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How to transfer games from one Nintendo Account to another on the Nintendo switc

barthogacz 26448 12
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  • #1 18125613
    barthogacz
    Level 3  
    Posts: 60
    Rate: 3
    I have a problem because I sell a Nintendo switch console and I have a few games worth a few bucks there, and it would be a shame to just delete them. I can't leave my Nintendo account on the console because all my data is there, and if I delete my Nintendo account these games won't be there anymore, so I have to somehow transfer these games to my other Nintendo account.
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  • #2 18125664
    gieniapierda
    Level 23  
    Posts: 575
    Help: 56
    Rate: 128
    Each game is assigned to a specific account. There is no way around it. Only Nintendo can be sold with access to your account and games.
  • #3 18125666
    barthogacz
    Level 3  
    Posts: 60
    Rate: 3
    Definitely? There is an option to transfer from one console to another, it should rather be from account to another
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  • #4 18125676
    sosarek

    Level 43  
    Posts: 83875
    Help: 9318
    Rate: 15430
    Log in to your account via a browser, the data remains, you will just have to download it again on a new device, first upload what you need to the cloud.
    Company Account:
    Z
    Pka, Poznań, 60-850
    Helpful post? Buy me a coffee.
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  • #5 18125684
    barthogacz
    Level 3  
    Posts: 60
    Rate: 3
    sosarek wrote:
    Log in to your account via a browser, the data remains, you will just have to download it again on a new device, first upload what you need to the cloud.

    My point is to first assign the games to another account, and then the first account on which the games were to be removed from the console, and if I delete it, it will not be possible to play, because there will be games, but what if it will not be possible to play
  • #6 18125690
    sosarek

    Level 43  
    Posts: 83875
    Help: 9318
    Rate: 15430
    What do you need a different account for? They will stay on yours, the buyer will create their own and that's it.

    barthogacz wrote:
    If I remove it, it will not be possible to play, because there will be games, but so what if it will not be possible to play

    barthogacz wrote:
    I have a couple of games worth a few bucks there, and it would be a shame to just delete them. I can't leave my Nintendo account on the console because all my data is there, and if I delete my Nintendo account these games won't be there anymore, so I have to somehow transfer these games to my other Nintendo account.

    No SECOND account.
    Company Account:
    Z
    Pka, Poznań, 60-850
    Helpful post? Buy me a coffee.
  • #7 18125692
    barthogacz
    Level 3  
    Posts: 60
    Rate: 3
    sosarek wrote:
    What do you need a different account for? They will stay on yours, the buyer will create their own and that's it.

    But I want to delete my account from the console, and if I delete it from the console, it will not be possible to play games that are assigned to this account
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  • #8 18125701
    sosarek

    Level 43  
    Posts: 83875
    Help: 9318
    Rate: 15430
    That's why I'm writing to you - log in via a browser from your computer, check if the content is available, save the data from the console in the cloud, check if it's available.
    Will you start to listen? Am i writing in chinese? Will you still keep saying that if you delete your account from the console, you won't be able to play ???
    Company Account:
    Z
    Pka, Poznań, 60-850
    Helpful post? Buy me a coffee.
  • #9 18125709
    jdubowski
    Tube devices specialist
    Posts: 21595
    Help: 2511
    Rate: 2792
    Unable to attach a second console to an account and then remove the first?
  • #10 18125711
    barthogacz
    Level 3  
    Posts: 60
    Rate: 3
    sosarek wrote:
    That's why I'm writing to you - log in via a browser from your computer, check if the content is available, save the data from the console in the cloud, check if it's available.
    Will you start to listen? Am i writing in chinese? Will you still keep saying that if you delete your account from the console, you won't be able to play ???

    I already understand, thanks to how it works, I will close the topic

    Added after 1 [minutes]:

    jdubowski wrote:
    Unable to attach a second console to an account and then remove the first?

    I do everything on 1 console and want to transfer from 1 account to 2 account on the same console, but I have already solved the problem
  • #11 18139431
    javal666
    Level 10  
    Posts: 79
    Rate: 18
    barthogacz wrote:
    sosarek wrote:
    That's why I'm writing to you - log in via a browser from your computer, check if the content is available, save the data from the console in the cloud, check if it's available.
    Will you start to listen? Am i writing in chinese? Will you still keep saying that if you delete your account from the console, you won't be able to play ???

    I already understand, thanks to how it works, I will close the topic

    Added after 1 [minutes]:

    jdubowski wrote:
    Unable to attach a second console to an account and then remove the first?

    I do everything on 1 console and want to transfer from 1 account to 2 account on the same console, but I have already solved the problem


    You misunderstand how it works. You have games on your account, regardless of whether it is logged in on some console or not. Also, go ahead and delete the account from the old console. On the new one, you log into your old account and have all your games. The only problem is the savey. If you do not have nintendo online, you will be lost because they are assigned to the console. If you have, that's no problem. If you don't have one, go to the group on FB Nintendo Switch Polska (NSP) and ask for a "family" you will find several people and buy nintendo online for about PLN 15-20 per year per person.

    By the way, your account may be on multiple consoles, then you can share games with family / friends. You can also play all games on your account, from all accounts that are linked to your console.
  • #12 18916322
    mc_majcher
    Level 11  
    Posts: 92
    Rate: 35
    Hello. I would like to refresh this topic a bit.
    I have one problem. I have a Nintendo account as Administrator / Parent and 3 children's accounts added to this account. All the games I have bought so far were bought from one child's account, because so far only the older son had Nintendo switch consoles. Now I have bought 2 new consoles for the other 2 children. And I would like to move the games from my older son's console to these two new ones. I just don't know how. Can anyone advise me on how to do this? Regards.
  • #13 20234749
    dashofer
    Level 1  
    Posts: 1
    Rate: 20
    and I have a question how to do it when I want to buy game consoles that the current owner has on the account. I thought to change his email address to mine and change the password to log in to my own, and it should be over? will he be able to persuade me if I buy a console.

Topic summary

✨ Transferring games between Nintendo Accounts on the Nintendo Switch is not directly possible, as games are tied to specific accounts. Users can log into their Nintendo Account via a browser to check game availability and utilize cloud saves if they have a Nintendo Online subscription. If a user sells their console, they can delete their account from the console, but they will retain access to their games by logging into their account on a new console. For families with multiple accounts, games purchased on one child's account can be accessed on other consoles linked to the same parent account. However, save data may be lost if not backed up through Nintendo Online.
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FAQ

TL;DR: You can’t move purchased Switch games between Nintendo Accounts; “You have games on your account.” Cloud saves need Nintendo Online, often shared for PLN 15–20/year per person. [Elektroda, javal666, post #18139431]

Why it matters: This FAQ helps sellers, parents, and buyers avoid losing purchases and saves when changing consoles or accounts.

Quick Facts

  • Digital purchases are tied to the Nintendo Account that paid for them; there’s no account‑to‑account transfer. [Nintendo, 2023]
  • One Nintendo Account can set one Primary Console; other consoles need an online check to launch digital games. [Nintendo, 2023]
  • Without Nintendo Switch Online, saves stay local; Cloud Save backs up supported titles for restoration. [Nintendo, 2023]
  • Family Group supports up to 8 members; Family plan pricing is approx. US$35/year for standard Online. [Nintendo, 2023]
  • A Switch supports up to 8 user profiles; all can play digital games on the Primary Console. [Nintendo, 2023]

Can I transfer digital games from one Nintendo Account to another?

No. Purchases remain locked to the Nintendo Account that bought them, and Nintendo offers no cross‑account transfer. “Each game is assigned to a specific account.” [Elektroda, gieniapierda, post #18125664]

How do I move my games to a new Switch when I sell the old one?

Sign in on the new console and redownload. Set it as your Primary Console for sharing. Transfer saves via Cloud Save or local transfer.
  1. Deregister old Primary Console in eShop settings.
  2. Sign in on the new Switch and set Primary.
  3. Redownload games; move saves. [Nintendo, 2023]

If I delete my user from the console, will my games disappear?

Removing a user from the device does not remove your Nintendo Account. Your licenses stay with your account and can be redownloaded after signing in again. Deleting the Nintendo Account itself permanently forfeits purchases and balance. [Nintendo, 2023]

Can different users on the same Switch play my purchased digital games?

Yes, on your Primary Console. Any user profile on that device can play your downloaded games. On non‑primary consoles, only the purchasing account can launch digital titles and it must be online for license checks. [Nintendo, 2023]

My kid bought games on their account. How can siblings use them on two new consoles?

Set one Switch as that child’s Primary Console so siblings’ profiles can play those games there. On a second Switch, only the purchasing child’s account can play and it needs an internet connection. Simultaneous play across two non‑owned accounts usually needs a second license. [Nintendo, 2023]

Can one Nintendo Account be used on multiple consoles at once?

Yes. You can use the account on multiple consoles, but only one can be the Primary Console. Others are non‑primary and require periodic online checks. If the non‑primary console is offline, digital games won’t launch. [Nintendo, 2023]

Is it safe to buy a used Switch that includes the seller’s account and games?

It’s risky and not recommended. Digital licenses stay under the seller’s Nintendo Account. They can change credentials or deauthorize, leaving you locked out. Instead, have the seller factory‑reset and deregister, then use your own account and purchases. [Nintendo, 2023]

How do I transfer a user profile and save data to another Switch?

Use the built‑in transfer tool.
  1. On both consoles: System Settings > Users > Transfer Your User and Save Data.
  2. Follow on‑screen steps with both devices nearby and online.
  3. Redownload games on the target console after transfer completes. [Nintendo, 2023]

Do I need Nintendo Switch Online for cloud saves, and what does it cost?

Cloud Save requires an active Nintendo Switch Online membership for supported titles. Without it, saves remain local. Typical US pricing: approx. $20/year (Individual) or $35/year (Family), granting Cloud Save for included games. [Nintendo, 2023]

Can I merge two Nintendo Accounts or move purchases between them?

No. Nintendo does not support merging Switch Nintendo Accounts or transferring eShop purchases between accounts. Keep buying and playing on the intended long‑term account to avoid fragmentation. [Nintendo, 2023]

What happens to my saves if I don’t have Nintendo Switch Online?

Saves stay on the console. If you reset, sell, or lose the device, you can lose progress. Use Cloud Save with Nintendo Switch Online or the local transfer tool before selling to protect data. Some titles may not support Cloud Save. [Nintendo, 2023]

Can physical game cards be shared freely between accounts and consoles?

Yes. Game cards (cartridges) are not tied to any Nintendo Account. Insert the card and play on any Switch. Save data remains per console/user, so back it up or transfer if moving devices. [Nintendo, 2023]

Will my games work on a buyer’s account if I remove my account from the console?

No. Once you remove your account, the buyer’s account will not own or be able to play your digital purchases unless your account remains the Primary on that console. Keep your account; move it to your new device instead. [Elektroda, javal666, post #18139431]

Why can’t Nintendo just move my licenses to another account?

Nintendo’s ecosystem ties licenses to the purchasing account to enforce ownership and sharing rules. This prevents arbitrary license reassignment. Use Primary Console sharing and family management instead of account‑to‑account transfers. [Nintendo, 2023]
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