Transfer A Downloaded Game To Another Switch
Of import note: It is possible to transfer save data for Animate being Crossing: New Horizons between two Switches at will. Scroll to the bottom of the page for more details or check out our Brute Crossing Island Transfer guide.
Automated Cloud Save Downloads are also at present a thing! Sentinel the video above or skip to the relevant section below for more info.
And then, you've gone and got yourself a lovely new Nintendo Switch Low-cal in addition to your regular 'old' Switch. Mayhap ane'south going to be for the kids, or you're merely tired of sharing. Peradventure you couldn't resist the cute hardware revision and programme to use Switch Lite every bit your smaller 'out-and-nigh' handheld so put your feet upwards with a Pro Controller and the 'flagship' model when yous arrive home to your TV. Sounds extravagant, but reasonable!
Apparently, the regular Switch console is designed for exactly that type of - what shall nosotros call it? - 'switching' and although possible, it's clear that Nintendo doesn't really intend for individuals to take more than one Switch console. Cloud saves and the automatic Save Data option introduced in firmware update xi.0.0 brand that reality less of a hassle, and digital game sharing is possible, too, although you tin simply play using your account on one console at a time. A Nintendo Switch Online subscription makes living the 'Johnny Two-Switches' dream relatively uncomplicated, and it's also possible to transfer saves manually betwixt two nearby systems (call back, saves are stored on the panel, not the cart).
In this guide we present how to play your games beyond two Switch consoles, including the restrictions, caveats and the potential issues to look out for. We'll update this guide as necessary, but the following represents the easiest way to play a single salvage file beyond ii systems whether you lot ain the game digitally or physically.
This guide does not refer to a total-on System Transfer which enables you to move all your salvage information and details to a different Switch on a more permanent footing - something y'all might do if yous were selling your old console, for example.
How to play a game on one Switch, and then continue from the same save file on another
Equally things stand, anyone with a Nintendo Account can designate i Switch as their 'primary' console (past default the first console they connect to the Nintendo Switch eShop with) and another their 'not-primary' panel. Playing your games on the non-primary Switch requires you to utilise your Nintendo Business relationship and have a constantly active internet connexion. The game will break if it loses that connection, and too if the same software is played on the same Nintendo Business relationship on the primary console.
Still with united states of america? If those caveats oasis't put you off the idea, read on for instructions on how to pick upwardly where y'all left off in a game beyond two Switches...
For the purposes of this guide we'll assume you lot already own a standard model and have just got a new Switch Lite, but this would work just equally well between ii standard Switches (or two Lites, although nosotros can't imagine a use case where that would be desirable). Information technology makes sense to make your new Switch Lite your primary console (which therefore won't require an internet connection to play your games), with your docked home-spring Switch condign your not-primary.
Exist subscribed to Nintendo Switch Online
For the most convenient way of syncing game saves across two Switches, you'll need to exist subscribed to Nintendo's online service and take cloud saves enabled. Please note that not all software supports cloud saves, so check that the game yous wish to play is uniform - check out our full list of games not compatible with Nintendo Switch cloud saves. If you don't have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, skip ahead.
Download the game(s) y'all want to play
Digital games should be purchased on your main Nintendo Account. Owning the concrete cartridge means you'll obviously have to move it between consoles, merely retrieve that save information remains on the console itself, NOT THE CARTRIDGE, and so y'all'll notwithstanding need deject saves activated to switch betwixt consoles and continue playing where you left off (without transferring the data manually, that is).
De-register your original Switch equally your primary console
On your standard Switch, hitting your profile pic in the eShop (top correct) and roll to the bottom of the options on the correct. Hither yous'll exist able to deactivate this Switch equally your primary panel gear up for your new Switch Lite to take upward the curtain.
Cheque that save data is backed upwardly to the cloud
Highlight your chosen game(s) on the Switch Home card and hitting the '+' push. Select 'Salvage Information Cloud' and check to see that the software is backed upward with a tick abreast your user account. If y'all want to be extra certain, tap on the user and y'all'll get additional details with a timestamp of the data on the server and the same information for 'this panel'. Make certain information technology'southward the same.
Fire upwards your new Switch (Light) and sign into your Nintendo Business relationship
Powering upward your new console and signing in to the eShop volition arrive your chief Switch, meaning you can play all your games on it without being tied to an internet connectedness. Unfortunately, none of your games are actually on panel all the same, and then you'll have to redownload the lot from the eShop on the new master panel. Fourth dimension for a cup of tea...
Check the cloud salve has downloaded and start playing
Once the downloads have finished, hit the '+' push on the game(south) as you lot did on the other panel to check the deject save data has synced. Bold everything matches, you lot're good to become.
From now on, check the cloud salve has uploaded/synced before changing betwixt Switches
To prevent problems, information technology's probably a good thought to double cheque that your relieve data has uploaded to the cloud on whichever console you're using before switching to the other, only to be super prophylactic. Likewise, you might want to brand doubly sure that the other console has synced earlier resuming the game there, as well. Better to be safe than distressing.
Automatic Save Data Downloads - NEW!
Merely wait! Equally of firmware update 11.0.0, Nintendo introduced a feature that automatically downloads backed up cloud Salve Data from one of your systems to the other (assuming both are connected to the cyberspace, of course).
To utilise this handy characteristic you'll have to enable it first. Practice this past heading to System Settings > Information Direction > Salve Data Deject and make sure 'Automatically Download Salve Data' is turned on. Nintendo does country that "Salvage information will not be downloaded automatically unless save information for that software exists on the panel. The first time only, users must download the save information manually".
Once information technology's up and running, however, we're very pleased to report that it appears to piece of work very well and the save data volition automatically download even if the system's in sleep mode.
So, to recap:
- Play your game on Switch A
- Save (or attain an autosave location)
- Close the game on Switch A from the Home Menu (using the 'X' button to ensure the software is completely closed)
- After most ane minute or and so, Switch B will take automatically downloaded the updated Salve Data, fifty-fifty if information technology'due south in sleep mode
- Play game on Switch B with updated Save Data
- Echo as necessary
If you're playing on your primary Switch and it isn't connected to the internet (remember, it'southward impossible for the aforementioned business relationship to be used on your not-primary Switch without an internet connexion), it's possible to create conflicts where two sets of save data are generated.
Fortunately, the system warns you when y'all attempt to open the game with two sets of save information. All the same, be careful you don't wipe progress by selecting the older information.
And that's it! Not quite every bit simple as 'switching' with a single console, only entirely possible when yous know how. Cheque out the lovely Alex's video at the top of the page for a full demonstration in video form.
How do I transfer save data for games that don't back up deject saves?
Well, for those games (or all games if y'all're not subscribed to Nintendo Switch Online) you lot'll have to transfer the salve manually to a 'nearby' Switch. You lot're non copying save information here, you're transferring information technology to a 'target' system - information technology'll be erased on the 'source' system. This works only too as the cloud save selection for moving salve data between the aforementioned Nintendo Business relationship on two systems (note: the aforementioned account), although it'll need to be done every time you alter from one system to the other and it too requires an cyberspace connection.
On the 'source' Switch...
- On the Domicile Menu of the Switch you're finishing with, select 'System Settings' and and then 'Information Direction'. Then tap 'Transfer Your Save Data'.
- And then tap 'Send Relieve Data to Another Panel' and choose appropriate business relationship.
- And then select the specific game salve information from the list that yous want to transfer and choose 'Transport Salve Information'. Remember, the data will be erased from the current Switch.
On the 'target' Switch...
- As you did on the 'source' system, select 'System Settings from the Habitation bill of fare, then 'Data Management' and finally 'Transfer Your Save Information'.
- Choose 'Receive Save Data' this fourth dimension. You lot'll get the option to Overwrite Save Information if it already exists for that business relationship, then make sure it's definitely the correct information! Overwritten data obviously tin't be retrieved.
- Once the transfer is finished, hit 'OK' and y'all should be good to go with the same game data now on your other Switch.
And then, you've registered one console every bit your 'main' and another as 'non-primary' as detailed above. If you lot want to be able to play the same games at the same time and effectively 'share' your digital games with somebody else, the person on the not-chief console must utilise the principal account (and be connected to the cyberspace) and the person on the chief console must play using a unlike account (entirely possible considering whatever account can admission and play your digital library on your main console).
If the same account is used to play the same game simultaneously, the game on the non-primary console will pause (the same will happen is y'all lose your internet connexion). Assuming you're happy to juggle accounts and have the requisite Switch Online subscriptions activated, it's entirely possible to play online with each other, although information technology'south impossible to play multiplayer locally using the same software across two consoles (for that you would need two copies of the game).
I thing to deport in mind is that the person on the chief Switch must call up to apply a unlike account if yous desire to avoid deject save confusion. For example, if you're in Flight Mode on your primary Switch and accidentally used the main account — while someone else is playing the same game on that account on the non-primary console — two unique sets of save data would be produced and this might cause confusion when the primary console is connected to the internet once more. Cloud save clashes are all-time avoided if you're concerned about progress, so check with account holder if you go to play a game and a bulletin flashes upward showing a save information conflict or error. No-one likes to lose progress!
How do I transfer my Brute Crossing: New Horizons save information between two Switches?
Afterwards eight long months, information technology finally became possible to transfer Animal Crossing: New Horizons island save information and even residents between Switches. Nintendo had previously implemented a arrangement assuasive for former salve information recovery (for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers) in case of hardware failure, loss or theft, but it is impossible to transfer your save information between Switches in a casual manner.
Previous to the Wintertime 2020 update, it was impossible to transfer your island to a new Switch, even if you bought a brand new panel and performed a complete system transfer — it was rubbish!
Fortunately, y'all can at present download an Animal Crossing Island Transfer Tool from the Switch eShop and transplant your isle to a different console. Check out our guide for more than details.
Convoluted? Yep, it's non every bit straightforward as one might promise, although the addition of automatic save data downloads in update xi.0.0 certainly makes things less painless. Permit united states of america know beneath how you've got on playing between two Switches, especially if you've experienced whatever bug.
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