Animal Crossing: New Horizonslaunched in March 2020. It was all the rage during the pandemic while gamers remained confined to their homes. However, there was one glaring issue from the start: Islands were locked down to individual Switch consoles. They couldn’t be saved to the cloud nor moved to another Switch. That meant no recovery if the Switch was stolen, lost, or damaged beyond repair. Hours upon hours of island-building gone forever.
Nintendo backtracked on its decision andintroduced cloud backupas part of the July 2020 update. This creates a copy of your island in the cloud but requires a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
Nintendo followed up with the ability to transfer an island or resident in the free winter patch issued on November 19. It’s joined by the freeAnimal Crossing: New Horizons Island Transfer Toolnow available on the Nintendo eShop.
In this guide, we show you how to transfer save data from one Switch to another in two ways: Move the entire island, or move just a resident.
Further reading
Moving an island
When moving to a new Switch and selling the old
Use these steps if you’re moving to another Switch and don’t plan to use the source console. For example, you may be upgrading to the standard Switch console and handing off a Switch Lite to a family member or friend — or trading it in to GameStop.
Step 1:Make sureAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsis up to date on the source console.
Step 2:Download theAnimal Crossing: New HorizonsIsland Transfer Toollisted on the Nintendo eShop. You may need to do a search to actually find it once it leaves the shop’s Features tab.
Step 3:Transfer all user data to the new Switch consoleusing our separate guide. Repeat this step for all users associated with the source Switch console.
Step 4:On the target Switch console, updateAnimal Crossing: New Horizons.
Step 5:Download theIsland Transfer Toollisted in the Nintendo eShop.
Step 6:On both consoles, open theIsland Transfer Tool.
Step 7:Follow the instructions and selectContinueon both.
Step 8:SelectLet’sBeginon both.
Step 9:On the source Switch console, selectSource.
Step 10:A message says that save data has been detected. SelectContinue. The source Switch will now search for the target console.
Step 11:On the target Switch, selectTarget.
Step 13:SelectProceed.
Step 14:On the source system, selectTransfer Dataafter it detects the target console.
Step 15:On the target system, selectProceedwhen it detects the source console.
Once the transfer is complete, the island on the original source console will be deleted. OpenAnimal Crossing: New Horizonson the new Switch console to continue playing. You’ll need to set up island backup again on the new system.
When moving to a new Switch but keeping the old
Use these instructions if you plan to keep both consoles, but prefer to playAnimal Crossing: New Horizonson the target console instead. The only real difference here is that you’re not transferring accounts as seen in the first instruction set.
Step 1:UpdateAnimal Crossing: New Horizonson both consoles.
Step 2:Download theAnimal Crossing: New HorizonsIsland Transfer Toolon both systems.
Step 3:Open theIsland Transfer Toolon both systems.
Step 4:Follow the instructions and selectContinue.
Step 5:SelectLet’s Beginon both.
Step 6:On the source Switch console, selectSource.
Step 7:A message says that save data has been detected. SelectContinue. The source Switch will now search for the target console.
Step 8:On the target Switch, selectTarget.
Step 9:SelectProceed.
Step 10:On the source system, selectTransfer Dataafter it detects the target console.
Step 11:On the target system, selectProceedwhen it detects the source console.
Once the transfer is complete, the island on the original source console will be deleted.
Step 12:On the target system, openAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsand selectExisting Datawhen prompted.
Step 13:Select your resident name if there are multiple residents with existing unlinked data.
Step 14:SelectYesto confirm that you want to start playing again as your resident. Repeat Steps 12-14 for all other residents.
You’ll need to set up island backup again on the new system.
Moving your resident
Use these instructions if you created a resident on the source Switch console but want to live on a different island on the target console. However, if you created an island on the source console, you’re the designated Island Representative and absolutely cannot move without taking the entire island with you.
Step 1:UpdateAnimal Crossing: New Horizonson both systems.
Step 2:OpenAnimal Crossing: New Horizonson the source console and select the player (resident) you want to move.
Step 3:On the title screen, press the minus button to open the game’s settings.
Step 4:SelectMove to a New Island.
Step 5:SelectMove Me Off the Island.
Note:The only way to move an island representative is to transfer the entire island.
Step 6:SelectYes, That Is Correctto confirm the move.
Step 7:SelectYes, I’m Ready!after confirming the details.
Step 8:SelectYes, I’m Ready!again.
Step 9:Move to the target Switch system, launchAnimal Crossing: New Horizons, and select the target user account.
Note:You cannot move a resident to a target account that’s already playedAnimal Crossing: New Horizonson the target Switch console.
Step 10:When prompted, selectI’m Moving.
Step 11:When prompted about the transfer request, selectYes, I Have!
Step 12:SelectStart the Processand the target Switch will search for a transfer request.
Step 13:When your resident’s name appears, selectYes, That Is Correctto confirm.
Step 14:Move to the source Switch system and selectI Want to Moveto confirm.
Note:You cannot cancel the transfer at this point. Your bags are packed.
Step 15:Close the game on the source console once you see a message stating “Thank you so much for waiting. Everything is ready!”
Step 16:Move to the target console and choose a location for your existing house.
Note:If you’re the first resident, then you become the representative and will be forced to sleep in a tent during the first night. If you’re not the first resident, your house appears on the island immediately.
Moving another resident
Use these instructions if you’re the Island Representative and another player wants to move to a different island on the target console.
Step 1:Transfer the user datafrom the source Switch to the target console.
Step 2:UpdateAnimal Crossing: New Horizons on both systems.
Step 3:On the source console, openAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsusing the account of the player you just transferred to the new system.
Step 4:At the title screen, press the minus button to open the game’s settings.
Step 5:SelectMove to a New Island.
Step 6:SelectMove Another Resident.
Step 7:SelectYes, That Is Correctafter selecting the name of the resident you want to move.
Step 8:SelectOKafter reviewing the transfer details.
Step 9:SelectYes, I’m Ready!
Step 10:SelectLet’s Do It!to send the transfer request.
Step 11:Move over to the target Switch console and openAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsusing the newly transferred user.
Step 12:SelectI’m Movingwhen prompted.
Step 13:When prompted about the transfer request, selectYes, I Have!
Step 14:SelectStart the Process.
Step 15:Once the player’s resident appears on the screen, selectYes, That Is Correct.
Step 16:Move back to the source console and selectLet’s Do It!
Step 17:Close the game on the source console once you see a message stating “Thank you so much for waiting. Everything is ready!”
Step 18:Move to the target console and choose a location for your existing house.
