The Nintendo OLED’s launch means that a whole bunch of current Nintendo Switch owners are going to be making the… jump to the newer version of the console. But in order to keep everything from your old system on the new one, you have to know how to transfer data–and not all of it is an automatic process.
How to transfer Nintendo Switch data to a new system
First, despite the cloud save backup offered by the Nintendo Switch Online service, this isn’t the same as having your entire profile and user data stored on the cloud, and a number of games aren’t compatible with cloud saves. The most foolproof way of transferring all of your data to a new Switch is to use the recommended transfer system, which requires having both consoles along with a number of other implements.
As detailed on the Nintendo Help site, both consoles will need to be updated to system 4.0.0 or higher, and they both need to be connected to the Internet. You will need to use the data management option in the system settings and select to Transfer Your Save Data and choose to send it on one console and receive it on the other.
If you’re planning on using the Switch OLED exclusively from here on out, you’ll also want to transfer your user data. To do this, go to the original system, select Users in the settings and then Transfer Your User data.
Click through until you can select “Source Console” and then go through the exact same steps on the Switch OLED, only selecting “Target Console,” instead. Sign in with your Nintendo Account, and the transfer process should start.
If you do plan on using your old Switch, perhaps in another room or as a handheld-exclusive system, do not transfer your user data. Instead, de-register your current console as the primary system on your account and make the Switch OLED your primary console. This will let you keep playing digital games on both systems, provided you are signed in if you are using the older model.
Source: Gamespot
