Topic: Suggested Remaining Free Space For Save Data?

Hi guys. I have a Switch 2, and also have a 1TB mSD Express Card installed. Most of my games are digital. Since the Switch 2 stores game saves on the internal memory, about how much free space is suggested to leave remaining on my system for game save data? Right now, I have about 26GB remaining for System internal memory. Thoughts and help appreciated

Just keep about a gig free, two to be extra safe

@OmegaX83 If you run out of space for a save file, the console will helpfully tell you to archive a game before booting up any game which requires more space. This has already happened to me. But most save files are quite small so I agree with others that if you keep anywhere near a gig free you will be fine. If the free space starts to fill up just archive a game.

It's typically advised to leave 10% of an SSD empty to ensure speed isn't throttled. So I'd say leave at least 20-25 GB internal storage empty, which also ensures there's plenty of space for save data.

Do keep in mind though that recommendation is assuming data is being written as often as it is being read. Whereas on a gaming device, it's mostly just being read. Which means it's probably ok to leave just 10-15 GB empty.

Is there a reason your not using the 1tb card? That is more then the 256g internal storage? That's what one would use a 1tb for storage.

Yeah, this. Sure, save files, but unless save files are way bigger than on Switch 1, they shouldn't contribute a particularly large amount of memory consumption. The only plausible way to run low on internal memory space would be if you have significantly more than 1 TB of games downloaded, which. . . kind of takes an effort.

@metaphysician Then why even have a 1tb exSD card if your not going to use it. Mine uses the exSD 1tb for GKC and another for standard games. So your basically limiting yourself already.

@Jarodlaraus

Sure, its "what its for", but filling an entire 1tb memory card this quickly after release still seems unlikely enough to request clarification. If the person does have 1.2TB of games installed, then yeah, that explains why the internal memory is near full, and also leads to the obvious next step: "To make sure you have enough room for saves, go through your installed games and delete ones you are unlikely to play anytime soon to free up space". If, OTOH, they don't have that many games downloaded. . . it suggests that something weirder is afoot and the question really needs to be "Why is the internal memory filling up?" Like, it would be bad to try figuring out the minimum amount of space needed for save files, if all the while the system is sticking everything in system memory because something is wrong with the memory card.

Hi again guys. I am using a 1TB mSD Express card, but I thought that the Switch (and Switch 2) stored all saves on internal memory? A side question: On the Switch 2 eShop, I keep getting error code 2811-5003. Is the eShop working for you guys? I checked downdetector site, and it said that there are possible problems with the eShop currently... Thoughts and help appreciated

The Switch and Switch 2 always store save files on the console's internal storage, yes.

Swicth 1 owner, but sadly no Switch 2 yet.
Apart from save files, normally I reserve the internal memory for updates and DLC of my evergreen physical games such as Mario Kart or Smash Bros and physical games on turn. At most I usually leave around 1-2GB Free. Hardly any digital game has been on the internal memory.
Thankfully, for most of my physical games they're updates of less than 1GB, with the overall data of Smash, Mario Kart and Mario + Rabbids 1 being the heaviest of them all. Only Starlink: Battle for Atlas and its 10GB download aren't on the system.

All of my digital games are in the 128GB microSD Card, which has already run out of space for all the games I have. It doesn't help that I take a lot of photos and videos, which can take 10GB+ of space. But once I delete those and archive a few games, I should be around the 25GB of free space area.

Now, one thing I've noticed is that save files don't take more than 100MB, if they do they're candidates for deletion after backup in the NSO cloud, especially for NSO Trials such as the NBA 2K or one of the not-FIFAs.

Overall, 2-3GB should cover you just fine for any new save files you make.

@metaphysician Just like another said saves are on the Switch2 storage but if you have NSO Subs. then those saves have cloud save backup for games that use them. Also if you get Digital or go GKC then use the ext. exSD for that storage and save int. storage for saves then. Switch1 goes up to 2tb microSD now. 2tb exSD would cost more two Switch2 MKW bundle-no one is going to be able to afford that if it came out now.