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Deleting a user on a Nintendo Switch deletes that user’s save data, and Nintendo says it cannot be restored after deletion. It does not, by itself, delete the linked Nintendo Account or its digital purchases. Those purchases remain tied to the account, but you must link that account to a user on a console to access its games.
So the answer depends on what you mean by “games”: downloaded software, saved progress, or the account that owns digital purchases. These are separate, and deleting software is not the same as deleting a user.
What gets deleted when you remove a Switch user?
Nintendo’s warning is explicit: deleting a user deletes all save data associated with that user, and the save data cannot be restored afterward. This applies to the user’s game progress, not just the profile icon or sign-in details. Nintendo Support: How to Delete a User Account on Nintendo Switch.
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The Nintendo Account linked to that console user is a separate account. Removing the console user does not delete the Nintendo Account or its purchase history. However, the account’s digital games cannot be played from that deleted profile; link the Nintendo Account to a user on the console to access its purchases.
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What happens to games, saves, and purchases?
| Action | Effect on save data | Effect on games or account |
|---|---|---|
| Delete a console user | Deletes the user’s associated saves; Nintendo says they cannot be restored. | The linked Nintendo Account and its purchases are not deleted, but access requires linking the account to a user. |
| Archive or delete downloaded software | Does not delete save data. | Removes software from the console; redownload it to play again. |
| Delete an individual save | Deletes the selected save, or saves for all users if that option is chosen. Nintendo says deleted saves cannot be recovered. | Keeps the console user and software. |
| Transfer a user and saves to another console | Moves the user and associated data; the transferred items are removed from the source console. | Moves the profile rather than making an extra copy. |
| Transfer an individual save to a nearby console | Moves the selected save from the source. A save already on the destination may be overwritten. | The user remains; the save is transferred. |
| Delete a Nintendo Account | Can remove account-linked data, including linked app save data. | This is separate from deleting a console user and can affect digital content associated with the account. |
Nintendo’s Data Management FAQ distinguishes software from saves: archiving or deleting software does not remove save data. Save data is stored in the console’s system memory, not on a microSD card. A microSD card may store software data, updates, or downloadable content, but it is not a save backup.
How to protect save data before deleting a user
- Identify what you need to keep. Separate the game software from saved progress and from the Nintendo Account that owns digital purchases. The irreversible risk in deleting a user is losing that user’s saves.
- Check for a cloud backup, if the game supports it. Verify the backup for the correct user and game before deleting anything. Cloud-save availability is not universal. If you delete a server backup, Nintendo says it cannot be downloaded again; deleting the backup does not itself delete the local save. See Nintendo Support: How to Delete Save Data Backups on Nintendo Switch.
- For a game without a usable cloud save, consider a console transfer. Nintendo’s nearby-console save transfer requires the same Nintendo Account to be linked to a user on both systems, internet access, and the consoles to be near each other. It moves the save off the source console. Check the destination first because an existing save there may be overwritten. Follow Nintendo Support: How to Transfer Your Save Data To a Nearby Console.
- Keep access to the Nintendo Account. You will need to link it to a user on another console to use its digital purchases. Nintendo explains console-to-console account and game access in How to Transfer Digital Games / Nintendo Accounts Between Nintendo Switch Consoles. Cloud-backed saves are available on another console only when backed up and when the required Nintendo Switch Online membership remains active.
- Delete the user only after deciding what to do with its saves. If you cannot verify a backup or complete a supported transfer, assume the saves will be permanently lost.
When deleting a save is enough
If your goal is to remove progress but keep the user and purchased games, delete only the relevant save instead of deleting the entire profile. Nintendo’s Data Management settings let you choose a specific user’s save for a game or delete saves for all users for that software. Review the selected game and user carefully before confirming, because Nintendo says deleted saves cannot be recovered. See Nintendo Support: How to Manage / Delete Game Save Data on Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch.
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Deleting a console user is not deleting a Nintendo Account
Deleting the console profile removes its local saves; deleting the Nintendo Account is a separate and more consequential action. Nintendo says account deletion can remove associated digital content and linked app save data. Do not choose account deletion if your goal is only to remove a user from a Switch. See Nintendo Support: How to Delete a Nintendo Account.
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Nintendo’s unlinking guidance is also distinct from deleting a user: How to Unlink a Nintendo Account From a Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch Console.
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