What is the Nintendo Switch?
The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid home and portable video game console developed by Nintendo. It was first released in March 2017. The defining feature of the Switch is its ability to be played both at home connected to a TV, and on-the-go as a handheld system (Nintendo, n.d.https://www.nintendo.com/us/switch/system/).
The Switch consists of a tablet-like LCD screen with detachable Joy-Con controllers on each side. When at home, the Switch console slides into the Nintendo Switch dock to connect to a TV. The Joy-Con controllers can either be attached to the sides of the screen or detached for wireless play. For on-the-go use, the Joy-Cons slide onto the sides of the screen, or the screen can be placed in a separate Joy-Con grip accessory. There is also a Nintendo Switch Lite model which is a compact, solely handheld version. Both models can connect to Wi-Fi and play the same software (Nintendo, n.d.https://www.nintendo.com/us/switch/).
Switch’s Built-In Storage
The Nintendo Switch comes with 32GB of internal flash storage, according to Nintendo’s official website Nintendo SwitchTM – System hardware, console specs. A portion of this 32GB is reserved for use by the system software and save data, leaving about 25GB available for users to download games and applications from the Nintendo eShop.
While 32GB may seem sufficient for some light gaming needs, it can quickly become limiting as modern games often require 10GB or more of storage space. Additionally, taking frequent screenshots and video captures will also eat into the available storage. For these reasons, most Switch owners will want to expand the storage capacity.
Why Add External Storage?
One of the main reasons to add external storage to your Nintendo Switch is that the built-in 32GB of storage can fill up fast, especially if you purchase digital games and downloadable content (DLC) from the Nintendo eShop [1]. Many popular Switch games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate require over 10GB of storage space, so just a few games can max out the internal storage.
Downloading game updates and DLC packs also consumes storage space quickly. Nintendo Switch Online members have access to classic NES and SNES games that must be downloaded to play. Capturing screenshots and game video clips to share online also requires storage capacity.
Adding a microSD card allows you to exponentially increase the storage so you can download more digital games, DLC, updates, and captures without worrying about running out of space. With massive 400GB+ microSD cards now available, you can download your entire digital library on a Switch with externally expanded storage.
Compatible External Drives
The Nintendo Switch is compatible with most external hard drives as long as they meet the requirements below:
- USB 3.0 – The Switch’s USB port is USB 3.0, so the external drive must have a USB 3.0 connection.
- 250GB – 8TB capacity – The external drive should be between 250GB and 8TB. Drives smaller than 250GB may not have enough space for games, while larger than 8TB are not yet supported.
Some good options are portable hard drives from companies like SanDisk, Seagate, or Western Digital. Just make sure the drive is USB 3.0 and has enough storage space. An external SSD (solid state drive) will provide faster load times than a standard hard disk drive.
Here are some well-reviewed drives that work great with the Switch:
SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable External SSD
Seagate 2TB Game Drive for PS4
WD 4TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive
How to Use an External Drive
Using an external drive with your Switch is easy. Here are the steps:
First, dock your Switch into the official Nintendo Switch dock. This allows the Switch to connect to external devices like hard drives through the USB ports on the dock.
Next, connect your external hard drive to the USB port on the dock using the appropriate cable that came with your drive. Most hard drives use a standard USB-A to Micro-B cable.
Once connected, the Switch will recognize the external storage. You may get a pop-up on the Switch screen asking if you want to use the drive to store games and data. Select yes.
That’s it! Your external drive is now ready to use with your Switch. You can move games and data between the internal storage and external drive.
When you want to unplug the drive, make sure you “eject” it properly from the Switch’s Data Management menu first to avoid corruption.
What Can Be Stored Externally
The Nintendo Switch allows you to store your games, software updates, and downloadable content (DLC) on an external hard drive. However, it does not support storing save data externally. Here’s a breakdown of what you can and can’t store:
- Games – You can store downloaded games on an external drive and play them directly from there.
- Updates – Any software updates for games or the system can be downloaded and stored on external storage.
- DLC – Additional downloadable content like expansion packs and bonuses can be stored externally.
- Save Files – Unfortunately, you cannot store Switch game save data on an external drive. These are only kept internally.
So in summary, games, updates, and DLC can all be stored and run from an external hard drive. But your save files will remain on the Switch’s internal memory.
Transferring Data
You can easily transfer games, updates, and DLC between the Switch’s internal storage and an external drive. This allows you to free up the Switch’s limited built-in 32GB of storage and keep only your most played games internally.
To move a game between storages, go to System Settings -> Data Management -> Move Data Between System / microSD Card. Here you’ll see a list of all your games and can select ones to move. Tap the game you want to move, then select either “Move to microSD” or “Move to System Memory” depending on where you want to move it.
The transfer process only takes a few minutes. You’ll see a progress bar and notification when it’s complete. The game icon will then disappear from the previous storage area. You can still play the game anytime, just launch it normally from the Home screen.
One thing to note is you can only have a game fully installed in one location at a time, either internal or external storage. However, you can freely transfer games back and forth between storages as much as needed.
How to Move or Copy Data to and from a Single External Storage Device
Play Games from External Drive
One of the main advantages of using external storage with the Switch is the ability to directly play games from the external drive.
By default, the Switch requires you to transfer games from external storage to the internal memory before playing them. However, with custom firmware like Atmosphere or modchips, it’s possible to bypass this limitation and launch games directly from external drives.
This capability greatly expands the effective storage space of the Switch since you don’t have to juggle game installations between the internal and external memory.
According to user reports on Reddit, launching and playing games directly from external hard drives works well with no noticeable performance differences compared to playing from internal memory:
“That’s one way to play Switch games on an external HDD”
With custom firmware, high capacity external hard drives can hold your entire Switch game library for convenient on-the-go gaming.
External Storage Tips
When choosing an external hard drive for your Switch, there are a few things to keep in mind:
Look for a portable, powered external HDD with USB 3.0 for fast data transfer speeds. Popular options include the WD 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive and WD 4TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive.
The drive needs to be formatted to FAT32 or exFAT. FAT32 only supports up to 4GB file sizes while exFAT supports larger game files. You can use a computer to format the drive.
Your Switch can only support one external storage device at a time. You’ll need to disconnect one before connecting another.
External drives draw power from the Switch so make sure you don’t deplete the battery too quickly when on the go.
There are also portable SSD options but these are currently more expensive per GB compared to HDDs.
When ready to upgrade your external storage, you’ll have to transfer all of your games and data from one drive to another as you can’t just swap between drives seamlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about using external storage with the Nintendo Switch:
Can I use an external hard drive with the Switch?
Yes, you can use external USB hard drives with the Nintendo Switch. The Switch supports USB 3.0 compatible drives up to 2TB in size (Nintendo Support).
How do I set up an external hard drive?
Setting up an external drive is easy. First, insert your USB drive into the USB port on the side of the Switch dock. Go to System Settings > Data Management and select “Move Data Between System / microSD Card.” You can now transfer data between the system memory, microSD card, and external storage (Reddit).
What kind of external storage works with the Switch?
The Switch is compatible with portable USB hard drives and solid state drives. Drives must use USB 3.0 and be formatted to FAT32 or exFAT file systems to work properly.
Can I store and play games from external storage?
Yes, you can store downloaded games on external storage and play them directly from the drive. This allows you to expand the limited built-in 32GB storage on the Switch.
Is there a size limit for external drives?
External drives up to 2TB are supported. The Switch may not be able to use the full capacity of larger drives.