How do I backup my digital Switch games?

Is there a way to transfer digital Switch games?

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 digital Switch games save to your account?

Save data is stored in the system memory, and for the most part it is associated with the individual user. So long as the same user is selected on the console, the save data will not be impacted whether the software is played from a game card or downloaded from Nintendo eShop.

Can you save digital Switch games to SD card?

*Game save data is only stored in the system memory, so it can't be moved to the microSD card.

Do you lose digital games on Switch?

All games you buy digitally are stored via your Nintendo Account ID, so you can just redownload them as many times as you want when you delete games to free up space, no problem. You can't lose a digital game since it's right there on your system.

How to Install and Play Game Backups on Your Switch

Can you keep digital games forever?

Don't want to pack hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of games in your checked bags? With a library of games stored on your hard drive, you'll never face that dilemma. In the same way, digital games can never be lost by accident; they remain on a player's account, essentially permanently.

Do digital Switch games expire?

Download codes purchased from retailers or bundled with Nintendo products do not expire. However, download codes given out for a specific promotion (Hyrule Warriors DLC pack, Pokémon distributions, etc.)

How do I move downloaded games to my SD card?

From your Home screen, tap the Application screen icon. Find and tap Settings → Apps. Tap the On SD card tab. Select application, then tap Move to SD card.

How do I move my Switch games to new SD card?

Eject the first microSD card, then insert the second microSD card into the slot or reader/writer. Using Windows Explorer access the microSD card again. Drag the data from the desktop to the new microSD card, then insert the new microSD card into the Nintendo Switch console.

Can I move games to my SD card?

Go to the Settings the app. Then, scroll down to Apps > See All Apps. Open the app you want to move to the SD card and tap "Storage" or "Storage & Cache". Tap the Change, choose the SD card option, and hit Move to transfer it to the SD card.

Can I get a digital copy of a game I already own on disc?

If you want to be able to run the game without the disc be inserted (i.e. a digital game) then yes, you will to re-pirchase the game from the digital store. Although the games gets downloaded when you insert the disc, the license is held with the disc.

How do I transfer downloaded games to a new Switch?

Go to Settings > Data Management > Save Data Cloud

Make sure both Automatic Save-Data Backup and Automatic Save-Data Download are on. Go to the Nintendo eShop and tap on your icon in the upper-right corner. On the subsequent account page, tap Redownload to see a list of games you can download to the new Switch.

Can you copy Nintendo Switch games?

Luckily, with the Nintendo Switch, that isn't the case as players can transfer a digitally downloaded game from one device to another fairly easily. So, if you sell your Switch or upgrade, you can add the best Nintendo Switch games to your new one.

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

Can you redownload purchased games on Switch?

To redownload the game, launch the Nintendo eShop using the Nintendo Account that originally purchased the game, select your user icon in the top-right corner to access the shop settings, and highlight Redownload. Select the game in the list of previously purchased titles, then select the orange icon to redownload.

What happens to digital games if eShop closes?

What does the eShop closing mean? Broadly, it means that you won't be able to buy or download new games on the 3DS or Wii U eShop after 27th March 2023, and you also won't be able to purchase in-game content, download demos or free-to-play software, redeem download codes, or add funds to your account on 3DS or Wii U.

Do Nintendo digital downloads expire?

Download codes purchased from retailers do not expire. However, download codes given out for a specific promotion (Hyrule Warriors DLC pack, Pokémon distributions, etc.) will usually have an expiration date.

Do I own digital games I buy?

You own a license to the software on the media but you don't actually own the software itself. So there is no difference between buying a digital and physical copy as far as ownership or rights are concerned.

What are the disadvantages of digital games?

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.

Is it better to have a physical or digital copy of a game?

They both have advantages and disadvantages. You won't lose digital games like you could cartridges, but physical games tend to get better deals and can be shared with friends and family or sold for other games when you're done with them.

What happens if you own a game digitally But then insert a physical copy of the same game into that console?

The short answer is, nothing bad happens if you insert a cartridge for a game you already own digitally. And nothing bad will happen if you own the game physically, but buy digitally later on.

Do disc saves work with digital games?

A save game created on the disc version cannot be used with a digitally downloaded version of the game. The case is the same for a save made on the digital version; it cannot be loaded on the disc version.

Should I use my SD card as portable storage or internal storage?

Use your microSD™ card as removable storage when there's already content such as your media and other files so that you don't lose this content. Using the card as removable storage allows you to insert and access the card on any Android phone.

How many games can you Switch to SD card?

We'd recommend a 128GB SD card for most users; this will give you enough room for about 15-18 Nintendo Switch games on your console, but it's worth noting that smaller indie titles will take up far less space.