In case you encounter any issues with doing a system transfer from Switch 1 to Switch 2, there are some handy alternatives for moving save data to the new console.
Before you boot up your Nintendo Switch 2, one of the first things you need to decide is whether to transfer all your Switch 1 data to the newer console, which boasts a lot more storage space.
This includes not just your digital games but also your save data as well as your user profile, screenshots, videos, and even parental controls – all of which is automated when first setting your Switch 2 up.
However, for some reason, this transfer process doesn’t always work. We weren’t able to do it ourselves and we’ve heard talk of other Switch 2 owners having the same issue. So, what can you do if you encounter this problem yourself?
How to transfer data from Switch to Switch 2
First things first, you may already have seen claims that it’s not possible to do a system transfer if you decline the prompt to do so during the initial set-up process, and there’s no option to change your mind afterwards.
The good news is that this is technically inaccurate. For starters, you don’t necessarily need to transfer your games over through this process. As long as you set up the Switch 2 with the same Nintendo account that you use on the Switch 1, your digital library will automatically appear on Switch 2.
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This doesn’t include the save data, however, but there is an alternate method for transferring that and it’s no less convenient since it’s handled wirelessly and you don’t need to do it individually for each game.
All you need to do is open the System Settings menu on the Switch 1’s home screen, scroll down to data management, and select the Transfer Your Save Data option. You then choose to Send Save Data to Another Console.
You’ll want to do the exact same thing on the Switch 2, only choose to Receive Save Data instead. Both consoles need to be in close proximity with one another and, again, you need to have the same Nintendo Account linked to them.
If you only want to transfer save data from specific games, though, that’s possible too. You just have to highlight the game in question on the home menu and press the + button. This will open a separate menu where you can scroll down to data management and choose to transfer the save data from there. The process is otherwise identical.
Nintendo Switch cloud data transfers
Another option that’s exclusive for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers is to use the save data cloud feature. All your save data for supported games is automatically backed up to Nintendo’s servers (assuming you haven’t disabled the option manually) so you can download them onto Switch 2.
Again, highlight a game on the Switch 1 home menu and press +. Go to the save data cloud section and you will see a notification to tell you if that game’s save data is backed up or not.
If it is, do the same on Switch 2, but select your user profile when on the save data cloud section. From there, there will be an option to download the save data from the servers.
As far as we can tell, there’s no alternative for transferring screenshots and videos. The same goes for transferring parental controls, so you’ll need to manually set those up again on Switch 2, but that won’t take long.
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