How to Install, Remove and Manage Micro SD Card in Switch?
The Nintendo Switch is an extremely portable and flexible handheld gaming system. However, the 32GB storage capacity within it may limit the gamer’s need. If you are one of them thinking about expanding your Switch storage, you have landed at the right place!
Most of the games made for Nintendo Switch comparatively occupy a larger memory space. Obviously, the in-built memory won’t be sufficient.
So, you may want to insert an SD card or remove it to swap with a higher-capacity card. Or, you may want to transfer contents from your old SD card to a new one.
In this article, We will guide you through the steps to install or remove a micro SD card in Switch.
How to Install a Micro SD Card in Switch?
Once you purchase a micro SD card to expand the storage capacity of your Switch, you need to install it properly. Installing the SD card into your Switch is not that tedious and time-consuming. You will get it done right if you follow these steps:
- First, If you have set up your Switch on a Dock, remove it from Dock. You also need to remove the controllers. To remove the controllers, push the button provided at the back of the controllers.
- Then, you need to power off your Switch. For this, press and hold the power key for 5 seconds.
- After that, you will be prompted to power off your device on the screen. Select Power options.
- Select the Turn off option.
- Now, you need to turn your Switch over to access its back side. Depending upon the models of Switch, the method to insert a SD card varies.
- On Nintendo Switch: Lift up the kickstand on the back to see a port that reads as micro SD.
- On Nintendo Switch Lite: Open the cover in the back panel that encloses the micro SD card.
- On Nintendo Switch – OLED Model: Unfold the adjustable stand to see a micro SD card slot.
- Slide your card in the back of the Switch so that the thicker part of the SD card faces towards you, and the card label faces upwards.
- Push the SD card inside until you hear a click sound.
- You will get a prompt on the screen to restart your device in order to use the micro SD card.
- Restart your device, and now you should be able to use the SD card.
Note : You must be aware that Nintendo Switch only supports micro SD and micro SDHC. You can also use micro SDXC, but you need some extra effort like an extensive update. So I recommend using micro SD or micro SDHC. You can also use UHS-I (Ultra High Speed Phase I) SD cards as they have high speed data transfer that enhances your gameplay experience.
How to Remove a Micro SD Card From Switch?
With time, the SD card will get full, and you may consider getting a new one with higher capacity. Or, you may want to transfer the contents to another one. In such a case, you need to remove the SD card. Here’s how to do it:
- Remove Switch from its Dock, remove the controllers, and power off your device. If you don’t know how to, refer to the How to install SD card section above.
- Process to remove the SD card also depends upon the Switch models.
- From Nintendo Switch: Flip your device to its back and lift up the kickstand. You will see a micro SD card inserted in the slot.
- From Nintendo Switch Lite: Slide the micro SD card slot cover in the back panel towards you.
- From Nintendo Switch – OLED Model: Swing the adjustable stand and you will see the SD card inserted there.
- Gently push the SD card until you hear a click sound, and then release it. It will now be ejected from the slot. Hold the SD card by its end and pull it out of the slot.
Note : Don’t try to remove the SD card with your device turned on. It can corrupt the SD card, and you may lose all your data.
How to Manage Space on Your Switch SD Card?
You might be curious if you can install more games on your Switch. But if you are running out of storage or have less space remaining, you can’t install the games, or your gaming performance will degrade. You may experience some lags in the games when your SD card is getting full.
You can easily check the remaining storage on your Switch and act accordingly. You can either delete the games you don’t play anymore or format the entire SD card to fresh install new games. Or, if you have a new SD card with higher storage capacity, you can transfer all of its contents from the old SD card to the new one.
Check the Remaining Storage on Your Switch
- Navigate to Settings icon on the home screen and press the A button to open it.
- While on Settings, scroll down to the Data Management tab. Your remaining storage will be shown in the right section.
- Press the B button to exit from the Settings.
Delete the Games That You Don’t Play
- From the homepage, select the game that you want to delete. You will see a blue boundary highlighting the game when it is selected.
- Press the plus button at the top right or the minus(–) button at the top left corner of the console.
- Under the Manage Software tab, select the Delete Software option from the right section.
- In the next prompt that appears, confirm the deletion by pressing the A button.
When you delete a game, it won’t delete the saved data. You can again install it and continue playing. If you want to delete the game completely, follow these steps:
- Under the Data Management tab, please scroll down to find the Delete Save data option and open it.
- Select whose game’s saved data you want to delete and press the A button.
- If you want to delete saved data for just one account, select Delete Save Data for “Your account name” option.
- If you want to delete saved data for all accounts, select Delete All Save Data For This Software.
- Confirm the deletion, and you are done.
Format the Micro SD Card
Here’re the steps to format your micro SD card:
- Open Settings from the homepage of your Switch.
- Scroll down to the System tab that says System.
- Again Scroll down in the right section and select the Formatting Options.
- On the next page, select the Format microSD Card option.
- Select Continue Format, and you are done. Your device will restart after the formatting is complete.
Note : Make sure you create a backup of your important data like videos and screenshots to a PC before formatting the SD card.
Transfer Contents From Old SD Card to the New One
- Remove the old SD card from your Switch.
- Insert the SD card into the card reader on your PC.
- Open up the SD card. You will see a folder named Nintendo in it. Copy and paste the entire folder to your PC.
- Now remove the old SD card from the card reader and insert a new one.
- Copy the folder you previously saved on your PC into the new SD card.
- Once the transfer is complete, eject the SD card from your PC and insert it back into the Switch. It should work fine now with more space available than the previous one.
Note : Don’t delete data from the old SD card until you successfully transfer it to the new SD card. If anything does not work later, you may need it again.
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MicroSD Cards for Nintendo Switch. What To Buy and How to Install?
With 47.8% of the global market share, Nintendo Switch is one of the leaders in the gaming industry. It supports different models (Nintendo Switch – OLED Model, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch Lite) for different use cases. All of these models come with internal NAND storage (from 32 GB to 64 GB). Depending on your needs you can upgrade the storage space by adding external storage. This article is about it and will guide you to understand and choose the proper external storage for your Nintendo Switch.
The only supported external storage is a microSD card. In other words, Nintendo Switch doesn’t support SD cards and miniSD cards.
What can you store on microSD cards? You can store downloadable software, software update data, downloadable content known as DLC data, screenshots, and captured videos. If needed, you can also free up internal storage by moving data to microSD cards. about that, in the coming part.
What microSD cards to buy?
By default, the microSD card doesn’t come with Nintendo Switch. That means you need to buy it. Nintendo Switch supports three types of microSD cards. They are microSD (up to 2 GB), microSDHC (4 GB – 32 GB), and microSDXC (64 GB and above). In addition, if you want to use microSDXC cards, you need to update the system by following the instructions on this LINK.
There are different types of qualities of microSD cards on the market. If you want to improve your gaming experience, we do recommend you use microSD cards with a higher transfer speed. It is recommended to use UHS-I (Ultra High-Speed Phase I) and transfer speeds of 60 MB/sec – 95 MB/sec. Everything below that is not recommended. As a result, you might experience a not-so-pleasing gaming experience. That is something that nobody wants to experience when trying to have fun, isn’t it?
Best choice and best value
From year to year, you can find different recommendations, different models, different capacities, and speeds. For the best overall choice, one of the best microSD cards is Samsung EVO 256GB UHS-I microSDXC U3 Memory card. It comes with 256 GB, class 10 with up to 95MB/sec read speed and 90 MB/s write speed for fast recording and transferring.
For the best value, SanDisk Extreme 128 GB microSDXC would be the way to go. It comes with 128 GB of storage space, class 10 with 160MB/sec read speed and 90 MB/s write speed for fast recording and transferring. The same model supports up to 1 TB of the storage space.
Gamer or intense player
Do you want to have gamer microSD gear? We do recommend going with SanDisk 128GB UHS-I-Memory-Card – Mario Theme. It has 128 GB of storage space, class 10, and you can get multiple games with just a single card and a fast transfer speed of up to 100 MB/s. This microSD memory card is Nintendo licensed for Nintendo Switch consoles.
Title: SanDisk 128GB UHS-I-Memory-Card – Mario Theme
If you are an intense player, then SanDisk Extreme 1TB microSDXC UHS-I Memory Card would be the best option for you. It has 1 TB of storage space, class 10 with 160MB/sec read speed and 90 MB/s write speed for fast recording and transferring.
If you are a user that doesn’t require a lot of storage, then you can choose Samsung microSDHC EVO Select. It has 32 GB of storage space, class 10 with 95MB/s read speed and 20 MB/s write speed for recording and transferring. It also supports 128 GB and 256 GB of disk space, if you decide you need more storage.
However, there are also other models you might consider purchasing. Please keep in the mind the vendor’s recommendation and purchase a card that is reliable, fast enough, well-performing, and that it has good reviews. Technavio (leading market research company with global coverage) has published a report on the global memory cards market from 2017 to 2021 and the top 8 vendors are SanDisk, Kingston Technology, Lexar (Micron Consumer Products Group), ADATA Technology, Transcend Information, Samsung Group, Sony and Toshiba. If you follow the metrics we mentioned in the previous parts, you will not make mistakes.
How to install a microSD card?
It becomes the default storage location when you insert a microSD card in the Nintendo Switch. It is used for downloadable software, with no need for additional configuration.
In order to free up space on the internal storage, you can also move data (screenshots, captured gameplay videos, downloadable software) from the internal to the microSD card. You can’t copy the game save data to a microSD card.
If you need a microSD card with more capacity, we recommend you copy data from the old to a new card. The procedure is easy, all you need to do is use the microSD card reader. If you don’t have one, you can buy it on Amazon. Please check this and this link.
Depending on the Nintendo Switch model (Nintendo Switch – OLED Model, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch Lite), the procedure is a bit different regarding the microSD card slot position. Regardless of the model, firstly, you need to power off the Nintendo Switch console, then remove the cover where the microSD card slot is located. After that, you need to place the microSD card properly (you should hear and feel a click when it is properly inserted). Once you are done, turn your Nintendo Switch on.
Title: Model Nintendo Switch – OLED Model
Title: Model Nintendo Switch Stand
If you want to remove the microSD, firstly you need to turn off the Nintendo Switch. Secondly, you need to remove the microSD card gently from the slot.
In conclusion, both, inserting and removing microSD cards require turning off your Nintendo switch.
The Nintendo Switch uses microSD cards — here’s what size you should buy, and how to install it
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- The only type of SD card that works on a Nintendo Switch is a microSD card.
- microSD cards are smaller than normal SD cards, but can still hold large amounts of games and photos.
- The Nintendo Switch’s SD card slot is underneath the kickstand, which you can only see while it’s in handheld mode.
Although the Nintendo Switch isn’t the most powerful console on the market, its games still take up a lot of space. For example, downloading a signature game like “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” will take up nearly 14 GB.
If you’re planning on buying a lot of games, you’ll likely need an SD card to store them all. But before you buy your SD card, you’ll want to make sure that you buy the right type, and place it properly in your console.
Here’s what you need to know about getting an SD card for your Nintendo Switch.
The Nintendo Switch only takes microSD cards
The Nintendo Switch console is known for its small size and portability. So it probably comes as no surprise that the system only supports the smallest type of SD card: The microSD card.
You can’t use a regular SD card, or even a miniSD card. You’ll specifically need a microSD card.
But don’t worry — microSD cards have been around for years, and can fit plenty of games.
What kind of microSD card should I get for my Switch?
When picking out your microSD card, you’ll need to consider a few different factors.
Storage space
Before you buy an SD card, think about how you buy your games. Do you prefer to buy physical cartridges, which will store less data on the Switch itself? Or do you download all your games from the eShop?
The Switch comes with 32 GB of storage by default. But that fills up fast — “Breath of the Wild” is 14 GB, while “Fortnite” and “Pokémon Sword” are both about 12 GB. The biggest Switch game right now is “NBA 2K20,” coming in at about 33 GB — more than a new Switch can even hold.
And even if you prefer hard copies, remember that downloading bonus content and updates will require additional space on the Switch. Screenshots and videos will take space too.
If you’re going to be doing a lot of gaming on the Switch, you should probably look for a microSD card with at least 128 GB of storage.
In general, you should probably spring for a larger size than you think you’ll need, since the price difference between microSD cards is pretty negligible at larger sizes.
Card speed
Every SD card has a different “read speed.” This tracks how fast it can transfer data, and is important when you’re downloading new games.
The higher a card’s speed the better, but only to a point. The optimal read speed is 60 to 90 MBs, and anything above that won’t make much of a difference.
Nintendo themselves say to buy microSD cards that are categorized as UHS-1 — also known as Ultra High Speed One. This will be marked by a symbol on the card. You can still use UHS-2 and UHS-3 cards, but the Switch can’t take advantage of their higher speeds.
One last little thing: You can also get a specifically Nintendo-themed SD card that perfectly fits the specs you’ll need. You won’t be able to see the design once it’s inserted into the Switch, but it’s still a cute accessory.
How to insert a microSD card into your Nintendo Switch
Turn your Nintendo Switch off. This means fully powered down, not just in sleep mode. You can do this by pressing the power button on top of the console for five seconds, and then selecting “Turn Off.”
Flip your Switch over so the screen is face down and pop the kickstand open. The stand opens at the bottom of the Switch. You might need to use your fingernail or another fine edge to pry the stand out.
When the kickstand is open, you should see the SD card slot, and a small diagram demonstrating the correct way to insert the card: Its label side should be facing up, with a small notch on the right side.
Gently push the microSD card in the slot until you hear it click into place.
Snap your kickstand closed, and you’re all set.
Which size microSD card is best for Nintendo Switch?
Figure out the best way to save your game info with the right size microSD card for your Switch.
Which size microSD card is best for Nintendo Switch?
Best answer: The amount of memory you need depends on how many Switch games you buy and whether they are physical or digital copies. We recommend no less than a 64GB microSD card for either format, but anyone who only purchases digital games should invest in a larger one.
How much internal storage does the Nintendo Switch have?
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The Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite only offer 32GB of internal storage, while the Switch OLED isn’t much better, with only 64GB. That’s a bit of a problem given that many of the best Nintendo Switch games require 10 GB of space.
For instance, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Pokémon Sword and Shield take up 13.4GB and 10.3GB of space, respectively. You’ll quickly run out of room after about three large Switch games on Switch or Switch Lite. It isn’t much better on Switch OLED since you’ll run out of room after roughly six large games.
If you mainly purchase digital games or buy a lot of physical copies, you will want a larger microSD card regardless of which system you have. It will take you a bit longer to run out of space if you’re purchasing physical copies, but if you plan on playing several Switch games, then you’re going to need a microSD card soon enough.
Minimum recommended microSD card size for Nintendo Switch
Our recommendation is to go no smaller than 64GB. This comfortable size lets you hold a few big games at around 14GB each, a few medium-sized games at around half that mark, and a smattering of smaller games to fill out the bottom.
You should expect to delete, archive, and reinstall Nintendo Switch games sometime in the future at that size. You’ll get by just fine as long as you are OK regularly downloading your games as they rotate in your playing list. Don’t forget that you can simultaneously use the internal and external storage, so think of it as having 96GB! Of course, if you plan on playing several Switch games, we recommend you go larger than that.
The right microSD card size for digital Switch games
Considering that Nintendo Switch games are launching with bigger and bigger file sizes every week, anyone who prefers downloading digital games should try to aim for the biggest microSD card they can afford. We highly recommend getting a 256GB card. It has the space to hold plenty of saved data, screenshots, and videos.
Of course, if you have all the games in the world and want to play any of them at a moment’s notice, you’ll want to look at something much larger, like a 512GB card for maximum storage.
The right microSD card size for physical Switch games
The Nintendo Switch is one of the few gaming consoles remaining that doesn’t install game data when using physical media (cartridges). As such, the 32GB of internal storage inside might be more than enough if you’re only planning on buying a few physical copies here and there.
Now, if you’re planning on purchasing a tangible copy of just about every major title that Nintendo releases, you’ll run out of the Switch’s internal storage and will want to invest in a large microSD card. I am partial to the SanDisk 128GB card, as it has allowed me to acquire and play several physical versions of Switch games without having to archive or uninstall anything.
Officially licensed microSD cards
Nintendo partnered with SanDisk to produce officially licensed microSD cards for Switch. These include a wide range of cards with various game designs on them. There’s a 64GB card with a Zelda logo on it, a 128GB card with a Mario mushroom, and if you really want a ton of space, there’s a 512GB card with an Animal Crossing leaf on it.
These officially licensed SanDisk microSD cards often go on sale on popular retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. In particular, the Mario 128GB card often sells at a reasonable price that is lower than other competitors of the same size.
Tips for buying a trustworthy microSD card
There are hundreds of memory cards for sale on the internet, but that doesn’t mean that you should go for the cheapest option you can find. It’s possible that cheaper cards could have malware or won’t work nearly as well as others. To keep yourself safe, only purchase from trusted sellers, and be sure to check reviews for a microSD card before deciding on a purchase. We highly recommend purchasing memory cards from the following brands:
Transferring game data from one microSD card to another
Unfortunately, the process for transferring your game data from one microSD card to another isn’t the most intuitive thing. Whether upgrading your storage or just wanting to go with a different memory card, you will need to use a computer to make this transfer possible. While it isn’t easy, it is possible if you follow the right steps.
The microSD cards to get for Nintendo Switch
Since the Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite only have 32GB of internal storage and the Switch OLED isn’t much better with 64GB, you will need to purchase a microSD card if you plan on purchasing several large Switch titles. If you tend to buy more digital versions, you’ll want a larger microSD card, while those who buy cartridges won’t need as big of a memory card to get the job done.
