Can I Transfer Nintendo Switch Games to Another Account?
The short and direct answer is: No, you cannot directly transfer Nintendo Switch games from one Nintendo Account to another. Digital purchases and code redemptions are permanently tied to the Nintendo Account used to make the purchase or redeem the code. This means that once you’ve acquired a game, it will remain associated with that specific account and cannot be shifted to a different one. This is a fundamental design of the Nintendo Switch ecosystem, ensuring that game ownership is clear and protected. While this might be frustrating for some, there are ways to share your games within your household and with friends, albeit with certain limitations. Understanding these limitations and the available workarounds is key to navigating the Nintendo Switch’s digital game landscape.
Understanding Account and Console Relationships
Before we delve deeper, it’s crucial to understand how Nintendo Accounts and consoles interact. Your Nintendo Account is your personal identity within the Nintendo ecosystem, used to purchase games and access online services. A Nintendo Switch console can have multiple user accounts (up to eight), each optionally linked to a Nintendo Account. Crucially, one of your consoles is designated as your primary console, which is important for game sharing.
Primary vs. Non-Primary Consoles
Your primary console is the one where all user accounts on that console can access and play games purchased by your linked Nintendo Account. This is the most straightforward way to share your games with family members using the same device. On a non-primary console, only the specific Nintendo Account that made the purchase can access those digital games.
The “Game Sharing” Workaround
While you can’t directly transfer games, you can share digital games by logging into another Nintendo Switch console and designating that console as your primary console. Once this is done, you can redownload your purchased games from the eShop onto that new primary console. Keep in mind that only one console can be primary at a time. If you switch your primary console, others on the old primary console will not be able to play your digital games.
Navigating Save Data
It’s also vital to distinguish between games and save data. Save data is stored on the Nintendo Switch console itself, not on the game cartridge or your Nintendo Account. This means that you can’t transfer save data between different profiles on the same Switch, or to a different Nintendo Account. There is a method to move saved data from one console to another for the same user, which requires using system settings, and you must own the console.
Transferring Save Data
You can transfer save data from one console to another by going to System Settings > Data Management > Transfer Your Save Data. You can then choose to send save data from one console to another and then select the user and game. This, however, transfers the save data to the same user on the second console and does not create a copy, meaning that the data is deleted on the source console.
Cloud Saves
If you have a Nintendo Switch Online membership, you may be able to back up your save data to the cloud. This feature will automatically back up your save data for games supported by it. It can be restored from the cloud onto the same user on any console. It’s vital to understand that cloud saves are tied to the Nintendo Account, not the console or the user profiles on the console.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To further clarify the intricacies of Nintendo Switch game ownership and sharing, here are 15 frequently asked questions:
1. Can I merge two Nintendo Accounts to consolidate my games?
No, Nintendo does not allow you to merge two Nintendo Accounts. Games are tied to the specific account that made the purchase, and it’s not possible to transfer those purchases to another account.
2. Can multiple user profiles on my Switch play games I purchased?
Yes, on your primary Nintendo Switch console, all user accounts can play games you’ve purchased with your linked Nintendo Account.
3. If I have multiple Switch consoles, can I play my digital games on all of them?
Yes, but with a limitation. On your primary console, everyone can play your digital games. On non-primary consoles, only the Nintendo Account that made the purchase can play the games, and only one can play at any given time.
4. Why can’t I play a game on a secondary Switch with a different user?
Because the Nintendo Switch is not the primary console for the Nintendo Account that originally purchased the game. On a non-primary console, only the purchasing account can access its digital games.
5. Can two Nintendo Accounts play the same game simultaneously on the same console?
No, two Nintendo accounts cannot play the same digital game simultaneously on the same Switch. But, different users on the same account can play on the primary console.
6. How do I change my primary console?
You can change your primary console by logging into the eShop on the new console. The first console that accesses the eShop is designated as your primary console.
7. What happens to my games if I switch my primary console?
Once you switch your primary console, the games will no longer be accessible to other users on your previous primary console unless logged into the purchasing account.
8. Can I share physical game cartridges between Switch consoles?
Yes, you can share physical game cartridges between different Nintendo Switch consoles. However, save data is stored on the console itself, meaning that progress will not transfer over to a different console.
9. Can I transfer save data between user profiles on the same Switch?
No, you cannot transfer save data between different user profiles on the same Nintendo Switch console.
10. Can I transfer save data to a different Nintendo Account?
No, you cannot transfer save data to a different Nintendo Account. Save data is always tied to the user profile it belongs to.
11. Can multiple user accounts on the same console use a single Nintendo Switch Online membership?
No, unless you have a Family Membership, each user account needs their own membership to access online features. A family membership will cover up to 8 users and is very economical for those with multiple accounts.
12. Can I play online with different user profiles on the same Switch?
Yes, if each profile has its own Nintendo Switch Online membership, or is part of a family membership, they can all access online features for supported games.
13. Can I download a game on multiple consoles at the same time using the same Nintendo Account?
Yes, you can download games onto multiple consoles using the same Nintendo account, but you cannot play the same game at the same time. On non-primary consoles, you must be logged into your Nintendo account to play your games and can only be logged in on one console at a time.
14. If I sell my Nintendo Switch, can I transfer all my games to the new owner?
No, you cannot directly transfer games to a new owner. The games are tied to your Nintendo Account, not the console. You would have to either keep your Nintendo account on the device, or have them log into your account to play the games.
15. Does cloud save backup my save data permanently?
Yes, as long as your Nintendo Switch Online membership remains active and you continue to follow Nintendo’s terms of service, your save data will remain backed up in the cloud.
Conclusion
While the inability to transfer games directly between Nintendo Accounts might seem restrictive, Nintendo has implemented a system that allows game sharing within a household using primary and non-primary console designations. By carefully managing your account and console settings, and understanding the nuances of save data management, you can effectively navigate the Nintendo Switch’s ecosystem. Keep in mind that your purchases are tied to your Nintendo account for the foreseeable future, so it’s best to be thoughtful and mindful when making purchases and account creation.