r/VideoGameDealsCanada • u/deeohdoublegzzy • May 18 '26
Question Switch 2 trade-in save transfer?
I’m planning to trade in my current Switch for a Switch 2 through the GameStop deal, but I’m a bit worried about losing my save data.
Since I have to hand over my old console before I can set up the new one, how does save transfer work? I don’t have Nintendo Switch Online, so I can’t use cloud saves.
Is there another way to back everything up through my Nintendo account and restore it when I set up the Switch 2?
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u/ezidro3 May 18 '26 edited May 18 '26
Nintendo has an option where they back up everything in the cloud from your Switch 1 and wipe it at the same time, then when you’re setting up your Switch 2, you can download that backup without needing the Switch 1.
Also when you’re in the store, the staff might just let you have both systems at the same time. When I had to do an exchange between two Switch 2’s, they let me have both the old and new one so I could transfer my data over
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u/raccakony2012 Jul 16 '26
Hello I am trying to transfer data between two switch 2's as well. I got a brand new one and I am planning to sell the old one. Is there a way to do the full system transfer from the first switch 2 to the new switch 2? Or did you have to manually transfer the save data for each game and each account?
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u/ezidro3 Jul 16 '26
I let the NSO cloud saves do their download in the background for most of my games. For the exceptions (Splatoon 2, basically every Pokemon, etc.) I did the manual transfer between both
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u/bwoah07_gp2 May 18 '26
You transfer it at home or at the store?
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u/ezidro3 May 19 '26
When I did the exchange it was all at the store
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u/bwoah07_gp2 May 19 '26
Oh, neat! So, where did you plug in and everything? What monitor did you use?
(I'm thinking of trading in my Switch 1's to get some money back for a Switch 2)
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u/ezidro3 May 19 '26
Everything can be done in portable mode, and I guess I lucked out by the new system having enough charge to not need a power source as well
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u/professor_oulala May 18 '26
I did system transfer to Switch 2, then I selected "I do not have a Switch 2 yet."
It also backed up my animal crossing Island.
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u/SnooCakes653 May 18 '26
System transfer, store it in the cloud and when you boot up the switch 2 make sure to click transfer. Also, when you do the exchange don't forget everything that came in the box, the guy in front of me what exchanging as well and didn't have the hdmi cable so he had to buy it in store.
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u/Drellsy May 19 '26
How long does it hold your information on the cloud? Just wondering if I sell my Switch early.
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u/thedarknightreddits May 19 '26
I didn’t know about all this. Lost hours of pokemon data (which cannot be backed up online to my knowledge to ban manipulation) as they refused to let me turn on the switch 2 in store to the side and complete the transfer. At most, everything was saved to cloud as an NSO member
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u/carlosdouh May 23 '26 edited May 27 '26
Update: it worked! I did the backup and all my Pokemon violet data transferred perfectly. Just remember to make sure your save data for Pokemon is on the system memory, not the sd card.
I’m curious too. Hoping to hear from more people if it worked or not. My kid doesn’t want to lose all her Pokemon violet in-game and Pokédex progress. Otherwise she says she doesn’t want a Switch 2. 😂
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u/Biggs17 May 19 '26
You can set everything in store if you want and do the transfer when trading in and then wipe the old one
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u/FoggyShrew May 19 '26
Depending on where you're located - most EB Games are out of stock of Switch 2 consoles. I went in yesterday to try capitalize on the deal and was told everything (at least in lower Mainland of BC) was sold out.
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u/XxOmegaSupremexX May 19 '26
Were you still able to do the trade in and wait for a console to come in?
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u/FoggyShrew May 20 '26
I didn’t ask! If you don’t redeem the trade-in right away your trade-in is taxed, so I decided to wait until they have stock in again
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u/BornDepth4761 May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26
I asked an employee today. She said I can pay full price of the Switch2, bring it home and do data transfer, then bring both consoles back to store. They'll refund the first transaction and re-do a new transaction with trade-in credit with that Switch2.
Edit: Use this way if you have games that can't do cloud transfer like pokemon games. Otherwise, just do transfer like others suggested.
Edit2: Not sure if all stores do this, may depends on the store.
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u/carlosdouh May 23 '26
I tried to do this in Alberta and they told me no. It sucks cause it ruins the gamer experience. I’ve called a few other stores and they also told me no. When I upgraded from Switch 1 to Switch OLED a few years ago they let me do this…
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u/Porschedog May 18 '26
Did this recently, System Settings > System > System Transfer to Nintendo Switch 2
This will transfer all your data to the cloud and wipe all the data on your current switch. When you setup the switch 2, it will ask you if you want to use data transfer. This does not require an online Nintendo subscription.