Can I Transfer Downloaded 3DS Games?

Unfortunately, it is not possible to transfer a specific downloadable 3DS game to another Nintendo 3DS console, but you can perform a System Transfer to transfer the entire content of your console to another, effectively moving all your digital games to a new 3DS.

Understanding 3DS Game Transfers

To provide more clarity and address related inquiries, we’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions about transferring and managing 3DS games.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can you share digital 3DS games? Digital games are tied to the Nintendo Account that purchased them, and all users on a system can play games purchased by any Nintendo Account that has registered the system as their primary console.

2. Can you transfer 3DS games to another SD card? You can save software to another SD Card, but you cannot later combine the contents of multiple SD Cards without using a computer and a commercially available SD Card reader/writer.

3. Are digital 3DS games tied to an account? A Nintendo Account is required to purchase games through the My Nintendo Store, and the games you buy will be automatically downloaded to the system associated with your Nintendo Account.

4. Can I download my 3DS games on another 3DS? Nintendo doesn’t allow cross-buy, and you cannot have the same NNID on more than one 3DS/WiiU system combination, limiting game sharing across devices.

5. Can I redownload 3DS eShop games on a new 3DS? Once deleted, Nintendo eShop purchases can be redownloaded at no cost, and downloaded items appear as a gift on the HOME Menu.

6. Can I redownload 3DS games after the eShop closes? As long as you already own a game on the 3DS or Wii U, you’ll be able to redownload it from the eShop for the foreseeable future, even after the eShop closure.

7. Is it illegal to pirate 3DS games? Video game piracy is illegal, and Nintendo opposes those who benefit and trade off the creative work of game developers, artists, animators, musicians, and motion capture artists.

8. What will happen to digital 3DS games? As of early April 2024, online play and other functionality that uses online communication will end service for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software, affecting gameplay and connectivity.

9. What happens to 3DS eShop games? The Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShops have been permanently closed, meaning you can no longer purchase new games or DLC from the eShops, but you can still download previously purchased games and DLC.

10. Are downloaded 3DS games stored on an SD card? No, while some Game Cards do save SpotPass and StreetPass information to the SD card or system memory, game progress is saved to the Nintendo 3DS Game Card!

11. What is the largest SD card for 3DS? The Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 3DS XL, and Nintendo 2DS systems are compatible with SD cards up to 2 GB in size and SDHC cards of 4 GB and larger up to 32 GB in size.

12. Can I have 2 3DS with the same account? It is not possible to link the same Nintendo Network account to multiple Wii U or multiple Nintendo 3DS family systems at the same time.

13. Are eShop purchases tied to an account 3DS? For the Nintendo 3DS, eShop downloads are tied to a Nintendo account connected to a player’s system and saved to their SD card.

14. How do I backup my 3DS digital games? To backup save data from the HOME Menu, tap on the software with the save data you wish to backup, slide the triangle icon to the right, and select Save-Data Backup.

15. Can digital games be shared? Gamesharing only works on digital games, and only one player can access the game at any given time, limiting the sharing of digital content across multiple users or devices.