How do I clear up space on my Nintendo Switch?
Running out of space on your Nintendo Switch? Getting an error that reads "There is not enough free space to download the data" when you try to download a new game from the Nintendo eShop?
You've got options.
1) Archive games you don't play often
It's quite possible — likely, even! — that a game you haven't played in years is taking up several gigabytes of space on your Switch.
Anything you've purchased from the Nintendo eShop can be downloaded again, for free, as long as Nintendo keeps the Switch eShop online. You can also, of course, keep your game saves while deleting the game itself; the game saves are generally very small in comparison to the game software itself.
The easiest route to take is "archiving" a game. Archiving lets you keep the save file, and keeps the game's icon on your homescreen for easy re-downloading when you're ready to play again.
You can find the archive option in System Settings >> Data Management >> Quick Archive.
While scrolling that list, look for the games that are taking up the most space (as measured in GBs) that you haven't played in a while. Select a few, then tap "Archive Data".
2) Delete old screenshots and videos
The Switch has a dedicated button for capturing screenshots and gameplay videos. These things — especially the videos — take up a lot of space that can add up fast. Given how easy it is to hit the button accidentally, you've probably got screenshots saved you didn't even mean to take!
Nintendo provides an option to clean these out quickly. Find it in System Settings >> Data Management >> Manage Screenshots and Videos.
3) Add more space
Need more space, but don't want to part with any of your games — even temporarily?
The Nintendo Switch makes it ridiculously simple to add more storage — up to two terabytes! — via the microSD port. Pretty much any high-quality microSD card will work. Find our tips for adding more storage to the Switch here.
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We love the Nintendo Switch here at Tiptop — but if there ever comes a time that you decide you're done with yours, come on back and we'll buy it from you. We'll give you a trade-in offer for your Switch on the spot and let you put that credit toward the purchase of any one of thousands of gadgets, consoles, and accessories — all in one ridiculously easy transaction. Check out everything we offer over in the Tiptop Shop!
And if you have an old one you'd like to sell, we've got you covered there too.