How to free up Switch storage for new game downloads?

The Ever-Growing Digital Library vs. Limited Storage

The Nintendo Switch, with its vast library of incredible games, often leaves players facing a common dilemma: running out of storage space. Whether you’re a fan of large AAA titles or a collector of charming indie gems, the internal 32GB (or 64GB for OLED models) can fill up surprisingly fast. Thankfully, you don’t have to delete your favorite games permanently or miss out on new releases. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to free up that precious storage for your next adventure.

Archiving vs. Deleting Software: What’s the Difference?

When your Switch storage is nearing its limit, your first thought might be to delete games. However, Nintendo offers two distinct options: archiving and deleting. Understanding the difference is crucial for managing your data effectively.

Archiving Software

Archiving a game removes its core data from your console, freeing up significant space. Crucially, it leaves behind the game’s icon on your Home screen and, most importantly, keeps your save data intact. This is the recommended option for games you might want to play again later, as redownloading the game from the eShop is quick and easy, picking up right where you left off.

How to archive:

1. From the Home menu, select the game you wish to archive.
2. Press the ‘+’ or ‘-‘ button to open the Options menu.
3. Select ‘Manage Software’ > ‘Archive Software’.
4. Confirm your choice.

Deleting Software

Deleting software removes everything associated with the game: the game data, its icon, and all save data. You should only use this option if you are absolutely certain you will never play the game again and don’t need its save files. Keep in mind that save data for most games cannot be backed up unless you have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription and the game supports Cloud Save Data.

How to delete:

1. From the Home menu, select the game you wish to delete.
2. Press the ‘+’ or ‘-‘ button to open the Options menu.
3. Select ‘Manage Software’ > ‘Delete Software’.
4. Confirm your choice.

Managing Save Data (Use with Caution)

Game save data is typically very small and stored separately from the game itself. Archiving or deleting a game will not remove its save data (unless you explicitly choose to delete software). You can manage save data independently, but proceed with extreme caution as deleting it is irreversible for most games without a Nintendo Switch Online backup.

How to delete save data:

1. From the Home menu, select ‘System Settings’.
2. Scroll down to ‘Data Management’.
3. Select ‘Delete Save Data’.
4. Choose the game and confirm you want to delete its save data.

Deleting Screenshots and Video Captures

While often overlooked, your album of screenshots and video captures can accumulate over time and consume valuable space, especially if you record a lot of gameplay footage. Periodically reviewing and deleting old or unwanted captures can free up a surprising amount of storage.

How to delete captures:

1. From the Home menu, select ‘Album’.
2. Browse through your screenshots and videos.
3. To delete a single item: Select the item, then press ‘A’ > ‘Delete’.
4. To delete multiple items: Select ‘A’ > ‘Editing and Deleting’ > ‘Delete Multiple’. Choose the items and confirm.

Investing in a microSD Card: The Best Long-Term Solution

The most effective and hassle-free way to expand your Nintendo Switch’s storage is to purchase a microSD card. The Switch supports microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC cards up to 2TB (though 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB cards are more common and cost-effective). Once inserted, the Switch will automatically use the microSD card for new game downloads, updates, and screenshots.

Benefits of a microSD card:

• Significantly increases storage capacity.
• New downloads automatically go to the card.
• You can move most existing game data from internal storage to the microSD card.

How to move data to a microSD card (if already inserted):

1. From the Home menu, select ‘System Settings’.
2. Scroll down to ‘Data Management’.
3. Select ‘Move Data Between System / microSD Card’.
4. Select the software you wish to move and confirm.

Understanding Your Data Management Settings

The ‘Data Management’ section within your Switch’s System Settings is your command center for storage. It provides a clear overview of how your space is being used, allowing you to identify which games or data types are consuming the most storage.

How to check your data usage:

1. From the Home menu, select ‘System Settings’.
2. Scroll down to ‘Data Management’.
3. Here you can see ‘Free Space in System Memory’ and ‘Free Space on microSD Card’ (if applicable).
4. Select ‘Manage Software’ to see a list of all your installed games and their sizes, allowing you to easily identify candidates for archiving.

Redownloading Games

Don’t worry about permanently losing digital purchases. Any digital game you’ve bought from the Nintendo eShop can be redownloaded at any time, as long as it’s still available on the store. Simply visit the eShop, navigate to your user icon in the top-right corner, select ‘Redownload’, and you’ll find a list of all your purchased titles ready to be reinstalled.

Conclusion

Managing your Nintendo Switch storage doesn’t have to be a headache. By understanding the difference between archiving and deleting, regularly clearing out old screenshots, and most importantly, investing in a good quality microSD card, you can ensure there’s always room for the next big adventure. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll never have to choose between your current favorites and exciting new releases.