Just like upgrading your smartphone, switching from your current Nintendo Switch to the new Switch 2 allows you to transfer all your data wirelessly. Here’s how to do it in just a few steps.
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If you’ve pre-ordered the Switch 2, you might be unboxing and setting it up today. The good news? You can bring over your games, save data, settings, and user profiles before jumping into your first round of Mario Kart World.
Nintendo has confirmed on its official website that data transfer between the Switch and Switch 2 is fully supported.
What You Can Transfer from Switch to Switch 2
- User profiles
- Linked Nintendo Account
- Downloaded games
- Save data
- System settings
- Parental controls
What You Need Before Starting
To transfer your data, make sure you have:
- A linked Nintendo Account: Your user profile on the old Switch must be linked to a Nintendo Account.
- An internet connection: You’ll connect to Wi-Fi during the setup process.
How to Transfer Data to the Switch 2
The process is similar to transferring data between smartphones. The two consoles connect over the internet and move the data from your old Switch to the new Switch 2.
Here’s what to do:
- Turn on your Switch 2 and go through the initial setup until you reach the network settings screen.
- Connect to your Wi-Fi network.
- When prompted with “If you have a Nintendo Switch…”, choose “Start System Transfer.”
- The Switch 2 may prompt you to insert a microSD Express card for extra storage. You can either skip this step or insert a card now.
- Log into your Nintendo Account on the Switch 2.
- Place both consoles near each other and press Next to begin the transfer.
- The system will start downloading your data from the old Switch.
Important Note: The Switch 2 only allows data transfer during the initial setup. If you skip this step and finish setup without transferring, you’ll need to reset the console to factory settings to try again.
How Long Does It Take?
The data transfer usually takes just a few minutes, depending on how much data you have. Once the transfer is done, your new Switch 2 will have all your old settings, games, and saved data – so you can continue playing just like before.
