Transfer Pokémon and Save Data to a New Game or Console

Updated 5 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Moving Pokémon and saved progress are two separate jobs: Pokémon HOME can store or move compatible Pokémon, while console save data must be transferred or restored separately. The right steps depend on whether you are changing games on the same console or moving to a different Nintendo Switch, so check the destination game’s compatibility before you begin.

What You’ll Need

The source and destination games, and access to both consoles if moving save data between systems.
Pokémon HOME, if you want to move compatible Pokémon between supported games. Use the Nintendo Switch version for console game boxes; the mobile version offers separate features.
A Nintendo Account for the console and HOME services. To move a game save through Nintendo’s cloud service, an active Nintendo Switch Online membership is generally required, and the game must support Save Data Cloud.
Both consoles charged and connected to the internet. Keep the source console and its user profile available until you have checked the destination.

Step-by-Step

Identify what you are transferring. Pokémon in a game’s boxes and the game’s save file are not the same data. A save transfer moves the game’s progress, such as story completion and in-game items; it does not automatically move individual Pokémon into another game. Pokémon HOME moves eligible Pokémon, but it does not transfer a game’s save file.
Check the destination game first. Confirm that the Pokémon you want to move can enter that game. Compatibility varies by title and species. A Pokémon may be stored in HOME even when a particular game cannot accept it. Also check whether the destination game has already been started; transferring a save can replace or affect existing destination progress.
Prepare Pokémon in the source game. Save the game, then open Pokémon HOME on the Switch and choose the game you want to connect to. Select Pokémon in the game’s boxes and move them into HOME’s boxes, then confirm the changes and exit safely. Some games or Pokémon have restrictions on what can be deposited or moved. Do not assume that every Pokémon or special form is transferable.
Move Pokémon into the destination game. In HOME, choose the destination game and move compatible Pokémon from HOME into its boxes. Confirm the move, then open the destination game and check the boxes. A Pokémon moved into HOME may not be available in the original game until you move it back, and some games limit transfers after a Pokémon has been placed in a different title. Do not use HOME as the only copy of Pokémon you need in a game until you have verified the destination.
For a new console, transfer the user and save data. On both Switch systems, open System Settings > Users > Transfer Your User Data and follow the on-screen instructions. Keep both consoles nearby, powered, and online. Use the same Nintendo Account when prompted. This is a user-and-save transfer, not a Pokémon HOME transfer. Read each confirmation carefully because a completed user transfer can remove that user’s data from the source console.
Alternatively, download an eligible cloud save. On the new console, select the user who owns the save, then open System Settings > Data Management > Save Data Cloud. Choose the game and download its save if available. You can also check the game’s save-data settings from the HOME Menu by highlighting the game and opening its options. Cloud backup and restore availability depends on the game and account setup; not every title supports it.
Verify both kinds of data before cleaning up. Launch the destination game using the correct user profile. Confirm that the intended progress appears and that the moved Pokémon are in the expected boxes. If using HOME, check its boxes as well. Keep the old console, source game data, and HOME contents untouched until you are confident everything important is accessible.

Common Mistakes

Expecting a Pokémon transfer to carry the save. HOME transfers Pokémon, not the game’s story progress, settings, or other save data. Use the system’s user-transfer or supported cloud-save process for progress.
Assuming every game supports the same Pokémon. HOME may display a Pokémon that cannot be placed in the chosen game. Check the game selection and compatibility before moving anything.
Using the wrong profile. Save files are associated with console users. A cloud save or transfer can appear missing if you select a different user or Nintendo Account.
Overwriting the destination save without checking it. If the new console already has progress, pause and decide which version should be kept. Avoid starting, restoring, or syncing until you understand which save will become active.
Removing the source data too early. Do not reset, sell, or unlink the old console before verifying the destination and any HOME storage. A transfer is not a substitute for a backup you have confirmed.

Tips

Write down the game, console user, and Nintendo Account associated with each save before you start.
Move only the Pokémon you intend to use, and leave a note of where you put them in HOME.
Keep the systems connected to power and a reliable network during a transfer. Do not turn them off or close a transfer screen while it is in progress.
For games that do not support cloud saves, use the supported console-to-console transfer method. A microSD card does not let you copy ordinary save data between consoles.
Read the final confirmation screens: transferring users, downloading a cloud save, and moving Pokémon have different effects.

Troubleshooting

The Pokémon HOME game box is unavailable: Check that the relevant game is installed or its game data is present on the console, and that you are using the appropriate HOME profile. Close and reopen HOME, then check for system or software updates. If the game still does not appear, consult HOME’s in-app help because supported titles and connection rules differ.

A Pokémon cannot be moved into the destination: It may not be supported by that title, or it may be subject to a game-specific restriction. Return to HOME’s game selection and check whether the destination accepts it. Do not repeatedly move it between games expecting compatibility to change.

The save is missing on the new console: Confirm the selected user and Nintendo Account, internet connection, and whether the title supports cloud saves. Check the source console’s cloud-save status before downloading or syncing. If cloud backup is unavailable, use the official user-data transfer procedure while the source console is still accessible.

The transfer stalls or fails: Keep both consoles charged, close other network-heavy activity, confirm they are online, and retry the on-screen process. Restart both systems only after the transfer has clearly stopped. If an error remains, use Nintendo’s support guidance for the displayed message rather than deleting save data.

The destination shows the wrong progress: Stop playing and avoid further cloud uploads until you determine which console has the correct save. Compare the source and destination save status where available. Restoring or syncing the wrong version can replace newer progress.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Pokémon HOME transfer my game save?
No. It stores and moves eligible Pokémon; use a console user transfer or supported cloud save for game progress.

Can I transfer Pokémon to any Pokémon game?
No. Compatibility depends on the destination title, and some Pokémon or forms cannot be deposited there.

Do I need Nintendo Switch Online?
It is generally needed for Save Data Cloud, but a direct user-data transfer is a separate process. Check the game and console instructions for current requirements.

Can I move a save with a microSD card?
No. A microSD card can store certain software data, but it is not a method for copying ordinary game saves between consoles.

Will my Pokémon disappear from the old game?
If you move them from the game’s boxes into HOME, they are no longer in those boxes until moved back. Check HOME and the destination game before assuming where they are.

What if my game does not support cloud saves?
Keep the original console and use the supported user-and-save transfer process. If that option is unavailable or fails, consult official support before resetting the source system.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.