the help! I really appreciate it :)

[@TheSquidKing115]

I'm not sure if this question was asked yet, but my question is, can this tool be used to transfer saves back and forth between two systems. I have a switch lite that goes pretty everywhere with me, and I have a switch that stays docked

[@switchunboxing]

This tool transfers your island save data from one Switch to another. Seems as though you can use it as often as you like. However, there’s probably a risk of data corruption each time you transfer, so the more you do so, the higher your risk of losing your island. That would be my hypothesis. I’ve heard of island data getting corrupt.

[@jamie5mauser]

I want to restart my island on my switch. I also have a switch lite. I want to bring bells and items with me. Can I transfer my data to my lite and restart my island then transfer all my items and bells back to my switch? Or is it better just to make a second island, visit it, leave items there, and then retrieve them after I've reset?

[@switchunboxing]

Both will work. I’m not sure which ones better! That’s up to you!

[@mizz_sunshin3]

Nice video! I have a scenario, and wanted your take on it. I want to trade in my current Switch and get the ACNH one. If I were to call Nintendo to get them to restore my island, would they? Or, are they still saying that is just if your Switch has been broken or stolen? I really want the ACNH Switch, but not at the cost potentially losing my island. Thank you!

[@switchunboxing]

Well they say the cloud is just for if your old switch is damaged but a couple days before this video, I called and they restored mine without even asking any questions. Every time I have heard of somebody doing this process, it sounds like Nintendo did not give them any trouble. You can always just tell them your screen is too dim on the old one or it’s going out or whatever but really you shouldn’t have to tell them anything. Just that you have a new switch and you want to restore the island.

[@jacky1515]

hello! I have a question: I'd like to transfer my island from switch A to switch B, but on switch A I have three residents: Me, my boyfriend and my boyfriend's brother. My boyfriends brother is the residents rep. If I were to transfer my island from switch A to B, wil I be able to pick my profile as the residents rep? Or do I need to continue with his name and character?

[@switchunboxing]

You cannot change who the island resident representative is. However, you can leave the island using the first method I showed and move your character to a new switch and be the representative at a new island and transfer your house and your stuff.

[@jacky1515]

@@switchunboxing I think I'll give that a go. But I need two copies of the game for this right? could I borrow a hardcopy from one of my friends?

[@switchunboxing]

@@jacky1515 Yes you can.

[@jacky1515]

@@switchunboxing thank you so much for your help!

[@switchunboxing]

@@jacky1515 Welcome! Happy to help! Maybe share the video with anyone else you think could use it!

[@JoshuaVasquez]

Super helpful video thanks! I had my partner hijack my switch and my island so I wanted to get a new switch for myself but keep my island. Problem was I was the primary resident and I wanted to keep all my crap lol. So I gotta transfer my island and him, let him start a new island on my old switch and moving him back. Long process lol

[@switchunboxing]

Yeah if he’s got your old Switch with old island, and you have a new switch, you’d just move the island to your new switch. You can then just have him move to your old switch to start a new island. Shouldn’t be a very long process really!!! Thanks for watching and I’m glad it was helpful. : D