It is curious timing for Nintendo to release a video demonstrating how you can transfer user accounts and save data from one Nintendo Switch to another, but perhaps the tempting nature of the Super Mario Odyssey Switch Bundle with it's luscious red Joy-Con expedited the need for such a tutorial. After all, the video above does show boring grey Joy-Con the left and a Switch with the lovely new red ones on the right. Coincidence? We think not.
In summary the whole process seems to be rather straightforward:
- Update both Switch units to v4.00 firmware (or higher)
- Select 'System Settings' menu on both consoles. Then go to the 'Users' menu.
- Select 'Transfer Your User and Save Data' on both consoles.
- Select 'Source Console' and 'Target Console' as required.
- Sign into each user account on both consoles which you wish to transfer data from
Of course, when a user account is transferred to the new console, that content will no longer be accessible on the original Switch console. Once the user account is transferred over, you can easily download all your games from the Switch eShop.
Unfortunately, screenshots and videos from the source system will not be transferred, but we guess it is just a matter of taking out your MicroSD card and putting it into the new console to sort this out.
Let us know if you plan to make use of this functionality any time soon. Is your launch Switch beginning to look a bit battered?
Comments 23
I'm glad you can move individual accounts. That's helpful to families who start with one Switch and end up buying one for individual members of the family. Prior to this you just lost your save data.
Better later than never. Glad they fixed it up for us.
A good option for now but I wish they make it like PS3 where you can activate one account to multiple devices. What if I had two Switch tablets and I want to take one with me while the other one is charging at home? C'mon Nintendo make that happen.
Why did they not include the carry case like the USA bundle? Or do they just regard the UK as that sucker country that likes getting ripped off
Cool. We've started with one Switch and if I get my son another one then he can just transfer over to it.
I keep one Switch in my penthouse and the other in my chalet.
If only.
Can you transfer any data from your Wii uto a switch??
@retro_player_22 I wouldn't hold my breath on that one.
Good! 😊
What if my Switch goes DOA? I'll lose all my save data? My account will be blocked on my brand new plastic brick forever?
Having absolutely terrible experience with broken 3DS consoles, and their atrocious transfer system, I hope Switch does have (or will have) an option to transfer the content from a broken system...
@ULTRA-64 I transferred my Mii from my Wii U to my Switch using my Cloud amiibo, does that count?
How my Mii got on my Cloud amiibo I'll never know. I used it in BotW a few times but that's it. My kid played w/ it in SSB4 but he wouldn't have transfered my Mii to it, would probably register it to himself too. But it worked, so my Mii is back, so I'm happy.
Hopefully they'll eventually reach the point where, like all other relevant competing platforms (Xbox, PS3/4, PC), data is tied to a primary system and account holder, and can be easily stored on external non-proprietary memory for simple transfers as well as use on secondary systems, with the ability to switch the primary console without physical access to the original. It seems long overdue at this point.
I know at least one Switch-sharing household eyeing up additional Switches that will be glad for this added transfer feature as-is, though.
So, everything to do with the selected user is transferred to the new Switch other than some pics/vids you took on the original Switch (don't know why the pics/vids don't just get transferred too though)?
If so, that seems reasonable enough.
Although, it would still be easier and far more future proof if you could simply sign into a single YOU account from any Switch and access all your stuff from there, no transferring necessary between systems necessary. That seems to be how my Xbox Live account works: I could buy a new Xbox now and my ancient account would still be there with whatever stuff I've purchased available for download/play, so long as whatever new Xbox I own still plays says content of course.
In fact, having both options available would be the ideal scenario, just in case the online account system goes down or gets hacked or whatever.
@impurekind That could be abused, for example:
I have two Swtich. I buy a lot of digital games in one of them, and disconnect it from the internet. Then, I login using the same account on the second one, and redownload every game. The result? The same games payed only once in two consoles.
While Sony and Microsoft seem not to care about this, Nintendo is worried this could lead to people "selling" accounts, or getting multiple "copies" of the digital games this way.
@Olmectron Well, like you said, it works basically like that on Xbox and PlayStation, from what I can tell, and no ones seems to be upset about it (neither the gamers not the companies). So, I still think it's the better all-round solution.
Question.
If i take my Micro SD Card from my old Switch and put inside to my new Switch, will the new Switch detect my saves data & All Digital Downloads + DLCs ?
@ULTRA-64 nope!
I've purchased several digital-only games for my family using my own account. If I ever want a personal Switch for myself (which, I kind of want already, to be honest), I'm screwed because the rest of my family will no longer have access to any of the games I bought. This, right here, is why I buy cartridges whenever possible. Nintendo desperately needs a "family" concept where we can share games within our family.
@impurekind Isn't it limited to two consoles at a time for the PS3 and PS4?
@NinNin Dunno
@MisterKorman What happens when both of them are offline?
@MisterKorman That makes sense. Thanks for the information.
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