It can be annoying when you want to install a game on your Nintendo Switch, only to get a notification telling you that there's not enough space in the console's system memory. You can simply delete some games, screenshots, and videos to make room, but with data management, you can clear space without losing your game data and media permanently.

Here's how data management can help free up space on your Nintendo Switch.

1. Transfer Game Data From Your Nintendo Switch to a microSD Card

If you don't want to delete a game while also not wanting it to take up storage space on your Switch, you can transfer it to a microSD card. After inserting the microSD card into the Switch, follow the steps below to transfer game data:

  1. Go to System Settings on your Nintendo Switch.
  2. In the menu on the left, scroll down and select Data Management. From there, you can see the free space on both your console and microSD card.
  3. In the right pane, select Move Data Between Console/microSD card.
    the Data Management page in the Nintendo Switch settings with the option to move data between console and microSD card selected
  4. Select Move to MicroSD Card.
    the option to move game data to a microSD card on Nintendo Switch
  5. In the left pane, select the game you want to transfer, and then select Move Data in the right pane.
    the process of moving data for 13 Sentinels to a microSD card on Nintendo Switch
  6. In the pop-up, select Move and wait for the transfer to complete–completion time will vary depending on the size of the game and its data.
    a pop up for moving 13 Sentinels game data to microSD card on Nintendo Switch

Now there should be some free space on your Nintendo Switch. Keep in mind, however, that you won't be able to use this microSD on another Switch console. It's locked to your console, meaning your need to format it if you want to use it on another system.

2. Transfer Screenshots and Videos From System Storage to microSD Card and PC

If you take a lot of screenshots and videos, eventually, they will take a significant portion of your system storage. Through data management, you can either transfer them to a microSD card or your Windows PC.

When you insert the microSD card into your Switch, it will automatically become the default storage location for all the screenshots and videos you take moving forward.

To transfer the screenshots and videos from system storage to a microSD card, follow the steps below:

  1. Go to System Settings on your Nintendo Switch.
  2. Scroll down and select Data Management.
  3. Scroll down and select Manage Screenshots and Videos.
    the Data Management page in the Nintendo Switch settings with the option to manage screens and videos selected
  4. In the Copy/Delete Screenshots and Videos section, select System Memory.
    the screen for managing screenshots and videos on Nintendo Switch with the System Memory option highlighted
  5. Select Copy All Screenshots and Videos to microSD Card to transfer the media out of the console and free up space.
    the option to copy all screenshots and videos to microSD highlighted on Nintendo Switch

To transfer the screenshots and videos to your PC using data management, follow the steps below:

  1. Connect your Nintendo Switch to a PC using a USB-C cable.
  2. Open the Manage Screenshots and Videos screen in Data Management (steps one through three above).
  3. Scroll down and select Copy to PC via USB Connection.
    the option to copy screenshots and videos to PC highlighted on Nintendo Switch
  4. You should see a pop-up on your Nintendo Switch that says "Your console is now connected to your PC."
  5. On your computer, head to This PC > Nintendo Switch > Album to find the screenshots and videos stored on the console. Each game and software you captured will have its own dedicate folder.
    the Album folder from the internal memory on a Nintendo Switch being viewed on a Windows PC
  6. Move the media by cutting and pasting it into the desired location on your computer.
  7. Go back to your Switch and select Disconnect in the pop-up.

The screenshots and videos should no longer be in your system storage.

3. Archive Games on Your Nintendo Switch

If you don't have a microSD card, or you've run out of space on the external storage, deleting a game on your Nintendo Switch makes sense. But what if you want to play it again in the future?

Well, in that case, you should archive the game on your Nintendo Switch, which will delete the game but keep its save data in system storage. Once you redownload the game on your Nintendo Switch, you can pick up right where you left off.

Nintendo Switch's Data Management to the Rescue

When running out of space on Nintendo Switch, you can simply clear some space without losing your games, screenshots, and videos by transferring them to a microSD card. You can even delete games but keep their save data using the Archive Software feature. It's all possible through data management.