Can You Save Physical Switch Games to SD Card?

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By Ralph Torres

Are you tired of carrying around all your physical Nintendo Switch game cartridges? Perhaps you’re wondering if it’s possible to save them to an SD card for easier portability. In this article, we’ll explore whether or not you can save physical Switch games to an SD card.

What is an SD Card?

An SD (Secure Digital) card is a type of memory card commonly used in various electronic devices, including smartphones, cameras, and gaming consoles like the Nintendo Switch. It’s a small, portable storage device that can hold large amounts of data.

Can You Save Physical Switch Games to an SD Card?

The short answer is no, you cannot save physical Switch games to an SD card. Unlike digital downloads, which are saved directly onto the console or an external storage device like an SD card, physical game cartridges are inserted into the console and run directly from the cartridge.

When you insert a physical game cartridge into your Nintendo Switch console, the game data is read directly from the cartridge. This means that even if you have an SD card inserted into your console, the game data will still be read from the cartridge and not saved onto the SD card.

Can You Save Game Data to an SD Card?

While you cannot save physical game data onto an SD card, some games do allow you to save game data onto the console’s internal storage or an external storage device like an SD card.

To check if a specific game supports saving game data onto an external storage device like an SD card, go to System Settings > Data Management > Save Data/Screenshots and Videos > Save Data > Select User > Select Game. If “On System Memory” is selected under “Location,” it means that the game data is saved onto the console’s internal storage. If “On microSD Card” is selected under “Location,” it means that the game data is saved onto an external storage device like an SD card.

Benefits of Using an SD Card with Your Nintendo Switch

Even though you cannot save physical game data onto an SD card, there are still benefits to using an SD card with your Nintendo Switch. Here are a few:

  • Extra Storage Space: An SD card can provide extra storage space for digital games, screenshots, and videos.
  • Easier Game Transfers: If you upgrade to a new Nintendo Switch console, you can easily transfer your digital games and saved data to the new console by inserting the SD card into the new console.
  • More Portability: With an SD card, you can easily switch between different games without having to carry around multiple game cartridges.

In Conclusion

In summary, you cannot save physical Switch games onto an SD card. However, some games do allow you to save game data onto an external storage device like an SD card. Even if you cannot save physical game data onto an SD card, using one can still provide benefits such as extra storage space and easier game transfers.