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Topic: How do I move files from microSD to internal storage?

Posts 1 to 19 of 19

Gameplay_Matters

From day one I have mounted a 64 GB card. Combined with the internal 32 GB this was supposed to last for a long while. However, due to comfort I have purchased all games over the Nintendo eShop so far, so now I only have 3 GB left. (DOOM takes a lot of space.) I plan to download Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze next but I have concerns that space won't be enough. How can I move selected games (probably evergreens like Mario Kart and Mario Odyssey) to the internal storage? I can't find the option.

Will the OS just continue to use the internal storage instead or will the OS prompt me to move files once it notices that the microSD card is full? I would prefer to select manually which games to move.

Might it be possible to delete those games that I use, remove the card and then re-download them? Or will they be transferred once the card is mounted again? How does the system work?

Cheers!

Gameplay_Matters

SwitchForce

Did you look at Nintendo site they give you some instructions on migration? I also posted the same link in another posting on sd migration. So you should look at the Nintendo site they have what your asking. On eShop you can always re-download.

SwitchForce

Hyrule

I think you have to take the SD card out and redownload the games so they are stored on the internal memory. Then pop the SD card back in. Again I think, so don't quote me.
128GB cards are around ÂŖ30, so might be worth getting a larger one.

Hyrule

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OorWullie

@Switchcraft Yep, just archive the games you want to move, take out the SD card and re-download them. It isn't ideal, there should be a way to transfer it much quicker like you could do on Wii U but unfortunately the options not there.

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the_shpydar

I hope a future update adds the functionality to just transfer from SD to internal, since the way it is now is just kind of a pain. I'd love to move all my ACA games to internal just to free up space on my SD (and save the SD card for just larger or full-size/"retail" games), but i don't think i have the patience to do the whole archive-then-redownload thing for all of them.

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SwitchForce

My eShop games are stores on my 400gb sd card. You can change that in the settings. The 32gb internal is to small for that. I live that for the Switch internal updates.

SwitchForce

Heavyarms55

You should really look into a larger card. 128GB at least, 200GB would be best. ESPECIALLY if you prefer downloading games from the eshop.

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Gameplay_Matters

Deleting, removing the microSD and re-downloading helped. I now have 12.2 + 15.4 GB left. I think that will last for two years. I use my 400 GB microSD for other things.

Gameplay_Matters

SwitchForce

Switchcraft wrote:

Deleting, removing the microSD and re-downloading helped. I now have 12.2 + 15.4 GB left. I think that will last for two years. I use my 400 GB microSD for other things.

The 400gb would do more service to the NS then your 12.2gb+15.4gb your asking for trouble here. Less memory and your system will slow down from lack of space. It's just like any computer less Storage worse load and running ability.

SwitchForce

Gameplay_Matters

Playing video games is just not my priority. Nor is saving two seconds off a loading screen 🤷‍♂ī¸

Gameplay_Matters

SwitchForce

Switchcraft wrote:

Playing video games is just not my priority. Nor is saving two seconds off a loading screen 🤷‍♂ī¸

And I flush my toliet when such comments like this comes around.....

SwitchForce

SwitchForce

Switchcraft wrote:

From day one I have mounted a 64 GB card. Combined with the internal 32 GB this was supposed to last for a long while. However, due to comfort I have purchased all games over the Nintendo eShop so far, so now I only have 3 GB left. (DOOM takes a lot of space.) I plan to download Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze next but I have concerns that space won't be enough. How can I move selected games (probably evergreens like Mario Kart and Mario Odyssey) to the internal storage? I can't find the option.

Too many eShop means you need larger sd card. I tell NSW owners start at 128gb or 200gb and go up from there. I have gone from 200gb to 400gb and that help alot.

Switchcraft wrote:

Will the OS just continue to use the internal storage instead or will the OS prompt me to move files once it notices that the microSD card is full? I would prefer to select manually which games to move.

If you didn't set your NSW to save to the sd card then updates and game download will go to the internal storage. I have mine set to sd storage and have no capacity issue with internal storage.

Switchcraft wrote:

Might it be possible to delete those games that I use, remove the card and then re-download them? Or will they be transferred once the card is mounted again? How does the system work?

If you did you setup right it will use the sd for game download and updates.

SwitchForce

ValhallaOutcast

Wish you could choose the default download location, only way in know to download eShop to internal is taking out the SD card

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FaeKnight

There's also always the option of having multiple SD cards dedicated to the Switch if you really buy a lot of games digitally.

FaeKnight

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SwitchForce

ValhallaOutcast wrote:

Wish you could choose the default download location, only way in know to download eShop to internal is taking out the SD card

There is in the settings if one looks there. Your making this harder then it really is.

FaeKnight wrote:

There's also always the option of having multiple SD cards dedicated to the Switch if you really buy a lot of games digitally.

Just buy a larger sd card are we making this really harder then it is now. Spend the money and get a 200gb or 400gb if you can fill that up I like to know.

SwitchForce

Gameplay_Matters

Guys, what the hell? My question was how the OS handles data management of internal and external storage. How is the recommendation to buy a 400 GB microSD card the answer to a technical question?

As we know now, there is no user-accessible data management in the OS. Games will always be loaded onto the external drive unless it's not mounted. To store a game internally, you have to delete it from the card, unmount the microSD and re-download from the eShop.
As far as I can tell it is still not answered what will happen if the external storage is full but internal is still mostly unused. Increasing the external storage size is going to get us further from the answer.

@wolfhammerr You're a bad doggo. Why do you pull up a dead thread from 4,5 months ago just so you can share your negativity and not add anything to the discussion? I'm gonna ask you the same: "Why did you comment here?" Go away.

Gameplay_Matters

FaeKnight

SwitchForce wrote:

Just buy a larger sd card are we making this really harder then it is now. Spend the money and get a 200gb or 400gb if you can fill that up I like to know.

Depending on funds, buying a 200 gb or 400 gb card may not be an option. I bought a 64 gig micro SD card for my switch when I bought it. But my 3DS and tablet only have 32 gig cards in them. When I can afford to, I'll be upgrading that one to a 128 gig card and moving the 64 gig one to my tablet. At which point the spare 32 gig card will probably become a dedicated 3DS secondary card since my 3DS's card is getting full.

Edited on by FaeKnight

FaeKnight

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chardir

There's no need to move any data. If the SD is full it will download to internal. You can even have a game in one location and updates to it in the other, it all just works.

If you are very low on space you might want to shuffle some smaller games to make space for one large one. But you're probably better off just archiving something you haven't played for a while.

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