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If a Nintendo Switch 2 game, update, DLC package, or game-key card download will not finish, first identify the exact message, then check free space in HOME Menu → System Settings → Data Management. Compare that space with the title’s own Required Storage Space figure. If you use removable storage, it must be a microSD Express card; an ordinary Switch microSD card cannot store Switch 2 software. A card can hold software, DLC, updates, and captures, but save data remains in the console’s system memory.
Those checks separate a genuine storage shortage from an incompatible card, an already-redeemed download code, or a different error that needs Nintendo’s specific support instructions. Follow the matching section below instead of repeatedly retrying the same download or buying storage before confirming what is wrong.
Start with the exact symptom and message
Before deleting anything, write down what you were downloading and the precise wording or number shown on screen. A full digital game, a patch, downloadable content, and the first download for a game-key card can have different storage requirements. An error code is also important: Nintendo documents codes 2813-0040 and 9001-0040 as a specific already-redeemed-code condition, not as a general storage failure.
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- Full digital game: the complete software package is downloaded to system memory or a compatible microSD Express card.
- Update: the patch may require additional free space in addition to the installed game.
- DLC or other additional content: check the individual item’s requirement rather than assuming it is small.
- Game-key card: the physical card supplies a license key; the game data still has to be downloaded.
When the code is not one of the documented redeemed-code errors
If the screen shows an error other than 2813-0040 or 9001-0040, do not assume that storage is the cause. Use Nintendo’s support guidance for the exact code and follow its prescribed checks. The two codes covered in this guide have a defined meaning; they are not a catch-all explanation for every failed download.
#1 Best Overall
- Nintendo Switch 2 uses a new standard of expandable memory card called microSD Express (sold separately). This kind of memory card is needed for faster access speeds and to ensure games will run smoothly.
- Please note: Nintendo Switch 2 is only compatible with microSD Express cards. If the microSD cards you have used for Nintendo Switch do not support microSD Express standards, you cannot use them with Nintendo Switch 2.
Check available space in Data Management
Nintendo provides the storage check in the console interface. You need both the amount currently free and the requirement for the specific software.
- Open the HOME Menu.
- Select System Settings.
- Choose Data Management.
- Review the available space in system memory and, if installed, on the microSD Express card.
- Open the game’s official software information page or read its packaging and locate Required Storage Space.
- Compare that requirement with the location where the download will be stored. Leave additional room when the same title also needs an update or downloadable content.
The relevant number is the requirement for your exact title and download, not a generic estimate for Switch 2 games. A game-key card’s first download also needs this space because the card does not contain the complete software data. Data Management is the place to verify the situation before you delete software or purchase a larger card.
What you can remove when space is short
If Data Management confirms insufficient room, remove or reorganize software you no longer need, or move the software installation to supported removable storage when the console offers that option. Check the title’s requirement again after making room. Do not treat deleting a game as deleting its save: save data is stored separately in system memory, while the game’s downloadable software occupies the storage location shown in Data Management.
Confirm that the removable card is microSD Express
Switch 2 software storage requires the SD Express standard. Look for the microSD Express designation or logo on the card and its packaging. A regular microSD card that worked in the original Nintendo Switch, including one without SD Express support, cannot be used as Switch 2 software storage.
If the card was inserted while the console was on
Nintendo advises restarting the console after inserting a card while the system was powered on. For removal, turn the console off completely first; do not pull the card while the console is running. Reinsert the correctly oriented card after shutdown, then power on and return to System Settings → Data Management to see whether its capacity is listed.
Recognizing a compatibility problem
If the card is visible nowhere in Data Management, verify its type before changing settings or formatting anything. A large capacity number does not make an ordinary card compatible. Storage expansion can solve a confirmed lack of space only when the card itself meets the microSD Express requirement.
Rank #2
- NEXT GEN GAMING: Works with Nintendo Switch 2.
- READY FOR TOMORROW. Ready for future products with a PCIe-NVMe interface; performs at UHS-I speeds with microSD UHS-I and UHS-II devices.
- EXPONENTIALLY FASTER PERFORMANCE. Up to 4.4 times faster transfer speeds than our fastest microSD UHS-I cards [9]. Transfer a 2-hour HD movie in less than 3.5 seconds [1]; save up to 2.8 minutes transferring 60 minutes of 4K UHD video [4] shot at 30 fps when paired with the SanDisk PRO-READER SD Express Dual Card (sold separately) [9]
- DURABILITY YOU CAN COUNT ON: Cards are waterproof, temperature-proof, humidity-proof, drop-proof, shock-proof, magnetic-proof, x-ray proof, and wear-out proof [5].
- HEAT MANAGEMENT REIMAGINED. SanDisk ThermAdapt helps keep devices from overheating with a specially designed enclosure and controller that uses dynamic adaptive thermal management.
Understand what a microSD Express card can and cannot fix
| Data or problem | What a microSD Express card does | What remains in system memory or needs another fix |
|---|---|---|
| Downloaded game software | Can provide storage for the software data. | Insufficient space is only one possible cause of a failed download. |
| Downloadable content | Can store DLC data. | Account, license, network, or code problems are not repaired by adding capacity. |
| Updates | Can store update data. | The specific update may have its own required-space figure. |
| Screen captures and videos | Can store captures. | Use Data Management when importing captures from an older card. |
| Save data | Does not move or back up saves. | Save data stays in the console’s system memory. |
This distinction matters when choosing between clearing space and buying hardware. A card addresses a storage-capacity shortage; it does not make an invalid code valid, restore account ownership, or resolve every network error. Do not buy a card with the expectation that it will relocate your saves.
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A game-key card contains the key used to start the software entitlement. The game data itself is downloaded to the console’s system memory or a supported microSD Express card. The first download therefore needs an internet connection and enough free space for that particular game.
- Insert the game-key card into the console.
- Connect the console to the internet for the initial software-data download.
- Check System Settings → Data Management and confirm that the destination has at least the game’s stated Required Storage Space.
- Start the download and allow it to complete before launching the game.
- Keep the key card inserted whenever you play; the card supplies the key required for use.
Nintendo’s guidance says a Nintendo Account is not required to download game-key card software data. That statement applies to this game-key card process; do not extend it to unrelated eShop purchases or assume that an account check is unnecessary in every download situation.
If the game-key card download stops
Return to Data Management and compare free space with the exact title requirement. Also confirm that the card is microSD Express if you selected it as the destination. If both checks pass and the displayed error is not one of the two documented redeemed-code errors, follow Nintendo’s instructions for that exact message rather than repeatedly entering the key.
Resolve errors 2813-0040 and 9001-0040
When entering a download code produces 2813-0040 or 9001-0040, Nintendo identifies the code as already redeemed. Entering it again will not create a second entitlement.
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- Close the error message.
- Return to the HOME Menu.
- Look for the game icon. The download may already have started, so the software can appear on the HOME Menu even though the code-entry screen reported an error.
- Select the icon and check its download status, or use System Settings → Data Management to verify whether the software occupies space.
Do not buy a replacement code or keep retrying the same code before checking for the icon. If the icon is absent and the code still reports as redeemed, use Nintendo’s support route for that specific code and purchase situation. This documented path does not explain unrelated download errors.
Rank #3
- Ultra-Fast Read Speeds — Experience read speeds up to 900 MB/s and write speeds up to 620 MB/s, delivering rapid file transfers and smooth performance for gaming, photography, and 4K video recording.
- Optimized for Gaming & Devices – Tested with Switch 2 and compatible with laptops, tablets, cameras, and Android devices that support microSD Express or UHS-I. Ideal for expanding storage without lag.
- 4K Video & High-Resolution Support – Capture and store 4K UHD videos and high-res photos seamlessly thanks to Class 10, U3, V30, and A2 performance ratings.
- Reliable & Durable Design – Built for long-term use with shockproof, temperature-resistant, waterproof, and X-ray-resistant protection, keeping your data safe wherever you go.
- Multiple Capacity Options – Available in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB options to suit your storage needs. Note that actual usable storage may be slightly less due to system formatting and a portion reserved for card management functions, which is a standard industry practice to ensure optimal performance and reliability.
Use an old Nintendo Switch card the right way
An ordinary microSD card used in the original Nintendo Switch does not become a Switch 2 software-storage card. Because it lacks SD Express support, Switch 2 cannot use it for installing Switch 2 software.
What you can import from the old card
Nintendo describes importing screenshots and videos from an older card into the Switch 2’s console memory through the Data Management menu. This is an import of capture files, not a way to make the old card a compatible software destination.
- Insert the old card only as directed by the console’s Data Management workflow.
- Open System Settings → Data Management.
- Choose the option for importing screenshots and videos from the card.
- Follow the on-screen selection and copy process, then remove the card using the console’s safe procedure.
Menu wording can vary by system version and region, so use the labels shown on your console. The important limitation is unchanged: old non-Express cards cannot hold Switch 2 software data.
Move to a larger microSD Express card
When a compatible card is genuinely too small, Nintendo’s card-copy instructions allow a larger microSD Express card to be prepared with a computer. The process copies the console’s Nintendo folder to the new card. Capacity upgrades are not an invitation to merge cards or rearrange their contents.
- Turn off the Switch 2 and remove the existing card safely.
- Use a computer to copy the complete Nintendo folder from the old card to the new, larger microSD Express card, following Nintendo’s current instructions.
- Do not alter files or subfolders inside that folder during the copy.
- Insert the new card into the powered-off console and start the system.
- Open System Settings → Data Management to verify that the software and available capacity are recognized.
Do not combine software data from multiple cards, modify the folder contents, or use copied data across multiple consoles. If the computer reports errors during copying, preserve the original card and resolve the copy problem before deleting anything from it. Follow the current Nintendo procedure for the exact card and console configuration.
Choose the right fix for the symptom
| What you see | First action | Do not assume |
|---|---|---|
| Data Management shows less free space than the game requires | Delete or reorganize data, or add a compatible microSD Express card. | That a generic free-space estimate is sufficient for every update or DLC item. |
| The card is not listed | Verify the microSD Express type; if inserted while powered on, restart the console. | That any card labeled microSD is compatible. |
| A download-code screen shows 2813-0040 or 9001-0040 | Check the HOME Menu for the game icon and its download status. | That the code should be redeemed repeatedly. |
| A game-key card requests a large download | Connect to the internet and provide the title’s required space; keep the key card inserted for play. | That the physical card contains all game data. |
| An old Switch card is being used | Use a microSD Express card for software; import captures through Data Management. | That the old card can be repurposed for Switch 2 software. |
| An unfamiliar error code appears | Find Nintendo’s support instructions for that exact code. | That storage is the universal cause. |
Delete data or buy a card?
Use the result in Data Management to make this decision rather than buying hardware first. Deleting or reorganizing an unused installation is the immediate option when the required space is only slightly larger than what is available. A microSD Express card is the longer-term option when several games, updates, DLC packages, or captures compete for space.
Rank #4
- EPIC WORLDS, LOADED INSTANTLY. From the Mushroom Kingdom to Hyrule, your card delivers read speeds up to 880 MB/s[2] and write speeds up to 650 MB/s[2].
- OFFICIALLY READY FOR NINTENDO SWITCH 2. Officially licensed for Nintendo Switch 2, this microSD Express card offers dependable, high-performance storage.
- CAPTURE IN STUNNING CLARITY. Capture screenshots and record short video clips of your gameplay in Full HD.
- ROOM FOR YOUR ADVENTURES. With capacities up to 512GB[1], your card gives you the freedom to store your digital games in one place.
| Choice | Best fit | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Remove or reorganize software | You need space now and have installations you can download again later. | It does not solve an incompatible card, network failure, account issue, or redeemed code. |
| Buy a microSD Express card | The console confirms a capacity shortage and you want room for software, DLC, updates, and captures. | It cannot hold save data and must carry the Express designation. |
| Copy to a larger Express card | Your current compatible card is full and you want to retain its installed data. | Use Nintendo’s folder-copy process; do not merge cards or alter files. |
Check the exact game requirement again after making room or changing cards. An update or additional-content download can have a separate requirement, so enough space for the base game does not automatically guarantee enough room for every later download.
Check each storage location separately
System memory and the microSD Express card are separate destinations in Data Management. A card can be empty while system memory is full, or the reverse. Review both figures and confirm which location the console is using for the download. This prevents buying a card when the problem is a full internal destination, and it prevents deleting internal data when a supported card already has room.
Keep the distinction clear during troubleshooting: software data, DLC, updates, and captures may use the card, but save data remains in system memory. A card upgrade is therefore not a save backup or a way to transfer progress between consoles.
After changing or replacing a card
Verify the result rather than assuming the console accepted the card. The console should list the card and its available capacity in System Settings → Data Management. If you inserted it while the system was running, restart. If you are removing it again, power the console off first.
For a capacity upgrade, keep the original card untouched until the new card is recognized and the installed software appears correctly. The Nintendo folder must be copied as instructed, without changing its contents. Do not combine folders from multiple cards or use the copied software data across different consoles.
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- Record the exact error text or number.
- Identify whether the item is a game, update, DLC, or game-key card download.
- Open HOME Menu → System Settings → Data Management.
- Compare free space with the title’s official Required Storage Space figure or packaging.
- Confirm that any removable card is microSD Express.
- Remember that save data remains in system memory.
- For a newly inserted card, restart if the console was on; power off before removing it.
- For 2813-0040 or 9001-0040, check the HOME Menu for an existing icon before trying the code again.
- For an old Switch card, use it only for the supported capture-import process, not Switch 2 software storage.
- For an unfamiliar code or non-storage symptom, follow Nintendo’s matching support article.
When storage is not the answer
A download can fail even when Data Management shows enough room. The guidance documented for Switch 2 storage does not establish a universal fix for network conditions, account or entitlement issues, or every error code. Treat those as separate problems: preserve the exact message, avoid deleting unrelated data, and use Nintendo’s support instructions that match the displayed code or situation. Adding a microSD Express card is appropriate only after the storage check shows that capacity is the blocker.
Best Value
- NEXT GEN GAMING: Works with Nintendo Switch 2.
- READY FOR TOMORROW. Ready for future products with a PCIe-NVMe interface; performs at UHS-I speeds with microSD UHS-I and UHS-II devices.
- EXPONENTIALLY FASTER PERFORMANCE. Up to 4.4 times faster transfer speeds than our fastest microSD UHS-I cards [9]. Transfer a 2-hour HD movie in less than 3.5 seconds [1]; save up to 2.8 minutes transferring 60 minutes of 4K UHD video [4] shot at 30 fps when paired with the SanDisk PRO-READER SD Express Dual Card (sold separately) [9]
- DURABILITY YOU CAN COUNT ON: Cards are waterproof, temperature-proof, humidity-proof, drop-proof, shock-proof, magnetic-proof, x-ray proof, and wear-out proof [5].
- HEAT MANAGEMENT REIMAGINED. SanDisk ThermAdapt helps keep devices from overheating with a specially designed enclosure and controller that uses dynamic adaptive thermal management.
Key facts to remember
- Switch 2 software storage requires microSD Express; ordinary Switch microSD cards are not suitable.
- Games, DLC, updates, and captures can be stored on a compatible card, while saves stay in system memory.
- Game-key cards require an internet download and enough space, and the key card must remain inserted for play.
- Codes 2813-0040 and 9001-0040 mean Nintendo has recorded the code as redeemed; check for the software icon.
- A larger card can be migrated by copying the Nintendo folder according to Nintendo’s instructions, without merging cards or altering copied data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I check how much space is available on the console system memory and the microSD Express card?
Open HOME Menu → System Settings → Data Management. Review the free space shown for system memory and the installed microSD Express card, then compare it with the game’s Required Storage Space on its official software page or packaging.
Can I use the microSD card I used on the Nintendo Switch with the Nintendo Switch 2?
Not for Switch 2 software if it is a regular card without SD Express support. Nintendo describes importing screenshots and videos from an old card, but the old card cannot serve as the software-storage destination.
Does a microSD Express card store Nintendo Switch 2 save data?
No. The card can store downloaded games, DLC, updates, screenshots, and videos. Save data remains in the console’s system memory, so buying a card does not move or back up saves.
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Why does a game-key card still need a large download?
The physical game-key card contains the key, not the complete software data. The first use requires an internet connection and enough space in system memory or on a supported microSD Express card. Keep the key card inserted when playing.
What does error 2813-0040 mean after entering a download code?
Nintendo identifies 2813-0040, along with 9001-0040, as an already-redeemed-code condition. Check the HOME Menu for the game icon because the download may already have started. Do not repeatedly redeem the same code.
What should I do if the card is not listed in Data Management?
Confirm that the card carries the microSD Express designation. If you inserted it while the console was on, restart the console. Turn the system off completely before removing or reinserting the card.
Can I merge software from two microSD Express cards?
Nintendo’s card-copy instructions do not support combining software data from multiple cards. For a larger card, copy the complete Nintendo folder as instructed, do not alter its contents, and do not use copied data across multiple consoles.
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Do not assume it is a storage failure. Record the exact code and use Nintendo’s support instructions for that specific message. The two redeemed-code errors are a defined path, not a universal explanation for every failed download.
The Bottom Line
Start with the exact error and the download type. Check HOME Menu → System Settings → Data Management, compare free space with the title’s Required Storage Space, and use only a microSD Express card for Switch 2 software. Remember that saves stay in system memory. For game-key cards, download the data over the internet and keep the key card inserted. If 2813-0040 or 9001-0040 appears, look for an existing HOME Menu icon before trying the code again. For every other error, follow Nintendo’s guidance for that exact message.
Quick Recap
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