Can You Put Switch Games on SD Card?

Photo of author

By Valerie Becker

Have you ever wondered if you can put your Nintendo Switch games on an SD card? It’s a common question among Switch users, and the answer is yes, you can. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how to store and manage your games on an SD card.

What is an SD Card?

An SD card stands for Secure Digital card. It’s a type of memory card that is commonly used in portable electronic devices such as cameras, smartphones, and gaming consoles. The Nintendo Switch also uses an SD card to expand its storage capacity.

Why Use an SD Card for Nintendo Switch Games?

The Nintendo Switch has a limited internal storage capacity of 32GB. With game sizes ranging from a few hundred megabytes to over 20GB, it won’t take long to fill up the internal storage.

This is where using an SD card comes in handy. By inserting an SD card into your console, you can expand the storage capacity up to 2TB (although currently only up to 1TB is available).

How to Put Games on an SD Card?

Putting games on an SD card is straightforward. Here are the steps:

  1. Insert the microSD card into the Nintendo Switch console.
  2. Go to System Settings from the Home menu.
  3. Select Data Management from the sidebar on the left.
  4. Select Move Data Between System / microSD Card.
  5. Select which data you want to move (games, screenshots, videos).
  6. Select Move Data and wait for it to finish.

It’s essential to note that not all game data can be moved onto an SD card. Save data and some update data will remain on the console’s internal memory.

Can You Play Games Directly from an SD Card?

Yes, you can play games directly from an SD card. Once the game is moved to the SD card, it will show up on the Home menu. Simply select the game and start playing.

Conclusion

In conclusion, using an SD card for your Nintendo Switch games is a great way to expand your storage capacity and keep all your games in one place. While not all game data can be moved onto an SD card, it’s still a useful tool for managing your console’s memory. With these steps, you’ll be able to enjoy all your favorite games without worrying about running out of space on your console’s internal memory.