Important
- Both a source system and a target system are required to transfer user information and save data.
- Both systems must be updated to system menu version 4.0.0 or higher, connected to the Internet, and within proximity of each other for local communication.
- A Nintendo Account must be linked to the user account you wish to transfer from the source system. That same Nintendo Account cannot be linked to a user account on the target system prior to the transfer.
- The target system cannot have more than seven users at the time of the migration (there must be room for one more user on the target system).
- There must be sufficient free space on the target system's internal memory to receive the data that will be transferred there.
- Once the process is complete, the user information, the associated save data, and the software purchased with the user account that is transferred will no longer be available on the source system.
- Save data cannot be merged with other users. It is possible to transfer save data between users that are linked to the same Nintendo Account using the Transfer Your Save Data feature.
Note
Save data that is shared by all users on the system, including Animal Crossing: New Horizons save data, will not be transferred with this process.
- An additional process is available for the Animal Crossing: New Horizons game to transfer your entire island and game save data to a new Nintendo Switch system or to transfer an individual resident to a different island on a new system.
- For more information, see How to Transfer Animal Crossing: New Horizons Save Data.
Information
Transferring user information and save data allows you to move your user profile along with all its associated save data and Nintendo eShop purchases from one Nintendo Switch system to another. Data is moved one user at a time.
Complete these steps
On the source system
- From the HOME Menu, select System Settings, then Users, and then Transfer Your User Data.
- Select Next, and then Next again, then select Source Console to indicate that the content will be transferred from this system.
- Select Continue, and then finish the following preparations on the target system.
On the target system
- From the HOME Menu, select System Settings, then Users, and then Transfer Your User Data.
- Select Next, then Next again, then select Target Console to indicate that the content will be transferred to this system.
- Select Sign in and choose to sign in using your Nintendo Account e-mail address or sign-in ID.
- Enter either the e-mail address or sign-in ID associated with your Nintendo Account, and the password, then select Sign in, and then Next.
On the source system
- Wait for the target system to be found, and then select Transfer.
- The transfer process will begin, wait for this process to complete.
- Once complete, select End to complete the process.
- If no users are left on the console after the transfer is complete, a placeholder user account will be created.
