Nintendo Switch: How to Transfer Your User And Save Data

We show you how to transfer your Nintendo Switch Account and Save Data to another console with these easy to follow steps.
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[@pyrobomb101]

Just here prepping for the new animal crossing switch that I definitely didn't need but am buying

[@salem8881]

Same.. same..

[@XthePhyscoalpakahX]

Same lol

[@hotpinkcola]

Same! 😄

[@haitiansensation4439]

same

[@murielvalckx1045]

Same🤗

[@b2j135]

I'm glad there's finally something for this but we seriously need true Cloud backups

[@SeaSlug]

bro we need homebrew back up

[@LilfoxTheHybridHylian5967]

That's actually cheap or free.

[@yslreyes]

Can anything ever be easy with Nintendo?

[@Kevin-ep8sy]

Nope, it has to be bullshit. Sometimes i just feel like throwing my switch out the window

[@Athena-pe5go]

same

[@RinzekiYT]

nope. never

[@gokuuzumaki70]

What's complicated about this?

[@LittleCart]

The only issue I see with data transfer is having more data than the target console can hold. I sure as hell don't need 2 sd cards

[@RXH14]

I wish Nintendo Knew what Cloud saving means, at this point they're just being lazy

[@AzureSwiper]

Let's hope Nintendo Switch Online has it. 👀

[@kadindarklord]

@@AzureSwiper It has it now. But it is a subscription service.

[@MyName-df7li]

It could be better, but it's a start.

[@Dabestjoshy]

Nintendo needs to take their baby steps

[@cazen9984]

I tried to do that but the switch said "your ID,your password and your email aren't correct" but that isn't true What should I do?

[@tommievm]

Cazen 9000 computers dont make mistakes like that

[@krishnakanth6662]

My Name two years later, still the same

[@johny1220]

Could be really useful if 2 people both use 1 switch and play lots of games then the other person gets their own switch and can just transfer all their data :D

[@venturous]

Even the wii transfer was better

[@sion8]

Yeah, kinda of.

[@phantomunleashed3289]

The pikmin thing was cool

[@abstro9942]

Sounds like you dont like the switch

[@Matt-kl7qc]

Pikmin just leavinf

[@astronomical_fivehead]

@@phantomunleashed3289 i loved this when i did it

[@devilmaycry383]

Good start they need to let us transfer save data to other storage media just like on the PS4.

[@user-tw3pq8on9v]

*me listening pretending i understand all the thing he's saying*

[@blackrook29]

anybody wondering if you can transfer splatoon 2 data over because the cloud save issue, YOU CAN TRANSFER SPLATOON 2 DATA OVER to another switch tablet. i just did it. i tested it on a second account then did it with my main splatoon account its fine i was sweating bullets fear of losing it all its OK. you need an nintendo account on both tablets.

[@del5597]

THIS WAS VERY HELPFUL (I was panicking at this point while reading)

[@finnthehuman9119]

Can somone help me I had a old email and lost it but I cant switch the email to my new one help I cant buy digital games anymore:,(

[@MahriBlade]

what about the octo expansion what happened to it

[@KaizAmari]

omg how complicated the process in this day age

[@sunpi]

How are people still trying to say the switch sucks....👀

[@colton7697]

sunsbookishgamesx I see you a MILLION times its not even funny!

[@axelsjourney]

Colton Nelson I know this is my millionth time

[@colton7697]

Angry React Exactly!

[@jordano.3650]

I see you everywhere.

[@ramiabdalla2661]

*ikr*

[@DragonSlayer030489]

Thanks for posting! I just used this to move everything to my new ACNH Switch! :)

[@nightwave1222]

Did splatoon transfer properly?

[@Silentwaytogo]

Nintendo should finally add cloud saves. Lost all my data on my 3ds switching my data to a new sd card.

[@ownzuall]

I feel very sad for you. Cannot imagine losing any saves on my Switch. But after your experience, how come you still buy their consoles? If that would happen to me, I would choose another console/device.

[@summerycast7936]

You didn't do a save transfer, did you? But I agree. Man, cloud saving would make this so much more easier.

[@sarahriley404]

Nintendo would just charge us for Cloud saving like they do for everything else.

[@summerycast7936]

Sarah Riley Maybe and maybe not. But we definitely need some form of cloud saving.

[@beatlejuice1165]

Sarah Riley funny that you should mention that...

[@ozzyg82]

Meh. Still can’t back up my saves...

[@zachpittman2463]

But still no save data on an sd card thanks nintendo for not giving us what we want

[@illusionofartYT]

Zach Pittman there trying atleast

[@prod.spoicy]

At least there is video capture

[@audoodle9963]

My brother being able to transfer his dozens of hours in splatoon when he gets his own switch is definitely something I wanted

[@rhovenom04]

Entitled american on youtube. typical.

[@Implosion-Gaming]

Zach Pittman This is good enough in case you need to replace your switch from minor damages.

[@alexanderworley]

What happens if the source console has Zelda BOTW and the DLC but the target console has Zelda BOTW and no DLC? Do any items get wiped or are the stored incase the DLC is bought at a future date?

[@euxine]

Mr. President my question exactly atm did you ever find out? Waiting for an update thanks!

[@Hazeleyedtaurus]

From what i experienced when sending mine in thru repairs via Bestbuy. They can transfer data but DLC between different console types (wiiu vs switch) as well as same console types (switch to switch) is no available. Additionally while new console will register that you have infact downloaded DLC it will not give you option to redownload. I will be pursuing this matter later this week with nintendo to see what can be done.

[@terriqjones28]

@@Hazeleyedtaurus There is a option where you can redownload your dlc via the E-shop

[@TheSunsfan2006]

Zack Miclat they can do it...

[@sulaimansharif7]

Why the F can’t it just be Cloud storage?!!!!!! It’s 2017!!!!!!

[@Heimkineast]

Because half of the userbase who just wanted to play Zelda would probably sell their consoles!

[@sulaimansharif7]

Heimkineast Zelda is done, what’s next? Time for Cloud storage.

[@AzureSwiper]

Because Nintendo Switch Online probably hasn't launched yet. IDK.

[@LL-pp5hy]

Nintendo's official online services that they will be charging for launch next year, right now it's bare bones but it's free.

[@sulaimansharif7]

Logan Levi I just hope Nintendo Online will allow cloud storage, as it doesn’t show this will be included on the list of services.

[@AdamMurphy8]

What if my old switch is broken

[@tres311]

Call nintendo

[@The98xander]

Then Nintendo got ya :/

[@ninjakitten_]

Cry

[@Faydoesso]

Same here and im crying T^T

[@Faydoesso]

98 Xander how if i may ask

[@lilliana7611]

This is super helpful because I played a lot on my uncle console and I am gonna buy my own

[@dablaqgamer463]

Exactly

[@huckinator]

My OLED switch finds my old switch but my old switch won’t find my OLED. It keeps searching and can’t transfer

[@xXx-vk2uq]

Thank you for the video I needed to know how to do this for when the new Switch comes out next year

[@morteneisner5360]

Same haha

[@SS-uu7mo]

Do you need a AC adapter or can you just use any USB type C cable

[@brunomoreno3666]

It looks like they made this update for the Nintendo employees, rather than the final user. Its a step forward anyway.

[@ANIMEman0519]

I just want the ability to put save data on an SD card/ External drive, please Nintendo.

[@Codemarla]

I was so excited by this update as it meant I could moce my girlfriends zelda save from my switch to hers, but NOPE. You cant transfer the save on its own, only the entire account which would delete all her save games off her Switch. One step forward Nintendo but two steps back.

[@SeaSlug]

bro, didn't your GF have her own account on your switch ? ???????? if she transfers that account then she would have two accounts on her switch and would just have to pick the account she got from your switch if she wants to play her zelda save

[@bigpun60]

SeaSlug exactly lol 😂

[@cuteygooki]

i got cuphead on my sis and my account and i found that was a bad idea bc i can't play it when my sis is on the account and she is ALWAYS on the switch account! i wish i could just transfer cuphead to the other account so i can actually play it.

[@11338325]

What about transferring your game and save data from your Switch onto an SD card?

[@Colin-wt1hz]

So if I get robbed I can't do anything? And all my saves for any games that I have are gone, that is a terrible system

[@Shinyarc]

(cloud saves)

[@swarley2500]

There is a new service for that..

[@KirbyKips]

That’s why there’s a new service for it. Nintendo listens to fans.

[@BigluigifanStudios7]

I love the Nintendo Wii Maker soundtrack! I still play and have my original Wii! And I always will! And how do you move your data with the same Switch to a other account like maybe a guest account or something? Have a great fall everyone!

[@davidrivera6017]

Will this work with animal crossing new horizons? I wanted to transfer my data from my switch to a switch lite

[@Renataki_]

did you figure this out?

[@luce8606]

No sadly

[@Skylark9]

Im doing the same thing just switching from lite yo regular an im worried ill have to redo everything.

[@luce8606]

@@Skylark9 sadly it will reset even if u sighs into the same account we all have to restart :C I did too

[@jewishguy9036]

what about my zelda breath of the wild file does those save my file from my another switch

[@AyoGobi]

Does this means that I won’t lose my season pass on BoTw, SSBU and save data for my games if I transferred everything from my broken switch to a new one???

[@timothykehoe8836]

If you redownload it from the e shop

[@soup7753]

will all of the dlc save data come back?? @Jazzman

[@joseruiz276]

@@timothykehoe8836 but you will have to do it again

[@Badooka101]

Even though splatoon 2 data cannot be cloud saved with the Nintendo switch online service, can all data and dlc be transferred through this method?

[@TheArchitect097]

What about games saved to SD card? Do I do the user transfer, then put the same SD card in the new console and download the game again. I want to transfer to a new switch but I'm really nervous about hitting a bunch of hassles

[@Midnight_Ruby]

Derek Galatovich I am wondering this too. I want to buy a 64GB microSD Card because 32GB is too small, and I don’t want to have to restart my game in order to swap to 64GB, so is there a way to swap to the other SD card without losing all data???

[@dragimochi9716]

This is going to archive the game on your sd card such as just the game files tp run it.. all saved progress is saved on your account on the switch console internal memory itself. But yes u have to redownload it again yet it will redownload into the sd card

[@barrythebarry1647]

Okay, so if I transfer my data to a new console will this include my splatoon 2 level? I really don't want to start from the beginning again lol

[@SkeletorTclaws]

Meanwhile its 10000 times easier on ps4 . I got 2 switches . One for me and one for my kids. Im never going to buy digital because of all this hassle.

[@immortalsun]

What about transferring save data to an SD card or the cloud?

[@Djdog1208]

I'm planning on getting the new Nintendo Switch OLED Upgrade so this helps thank you.

[@TheMovie_Machine]

Same

[@Pompey_blue]

This is gonna get pretty annoying keep swapping from switch to switch lite with pokemon shield

[@Ramen117]

Ive been waiting for this.

[@dominikoswald6578]

so my acnh island can be transfered? just to be sure ;)

[@Yusuf-dx1ps]

What about physical copies

[@AsdfAsdf-mi6ks]

Wait but how does this work when other accounts have their own save data on those digital games?

[@adriangore4543]

I have a question. Say you have a sibling who plays something like Splatoon 2. Then they get a switch and take their user save data along with the cartridge. You also played the game with them and both have a big amount of save space. If you bought the game online or on a cartridge a second time, because you wanted to play with them, would it put your save data onto the cartridge or download or would it only be saved onto the last cartridge and restart all save data. Basically to put my question short is everything saved onto the cartridge or the memory card?

[@karnagefails333]

Adrian Gore No, nothing saves onto the cart itself; only the system. So if you have played the game on that console but your bro has the cart, your save data would be restored from the last time you played but only on that console.

[@user-mm3fj4ou8y]

better than expected.

[@vampede]

If I have an account on a switch that is shared with another account which has bought a bunch of games that I play on that console,(on my personal account, not the account that purchased the games) and I were to transfer my account to my own switch, would I have all my progress in those games but still have to purchase them myself? Or if I were to purchase the games would I have to start over in them?

[@RobinPM100]

Ok, but If I want just to copy my save data from one Switch to another?? I dont want to remove it from my original Switch, just copy to another

[@MaleneQwQ]

Can I use the old switches sd card on the switch?

[@rebeccawilson399]

I regret buying the lite so I’m seeking and saving up for the normal 😔✌️

[@salmansiddiqui9230]

Basically if I wanted to move my 3 months of hard work in LEGO Marvel Superheroes 2 on to my new console I couldn’t move my saved data in that game

[@Gearoidmcnaught]

I hope this well be easy for the new Nintendo Switch Lite?

[@duanixd5397]

Gearoid Mc Naught exactly that’s why I’m here

[@animefreak8884]

me too

[@Gearoidmcnaught]

Duani XD Yeah and just Friday now till the new Switch is out but I’m getting the special edition for Pokemon Sword and Shield and this well give me a chance to learn more about the new Switch in case of any hip cups or something?

[@Gearoidmcnaught]

Anime Freak Yep.

[@tannertischer8895]

I just got my switch lite on Friday. it's kinda small so I was gonna say skrew it and go get the regular switch but I already have games on the switch lite. Do those transfer too?

[@shadowcyborg5092]

I want to do this but I do not know if all my games will transfer over and if all the save data on those games will transfer too or if I have to start all over again

[@ApexAshan]

Thanks IGN

[@knorpheus]

Whats the point of this? If I ever need to transfer my saves it will be when my present switch got broken or something. and then I would like to restore my saves from cloud storage or something. ???

[@audoodle9963]

It’s useful if you have multiple users and then one of them gets their own switch so you want to transfer over their save data. Or if there’s ever a switch XL or mini or a new 3DS like upgrade it will be useful for that. It’s not the most helpful feature but it’s better to have then not.

[@ownzuall]

The Fourth Edge, Hahahaha good joke. Its like everyone now have a Switch and its not hard to get one.

[@Sadical]

Abhisek Behera I agree. There should be a cloud because this is useless if my switch ever breaks.

[@brinley9629]

The “R” button on my right joycon is broken, so the endurance company are replacing the whole switch

[@SalmanKhan-vy9bm]

Well, in my case this feature is helping me get out of depression mode since I borrowed my friend's switch to play Zelda and now I've bought my own system and have come to the realization that I have to give the system back eventually. I really don't want to start all over again so being able to transfer my data is preventing a minor psychotic incident. This isn't the greatest solution but it'll do.

[@snoiprocs16]

If I sold my switch and after few months buy new switch, can I use my old account and get back all game I bought on E-Shop?

[@Mr_Ro.0k]

Yes, the games are linked to your account, not the system

[@snoiprocs16]

@@Mr_Ro.0k So this video is about cloning the system as to get the save game or what?

[@Mr_Ro.0k]

@@snoiprocs16 Yeah, this is for people who, let's say, have a Switch and want to transfer the save data and stuff to a new system. As long as you log in with your Mynintendo account, you should have all of your digital games available for re-downloading.

[@PKMCRed]

I got a question. When you transfer your Switch account will your game data from a physical copy stay even if it's a different physical copy?

[@tevang3136]

So I need to have 2 switches at once? I was planning on selling my switch, buying a new one and just logging in on it /:

[@PellowKityAt]

Yes! Thx a lot for helping me so now me and my sis can play pkmn sword and pkmn shield

[@dernerdderkluge9079]

Did it work?

[@PellowKityAt]

Der Nerd Der kluge yep!

[@dernerdderkluge9079]

Yay because I was a nitendo Switch online member and got I had my account on my Switch too and it broke today! So I can buy myself a new nitendo Switch and get back my account right?

[@PellowKityAt]

Der Nerd Der kluge as Long as you can see the screen and stuff it works

[@dernerdderkluge9079]

Well I don’t see the screen but I will believe it work’s

[@thatboi6427]

I have a broken switch where the screen is glitching and the controllers are just broken in general so i am hoping that the data transfer will transfer the save data too. I had a different switch that just was broken and never would turn on so i transfered data and i got the games on the other switch, but the save data was gone so i needed to replay all of the games to get back where i was. I just hope the save data will transfer with the games and account...

[@deiongreenaway9751]

I need to transfer old switch over new switch v2 next is switch lite?

[@SkumleBones]

smart of Nintendo to actually let you do this, why the hell they didnt let you do this at first is beyond me....

[@karnagefails333]

ArmedDarkly The problem here is, if your console "bricks", there is no way to transfer your save data for those games. So you'll have your games....but you'll be starting every single one of them over....

[@SkumleBones]

no i agree

[@Chill_lxrd]

Im watching this because I’m about to get the new Nintendo switch (the one that came out in August)

[@lolito5439]

What if the Nintendo is new?

[@ayebowzee1668]

So basically you can give free games to someone else and still keep ur games.

[@illusionofartYT]

Gaming With Bowser whoa...i never thought of it like that..

[@weegefan]

Noice

[@jordano.3650]

But I thought the source console's data gets wiped.

[@NightHawk4Hire]

Bottom line, No

[@EDENSSBU]

Of course not.

[@fionayang6486]

i want to try this but some comments are saying that they have to restart their games? is this the case?

[@siebrenbe79]

This might be useful for when my Nintendo Switch will stop working because it has gotten too old.

[@NightShadow720]

Must the Nintendo Switch AC Adapter have the same ends of the cable in order fit into the charging port for 2 consoles? If so, where can I find one?

[@greybo123]

Probably exists for *New* Nintendo Switch

[@CarlosAlberto-nq3iv]

Grey It’s the 3DS all over again.

[@camerontroscianiec5320]

Okay I was freaked the hell out for a while because I thought I wouldn't get any save data back. I made an account on my friends switch when he let me borrow it, now I have my own and we transferred the account but not the data, and I thought it had been lost somehow

[@ArtenKolen]

I just wonder that this method not required to subscript Nintendo Family right?

[@Phantom-Asura7]

Is there anyway to recover the account, games and the membership from broken Switch? to place all that on a new nintendo switch system?

[@sirclock6340]

What if I have two accounts but only one has a Nintendo account linked to it? Can I get both accounts on the new switch?

[@moregrenino]

Thank you

[@minervamorgenstern]

Do you need to move the old SD card to the new console to help this transfer along or will all the data automatically go?

[@Myname-yi5jf]

Can you transfer switch save data from one Nintendo account to another? My data is on my brothers Nintendo account

[@ewinyan]

Can you just send the save data? I played a game on an account that has all my games and i wanted to send my save to a different switch while keeping my games

[@idontknowanymore8716]

nope. it just transfers the entire account and not individual saves on a game, sorry man.

[@cyberwebcom4537]

Ok but do u need both switches to transfer all ur saved data and games. Couldn't u just login into ur nintendo account

[@sleepyghost5029]

what about if the nintendo i wish to recieve data from is broken

[@Frygo-dv2lk]

Thank you your a lifesaver

[@sion8]

Why can't they add do the transfer animation with Pikmin?! The 3DS and Wii U did and it was so fun to look at!

[@MrKittycat313]

how to transfer account and save date from old switch to new switch without erasing pre-installed game

[@timothykehoe8836]

You can just download it back from the e shop

[@Sabrange]

Hey ! do you know if we have to do it every time ? because I want to play with the switch of my boyfriend but also the one of my brother.... and idk if Pokemon do the update of your progress or not thank you so much ! sorry if it's not clear !

[@taacoman9546]

So does this mean we can gameshare

[@SlightlyBurntToast5689]

What do you mean by a power source?

[@khaleubiquitous7651]

Same rules for switch lite to original switch transfers too ? I’m guessing it would be

[@nate9173]

I replaced my switch because it was buggy, i still got my account on the new switch but all my data is gone

[@marmaladecity]

So does that mean when you play games the transferred account will have the same data on that game the other one also do you need a new version of that game or use the original game that the transferred account played it on

[@ilikememz92]

Thank you so much

[@Josue-np8yx]

Lets say both the target switch and the source switch have important data in them. Is it possible to keep the data of both consoles? And if it is, can someone explain please

[@vxieb9128]

Will splatoon 2 and pokemon data be transferred as well? This is all kinda errkkk considering i would like to be able to transfer my data if my original switch broke accidentally and i wouldnt be able to do it like this

[@caymantheman1991]

How do I do this is my source console is dead and won’t charge

[@shayquann.]

GUYS I accidentally putted finds on a different account and didnt mean to and now I cant buy anything on that account???

[@audrib3446]

I have a question what if i had downloaded software. Do i have to get a new game or can i download it again on the new console. Do i need two seperate nintendo accounts. I would like to know thank you very much .

[@Mini_Pixels]

why are people soo salty on how complicated this is? it's simply easy and all you need to do is to do it carefully...

[@utubegiant6]

I see people complaining and sayin a lot of what if. This was exactly what I needed since I had 2 switches and just wanted to transfer breath of the wild over to the switch I haven't touched yet. Great update and if this ruined your thanksgiving u need to get a fuckin life. Its not that serious✌

[@internalscreaming9538]

I'm having a problem. The source console is plugged in to a power source, but it keeps saying to connect the console to a power source. Please help!

[@karnagefails333]

InternalScreaming Did you call Nintendo? If they can't resolve it over the phone with you(they are very nice people) they ask you to send it in. You'll have to be clear with them that what you want to do is transfer all your data over to the new system including SAVE DATA.

[@internalscreaming9538]

Karnage Fails i got it figured out. Thanks for taking the time out of your day to help me any way!

[@yulchaez]

Hi do you know how to do it with the same console?

[@bethdev5426]

Will you have the buy the games again on the target switch?

[@Bloburt306]

I wish you could have the same save on different switches

[@tacobella24]

i followed all of the steps directly but my game restarted from the beginning on the new console? the user was transferred and in the storage setting it says that there is memory on the switch but the game still reset back to the beginning?

[@tray6662]

When if I have a micro sd card? Will the data stay on there?