- It is possible to transfer your island or residents from Animal Crossing: New Horizons between Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 using the official "Island Transfer" app.
- For the process to work, both consoles must be updated, with active local communication and the application installed on both the source and destination consoles.
- You can choose between moving the entire island, transferring only one player, or recovering a backup if you've lost the original console.
- After the transfer, the island will only be available on the destination console and you will need to link each user to their corresponding resident.
If you've spent hundreds of hours pampering your island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons and you just bought a new Nintendo Switch or a Nintendo Switch 2The last thing you want is to lose all that work. The good news is that Nintendo offers several official ways to transfer your island or your residents from one console to another without drama.
While the system is quite convenient once you get the hang of it, it's not as straightforward as cloud saving in other games. This is where a special application called "Island transfer", some prerequisites and a couple of important decisions about exactly what you want to move: the whole island, just one player, or recover a backup if you've lost the original console.
Important if you're upgrading from Nintendo Switch to Nintendo Switch 2
When you trade in your console for a new one, it's possible to do a General transfer of Nintendo Switch console to Nintendo Switch 2This massive process copies users, save data from most games, and of course, the data of Animal Crossing: New HorizonsIt's a very convenient option if you're getting a new console and want to get everything at once, without going into too many technical details.
If you choose to transfer the entire console via local communication between both machines, after completion you will need to relink each user account with their Animal Crossing resident on the new console. This is important if several people are playing on the same island, because each user must be properly associated with their character to avoid confusion.
If you've already set up your Nintendo Switch 2, been playing for a while, and now remember that your island is still on the old console, don't worry: you can transfer the island later Following the steps of the "Island Transfer" program. You don't need to perform a clean restore of your Switch 2, just make sure you meet the requirements and follow the wizard carefully.
What you need before starting the transfer
Before touching anything, there are a number of basic requirements you must be clear about, because without them the process of migrate your island or your resident It won't work correctly and you'll have to repeat the steps:
- Physical access to both consolesYou need the original Nintendo Switch (or Switch 2), where the current island is located, and the destination console, where you want to continue playing.
- Local communication activated on both consoles, since the transfer is done wirelessly between them.
- Game updated to the latest version of Animal Crossing: New Horizons on both consoles, to avoid compatibility issues.
- "Island Transfer" program installed on both machines, downloaded for free from Nintendo eShop.
- No Animal Crossing data on the target console If you are transferring an entire island; if there is a saved game already created, you will have to delete it.
- Sufficient battery or charger connected on both consoles, so that they don't turn off in the middle of the process.
- Backup enabled If you no longer have access to the original console, you can recover the island on a new console using Nintendo's server backup feature.
Additionally, it's a good idea to check that the residents you want to move individually have his own house builtThe player transfer feature is only available to characters who have already completed that step, so if someone is still living in a tent, they will first need to upgrade their housing.
"Island Transfer" program: what it is and why you need it
The key tool in all of this is the application "Island transfer"A small, free program for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 that copies Animal Crossing: New Horizons save data from one console to another. With it, you can move a complete island with all its players or focus on transferring specific accounts.
To get it, you just have to go to the Nintendo eShop From each console, use the search function and type "Island Transfer". It takes up very little space (around 47 MB), so you shouldn't have any problems. storageOnce downloaded, it will appear alongside the rest of the games and applications in the HOME menu.
Unlike standard cloud saves, in New Horizons simply having Nintendo Switch Online isn't enough to transfer your save data. You always need this specific program, either for transfer the island to another console or to rearrange which player stays on which machine, especially when several people share an island at home.
Requirements and warnings before moving your island
Before you start pressing buttons, it's a good idea to review a few things. important conditions that directly affect your save file and how you will play from now on:
- The island can only exist on one console at a time.After the transfer is complete, it disappears from the source Switch and remains only on the destination Switch.
- If the original console is no longer available (loss, theft, damage), you can recover the island if you had the official Nintendo backup active.
- There cannot be any New Horizons data on the target Switch. If you're going to complete the entire island, you'll have to delete that save file.
- The game must be updated on both consoles to the same version so that the data is recognized correctly.
- If you only want to move one resident And not the entire island; you'll have to use the individual transfer procedure offered by the game itself.
There's also a key decision you need to weigh up: once the island jumps from one console to another, you will not be able to "visit" your old island on the original machine. That console will, at most, have a guest profile without access to the transferred island, so make sure all players in the house agree to the change.
How to transfer an entire island to another console
If you want your new console to display exactly the same island you had on your old one, with all the residents, progress, and decorations, you must perform a full island transferThis method works both for switching from one Nintendo Switch to another and for upgrading to a Nintendo Switch 2.
The general process scheme is simple: first the console user data If you want to migrate everything, then use the "Island Transfer" app on both devices and, at the end, link each profile to its corresponding resident when you open the game for the first time on the new console.
An important detail is that when using the system option to transfer usersAll save data associated with those profiles is transferred to the new console, except for the Animal Crossing save file. That file is managed separately and can only be moved using the specific program; therefore, you must follow both processes if you want to do everything at once.
When you start "Island Transfer" on both consoles, the wizard will ask you to define which one is the "Origin" and what is the "Destination"The source console is the one that currently holds your island; the destination console is where you want it to end up. From there, the program will search for the other console via local communication and display the island's name upon detection.
On the console that serves as the source, you will have to confirm the island name and press the option to "To transfer"On the destination console, you must select "Receive data" to begin the transfer. Do not touch anything during this time, and above all, do not turn off either machine until the message indicating that the operation is complete appears on the screen.
Once the process is complete, the save file will be available. deletion of the previous console and it will only be available on the new one. At that point, you can close the application with the HOME button and even uninstall it if you don't think you'll be using it in the near future.
Transfer your island from Switch 1 to Nintendo Switch 2
If your specific case is that you have made the jump from the first Nintendo Switch to a Nintendo Switch 2The process is virtually the same. The steps for transferring the entire island using the "Island Transfer" program remain unchanged; only the destination console, which in this case is the new model, is different.
A very convenient alternative, especially if you're setting up your Switch 2 from scratch, is to perform the console general transfer (From Switch 1 to Switch 2) following Nintendo's instructions. With this method, you transfer user accounts, save data from other games, and also your Animal Crossing: New Horizons data in a single initial process.
If, on the other hand, you already have your Switch 2 ready, with your account linked and some games already started, but you haven't moved the island yet, you can now perform the specific Animal Crossing transfer without touching the rest of the data. Just make sure the Switch 2 doesn't have any previous New Horizons save files for the transfer to complete successfully.
The key is to update the game on both consoles, download the "Island Transfer" app on both, and follow the instructions step by step. That way you'll be able to... Continue your adventure exactly where you left off on the original Switch, now with the advantages and improvements of the new model.
If during the process you encounter strange errors, unexpected messages, or the transfer is interrupted, it's best to consult the Nintendo's official support website Or you can contact customer service directly. They have specific guides for resolving issues with island transfers and can help you get your situation back on track.
Transfer only one resident to a new console
In many households, it's common for several people to share the same Nintendo Switch on the same island. If someone decides to buy their own console, they might only want to take his character and start a new island from scratch, without dragging the rest of the team along. For these cases, there is the option of individual player transfer.
This option allows you to move a specific resident, along with their home, belongings and customizationsto another console. What you can't move individually is the village spokesperson, that is, the player who originally created the island and acts as its representative. If you want to move that person, the entire island must be moved together.
To use this system you need access to both the source and destination consoles, the updated game on both, and, in most cases, a copy of Animal Crossing: New Horizons in each one (whether physical or digital). The player who moves must have a house already built, otherwise the game will not allow the process to be carried out.
The usual sequence is: on the home console, you enter the game with the user of the resident who wants to move out, access the settings menu from the title screen (− button) and choose the option to "I want to move to another island"After confirming that you want to move, a transfer request will be sent that the destination console will detect.
On the new console, you start Animal Crossing: New Horizons with the user you want to use for that resident, talk to Timmy and Tommy at the beginning, and choose the option that You come from another islandWhen asked if you have already sent a transfer request, answer yes and the game will search for the data previously sent from the source console.
When the name of the original island and the resident appears, simply confirm that everything is correct to complete the journey. Afterward, the game will let you choose the location of your house on the new island, preserving the overall style of your previous home and all your personal progress with that character.
User account management and resident linking
Once the island or a specific resident has been transferred, it's time to organize who's who on the new console. The first time you open Animal Crossing: New Horizons on the target consoleThe game will detect that there is resident data that is not yet associated with any user profile on the machine.
It will then ask if you want to use that data with one of the users already created in the console or if you prefer to create a new profile. This is where you need to be careful and Link each Nintendo account with the correct resident, because this choice is irreversible: once a user is linked to a character, you will not be able to change it later.
In families with multiple gamers, it's common for each person to have their own user account on the console. To ensure everyone can continue playing with their accounts on the new Switch, you'll need to make sure that each user has their Nintendo Account linkedThis is done from the system settings menu, by linking an email address to each profile.
On the destination console, when registering a new user, you can sign in with the Nintendo Account that was previously on the original console. This way, the system understands that That user is the same And when you start the game, you can link it to the appropriate resident without losing any personal progress.
If you already have multiple island residents, the game will ask you to select, one by one, which islander is associated with each user profile on the new console. It's best to take your time, review the names, and not rush through the selection, because a wrong choice could leave you with the wrong character for that user.
After this little bit of organization, the game will continue as normal: the island will appear exactly as you left it, with your neighbors, collections, decorations, and probably, some weeds and bugs if you hadn't visited it in a while.
Backup and recovery of your island
In addition to local transfer, Nintendo offers a system of backup of your island Designed for situations where you lose or no longer have access to the original console. This feature doesn't replace the "Island Transfer" app, but it can be a lifesaver if your console is stolen or irreparably damaged.
To use it, you need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription and to have previously activated the backup option within the game. Once activated, the system will periodically upload your island to the Nintendo servers, which allows it to be restored later on a new console if necessary.
If you find yourself in the situation of having to recover the island using this method, you will need to contact the Nintendo customer service and follow their instructions. They will check your information and, if everything matches up, they will tell you how to restore your save file on the new machine so you can continue playing.
After restoring the backup to the target console, it is important to return to enable the backup function from within the game, making sure it remains activated for the future. This will provide a safety net in case of unforeseen events.
Between local transfer, individual player transfer, and the backup system, Animal Crossing: New Horizons offers several alternatives for you Don't lose your island or your memories when changing consoles, switching models, or distributing players between different machines at home.
However, although it may seem like a long process the first time you read it, Nintendo's assistant guides you quite well, and if you check the requirements before starting and take your time choosing the origin, destination, and users, it's perfectly possible to take your island, your character, or both to a new console and continue enjoying the game just as you left it, only now on a brand-new Switch 2 or your own standalone console.
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