The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →iTechGuides is reader-supported.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
You’ll be able to transfer Pokémon to Pokémon HOME from the standalone Nintendo Switch versions of Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version. The Pokémon Company announced the connection for October 2026, but Nintendo has not yet published a precise launch date or the in-game transfer steps. This applies to the Switch rereleases—not an original Game Boy Advance cartridge.
First, identify which version you have
The announced HOME connection is for the digital Nintendo Switch releases of Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen. Nintendo says they will be playable on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, and that no physical editions will be released. Nintendo Switch Online membership is not required to purchase or play the games. Nintendo Support describes the releases and their HOME compatibility.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Pokemon FireRed Version | $149.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
POKÉMON GO: THE ULTIMATE HUNTER'S GUIDE 2016: Expert Edition: AN UNOFFICIAL PLAYER'S GUIDE | $1.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| Your game | What is established | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Switch rerelease | Nintendo says Pokémon can be transferred from these games to HOME. The Pokémon Company announced the connection is planned to begin in October 2026; an exact date and procedure have not been stated in the available official guidance. | Wait for the game or HOME to show the official transfer option and follow its current instructions. |
| Original GBA cartridge | No direct connection from FireRed or LeafGreen to HOME is established. Nintendo documents an older migration route through later games and services. | Do not expect the cartridge itself to appear as a HOME transfer source; see the legacy route below. |
How to transfer from the Switch versions
Nintendo confirms the transfer direction: from the Switch versions of FireRed or LeafGreen to Pokémon HOME. The announced start is October 2026, but the official information available does not specify the exact day, buttons, menus, or any prerequisite account or app steps.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
- Use the standalone Switch version of Pokémon FireRed or Pokémon LeafGreen, not a GBA cartridge.
- Check the game’s current notices and official Pokémon HOME instructions once the connection is available.
- Follow the transfer workflow shown in the game or HOME, and read any warning about which Pokémon are selected and whether the move can be reversed before confirming.
Do not assume that the transfer works like another HOME connection. Nintendo has not yet stated whether Pokémon moved from these rereleases can be returned to the game, or whether Pokémon HOME Premium is required. The Switch transfer announcement also does not establish a Nintendo Switch Online requirement; Nintendo says that membership is not needed to purchase or play the rereleases.
#1 Best Overall
- Join up to 39 other wireless Trainers in the Union Room for a free-for-all, or connect with just two or three in the Direct Corner
- Prove yourself in the region's Pokémon League while single-handedly bringing down Team Rocket - then open up all-new storylines with unexpected twists
- Bring the Pokemon you capture in Fire Red to the worlds of Leaf Green, Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire, or Pokemon Colosseum for more challenge
Why a GBA cartridge cannot transfer directly to HOME
The older route is a multi-generation migration, not a direct FireRed/LeafGreen-to-HOME transfer. Nintendo’s Pokémon Platinum manual describes migrating Pokémon from GBA games, including FireRed and LeafGreen, to Pokémon Platinum through Pal Park after obtaining the National Pokédex. Nintendo’s current compatibility guidance names Pokémon Black, White, Black 2, and White 2 as Poké Transporter inputs; it does not name the GBA games as direct inputs. Nintendo’s compatibility and service guidance covers the later Bank and Transporter route.
In practical terms, the documented chain begins with Pal Park into a compatible Generation IV game and proceeds through later compatible games and services. The cited official guidance does not provide a complete, current end-to-end procedure for moving a particular GBA Pokémon from its cartridge all the way to HOME, so do not treat the historical Pal Park step as a guaranteed available route today.
Pokémon Bank is separate—and has a closure date
Pokémon Bank is a separate Nintendo 3DS service, not the method announced for the Switch rereleases. Nintendo says Bank service and transfers from Bank to HOME will end Thursday, February 25, 2027, at 7:00 p.m. PST. Bank is no longer available to download. If you already have eligible Pokémon stored in Bank and intend to move them to HOME, Nintendo says to do so before service ends.
Nintendo’s Bank-to-HOME instructions use a Moving Key, which expires after three minutes. Pokémon moved from Bank cannot be returned to Bank or used with Nintendo 3DS titles. Those rules apply to the Bank route only; they do not establish whether the new Switch-game transfer can be reversed. Pokémon Support provides the Bank transfer guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Does the transfer require Pokémon HOME Premium?
The official information available does not say whether the new Switch rerelease connection requires Premium. Do not subscribe solely on the assumption that the Bank rule applies: Nintendo identifies Premium as necessary for transfers from Pokémon Bank, which is a different route.
For reference, the Pokémon HOME service page lists Basic deposit capacity as 30 Pokémon and Premium capacity as 6,000. Its listed Nintendo eShop prices, excluding tax, are $2.99 for one month, $4.99 for three months, and $15.99 for twelve months; prices may change. These service details do not establish a Premium requirement for the Switch connection. Pokémon HOME Premium details.
Quick Recap
What is known—and what remains unconfirmed
- Confirmed: Nintendo says Pokémon can be transferred from the Switch versions of FireRed and LeafGreen to HOME.
- Announced timing: The Pokémon Company announced an October 2026 start; a precise date is not stated in the available announcement information.
- Not yet specified: The in-game workflow, subscription requirement, supported Pokémon or other transfer limits, and whether a transfer can be reversed.
- Not the same feature: Local wireless trading and battles use the games’ Wireless Club. Nintendo says online play is not supported; those local features are not the HOME transfer process.
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.
