Do old games work with new Nintendo Switch?

The Nintendo Switch – OLED Model, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch Lite systems do not include backwards compatibility with games from previous Nintendo platforms.

Does Nintendo Switch support older games?

No. Nintendo 3DS and Wii U games purchased through Nintendo eShop do not carry over to Nintendo Switch. The Nintendo Switch is an all-new way to play, and does not include backwards compatibility with digital or physical games designed for other systems.

Do I have to buy my games again for a new Switch?

All your digital purchases are tied to your account and you can log in to that account with a new Switch and re-download all your games.

How do I get my purchased games on my new Switch?

Do I keep my games if I get a new console?

You can either redownload the games when you get the new console, transfer them via network transfer, or if you have them on an external hard drive, you can plug the hard drive into the new console.

Nintendo Switch Online: How NES Games Work - Good/Bad?!

What games are compatible with the new Nintendo Switch?

What games are not compatible with Nintendo Switch?

Can you play any Switch game on any Switch?

Can I play my games on more than one system? You can play digital games that you've purchased with your Nintendo Account on any Nintendo Switch console. Please note that you can register one primary console per Nintendo Account.

Why can't I play my games on my Switch?

Update your Nintendo Switch console to the latest version. Change the primary console for that Nintendo Account to the system that you're using. If you are already using the primary console for that Nintendo Account, de-register the console, then make it the primary console again.

Can I have 2 Nintendo switches with the same account?

You can link your Nintendo Account to multiple Nintendo Switch consoles and play your games on any of them using your Nintendo Account. Only one of the consoles can act as the primary console.

Will I lose my game progress if I get a new Switch?

Your save data will be deleted on the source console. *Save data is stored on the console you're currently using. In order to play games with your latest save data on multiple systems, you'll need to transfer the save data each time you use a different console.

Will I lose my Animal Crossing Island if I get a new Switch?

What is transferred to the new console with a full island transfer? When a full island transfer is completed, all island save data, progress, animal neighbours, residents, residents' inventories and homes are transferred to the new console. No Animal Crossing: New Horizons save data will remain on the original console.

How do I transfer from old Switch to new Switch?

From the HOME Menu, select System Settings, then Data Management, and then Transfer Your Save Data. Select Send Save Data to Another Console, then select the user whose save data file you wish to transfer. Select the save data file for the software title you want to send to another system. Select Send Save Data.

How do I transfer games and data to a new Switch?

Do you have to rebuy games for a second Switch?

Digital games are tied to the Nintendo Account that was used to purchase them. All users on a console will be able to play games purchased by any Nintendo Account that has registered the console as their primary console.

Can I move games I bought on one Nintendo Switch to a new one?

From within the System Settings of the original console, use the option to Transfer Your User and Save Data for each account you wish to transfer. You can also select Transfer Your Save Data if you want to move an individual game save file to a different system.

Do saved games transfer to new Switch?

From the HOME Menu, select “System Settings” > “Data Management” > “Transfer Your Save Data.” Select “Send Save Data to Another Console,” then select the user whose save data file you wish to transfer. Select the save data file for the software title you want to send to another console.

Can I play the same game on two switches?

The solution is simple. For each Nintendo account, you can set a primary console and a secondary console. If both parties want to play one copy of a game, Alex needs to set Jason's Switch as his primary console and Jason needs to set Alex's Switch as his primary console.

Can you transfer games with an SD card to a new Switch?

Software downloaded to a microSD card on one system will not be playable on a different system. Do not swap data between multiple microSD cards, or swap your microSD card between multiple systems.

Can you share games between two Nintendo switches?

You can link your Nintendo Account to multiple consoles. You can play digital games you've purchased on any Nintendo Switch console that has been linked to your Nintendo Account. Please note that you can register one primary console per Nintendo Account.

Will I lose my Animal Crossing Island if I get a new switch?

What is transferred to the new console with a full island transfer? When a full island transfer is completed, all island save data, progress, animal neighbours, residents, residents' inventories and homes are transferred to the new console. No Animal Crossing: New Horizons save data will remain on the original console.

Why can't I play a game on my second Switch?

This error message means that you are not using the primary console for the Nintendo Account that purchased the game. On a non-primary console, the game can only be started by the player that owns the game. The solution depends on who originally purchased the game.

Can two switches play Mario Kart with one game?

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe supports wireless play, allowing up to 8 players to connect multiple Nintendo Switch consoles together via a local wireless connection.

How many times can you change primary Switch?

Set your new Switch as the primary console

A single Switch can be the primary console for as many accounts as you want, but each account can only set one Switch as its primary.