PSA: Save Data On Nintendo Switch Can't Be Copied Or Transferred

Losing save data for games you’ve put hours into can be the worst feeling. Nowadays, it’s less of a concern when we can back up save files in multiple ways, with external and cloud storage options. However, with the recently launched Nintendo Switch, you can’t transfer save files to any other external storage medium or other Switch console.

Nintendo confirmed to Kotaku that, “At this time, it is not possible to transfer save data from one Nintendo Switch system to another,” and according to the official Nintendo Switch online FAQ “Game save data cannot be saved or copied to a microSD card.” We have scoured the console’s settings ourselves and haven’t come across any possibility for data transfer. Instead, it is only possible to delete save data to make space in the console’s 32 GB internal storage. 

This is different from both Wii U and Nintendo 3DS, which both had the ability to transfer data, even if the 3DS’ save data transfer tool is cumbersome. 

Nintendo Switch launched a couple days ago. You can check out our review of the new console here.