How To Play Nintendo Switch Games Across Multiple Consoles

Nintendo Switch players are often known for having multiple consoles. Players have their reasons, whether it is because they want different Animal Crossing islands or whether they have bought upgraded versions of the Nintendo Switch from the Lite to the regular and OLED versions. Whatever the reason, most players prefer to be able to access their games and save files across their different Nintendo Switch consoles.

Fortunately, Nintendo offers features that make accessing these games easy enough. Features like Nintendo Switch Online and cloud saves make it possible to sync save data and access purchased games across multiple Nintendo Switch consoles.

How To Play Physical Games On Multiple Consoles

Play Physical Games Across Multiple Switch Consoles Easily

Playing physical games you've purchased across multiple Nintendo Switch consoles is easy enough. All you have to do is insert the physical game cartridge into the Nintendo Switch of your choice – but what if you want to continue from your save file?

Related 2025 Will Be Nintendo Switch Online's Most Crucial Year To Date Nintendo Switch Online has steady improved since its tepid launch, but a new console will set even higher expectations for the service in 2025.

If you want to continue playing a game on a different Nintendo Switch from where you originally started, you'll need to transfer your save data for that specific game. Unless, of course, it's an online game such as Disney Dreamlight Valley or Fortnite, which are linked to accounts from those specific games and automatically sync progress across devices.

However, there are a few steps you'll need to take to transfer data from other physical games. First, you'll need to link your Nintendo Switch user profiles to the same Nintendo account. You'll also need an internet connection to update your consoles to version 8.0.0 or higher. Finally, both consoles must be near one another for the data transfer to work.

Transferring saved data does not require a Nintendo online membership.

Once you've met the above criteria, you can begin transferring your saved data. Turn on the Nintendo Switch with your saved data and head into System Settings from the Home Menu. Click on Data Management, then Transfer Your Save Data. On the next screen, select Send Save Data to Another Console. Follow the same steps on your second Nintendo Switch, but select Receive Save Data instead.

After the saved data transfer is done, select OK to finalize the transfer. The data will be deleted from your first Switch and restored on your second Switch. You can now resume your game on your new or second Nintendo Switch console.

How To Play Digital Games On Multiple Consoles

Redownload Your Digital Games On Multiple Consoles

Digital games are purchased through the eShop or redeemed using download codes. They are stored directly on a Nintendo Switch system or a microSD memory card. Some may think digital downloads are tied to just one device, but that's untrue. Luckily, digital games can be accessed on any Nintendo Switch linked to the Nintendo account from which they were purchased.

Related 10 Best Nintendo Switch Games To Play Over The Holidays The holiday season can be a great time to snuggle under a blanket with a cup of cocoa and one of these festive games on the Nintendo Switch.

All you need to do to redownload your digital games across multiple devices is to make sure that a user on each device is linked to your Nintendo account. You can find your digital games by accessing your account information. To do that, select your profile's icon in the top right corner and choose Redownload. A complete list of all your purchased digital content will appear.

You'll need to set one Nintendo Switch console as your primary console. A primary console allows you to play digital games offline, whereas a secondary console requires an active internet connection to access digital games. You can only have one primary Nintendo Switch account, but you can easily switch which Nintendo Switch is the primary console.

You can now download any of your Nintendo Switch digital games to any Nintendo Switch console you choose, as long as it's linked to your Nintendo account. Nintendo Switch Online subscribers can access their saved data from the Save Data Cloud feature to transfer saved files from one system to another for easy access. While not all games are compatible with the Cloud, many are. You can find out by opening a game's software menu to see whether there is an option for Save Data Cloud.

With these tools and features, managing your games and save data across multiple Nintendo Switch consoles is easier than ever. Whether you're playing physical or digital games, taking a few minutes to set up your accounts and transfer your data will allow you to pick up right where you left off, no matter which console you're using.