How Do I Get More Space on My Switch Without an SD Card?

As a fellow Nintendo Switch gamer and content creator, I know firsthand how quickly that 32GB of internal storage fills up. Between game installs, DLC packs, video captures, and an ever-growing library of digital titles, running out of space is a constant struggle.

So is it possible to get more usable room on your Switch without upgrading with an SD card?

The short answer is: not really. Without inserting external microSD storage, that 32GB hard drive is all you get. But you‘re not totally out of luck! By strategically clearing old games and data as well as changing how you manage new downloads, you can free up precious GBs to keep your Switch gaming strong.

Let me walk you through the ins and outs of maximizing Nintendo‘s built-in storage space.

Understanding Your Switch‘s Internal Storage Limits

First, a quick primer on just how fast 32 gigs gets eaten up. IGN reports that the average first-party Nintendo title requires around 15GB of free space – massive hits like Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey pack over 13GB on their own!

Popular third-party games also demand hefty installs:

Per Nintendo website

As you can see, that default 32GB allows room for just 2-3 AAA titles before you hit the ceiling. Need evidence of how fast it fills? Reddit users share experiencing max capacity after downloading as little as 3 full games!

Tip #1: Delete Unneeded Games and Saves

Since maxing out storage is unavoidable, the next best step is making room by removing games and save data you no longer need quick access to. Remember, just because you delete a digital download does NOT mean you lose it forever:

• Digitally purchased game licenses are tied to your Nintendo account. You can easily redownload any game from the eShop later without buying it again.
• Game saves are trickier – they DO get erased if deleted. So only remove saves you really don‘t need.

Let‘s walk through how to clear old games and saves:

Deleting Full Games

• Navigate to System Settings > Data Management > Manage Software
• Select unwanted software tiles and choose Delete
• Close games entirely using Quick Menu before deleting

I recommend deleting single-player games you‘ve completed and won‘t replay. For multiplayer games, try archiving instead (see next section).

Removing Save Data

• Go to System Settings > Data Management > Delete Save Data
• Pick your target data and select Delete Save Data

Only remove saves you‘re totally done with – there‘s no going back! As a last resort for max space savings, manually back up precious saves to the cloud before erasing.

Stick to this regular maintenance, and you can maintain a healthy 10GB or more of available space without expanding. It just takes a few minutes each time you grab a new game to clean house!

Tip #2: Archive Older Software

If you want to free up temporary space without completely nuking your library, game archiving is genius. The Archive Software tool removes the core install data while retaining your purchase license and save files:

• Navigate to System Settings > Data Management > Manage Software
• Pick a title and select Archive Software > Archive

When you‘re ready to play that game again, simply redownload through your account history. Unlike deleting, archiving ensures accessible saves and an install ready in your back pocket!

I lean on archiving often with games in my rotation but not being actively played. Sports games, seasonal titles like Just Dance, and aging multiplayer games are perfect archive candidates since I return to them frequently.

Archiving gives breathing room while keeping your options open – just remember archived titles can ONLY be redownloaded, not directly booted up, so plan ahead!

Tip #3: Clear Your Album Storage

An easy storage space quick fix is dumping the screenshots and video captures saved automatically to your album app:

• Open Album and select your target images/clips
• Choose Upload to copy media to social platforms or another device
• Once uploaded, delete local copies in Album > Select > Delete

Depending on your capture habits, this can surprisingly eat over 1GB quickly! Getting in the habit of regularly uploading and deleting old captures prevents pile-up.

I copy my best game photographs to Twitter to showcase and share with other gamers. You can also upload temporarily to cloud storage apps or services if you want long-term personal access.

Tip #4: Buy a Larger Switch Model

If you‘ve optimized storage management and STILL find 32GB restrictive, it may be time to upgrade your Switch hardware itself.

Nintendo now offers pricier variants with more usable space built-in:

• Switch OLED – 64GB storage
• Switch (Red Box) – 64GB

The doubled capacity eases tight space frustration. But the same tips apply – manage saves, archive judiciously, and clear albums. Even 64GB fills fast with huge installs!

Another bonus some premium Switch models offer is an Ethernet port in the dock for wired LAN connection. This gives faster, more stable multiplayer gaming if WiFi is shaky. That alone may be worth upgrading!

Embrace Physical Copies to Curb Install Sizes!

While not a direct storage fix, one simple way to circumvent balloonng digital game sizes is buying physical cartridge copies whenever possible:

• Game cards install much smaller update data vs. full eShop downloads
• You avoid gobbling up precious internal storage space
• Nintendo Switch game cases are tiny – easy to transport cartridges!

I prefer purchasing special edition physical copies of games I love to display on my shelf. This leaves memory open for capturing gameplay video and downloading new hot indie titles from the eShop.

Just popping an SD card in is easier, yes. But creatively managing software can buy you quite a bit more mileage from base 32GB. We have to adapt and overcome as gamers – that‘s what makes conquering the next boss so satisfying!

Hopefully these storage stretch tips help you push your Switch to its limits. Let me know if you have any other questions – happy gaming!