I have pre-ordered the new OLED switch and will be selling my existing console, there seems to be many options for moving save data and users to a new console, but which is the best way or order to do this in.
My main confusion is with Animal crossing new horizons, I have already downloaded the Island transfer tool onto my existing Switch, but do I transfer this on it's own after I have moved everything else over.
There is an option to do a full user transfer, but it deletes everything off the donor console, so if I did that first, would Animal crossing still be there, as you do require an unique tool to move it.
Or are you better off setting up your account on the new console, then moving the save data etc individually, then sending the Animal crossing data over, then you can just format the existing console to sell it, and re download any digital software.
I do have a subscription to the Nintendo Online service.
@johnvboy I think you'll want to transfer your ANCH first? If anyone else has done this themselves, by all means chip in. I think the directions below will get you there.
You can do a system transfer two ways, system to system via Switch local wifi (this may be preferable). Or you can download it from your Switch Online via internet. And just as a reminder, game save data is stored seperately on Switch's internal memory, not on micro sd cards. Every once in a while someone isn't aware. Disregard, if you already know.
If you find yourself wanting to call Nintendo support for UK, the number has been kind of hidden for the past year. On the contact page, you'll have to select Europe, then a category or two, then you'll get an email form page. At the bottom of that email form, the phone number will be stealthily placed. If you don't get the phone number, you may need to select "other" as a category. (I'm in north america, but this is something I discoverd while helping other UK<3 people here)
@johnvboy I'm not seeing the guides mention if you need to transfer ANCH before or after a system transfer. Maybe it doesn't matter?
Gavin Lane, aka @dartmonkey, the OP user @johnvboy is upgrading to new Switch (will have both consoles - target & source). Does he have to transfer is ANCH island before or after the system transfer? Does order matter? Do you know? Nintendo support guides and NL's guides dont seem to say.
After you've downloaded the Island Transfer Tool on the source system, you'll have to do the full system transfer of user and save data before continuing with the process:
@dartmonkey
I was looking up this article earlier, you guys should definitely put these helpful guides back on the frontpage for the launch period, like you do with the periodic refreshes of buying guides for systems or microSDs.
@dartmonkey Ah, there it is. I'm very good at missing details while reading. Thanks Gavin. -very slick providing the link that points directly to relevant part of the guide.
@johnvboy See dartmonkey's comment above regarding order.
(download the Island Transfer Tool, then do the system transfer. The link dartmonkey provides points right to the relevent part of the NL guide, which he wrote.)
Reading the nintendolife guide…..once I’ve done the system transfer, I need to delete all the games on the memory card, transfer the memory card over to the switch OLED and redownload. really?????
@norwichred It's to prevent piracy. I think you have to format the card with the new console in order for the new console to accept the micro sd card. -formatting wipes micro sd cards. However, if you have a pc, I think you can copy the Nintendo folder (from the card) to the computer. Then format that card on the new console. Then copy/paste the nintendo folder (from the computer) back onto your card.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
This is what you do if you upgrade to a new, bigger card, basically.
Cheers buddy, appreciate it. At some point I hope my old switch will go to my kids but they don’t even live in the same country as me at the moment unfortunately . So that’s not an option right now. In the future when that can hopefully happen, I will get a new memory card for the old switch in order to download games suitable for them.
For now the old card will go in the new switch.
Just managed to pick up a new nintendo 3DS XL which I’m going to mod so a lot of memory cards and fiddling to be done over the weekend
I've pre-ordered a Switch OLED too, and JUST as I got my head around transferring all the stuff from my old console to the new one, I never thought about the micro SD card that I also use.
Help!!!!
After transferring all the data etc across, do I simply take the micro SD card out of the old console and put it in the new one and that's it, job done, everything will be there for me, all my save data etc? Last thing I want to do is lose my save data
Or is there more to it than that? If so, could someone please explain it as if you were explaining it to a 5 year old, as I'm a 35 year old technophobe and have been dreading all this transfer stuff to the point I wanted the OLED Switch but so nearly didn't get one because of it.
From the comments above, and the guide I think it’s as follows.
Save data is stored on the console. So the system transfer process sends all your saved games and progress to the new switch.
Then you take the memory card out of the old switch and put it in the new one. The new switch will format the memory card and then you have to re download your games.
Yes if you back up your SD card data on the p.c, then put the SD card into the new Switch and format that, you should be able to drag the file from the p.c and then just re-insert it into the Switch, should work.
" Never argue with an idiot,all they will do is bring you down to their level and beat you with experience"
My AC:NH Island: Evietania
Switch Username: Johnvboy
Thank you very much for your response. I think I can manage that lol. Still dreading all of it though lol 🙈
Fortunately, I get to hold off the inevitable for a little longer, as GAME have messed up my pre order and cancelled it, meaning I won't be getting it tomorrow. As long as they reimburse me all my points like they say they are going to, I should be able to go and collect one from my local store on Saturday that they've put aside for me.
As part of the setup process, the new switch INSISTS you create a user or import one. This isn't mentioned anywhere in the guide. I guess the correct approach is to create a new "dummy" user that you can delete later, but I didn't.
I signed in with my Nintendo account.
This is where the problems started.
Once I had the account on my new switch I tried to initiate the transfer process. It wouldn't - it said it wasn't possible. So I had to transfer my save data manually.
It said to initiate the process and put the two consoles close together. I did.
They wouldn't connect whatever I did.
So I had to back up all my save data to the cloud manually. I couldn't do this for every game at the same time. I had to do every game manually.
Once I'd transferred the save data manually, I then initiated the animal crossing transfer tool - which had to be downloaded on BOTH consoles. This was the only part of the process which went off without a hitch,.
I then took the memory card out and put it into the new console and tried to format it. Didn't work.
You HAVE to format it in the original switch it appears. So format it on the old switch then insert it into the new console.
When you insert a formatted memory card into the new console, it will require an update. This is in addition to the update you've already done.
Perform update.
When done, you will discover that the format on the old console hasn't actually formatted the card or deleted any data.
Format the card again as NOW you can format the card. Once completed......
You can now finally redownload your games and the save data for each one.
You have to do this individually for each game and save data.
The whole process is an absolutely nightmare.
The guide makes it seem easy. It's not.
Don't forget - if you're keeping your old console (as I am) make sure you set one as a primary console on the eshop
They should have made a new one. They’ve had the OLED in hand for a week. Promoting a two year old guide which is out of date on the home page is sadly indicative Of standards around here these days
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Topic: System Transfer To The New OLED Switch
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