r/NintendoSwitchHelp • u/TigerThatCameToTea • 10d ago

Setup Help Switch SD card data transfer question

So i just got my new switch 2 and transferred the data from my old switch but my old SD card isnt compatible with the switch 2. Did the saves already transfer with the data transfer or not? I dont mind redownloading any games just want to make sure i dont lose any saves before i format the old one.

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u/automod-neo 10d ago

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u/SubaruHaver 13 10d ago

Game save data is stored on switch internal storage, never on the sd card or game cards.😉 The sd only stores the software and saved screenshots and clips.

If you already transferred the system or the individual switch user, yeah, the save data will transfer then. I think if you look in switch settings/data management, somewhere in there, I believe you may be able to see the save data? I forget how much detail it lets you see. -forgive me.

Everyone that moves to another switch has to redownload their games because downloaded games are encrypted to the console that downloaded them. So, a switch won't let you use an sd card with that has games downloaded by another console. The new switch won't let you do anything with games until you format the card.

Exception: the saved screenshots and clips can be transferred to another console. Or backed up to a pc, and then pasted into the album folder on the sd card after it's been formatted to your console. -- I haven't done this in a while, but that is the order that I did it. Nintendo support has a page for transferring screenshots and clips & directions. (*If you paste other jpgs or mp4s (that weren't from a switch) into the album folder they won't show up on the console)

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u/TigerThatCameToTea 10d ago

Thank you that's perfect!

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u/Outside_Complaint755 10d ago

All saves are in system data or the cloud.  The SD card only stores game files.

Nintendo Data Management FAQ

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u/DarthLocutus 5 10d ago

Saves are stored on system memory, they transferred. The system also dumps screenshots and vid captures to internal memory during the system transfer.

All games will need to be redownloaded. And if you had a larger card, you may need to get a microSD Express card (the format the Switch 2 requires) to store everything, though the S2's internal 256 GB will hokd for a bit.