At the launch of the Nintendo Switch, it was not possible to transfer saves from one console to another. The game saves were always tied to a Switch – cloud storage or transfer via SD card? Missing! In the meantime, however, this has changed – those who get a new hybrid console can take their old game saves with them.
If you are forced to replace a defective Nintendo Switch or if there are several Nintendo hybrid consoles in a household, it may be necessary to transfer your saves from one device to another. Especially with time-intensive games like "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild", with which you can easily spend over 100 hours of gameplay, it's mostly unthinkable to start over when switching to another Nintendo Switch. This was still impossible at the release of the Switch, in the meantime Nintendo has retrofitted via update.
Requirements: System software, Internet access, power
To be able to transfer a user's game saves from the source console to the target console, both systems have to be updated to at least firmware version 4.0.0 can be updated. Also, each Nintendo Switch involved must be connected to the Internet, offline is not possible to transfer the saves. It is also necessary during the process that both consoles are connected to the power supply via USB. There must also be enough space in the system memory of the target console to store the data in it.
Transferring or backing up game saves via SD card is still not possible. They can only be moved online from one system to another via user ID and are not transferable to other users. A user can only be used on one Nintendo Switch at a time.
With the memory levels are thus also all the data of the corresponding user transferred to the target console. The user must be connected to a Nintendo account on the source console to transfer, but: this Nintendo account must not be linked to a user on the destination console. The user disappears completely from the source console with the transfer, memory data can then only be used on the target console. Games purchased with the user on the source console in the Nintendo eShop can only be used on the target console after the transfer.
- Briefly explained, the user is simply the local player account on the Nintendo Switch, with this are also the game saves linked. The user ID can be changed as often as you like, but it must be unique.
- The Nintendo account, in turn, can be linked to different local users. This registers the Nintendo Switch console for various online services, such as the eShop.
- The Nintendo Network ID is used for online features of the Wii U and DS systems and is very similar to the Nintendo account. A Nintendo account can be linked to a Nintendo network ID.
Exit console: The "old" Nintendo Switch
On both consoles, the item "Transfer user and memory data" must be activated are selected. Image: © Screenshot TURN ON 2017
Now to transfer the user and their saves to the new Nintendo Switch, switch from the home menu to the system settings on the source console. Select "Users" under the menu item (left) the option "Transfer user and memory data" (bottom right). Tap on "Next and then tap "Next" again, then you select "output console" – From this Nintendo Switch, the desired user is to be transferred to another one. With "Continue you start the process on the output console.
Target console: The "new" Nintendo Switch
Also on the new Nintendo Switch you switch from the home menu to the system settings and then to the sub-item "Users". In the lower right corner you use the option "Transfer user and memory data" and then tap "Next" twice. Now you specify that this is the "target console" are the ones you want to transfer the game files to. Now you have to log in to the new Switch with your Nintendo account or login ID, then tap "Next".
Transmission: Short& painlessly
On the exit console, the target console should be found after a short time – now you can start the actual process with "Transfer" launch. This may take a few minutes, the user is completely moved to the new Nintendo Switch. After the transfer is finished, you can press "Exit" leaving the process. If there is no other user on the initial console, a placeholder will be created automatically. Digitally purchased software you may have to re-download from the Nintendo eShop.