What Happens When Your Pokémon HOME Subscription Expires? A Comprehensive Guide
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So, you’ve been happily storing your precious pocket monsters in Pokémon HOME, the cloud-based storage service. But life happens, budgets shift, and you’re wondering: what happens if I don’t pay for Pokémon HOME? The short answer is that your Pokémon aren’t deleted, but your access to them significantly changes. Let’s break down exactly what that means and what you need to know to manage your Pokémon storage effectively.
The Premium Plan vs. The Basic Plan: A Tale of Two Boxes
When you subscribe to Pokémon HOME’s Premium Plan, you unlock the full potential of the service. This includes access to a staggering 200 boxes, capable of holding up to 6,000 Pokémon. You can transfer Pokémon from Pokémon Bank, receive rewards from online competitions, and claim Mystery Gifts in Sword and Shield. It’s the all-access pass for serious collectors and competitive trainers.
However, if your Premium Plan lapses and you revert to the Basic Plan, your storage capacity shrinks dramatically. The Basic Plan only allows access to a single box, holding a maximum of 30 Pokémon. This is the crux of the issue: you don’t lose your Pokémon, but you lose access to the majority of them. Think of it like a storage unit. If you stop paying, the contents aren’t thrown away, but the door is locked until you settle your account.
What Happens To Your Pokémon?
When your subscription expires, Pokémon HOME does not immediately delete your Pokémon. Instead:
- The 30 Most Recent: Only the 30 most recently deposited or traded Pokémon will remain accessible in your Basic Box. These are the only Pokémon you can view, withdraw, or use.
- Pokémon “Hostage”: All other Pokémon exceeding that 30 count will be unavailable for use.
- For a Certain Period: Pokemon Support has mentioned that Pokemon remain in Home for a certain period of time.
In essence, your Pokémon are held “hostage” until you renew your Premium Plan. This means they are still safely stored in the Pokémon HOME cloud, but you can’t interact with them in any way beyond viewing the first 30 until you resubscribe.
Managing Your Pokémon Before Your Subscription Ends
The best strategy is proactive planning. Before your Pokémon HOME subscription is scheduled to expire, take the following steps:
- Assess Your Needs: Decide if you need to keep the Premium Plan. If you’re not actively using Pokémon HOME or don’t need to store a large number of Pokémon, the Basic Plan might suffice.
- Prioritize Your Pokémon: If you choose to let your subscription lapse, carefully select the 30 Pokémon you want to keep accessible in your Basic Box.
- Move Important Pokémon: Transfer the chosen 30 Pokémon to your Basic Box. Remember, the most recently deposited/traded Pokémon take priority, so manage the order of your deposits.
- Consider Alternate Storage: If you have other Pokémon games, consider moving some of your Pokémon to those games for storage. For example, Pokémon Sword, Shield, Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, Legends: Arceus, Scarlet, and Violet can all hold Pokémon, though with varying limitations.
- Export/Import: If you are a developer, the Games Learning Society has resources that can allow you to export/import your stored pokemon for use in other programs.
Canceling Your Pokémon HOME Subscription
If you decide to cancel your Pokémon HOME subscription, the process is straightforward:
- Open Settings: On your mobile device (iOS or Android), open the Settings app.
- Tap Your Name/Apple ID: Tap your name at the top of the Settings menu.
- Tap Subscriptions: Select the “Subscriptions” option.
- Select Pokémon HOME: Find and select the Pokémon HOME subscription.
- Cancel Subscription: Tap “Cancel Subscription” to cancel your Premium Plan. Confirm your cancellation if prompted.
Remember that you’ll typically retain access to the Premium features until the end of your current billing cycle. After that, you’ll automatically revert to the Basic Plan.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Pokémon HOME and Subscription Expiration
1. Does Pokémon HOME delete Pokémon if you stop paying?
No, Pokémon HOME does not delete your Pokémon when your Premium Plan expires. However, you lose access to any Pokémon beyond the first 30 in your Basic Box. They remain stored but inaccessible until you resubscribe. It is unknown after a long enough period of non-payment if Pokemon Home will eventually delete your Pokemon.
2. How long will my Pokémon stay in Pokémon HOME if I don’t pay?
Unlike Pokemon Bank which deletes Pokemon after an unspecific period of time, Pokemon Home simply disables access to the 31st and above Pokemon you have deposited on the cloud, meaning you cannot view or withdraw them until you are re-enrolled in the premium plan.
3. Can I retrieve my Pokémon if I resubscribe to Pokémon HOME Premium?
Yes! Once you renew your Premium Plan, you’ll regain full access to all your stored Pokémon. They will be exactly where you left them, ready for you to use.
4. How do I choose which 30 Pokémon are available in my Basic Box?
The 30 most recently deposited or traded Pokémon will be the ones accessible in your Basic Box. Therefore, you should move the Pokémon you want to keep available last before your Premium Plan expires.
5. What happens to my Pokémon if Pokémon HOME shuts down entirely?
This is a valid concern, but Nintendo has not announced any plans to shut down Pokémon HOME. In the event of a shutdown, they would likely provide advance notice and options for transferring your Pokémon to other compatible games or services. As seen with the transition to free Pokémon Bank, Nintendo appears committed to providing options for Pokémon storage even as platforms evolve.
6. Can I transfer Pokémon from Pokémon Bank to Pokémon HOME for free?
Yes. On March 27, 2023, Pokémon Bank became free to use, and you can transfer Pokémon from Bank to HOME using the Transporter function in HOME. However, transferring into Bank is no longer possible as Bank is unavailable for download.
7. What Pokémon games are compatible with Pokémon HOME?
Pokémon HOME supports connectivity with various Pokémon games, including Pokémon Sword and Shield, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, as well as Pokémon GO and Pokémon Bank. Not all Pokémon are transferable between all games, due to game-specific restrictions and compatibility issues.
8. Can I use Pokémon HOME without a Nintendo Switch Online subscription?
Yes. A Nintendo Switch Online subscription is not required to use Pokémon HOME, even for features like trading. Pokémon HOME has its own subscription model separate from Nintendo Switch Online.
9. What are the different Pokémon HOME Premium Plan options and prices?
There are three Premium Plan options:
- 1-Month Plan: $2.99
- 3-Month Plan: $4.99
- 12-Month Plan: $15.99
10. Can my Pokémon in Pokémon HOME get traded without my permission?
No. Your Pokémon are securely stored in your personal Pokémon HOME account and cannot be traded or accessed by anyone else without your explicit permission and account login.
11. What happens if I put a hacked or illegal Pokémon in Pokémon HOME?
Putting a hacked Pokémon in Pokémon HOME carries risks. While you might not be immediately banned, the system can detect illegal Pokémon. On Bank, the Pokémon is simply deleted. On Home, your pokemon will become a “Bad Egg” permanently taking up a spot in your Home. Nintendo reserves the right to restrict online play for all Pokémon titles, restrict the use of trading features in Pokémon HOME, or even indefinitely suspend your Pokémon HOME account for severe violations.
12. Can I transfer Pokémon from Pokémon GO to Pokémon HOME for free?
Yes, transferring Pokémon from Pokémon GO to Pokémon HOME is possible. However, you must have a compatible device and follow the transfer process within the Pokémon GO app. Some limitations apply.
13. What are the storage limits in Pokémon HOME?
The Basic Plan allows for 30 Pokémon in one box. The Premium Plan allows for 6,000 Pokémon across 200 boxes.
14. Can I refund Pokémon HOME subscription?
Unfortunately, Pokémon HOME subscriptions are generally non-refundable. Check the Nintendo eShop or app store’s refund policies for specific details.
15. What are the benefits of using Pokémon HOME beyond storage?
Besides storage, Pokémon HOME offers features like:
- Global Trade System (GTS): Trade Pokémon with trainers around the world.
- Wonder Box: Trade Pokémon randomly for surprise encounters.
- Room Trade: Trade with friends in private rooms.
- Judge Function: Assess the IVs (Individual Values) of your Pokémon (Premium Plan only).
- National Pokédex Completion: Track your Pokémon collection across multiple games.
By understanding the implications of letting your Pokémon HOME subscription lapse, you can proactively manage your Pokémon storage and avoid any unexpected surprises. Whether you’re a casual collector or a dedicated competitive trainer, knowing how to navigate the Pokémon HOME ecosystem is crucial for maintaining your Pokémon journey.