Nintendo Switch 2 Data Management FAQ
Game Progress & Save Data
Where is game save data stored?
On Nintendo Switch 2, game save data is stored on the console’s System Memory. This will not change whether downloadable software or software from a game card is being played.
Game save data cannot be saved or copied to a microSD Express card. Nintendo Switch Online members can use Save Data Cloud to back up their save data for supported titles.
What happens if there is no more space on the System Memory for your game save data?
You will need to free up space by going to System Settings, then select Data Management.
What happens to my game progress if I delete my downloaded software?
The game save data is unaffected, so you can resume your game progress once the software is redownloaded.
Can save data be used between physical and digital games on Nintendo Switch 2?
Save data is stored in the System Memory, and for the most part, it is associated to the individual user. So long as the same user is selected on the console, the save data will not be impacted whether the software is played from a game card or downloaded from the Nintendo eShop.
Although Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 software sold in regions outside of Australia and New Zealand may work with Nintendo Switch 2 consoles sold in Australia and New Zealand, we have not tested all overseas software with consoles from all regions and cannot guarantee full service and support. Therefore, we recommend that players purchase software that is specifically made for their console's region.
You can identify the supported region by checking the game packaging or by going to the game's software menu options, under Software Information and then Support Information.
How is save data affected by the user accounts?
For the most part, save data is tied to each user account. Deleting a user account will delete all save data associated to the account. Once deleted, save data cannot be restored.
Expanding & Freeing Up Memory Space
Can I expand the memory space on Nintendo Switch 2?
Yes, a microSD Express card can be used to save screenshots and software data, including downloaded software, software updates, and DLC. Learn more about using microSD Express cards on Nintendo Switch 2.
Can I also use an external USB drive?
External USB hard drives are not currently supported.
How can I free up memory space?
You can free up space by going to System Settings, then select Data Management.
If you have finished a game and don't think you'll play it again soon, you can delete the software data. You can redownload it at any time if you want to play again.
Screenshots and video captures can be uploaded to the Nintendo Switch App for smart devices, or transferred to a computer via USB cable. Once you've saved the screenshots and videos you want to keep in other places, you can delete them from the system to free up space.
Extra Storage Requirements
Are there games that require a microSD Express card?
Nintendo Switch 2 has 256 GB of storage space (a portion of the storage is reserved for use by the system). At this time, there are not individual games that require additional storage space to play.
What is a game-key card?
Game-key cards are different from regular game cards, because they don’t contain the full game data. Instead, the game-key card is your "key" to downloading the full game to your system via the internet. After it’s downloaded, you can play the game by inserting the game-key card into your system and starting it up like a standard physical game card.
For more information about game-key cards, read our overview.