Topic: Switch Lite System Transfer Q's

Hey everyone,
If you've been viewing my recent forum posts then you'll probably be aware of an annoying issue I've had with my Switch where an error code (2618-0002) would sometimes pop up when transferring screenshots/videos and cause my Switch to just crash. While it thankfully only seems to affect that section of my Switch and I can play my games just fine....I definitely want a more permanent solution (especially with Pokemon coming out so soon). Thus, I've come up with a typically complicated plan to solving it, which goes as follows:

• Buy a Switch Lite (preferably used since it's cheaper and I probably won't be using it for long)
• Perform a system transfer and move all my user and save data over to the Lite.
• Send the original Switch off for repairs (since it's still within warranty)
• Use the Lite until it comes back (mainly for Splatoon 3 and Splatfest)
• Once the original comes back, transfer everything back in time for Pokemon SV.

I think it's a pretty fool-proof plan in order to make sure I have everything kept intact for SV's release. However, a few questions have popped into my mind ever since coming up with this initially and I wanted to ask for answers if you have any. These include:

• Will my play-time carry over? I've done a system transfer once before with a V1 Switch to a V2 Switch and everything carried over perfectly though I'm unsure if the same would be true with a V2 to Lite. If not, then I'll probably just bite the bullet and fork out the extra €60 with a regular Switch in that case (play-time is a big personal thing for me and I'm not entirely sure why).
• Will my Pokemon saves be affected? The main reason I'm going through this complicated plan is because the repair people can't guarantee my saves will be in tact and, when I have about 900 hours over all 4 Switch era Pokemon games, that's a risk I can't afford taking. Everything worked fine last transfer but I have gotten 3 more games in the intervening months (PLA, BDSP & LGPE) and I'm just a bit nervy is all (I'm also curious how events like BDSP Shaymin/Darkrai will come over since I haven't started those yet). Speaking of Pokemon....
• How will cloud services like Pokemon HOME be affected? I got HOME after getting my new Switch and I'm wondering how a cloud service like it will transfer over. I assume it'll still be grand in the same way the cloud saves on NSO work but I'm curious all the same.
• Would you recommend keeping NSO before or after the transfer? My current EP plan is set to expire in a few days and I'm wondering whether to renew it before I do the transfer or after everything's said and done.
• If the Lite already has game data on it from being used, should I factory reset it before anything else? And when transferring stuff back to my old Switch after it's fixed, should I do the same before sending everything else back?

Really sorry this ended up as a rambly mess, I get really worked up over situations like this and kind of put everything out on the table as a result. If you know any answers to this though, do let me know ASAP so I can start the prep work. Thanks in advance and have a great day!

@Fizza If you get a new Switch then transfer everything over (like I've done 4 times), my Pokemon Sword save is safe because of me doing a system transfer.

@Fizza Supplimental info: Three things that surprised me when I transferred to an OLED:

Your total gamplay times will transfer. However, there's a caveat. The game tiles on your Switch home page will only sort by the amount of time they've been played on that particular console. It's weird, but that's how the home screen sort works. There's no changing it or solution, because nintendo. So, if you have a game that has 100s of hours on it, it's tile will sort like a new game on a new console.

You can only transfer save data for Switch users that are linked to a nintendo account. So, if you made any extra switch users, you can't transfer their game save data until you've linked them to nintendo accounts. You don't need NSO for this. Its just being linked to a nintendo account, which is free.

You will have to redownload all games and dlc. Switch system does not allow transfer of games via microSD card. And you have to format your card to the new console, which wipes it. So, if you want to keep your screenshots & video clips, You need to back up your switch Album folder to a PC, then paste the folder back onto your card after you've formatted it to your new console. (If you have games or dlc from another console on a micro sd card, the switch will say you need to format the card)

edit:
*You will have no use for if the previous owner's data is on the console. Though, I expect they will have reset the console for their own financial security.

@Eagly @Kermit1 @WoomyNNYes Sorry for not getting back to you guys sooner, I just wanted to wait about a day in case anyone else replied! Your responses have definitely quelled a bunch of my concerns in regards to this transfer though I just remembered something that I'm unsure of that I wouldn't mind an answer to: do I need to re-download archived software (for me, that's Ys VIII, Pokemon Quest, etc.) before the transfer or is that taken care of during the re-downloading process afterwards? Just making sure everything's set up perfectly. Thanks for all you guys' help though!

@Fizza You don't need to re-download anything on your source console (the old one), it can all be re-downloaded on the target console (the new one).

Transferring save data is not that hard once you have another Switch. Just look up a video guide (It doesn't matter if it's an OLED or Lite one) and they should help walk you through the process.

@Fizza Deleting a game and Archiving a game do the same thing. The difference is, Archiving will leave the game's tile on your Switch home screen. That's the only difference.

If you hit (+) on the game's tile, select Manage Software. Archive Software & Delete Software both have descriptions and say your save data won't be deleted. You can see it for yourself.

I've just thought of a few more questions that I'd like some answers to if that's alright (this is the last time, I swear):

• Do you need an internet connection in order to transfer stuff over? From what I've seen online, the transfer itself involves a local wireless connection and, if that's the case, I assume you wouldn't need any wi-fi in order to get this to work correct? I could be very off the mark but that's just from my observations.
• What happens to timed downloadable content when the transfer takes place? For example, I got Three Wonders for free on Capcom Arcade Stadium 2 for buying Capcom Fighting Collection early and I'm wondering whether something like that will carry over.
• How does a Game Trial game work when transferred over after the Game Trial itself is over? I have Ys VIII archived on my Switch due to it being from a Game Trial back in September and I'm wondering whether that'll transfer over as well or whether or not it'll go away during the transfer (kind of similar to how that'll happen with limited time demos).
• When getting to the step where it asks me whether or not I'll keep using the original console, what do I say? I'm only going to be using the one I'm transferring my data to until my regular Switch gets back from repairs so technically I'll be using in addition to that one, but at the same time the second my old one gets back and I send everything over, I won't be using the new one anymore so do I click no then?

Thanks for listening, if you have any answers let me know ASAP and have a great day!

@Eagly @Fizza

• You do need wifi
• Your DLC will shop up in the re-download tab
• From what I know yes
• I selected I didn't want to keep the original every time I did the transfer.

@Kermit1 If you don't mind elaborating, why would you need wi-fi in order to perform the transfer if the main transfer itself is handled through local wireless? I'll test it without wi-fi to start with to see what happens and if it doesn't allow it then I'll gladly switch back over.

@Eagly Oh I absolutely am, don't worry (it's a smart idea to listen to the user who's done this 7 times after all), I'm just genuinely curious about this now

@Fizza Transferring to another console does not use internet. It transfers console to console via the Switch's own wireless (bluetooth). So, you don't need router wifi. But your Switch wifi will need to be on for the transfer - that's how it's local wireless works.

@Fizza what he said.

@Eagly @Kermit1 @WoomyNNYes Thanks for all the answers guys, that takes a massive weight off my shoulder! I think that's all the questions I wanted to ask there now. I'm going to try and get all this sorted before Pokemon's release date (which is only 22 days away now good lord) so if I start to get quiet on here, just know that it's most likely me tinkering away at this.

Oh and #TeamSlime all the way baby

@Eagly @Fizza @WoomyNNYes

So uh.....there's been a development.

I recently found my old Switch (aka the one I used prior to transferring the stuff over to my new Switch about a year ago) and, much to my absolute astonishment, it still works. You can probably already tell where this is going so I'll cut straight to the chase: I GOT A WHOLE BUNCH OF QUESTIONS.

1. Are they any potential problems I should be aware about in regards to transferring stuff back over to the old Switch (my old one is the V1 version while the new Switch is V2 if that helps)? I highly doubt it given that it's basically just sending over a user and their save data but I don't want to take any chances.
2. Should I completely reset this old Switch (factory reset, etc.) before sending the other stuff over? Once again, highly doubt it since it's both A. an extremely nuclear option and B. doesn't seem necessary due to Q1 but I'm just making sure.
3. Should I update all my games on the Switch I'll be transferring stuff over from prior to the transfer?
4. Should I do the exact same process with my new Switch once I get it back from repairs (factory reset, transfer everything just like I did with my old Switch, etc.)?
5. When clicking on whether or not I'll keep using the original console, I can just say no without any repercussions so long as I do a factory reset beforehand, yes? I clicked no the last time I did a transfer so I assume so long as I reset everything prior to sending everything over, we should be grand.

If any more questions come to me, I'll add them on here. If you have experience with transferring stuff between old and new systems, let me know since you're the exact kind of person I'm looking for in regards to this!

@Fizza I'd do this

On the V1 Switch put it on factory reset to make everything easier

Before transferring put your SD card in your V1 and let your console update it

Transfer Everything from the V2 to the V1 (There should be no problems)

No need to update anything since when you re-download games they update automatically

(Trust me I know what I'm doing lol)

@Kermit1 Cheers! I'll look into how to factory reset the old Switch and then I'll hopefully get everything sorted by tomorrow (I don't think my heart can physically take another day of me worrying about this 😅).

@Fizza I just added another step to the list...

I've done transferring too much........

@Kermit1 Shouldn't I be doing the whole SD card thing after the system transfer? Whenever you move over an SD card, it deletes all the data off that card prior to being able to update it. I watched a Gamexplain video on the system transfer process (the one I was cross-referencing when I did this the last time round) and they said to put in the SD card after the process was all carried out. Granted, in the comments they said it doesn't really matter when you pop in the SD card so I'll probably stick to what I know and do it all after the transfer is done.

Also, I've done the exact same thing as you and added some more points to my previous post as well. It never ends with me....

@Fizza Yes! Do that!

also