The Pros and Cons of Downloading Games on Nintendo Switch Without an SD Card
Can You Download Games on Nintendo Switch Without SD Card?
If you own a Nintendo Switch, you probably know that it is a versatile console that lets you play games at home or on the go. You can buy physical game cartridges or download digital games from the Nintendo eShop. But how many games can you download on your Switch without running out of storage space? And do you need a microSD card to expand your storage capacity? In this article, we will answer these questions and more, so you can enjoy your gaming experience without any hassle.
can you download games on nintendo switch without sd card
How Much Storage Space Does the Nintendo Switch Have?
The Nintendo Switch has 32GB of internal storage, which may not sound like a lot compared to other consoles or devices. However, not all of that space is available for games, as some of it is reserved for the system software and other data. To check how much space you have left, you can go to System Settings > Data Management > Manage Software. On the right side of the screen, you will see how much space is used by each game and how much is free on the system memory and the microSD card (if you have one inserted).
What Are the Average Download Sizes of Nintendo Switch Games?
The download size of Nintendo Switch games varies depending on the game. Some games are smaller than 1GB, while others are larger than 10GB. For example, downloading a signature game like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will take up nearly 14GB, while a simple puzzle game like Tetris 99 will only take up 0.5GB. The download size may also increase if there are updates or DLCs available for the game.
Here are some examples of popular games and their download sizes as of November 2021 :
GameDownload Size
NBA 2K2246.2GB
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt31.5GB
L.A. Noire27.4GB
Mortal Kombat 1122.5GB
Doom22GB
Pokemon Sword/Shield10.3GB
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate9.8GB
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe7GB
Splatoon 26.1GB
Animal Crossing: New Horizons6GB
Hollow Knight3.5GB
Celeste1.2GB
Sonic Mania0.3GB
Ace Attorney Trilogy0.3GB
Stardew Valley
As you can see, some games can take up a significant amount of space on your Nintendo Switch, while others are more lightweight. Depending on your gaming preferences, you may be able to download several games on your Switch without an SD card, or you may run out of space quickly.
How to Free Up Space on Your Nintendo Switch?
If you find yourself running low on storage space on your Nintendo Switch, there are some ways to free up some space and make room for new games. Here are some tips:
Delete or archive games you don't play anymore. You can delete games from your Switch by going to System Settings > Data Management > Manage Software and selecting the game you want to delete. You can also archive games, which will delete the game data but keep the icon and save data on your home screen. You can re-download archived games from the Nintendo eShop anytime. To archive a game, press the + button on the game icon and select Manage Software > Archive Software.
Back up your save data online. If you have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, you can back up your save data to the cloud and delete it from your system memory. This will free up some space and also protect your save data in case you lose or damage your Switch. To back up your save data online, go to System Settings > Data Management > Save Data Cloud and select the game you want to back up. You can also enable automatic backup for all compatible games.
How to Expand Your Storage Space With a MicroSD Card?
If you want to download more games on your Nintendo Switch without worrying about storage space, you can expand your storage capacity with a microSD card. A microSD card is a small memory card that you can insert into your Switch and use as additional storage for games and other data. Here are some steps to use a microSD card on your Switch:
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Choose a compatible microSD card. The Nintendo Switch supports microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC cards with a capacity of up to 2TB. However, not all microSD cards are created equal, and some may have faster or slower read and write speeds than others. For the best performance, Nintendo recommends using a microSD card with a speed class of UHS-I (Ultra High Speed Phase I) and a speed grade of U1 or U3. You can check the speed class and grade on the label of the card or the packaging.
Insert the microSD card into your Switch. To insert the microSD card into your Switch, you need to turn off your console first. Then, open the microSD card slot cover on the back of the console and gently push the card into the slot until it clicks. Close the cover and turn on your console. You should see a message on the screen confirming that the microSD card has been detected.
Format the microSD card if necessary. Depending on the type and capacity of the microSD card, you may need to format it before using it on your Switch. Formatting will erase all data on the card, so make sure you back up any important files before proceeding. To format the microSD card, go to System Settings > System > Formatting Options > Format microSD Card. Follow the instructions on the screen and wait until the process is complete.
Download games to the microSD card. Once you have inserted and formatted the microSD card, you can start downloading games to it from the Nintendo eShop. You can also move games from your system memory to the microSD card by going to Data Management > Move Data Between System / microSD Card. You can choose which games or data you want to move and confirm the transfer.
Conclusion
In conclusion, you can download games on your Nintendo Switch without an SD card, but you may run out of space quickly depending on the size of the games. To free up some space, you can delete or archive games yo