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The transfer route depends on which version of FireRed or LeafGreen you mean. The Nintendo Switch releases are scheduled to connect to Pokémon HOME beginning in October 2026; from HOME, Pokémon can move to other games that support them. That transfer is one-way. For original Game Boy Advance cartridges, Nintendo documents an older route into Pokémon Platinum, but the official information available does not establish a guaranteed, currently usable chain from a GBA cartridge all the way to HOME.

How do I transfer Pokémon from the Switch versions to Pokémon HOME?

The Pokémon Company International announced on August 13, 2026, that the Nintendo Switch versions of Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen are set to link with Pokémon HOME beginning in October 2026. The announcement names the month, not an exact launch day, and does not give a step-by-step setup procedure. As of October 7, 2026, check the official announcement for an availability update rather than assuming the connection is live on a particular date.

  1. Play the digital Switch version of FireRed or LeafGreen and prepare the Pokémon you want to move.
  2. Once the HOME connection is available, use the supported connection to move Pokémon from the game into Pokémon HOME. The detailed menu path and setup requirements have not been published in the cited announcement.
  3. From HOME, move Pokémon to another game only if that destination game supports the Pokémon and the relevant HOME transfer. Consult Nintendo’s Pokémon HOME compatibility information for supported games.

Moving Pokémon into HOME is irreversible for these games: a Pokémon transferred from Switch FireRed or LeafGreen cannot return. The games also cannot receive Pokémon from other Pokémon series titles. Nintendo says the releases are digital-only, with no physical version planned. Its FAQ says a Nintendo Switch Online membership is not required to purchase or play them. Nintendo’s store listing says a Nintendo Account is required and notes that certain HOME features require a paid subscription; that does not establish that every HOME use or this transfer specifically requires a paid plan.

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Can I move Pokémon from LeafGreen to Scarlet and Violet?

The documented route is through HOME, not directly from LeafGreen into another game. The Switch release is scheduled to transfer Pokémon into HOME, after which you can send them to a destination title only when that title supports the Pokémon and the transfer. Nintendo’s HOME compatibility information is the place to verify a destination game’s support. The announcement does not provide an individual compatibility list or promise that every Pokémon can move into every modern game.

Local wireless trading in the Switch releases is a separate feature from transferring Pokémon to HOME. Nintendo’s FAQ says the games’ local trading features do not support online play; that limitation should not be confused with the separately announced HOME connection.

Can Pokémon from Pokémon HOME go back to FireRed or LeafGreen?

No. For the Switch releases, the transfer from either game into HOME is one-way. Pokémon moved into HOME cannot return to FireRed or LeafGreen, and Pokémon from other series games cannot be sent into those releases. Treat the move as permanent before confirming it.

How do I transfer Pokémon from an original GBA cartridge?

Nintendo’s Pokémon Platinum manual documents a legacy migration from a Game Boy Advance Pokémon game—including Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed, and LeafGreen—to Pokémon Platinum using a Nintendo DS or DS Lite with the GBA game inserted. The manual states that Pal Park migration has a 24-hour restriction.

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This describes a historical GBA-to-DS step, not a complete current route to Pokémon HOME. Nintendo’s compatibility pages confirm relationships among Pokémon Bank, HOME, and supported software, but the official information reviewed does not establish every present-day hardware, software, and transfer prerequisite needed to move a particular original GBA save all the way into HOME. The route is therefore equipment- and software-dependent; do not assume you can newly assemble it from a cartridge alone.

Which transfer route applies to me?

Route Starting version Next documented step Direction Key limitation
Switch release Switch FireRed or LeafGreen Connect to HOME beginning October 2026; then use HOME with supported games Game to HOME One-way; exact availability day and setup steps not stated in The Pokémon Company International’s August 13, 2026 announcement.
Legacy Pal Park Original GBA FireRed or LeafGreen cartridge Migrate to Pokémon Platinum using a compatible DS or DS Lite GBA to DS-era title Requires compatible legacy hardware and software; a complete current route to HOME is not established by Nintendo’s cited documentation. Pal Park has a 24-hour restriction, according to the Pokémon Platinum manual.
Existing Pokémon Bank collection Pokémon already in Pokémon Bank Transfer from Bank to HOME before service ends Bank to HOME Bank service ends February 25, 2027, at 7:00 p.m. PST; Bank is no longer available to download, according to Nintendo Support.

When does Pokémon Bank shut down?

Nintendo says Pokémon Bank will end service on Thursday, February 25, 2027, at 7:00 p.m. PST. After that deadline, transferring Pokémon from Bank to HOME will no longer be possible. Nintendo also says Pokémon Bank is not currently available to download. If your Pokémon are already in Bank and you want them in HOME, complete the transfer before service ends.

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What to check before moving Pokémon

  • Confirm whether your copy is the new Switch release or an original GBA cartridge; the documented transfer routes are different.
  • For the Switch releases, check the official October 2026 HOME announcement for current availability and setup details.
  • Before transferring to HOME, decide whether you are willing to give up the option of returning those Pokémon to Switch FireRed or LeafGreen.
  • Before moving Pokémon onward from HOME, check that the destination title supports the Pokémon and the transfer.
  • If the Pokémon are in Bank already, make a plan to move them before Nintendo’s stated shutdown time; the app cannot currently be newly downloaded.

Sources: The Pokémon Company International, “Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version Link with Pokémon HOME This October” (August 13, 2026); Nintendo Support, “Pokémon FireRed Version/Pokémon LeafGreen Version FAQ,” “Pokémon Bank End of Service,” “Which Games Are Compatible with Pokémon Bank and Poké Transporter?” and “Which Games are Compatible with Pokémon HOME?”; Nintendo, “(English) Pokémon FireRed Version for Nintendo Switch – Nintendo Official Site” and the Pokémon Platinum manual section “Migrate Pokémon from the GBA.”

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