How to free up Switch storage for new digital games & indies?
Why Switch Storage Fills Up Fast
The Nintendo Switch, with its vast library of digital games and a thriving indie scene, can quickly fill its internal 32GB (or 64GB for OLED models) storage. Even with a microSD card, large AAA titles and numerous smaller indies can eat up space faster than you might expect. When you’re constantly finding yourself unable to download that new game or update, it’s time to take action.
Fortunately, freeing up space on your Switch is a straightforward process, and you have several effective methods at your disposal. Let’s dive into how you can manage your digital game library and ensure you always have room for your next adventure.
Check Your Current Storage Usage
Before you start deleting, it’s wise to see exactly what’s taking up the most space. This allows you to make informed decisions about what to keep and what to remove.
- Go to the HOME Menu and select System Settings.
- Scroll down and select ‘Data Management’.
- Here, you’ll see a breakdown of your ‘Internal System Memory’, ‘microSD Card’, and ‘Save Data Cloud’.
- Select ‘Manage Software’ to see a list of all your games and their respective sizes. This will quickly show you the biggest culprits.
Archive Software: The Best First Step
Archiving is Nintendo’s elegant solution for removing game data from your system while retaining its icon on your HOME Menu and, crucially, keeping your save data intact. This is the recommended first step for games you might want to play again someday.
When you archive a game, the game software itself is removed, but your save file remains on the console’s internal memory. This means if you decide to redownload the game later, you can pick up exactly where you left off.
How to Archive a Game:
- From the HOME Menu, highlight the game you wish to archive.
- Press the ‘+’ or ‘-‘ button on your Joy-Con.
- Select ‘Manage Software’ > ‘Archive Software’.
- Confirm your choice. The game’s icon will remain, but the data will be freed up.
Delete Software: When You’re Sure You’re Done
If you’re absolutely certain you won’t play a game again, or if it’s a game with no personal save data (e.g., some demos), you can choose to ‘Delete Software’. This removes both the game software and its save data from the console. Use this option with caution, as deleted save data typically cannot be recovered unless you have a backup via Nintendo Switch Online’s Save Data Cloud.
How to Delete a Game:
- From the HOME Menu, highlight the game you wish to delete.
- Press the ‘+’ or ‘-‘ button on your Joy-Con.
- Select ‘Manage Software’ > ‘Delete Software’.
- Confirm your choice.
Manage Screenshots and Videos
High-quality screenshots and especially video clips (up to 30 seconds) can accumulate quickly and consume significant space, particularly on the internal memory if you haven’t set your system to save to the microSD card.
To Review and Delete Media:
- From the HOME Menu, select ‘Album’.
- Browse your screenshots and videos. You can filter by categories like ‘All Screenshots’ or ‘Videos’.
- To delete, select the image/video, then press ‘A’ (Edit and Delete) and choose ‘Delete’.
- To delete multiple items, select ‘Delete Multiple’ from the ‘Edit and Delete’ menu.
Consider regularly transferring your media to a computer or uploading them to social media (if you don’t mind the compression) to keep your Switch tidy.
Upgrade Your microSD Card (The Ultimate Solution)
If you’re a heavy digital game buyer, archiving and deleting might only be temporary fixes. The most robust and long-term solution is to invest in a larger microSD card. The Nintendo Switch supports microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC cards up to 2TB (though 2TB cards are not yet widely available or affordable).
Many players find that a 128GB, 256GB, or even 512GB card offers a good balance of storage and cost. Make sure to purchase a reputable brand and a high-speed card (UHS-I compatible with a reading speed of 60-95 MB/s is recommended by Nintendo).
Transferring Data to a New microSD Card:
Simply copying files from an old card to a new one on a computer might not work perfectly. The safest method is usually to:
- Back up your save data using Nintendo Switch Online’s Save Data Cloud.
- Turn off your Switch and remove the old microSD card.
- Insert the new, larger microSD card.
- Redownload your games from the eShop. They will automatically install to the new card.
Alternatively, you can copy data between microSD cards using a computer, but ensure the new card is formatted correctly by the Switch first (insert it into the Switch, launch a game, then remove it). Then, copy the ‘Nintendo’ folder from your old card to the new one.
Utilize Nintendo Switch Online Save Data Cloud
While not directly freeing up game installation space, Nintendo Switch Online’s Save Data Cloud is crucial for peace of mind when managing your games. It automatically backs up your save data for most games, meaning if you ever accidentally delete a game’s save or need to redownload games to a new console or microSD card, your progress is safe.
Conclusion
Running out of space on your Nintendo Switch is a common problem for avid digital game collectors. By regularly checking your storage, archiving games you’re not actively playing, managing your media, and considering a larger microSD card, you can easily maintain enough free space for all the exciting new digital games and indies that are constantly being released. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll never have to miss out on a download again!
