In early 2020, Nintendo released an update for the Nintendo Switch allowing users to move most data from the Nintendo Switch’s internal memory onto an inserted microSD card.

Many users like myself have waited for this feature and it is finally here. And in this handy guide, I will be detailing the steps of moving data from internal memory to external memory just for you.

Moving data on your Nintendo Switch is as easy as selecting the System Settings icon on the lower end of the system’s Home Dashboard, scrolling down to Data Management, and then choosing the “Move Data Between System / microSD Card” option. It’s that simple.

I will elaborate on each step below. In addition, there are a few things to note about this process you are going to want to read about before starting to transfer your data.

In this article, you will learn how to transfer Nintendo Switch data and more:

1. The Benefits Of Being Able To Transfer Data On A Nintendo Switch
2. How To Transfer Data From Nintendo Switch Internal Memory To MicroSD Card
3. Important Things To Note Before Moving Nintendo Switch Data
4. Step By Step: Moving Data From Nintendo Switch Internal Memory to MicroSD Card

Let’s get to it!

The Benefits Of Being Able To Transfer Data On A Nintendo Switch

Before we begin, I would like to mention how the Nintendo Switch used to handle data (game downloads, demos, extra content, etc.) before Nintendo’s early 2020 update that allowed data transfer.

Let’s just say you were going to download Fortnite or Animal Crossing on your Nintendo Switch system.

If you didn’t have a memory card installed, the game and any update patches would be downloaded directly to the Nintendo Switch’s internal memory.

If you have a microSD card installed with large enough capacity to store the game, the game download and any update patches would download automatically to your microSD without any say from you.

There was, and still is, no way of selecting which memory pool you want to download a game to. Games and content will always download to the external microSD card if a memory card is inserted while save files will always be stored on the system’s memory.

This is why gaining the ability to move data is so beneficial and exciting for Nintendo Switch users.

We can now simply and painlessly transfer games back and forth between internal and external memory in the exact manner we prefer.

It truly is a game changer that anyone can take advantage of.

How To Transfer Data From Nintendo Switch Internal Memory To MicroSD Card

Let’s start off by talking about what you will need to make data transfer happen now that we have gone over why the data transfer feature is so important on the Nintendo Switch.

You will need . . .

• A Nintendo Switch console and controller(s)
• A microSD card inserted in the Nintendo Switch’s microSD card slot
• Free storage space on the destination memory location you are moving a game to

Of course, you will need a Nintendo Switch to transfer Nintendo Switch data.

You will also need a microSD card inserted into the Nintendo Switch’s microSD card slot.

The Nintendo Switch’s microSD card slot is located beneath the kickstand on the back of the standard Nintendo Switch system and near the lower right back corner on the Nintendo Switch Lite system.

Finally, you will need free storage on either the microSD card or the internal memory, whichever you want to move data to.

Also, make sure your Nintendo Switch system has enough battery charged before the transfer as a power outage during the transfer can cause corrupted data as is the case with most electronic devices.

Important Things To Note Before Moving Nintendo Switch Data

Wait!

I know you want to transfer data, and I promise we are almost there. But, here are a few things disclaimers to the Nintendo Switch’s data transfer process.

First off, the system will check if you have free space. If you don’t have free space available or a microSD card inserted, you will not be able to begin the process.

The transfer option will be grayed out, preventing you from transferring data. Makes since, right?

Secondly, data cannot be transferred if it is currently being played or is currently being downloaded.

Stop the game you are playing and finish any downloads before trying to transfer the data.

Thirdly, save data (along with some update data) cannot be transferred off of the internal memory. Remember: Save data is always saved to Nintendo Switch’s internal memory.

Lastly, any new patches or update data may be stored on a memory location not alongside the game’s new stored location.

Now, let’s learn how to move data step-by-step.

Step By Step: Moving Data From Nintendo Switch Internal  Memory to MicroSD Card

1. Turn on your Nintendo Switch.
2. Save and close any game you are playing.
3. Start at the Nintendo Switch’s Home Dashboard. Do this by pressing the Home Button on your controller.
4. Select and press the A Button on the “System Settings” icon at the bottom of the screen.
5. Scroll down to the “Data Management” option on the left side of the screen. Press the A Button or press the right directional button/right on either analog stick to move to the options on the right side of the screen.
6. You can see how much free space you have available on your Nintendo Switch’s System Memory and inserted microSD card. Make sure you have enough free space on the storage you want data to be transferred to. You can manage data by scrolling down to “Manage Software”. Once you do, return to the “Data Management” page of System Settings.
7. Select “Move Data Between System / microSD Card”. Press the A Button.
8. You will see “Checking for free space . . . “ appear on the screen. Wait while your Nintendo Switch system checks for free space.
9. You should now be on the “Move Data Between System / microSD Card” screen.
10. You will have two options: Move to microSD card and Move to System Memory.
11. Select the option you desire by highlighting the option with your analog stick or directional button and then by pressing the A Button.
12. You will be shown a list of available software to move. Select each software you want moved by selecting the title with your directional buttons and then by pressing the A Button.
13. A green check mark will appear next to each item you selected.
14. Once you have selected all of the software you want moved, move your cursor to the “Move Data” button on the bottom right of the screen and press the A Button.
15. A confirmation screen will appear detailing the software you want moved along with each software’s file size.
16. Select Quit to cancel the process or select Move to confirm.
17. If you selected Move, a “Moving software data . . .” screen will appear along with a percentage completion bar showing the time it will take to transfer. You can press the Cancel button below this bar to stop the move. ATTENTION: Large files will take longer to move which is why you want to make sure your Nintendo Switch is charged before moving software.
18. A “Data move complete” pop-up will appear on screen once the data has been transferred. An “Ok” confirmation button is auto selected.
19. Press the A Button to return to the “Data Management” screen within System Settings.
20. Pat yourself on the back. You have successfully transferred Nintendo Switch data!

Conclusion

And there you have it!

You now know how to transfer data from your Nintendo Switch’s internal memory to a microSD and vice versa.

This will allow you to better manage your combined Nintendo Switch memory as you see fit and have your software of choice be where you want it to be.

Bookmark this page and come back here if you ever need a refresher on how to transfer Nintendo Switch data.

By Wally

(Screenshots taken by me. Images sourced from product pages on the Nintendo website. Logos, characters, and images are owned by their respective owners)