Recommended Free Tools
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Yes—Nintendo Switch games can save to the cloud, but only when the specific title supports Nintendo Switch Online Save Data Cloud. The feature backs up one Nintendo Account user’s save for each compatible game to Nintendo’s servers. It requires an active Nintendo Switch Online membership and an internet connection, and it lets that same account download the backup to another Nintendo Switch-family console.
Cloud saving is not universal. Nintendo’s exclusion list, current as of July 30, 2026, includes several major games. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the important special case: it does not use ordinary Save Data Cloud and instead has a separate island-backup and restore service.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Nintendo eShop Physical Gift Card | $100 | $100.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - US Version | $52.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![$20 Nintendo eShop Gift Card [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41XOVFRcBIL._SL160_.jpg)
|
$20 Nintendo eShop Gift Card [Digital Code] | $20.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![$50 Nintendo eShop Gift Card [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51klpGvEKML._SL160_.jpg)
|
$50 Nintendo eShop Gift Card [Digital Code] | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
How Nintendo Switch Online Cloud Saves Work—and Which Games Are Excluded
What Nintendo Switch Online Save Data Cloud actually backs up
Save Data Cloud stores compatible software saves on Nintendo-managed servers and associates them with the Nintendo Account user who created the save. It is not a single console-wide archive. If several people use one Switch, each person’s account has its own save relationship with each game.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →One server backup per account and game
Nintendo says one backup can be stored per Nintendo Account for each software title, even when that account is linked to users on multiple consoles. A newer backup replaces the previous server copy. Nintendo also states that there is no stated limit on total backup capacity or on the number of supported software titles an account can back up.
#1 Best Overall
- Give the gift of fun with a Nintendo eShop gift code
- It's easy—apply it to your Nintendo eShop account in seconds.
- It ensures that you’ll always have funds on hand to help with purchases of new games and applications
- It’s designed for your Nintendo eShop purchases—no credit card required.
- The perfect gift for anyone who loves to play—including you. Choose from over 1,000 new, classic and indie games – delivered directly to your Nintendo Switch system.
Membership and internet are required
Only users with an active Nintendo Switch Online membership can back up and use Save Data Cloud. The console must be online for an automatic or manual backup, and the destination console must also connect to the internet when downloading a backup.
Save data is stored in console storage
Switch save data resides in the console’s internal storage. It is not stored on a physical game card or a microSD card. Moving a cartridge or transferring a microSD card therefore does not move a game’s save and is not a substitute for cloud backup.
How automatic and manual backups work
Automatic backup behavior
Automatic backup is enabled by default in Nintendo’s documented Switch workflow. The console backs up while it is in sleep mode or when the game is closed. Automatic backup pauses while an internet-communicating game is actively being played, so a title may not upload until you exit the software or put the console to sleep.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Start a manual backup
- Connect the Switch to the internet and open the HOME Menu.
- Highlight the game whose save you want to upload.
- Press the + button to open Options.
- Choose Save Data Cloud, select the relevant user, and choose the backup command shown on screen.
A manual backup overwrites the server copy and cannot be undone. If you use the game on more than one console, first check which console contains the progress you intend to keep. Uploading from the wrong console can replace the better backup with older or unwanted progress.
When a backup does not appear current
Close the game, confirm that the console is online, and allow it to remain awake or in sleep mode long enough to complete the upload. You can also return to the game’s HOME Menu > Options > Save Data Cloud screen and run a manual backup after verifying the local progress.
Rank #2
- New stages and fighters are joined by the combined rosters of every past Super Smash Bros. Game
- Challenge others anytime, anywhere, whether you're on the couch or on the go
- Play any way you want—locally, online, in TV mode, Tabletop mode, Handheld mode, or even with GameCube Controllers
- Fight faster and smarter with new and returning techniques, like the perfect shield and directional air dodge
- Face off in 2-4 player battles, or play against the computer
Restore a save on another Nintendo Switch-family console
The destination console must have the same Nintendo Account linked to it. Save Data Cloud does not merge progress between different users, and a backup belonging to one account cannot be shared with another account.
- On the original console, close the game and create a fresh manual backup if its progress is the version you want to preserve.
- On the destination Switch-family console, connect to the internet and sign in with the same Nintendo Account.
- Open the HOME Menu and highlight the game.
- Press +, choose Save Data Cloud, and select the user whose backup you want.
- Choose the download option and follow the on-screen confirmation steps.
- Launch the game and confirm that the expected progress is present before continuing to play.
The service provides one cloud copy per account and title, not a history of versions. If you keep playing on two consoles, decide which console is authoritative before each upload; the next backup will replace the previous server copy.
What happens when Nintendo Switch Online expires
Nintendo says a cloud backup cannot be used while the associated Nintendo Switch Online membership is expired. The backup becomes available again if the user rejoins within 180 days. Treat that 180-day period as a reactivation window rather than as a guarantee that an expired membership can be ignored indefinitely.
Because the backup is tied to the Nintendo Account, rejoining with a different account will not restore the original user’s data. Use the same account that created the backup.
Which games are excluded from ordinary Save Data Cloud
Nintendo’s official Save Data Cloud page lists the following Nintendo and Pokémon software as unsupported as of July 30, 2026. “No” in the table means the standard Nintendo cloud-save service is unavailable; “not stated” means the cited Nintendo information does not identify another backup method for that title.
Rank #3
- This item can be redeemed on eShop only. This item cannot be redeemed on the Wii Shop
- The perfect gift for anyone who loves to play—including you. Choose from over 1,000 new, classic and indie games – delivered directly to your Nintendo Switch, Wii U or Nintendo 3DS family of systems.
- Nintendo eShop Digital Cards are redeemable only through the Nintendo eShop on the Nintendo Switch, Wii U, and Nintendo 3DS family of systems.
- Digital Card balances can be shared across Nintendo Switch, Wii U and Nintendo 3DS family of systems, but may only be used on a single Nintendo eShop account.
| Game | Standard Save Data Cloud | Other method identified in Nintendo’s information |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2-Switch | No | Not stated |
| Splatoon 2 | No | Not stated |
| Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! | No | Not stated |
| Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! | No | Not stated |
| Pokémon Sword | No | Not stated |
| Pokémon Shield | No | Not stated |
| Animal Crossing: New Horizons, including the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition | No | Separate island-backup and restore service |
| Pokémon Café Mix | No | Not stated |
| Pokémon UNITE | No | Not stated |
| Pokémon Brilliant Diamond | No | Not stated |
| Pokémon Shining Pearl | No | Not stated |
| Pokémon Legends: Arceus | No | Not stated |
| Pokémon Scarlet | No | Not stated |
| Pokémon Violet | No | Not stated |
| Pokémon Legends: Z-A, including the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition | No | Not stated |
| Pokémon FireRed | No | Not stated |
| Pokémon LeafGreen | No | Not stated |
The list is title-specific and can change as Nintendo updates software and services. An online-play feature does not imply cloud-save support: Nintendo explicitly warns that software supporting online play may still be incompatible with Save Data Cloud.
How to check a game before relying on its save
- Connect the console to the internet.
- On the HOME Menu, highlight the game.
- Press + to open Options.
- Look for Save Data Cloud and open it for the relevant user.
If the game exposes the Save Data Cloud controls, use that screen to view backup status and upload or download the save. If the option is unavailable, do not assume that online multiplayer or a Nintendo Account login provides a backup. Nintendo also shows cloud-save compatibility in the game’s Nintendo eShop product details.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons uses an island backup instead
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is excluded from ordinary user-based Save Data Cloud, including its Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. Nintendo provides a separate island backup and restore service for this game.
How the island service differs
- Backup must be enabled inside Animal Crossing: New Horizons; an active Nintendo Switch Online membership is also required.
- The backup covers the island and is shared by the residents on that console. Residents whose users do not subscribe individually are included in the island data.
- The workflow is island-wide rather than a separate cloud slot for each resident’s Nintendo Account.
Restoring after loss or damage
If the console is lost or damaged, Nintendo’s process requires contacting Nintendo Support to start a restore. The player cannot arbitrarily choose among restore points. When replacing a console, do not use ordinary user-transfer or save-data-transfer tools for this game; use the island-transfer service and Nintendo’s support-directed recovery process.
Supported games versus excluded games: the practical difference
| Question | Supported title using Save Data Cloud | Excluded title |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the backup kept? | Nintendo-managed cloud storage associated with the Nintendo Account user and title | Ordinary Save Data Cloud is unavailable |
| Who controls the save? | The same Nintendo Account user can upload or download it | Depends on any title-specific system; for Animal Crossing, the island is shared by console residents |
| Can the user restore directly? | Yes, from the game’s HOME-menu Save Data Cloud screen | Varies; Animal Crossing recovery requires Nintendo Support |
| Is there a Nintendo-stated alternate method? | Not needed for the standard service | Only Animal Crossing: New Horizons has the separate island service identified here; other listed titles are not given an alternate method |
Common problems and the correct fix
The Save Data Cloud option is missing
Check the title’s compatibility first. Then confirm that the intended user has an active Nintendo Switch Online membership and that the console is online. A game can support online play and still omit Save Data Cloud.
Rank #4
- This item can be redeemed on eShop only. This item cannot be redeemed on the Wii Shop
- The perfect gift for anyone who loves to play—including you. Choose from over 1,000 new, classic and indie games – delivered directly to your Nintendo Switch, Wii U or Nintendo 3DS family of systems.
- Nintendo eShop Digital Cards are redeemable only through the Nintendo eShop on the Nintendo Switch, Wii U, and Nintendo 3DS family of systems.
- Digital Card balances can be shared across Nintendo Switch, Wii U and Nintendo 3DS family of systems, but may only be used on a single Nintendo eShop account.
The backup contains the wrong progress
Because Nintendo keeps one backup per account and title, a later manual upload may have replaced the copy you wanted. There is no undo for that overwrite in the documented workflow. If another console still has the desired local progress, stop playing on both consoles, verify that copy, and use it as the source for the next upload.
The save did not move with a cartridge or microSD card
That behavior is expected: save data is in internal console storage. Use Save Data Cloud for a supported game, or the game’s own transfer or recovery process when Nintendo provides one.
The membership recently ended
Cloud data cannot be used while the membership is inactive. Rejoin with the original Nintendo Account within Nintendo’s 180-day window to regain access.
An Animal Crossing island cannot be restored from the normal menu
That game does not use standard Save Data Cloud. Confirm that island backup was enabled, then follow Nintendo’s support-contact and island-restore process rather than attempting a normal user transfer.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteBefore changing consoles: a safe checklist
- Identify every game that must move and check Save Data Cloud compatibility individually.
- For supported games, close the software and create a manual backup from HOME Menu > game > + > Save Data Cloud.
- Verify that the destination console uses the same Nintendo Account user.
- Do not upload from a console until you have confirmed that its local progress is the version you want to keep.
- Keep Nintendo Switch Online active, or rejoin within 180 days if it has expired.
- For Animal Crossing: New Horizons, enable island backup in the game and use the island-transfer or support workflow instead of ordinary save-data tools.
Nintendo Switch cloud saving is therefore reliable for compatible titles but not universal: it is account-based, keeps one replaceable backup per game, and depends on membership, internet access, and title support. Checking each game before a console move—and treating Animal Crossing: New Horizons as a separate island-backup case—prevents the most damaging surprises.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
