How to Delete Nintendo Switch Games

The Nintendo Switch game system has it all. For hardcore players, sky and NBA 2K18 they are on their way. For the casual fan, Weapon and 1-2 Keys It offers a movement-centered approach to the game. These titles use sensors inside the Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Cons. Super Mario Odyssey, Splatoon 2 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe All are expected to arrive at the end of 2017. There are still things coming out of the Nintendo eShop, Fast RMX and Human Resources Machine. Before installing all these new games, you will need to make room for them. This means you can get stuck trying to delete Nintendo Switch games.

You will find that you need to delete Nintendo Switch games sooner than other consoles. Nintendo Switch doesn’t have as much storage as the Xbox One S and PlayStation 4 Pro. These consoles can have 500GB or more of storage, while the Nintendo Switch offers very little 32GB of storage. There are only a few ways to use this storage space. It doesn’t help that the growing number of Nintendo Switch games are digitally downloaded from the Nintendo eShop alone.

Here’s how to delete Nintendo Switch games and make more room for the latest games.

Before Deleting Nintendo Switch Games

Before you go and start deleting your Nintendo Switch games, there are a few things you should know. First, there are ways to avoid having to delete Nintendo Switch games in the first place. The handheld only has 32GB of storage, but you can add more with a MicroSD Card. Nintendo has hidden the MicroSD slot just below the Nintendo Switch’s kickstand.

Second, you can always avoid storage problems by purchasing physical versions of all your favorite games. A small part of the game should be installed on the console, but not all. If you deleted the bit installed on your Switch, you will need to re-insert the Game Card into your console, reinstall the files you need to get started.

How to Delete Nintendo Switch Games: Let’s Get Started

Press the power button to turn on your Nintendo Switch. Press the button on your Nintendo Switch console.

Now press the button to fully unlock your Nintendo Switch.

Welcome to the home space. Here, search for the game you want to delete in your list of installed games. When you find it, highlight it using the joysticks on the Joy-Con controllers.

Now press the + or – button on top of one of your Joy-Con Controllers. For this example, we chose to use the button, but either will do just fine.

Welcome to the video games details page. This area allows you to manually update your games, claim Nintendo Rewards points for them, and delete them. Choose from the list of options on the left side of the window.

With the Nintendo Switch, you have two options. You can archive the Software or delete the Software. The archiving software will leave the shortcut of the game on the Home screen. Your game save will stay where it is. The game itself is deleted so you have more internal storage.

The Delete Software option is to get rid of both the game and the shortcut on your home screen. You will need to return to the Nintendo eShop or insert your Game Card to restart the game.

With either of these options, you delete the game, but not your game save. This means you are free to return to the topic and continue where you last left off. Note that game saves don’t go from console to console with you. If you delete the game, forget that the save is on your Nintendo Switch, that save is gone forever. It won’t appear again, even on a new Switch. Game saves are not managed by Nintendo Accounts.

If you want to get rid of a game save after trying to delete Nintendo Switch games, you need to manage it from the console’s System Settings. Go to Home by pressing the Home button on your right Joy-Con controller.

Open .

Game Records are tracked in the Data Management area. Choose from the menu on the left.

Just choose.

Choose .

Now select the game saves you want to delete. There is no return from this. All your game progress will be wiped from your Switch.

Note that any game included in a Game Card can be reinstalled by putting that Game Card on your console. To retrieve a deleted digital game, you must download it again from the Nintendo eShop.