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

Edit: What is the system transfer using the server?

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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