System transfers accept been a thing for a goodly amount of time at present for Nintendo consoles. Gone are the days when all your lovely gubbins was held on a game cartridge or (gasp) memory card. Now when yous get a new version of a console — be a regular Switch, a handy Switch Lite or a Switch OLED model — you've got to ferry all that information over from your old system to your new one.

Fortunately, it's relatively like shooting fish in a barrel to transfer everything from one Switch to another Switch, and to bear witness that fact we're going to tell you how in the article y'all lucky, lucky beggars.

In this Switch organisation transfer guide we'll take you through all the steps to transfer all your information over to your new Switch OLED, Switch Lite, or regular Switch from another Switch console.

Looking to transfer your Animal Crossing: New Horizons island to your new Switch too? You'll want to check out our guide on but that topic, likewise:

  • Animal Crossing: New Horizons Island Transfer - How To Move Animal Crossing Salvage Data To Some other Nintendo Switch

Nintendo Switch Organisation Transfer Guide - Switch to Switch OLED, Switch Lite, or standard Switch

The instructions beneath should work for transferring between any two Switch systems, whether it'south from a regular Switch to a Switch OLED model, a Switch Lite to a regular Switch, or whatever combination of the three bachelor Switch models.

Switch System Transfer
Image: Nintendo Life

Getting Started

The kickoff thing you'll want to practise is make sure both your new and old panel are fully set up. Y'all tin perform a system transfer when setting up a new console, but it's a chip more straightforward to exercise it after you've put in your WiFi information and all that proficient stuff. As long equally you tin can see the Home Screen and you've got an active cyberspace connection, you're ready to transfer between Switch systems.

Unlike the 3DS, the Switch does not require any tools to consummate the transfer, it'due south all handled in software and is a much more straightforward process, then let's dive correct into things.

The Bodily Organisation Transfer Bit

  • Connect an official Nintendo Switch Air conditioning Adapter into each of the 2 systems.
  • Select Arrangement Settings from the Home Menu on both consoles, indicated by a gear on the lower row of round icons.
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  • Scroll down on both consoles and select User from the menu on the left hand side of the screen.
  • Select Transfer Your User and Save Data on both consoles from the correct paw side of the screen.
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  • Read the information on screen and select Adjacent on both systems.
  • Over again, read the information on this screen as well and select Next on both systems.
  • If yous have Parental Controls activated on either system, enter the Pin required. If you exercise non know the Pin, consult the individual who set up Parental Controls.
  • If you lot are prompted to insert a ability supply into i or both of your consoles, ensure the Ac adapters are properly plugged in.
  • Y'all will now see a screen asking you to select which unit volition be the Source Console and which will exist the Target Console.
  • On your quondam system with the User Profile(south) you wish to transfer, select Source Console.
  • On your new organization, select Target Console.
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  • Your old arrangement volition ask y'all which User Profile y'all wish to transfer. Select the icon of the User Profile you lot wish to send to your new system.
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  • Your new arrangement will ask you to sign into the Nintendo Account that is associated with the User Contour you wish to transfer. Select Sign In and then choose the method y'all used to initially create your account, which is usually Sign in using an email address or Sign-In ID. enter the email address and password that you chose when you fix the User Contour you selected on your quondam console, then select Sign In.
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  • Provided yous signed in successfully, you lot will at present see the icon of the User Profile you wish to transfer on both consoles, along with some text that will differentiations between them.
  • Select Go along on your old console.
  • Select Side by side on your new console.
  • Both consoles will at present try to observe one another, which shouldn't take longer than 10 seconds. Make certain the consoles are close together to ensure a rapid discovery.
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  • Once both systems take discovered each other, select Transfer on your one-time console.
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  • The systems volition now begin exchanging data, which may take up to or over xxx minutes depending on the corporeality of save information you have. Brand sure both consoles are plugged into an official power supply for the duration of this transfer.
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  • Once the transfer is consummate, your old organization will tell you that your User Contour has been successfully transferred. Your new system may take a few moments longer to also declare that the process is complete
  • Once both systems have finished the transfer and brandish a blue tick icon, select End on both consoles.
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The arrangement transfer is consummate. Your contour, all your save data, and eShop purchases accept been transferred to your new console. Woohoo!

Where Are All My Games?

Whilst your save data has been sent over, your games themselves haven't, because Switch games are mighty massive and if yous've ever done a system transfer for the 3DS or Wii U you tin can empathise why Nintendo thought "basics to that" with the Switch.

Instead you're going to have to re-download them from the eShop, but thankfully it'south non as painful a process as yous might think.

Getting Those Games Back

  • From the Domicile Carte du jour on your new console, select Nintendo eShop, indicated by an orange shopping bag on the lower row of circular icons.
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  • If prompted to select a User Account, select the User Account that fabricated the purchases you lot wish to re-download.
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  • If prompted to sign in with your electronic mail and password for your User Contour, enter your email and password associated with your User Profile and select Sign In.
  • When the eShop has loaded, select the small version of your User Icon in the top right hand corner of the screen.
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  • Scroll downwards and select Redownload from the bill of fare on the left side of the screen.
  • From here on the right side of the screen y'all will be presented with a list of the games you lot have purchased on this account.
  • Select the orange cloud icon to the right of each previously purchased game you wish to download onto your new console. You will not be charged again for any downloads from this menu.
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  • In one case you have selected the orange cloud icon next to all the games you wish to redownload, printing the Domicile Button to return to the Home Menu.
  • Your games are now downloading onto your new system, which may take several hours, but will continue even when the Switch is in Sleep Mode (providing you have the advisable selection enabled in the Organisation Settings carte).
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That'due south it! One time they're finished you tin dive correct back in as though you never left, thank you to all your save data being transferred over earlier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I just move my Micro SD Bill of fare with all my games on information technology to my new console rather than downloading them all over again?

Sadly not, due to the particular jiggery pokery Nintendo has opted for, this only doesn't work.

Can I perform a Organization Transfer for more than than one User Profile?

Admittedly! Just repeat the steps listed in a higher place for every user you wish to transfer.

Do I need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to practise all this?

Mercifully, no. You do not need any kind of subscription to transfer whatever of this info, fifty-fifty your precious Breath of the Wild relieve data.

What about all the screenshots and videos that I've captured?

As long every bit you take the Micro SD Card out of your old panel and sideslip it into your new one, you should be able to go along all your old screenshots and videos. Just follow the onscreen prompts and you'll be golden.

Can I transfer between two Switch OLEDs or two Switch Lites?

As long as they're Nintendo Switches, you tin transfer between 2 Lites, 2 OLEDs or two regulars, no trouble.

Tin I not just transfer my profile by rubbing both consoles together and chanting?

If you try it, please send united states of america a video.

How exercise I transfer my Fauna Crossing: New Horizons isle over to my new Switch?

Glad you asked — we've got a guide for that:

  • Brute Crossing: New Horizons Island Transfer - How To Move Brute Crossing Save Data To Another Nintendo Switch

Nosotros hope you found this guide helpful. Let usa know below if y'all've got any questions and we'll do our all-time to answer them.