Does removing SD card from Switch delete data
As an avid Nintendo Switch gamer and content creator, this is a question I see pop up a lot. And the short answer is no, removing your SD card does not delete any save data or delete downloaded games. But it can temporarily make them inaccessible, which I‘ll explain more below.
What Types of Data are Stored on a Nintendo Switch?
The Nintendo Switch actually stores data in two separate locations:
- Internal Memory: 32GB of flash storage inside the Switch itself
- SD Card Slot: Supports microSD cards up to 2TB for additional storage
Here‘s what‘s typically saved in each location:
| Internal Memory | SD Card |
| – Game Save Data | – Downloaded Games & Updates |
| – Some Screenshots | – Most Screenshots |
As you can see, game save data is stored safely on the internal memory and does not get saved to the SD card.
What Happens When You Remove the SD Card?
When you remove or eject the SD card while the Switch is powered on, here is what you‘ll lose access to temporarily:
- Any downloaded games or game updates stored on the SD card
- Most of your Switch screenshots saved to the SD card
You‘ll get an alert message saying the SD card has been removed. But your game save data for physical cartridges and digital downloads will NOT be deleted or lost in any way.
Why Doesn‘t it Delete Game Saves?
The Nintendo Switch operating system is designed to keep save data isolated on the internal 32GB of storage. This serves as a safeguard so that you can swap SD cards, upgrade to a larger card, or remove without impacting your gameplay progress.
Some players use this to their advantage by owning multiple SD cards for different sets of games. But for most, it just provides some peace of mind that your save data is always protected.
What About Corrupted or Lost Data on the SD Card?
While your save data won‘t be impacted by removing an SD card, there are some risks around corruption or loss of data if it‘s not done properly:
- Always use "Safely Remove" option before taking out card
- Don‘t remove during an active download/install
- Sudden power loss while writing can cause issues
Corrupting the data on the SD card causes issues accessing it again until it‘s reformatted. So while saves remain intact in the system memory, you would lose access to any downloaded games, DLC content, or screenshots until replacing or reformatting the card.
How Nintendo Stores Save Games vs. Other Consoles
The way Nintendo keeps save data isolated differs from some other consoles like the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Both of those systems do allow users to backup saves to external USB drives and SD cards.
However, Nintendo‘s approach does make data management and migration much simpler for the average user. You don‘t ever have to copy it over or sync up different versions across storage devices.
| Console | Save Game Storage |
| Nintendo Switch | Internal Memory Only |
| PS4 / Xbox One | Allows External Drives |
So in summary – removing, swapping, or losing your Nintendo Switch SD card does not put important save data at risk. Just the downloaded content that happens to be stored on that particular card.
What If You Need to Transfer Save Data?
The only time save data gets impacted is if you are purposefully transferring it between devices. This deletes the data from the original device as part of the transfer process.
- Some examples are:
- Switching to a new Switch console
- Transferring your data to a friend‘s device
For ordinary SD card swaps and removal, no transfers or wipes ever occur for critical game progress and save files. Those stay persistent in your main system storage automatically.
Other SD Card Management Tips
While save data stays protected, here are some other management tips around SD cards for your Switch:
- Get the fastest SD card possible – a U3 A2 card minimizes load times
- Don‘t remove the card randomly during gameplay
- Reformat if you get an error about corruption
- Make backups of screenshots you want to keep
Following best practices around gentle removal and occasional backups will prevent most issues that come with external SD cards.
I hope this fully answers the question around whether or not removing your SD card causes issues or deletes important Nintendo Switch data! Let me know if you have any other questions or need advice selecting the best SD card for your Switch.
