How to Delete Games on Nintendo Switch?

Many Switch owners download more games than they play regularly. This takes up valuable storage space.

Deleting unused games can free up room for new adventures.

We’ll provide simple steps to manage your Switch’s storage. You’ll always have room for the games you want to play.

Nintendo Switch Storage Management

Managing storage on your Nintendo Switch is crucial. The console has limited internal storage, which fills up quickly.

You might need to delete games or use a microSD card for more space.

Internal Storage vs. microSD Card

The Nintendo Switch offers two storage options: built-in and expandable. Internal storage capacity varies by model.

The original Switch and Lite have 32 GB, while the OLED model has 64 GB.

Internal storage can hold a few games but may not be enough.

You can insert a microSD card to expand your storage capacity. MicroSD cards come in various sizes to suit your needs.

Checking Available Storage Space

Knowing your available space is key to managing Switch storage. Here’s how to check:

1. From the Home screen, go to System Settings.
2. Scroll down and select “Data Management.”
3. Choose “Manage Software.”
4. You will see installed games, file sizes, and remaining free space.

Regular storage checks help you decide which games to keep or delete.

Deleting Games from the Home Screen

Need to free up space on your Nintendo Switch? Deleting games from the Home Screen is quick and easy.

This method lets you uninstall digital games without digging through system settings.

Selecting the Game to Delete

To delete downloaded games from the Home Screen, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the Home Screen on your Nintendo Switch.
2. Highlight the game you wish to delete.
3. Press the “+” button on your right Joy-Con or Pro Controller.
4. Select “Manage Software” from the options menu.

Confirming Game Deletion

After selecting “Manage Software,” you’ll see a confirmation screen. Here’s what to do next:

• Choose “Delete Software” to proceed with uninstalling the digital game from your Switch.
• Confirm your decision by selecting “Delete” on the next prompt.

The selected game will be permanently removed from your Nintendo Switch’s storage. Remember, deleting a game also erases its save data.

You can protect your progress by backing up data to the cloud. Another option is transferring it to another device.

Game Size	Approximate Time to Delete
1 GB	10-20 seconds
5 GB	30-60 seconds
10 GB	1-2 minutes

Deleting Games from the System Settings

Remove Nintendo Switch games easily through the System Settings menu.

This method clears game data and removes eShop games without using the Home screen.

It’s a centralized approach to manage your games.

Follow these steps to delete games from System Settings:

1. From the Home screen, select the gear icon to open the System Settings.
2. Scroll down and choose “Data Management.”
3. Select “Manage Software” to view a list of installed games.
4. Highlight the game you wish to remove and press the “Delete Software” button.
5. Confirm your decision by selecting “Delete” when prompted.

Deleting games through System Settings quickly frees up storage space. It’s great for removing multiple games at once.

You can perform bulk eShop game removal this way.

Remember, deleting a game erases its saved data. Back up important progress before deleting.

Manage saved data in the “Save Data Cloud” option within Data Management.

Deleting Games	Pros	Cons
From the Home Screen	Quick and easy for individual games	Time-consuming for multiple games
From the System Settings	Centralized management, bulk deletion	Requires navigating through menus

Removing Game Save Data

Managing your Nintendo Switch storage includes removing game save data. This helps start games anew or free up space.

You can delete data for one game or all games.

Deleting Save Data for a Specific Game

To delete save data for one game, go to System Settings on your Nintendo Switch. Select “Data Management,” then “Delete Save Data.”

Choose the game and confirm your decision.

Remember, deleting save data is permanent. Make sure you don’t need the saved progress before proceeding.

Deleting Save Data for All Games

To delete save data for all games, select “Delete All Save Data” from the “Data Management” menu.

This removes save data for every game on your console.

Be careful with this option. It can’t be undone, and you’ll lose all saved game progress.

Consider the consequences before confirming to avoid losing important progress.

FAQs

Q: How do I check the available storage space on my Nintendo Switch?

A: To check storage space, open System Settings and select Data Management. You’ll see used and available space for internal storage and microSD card.

Q: Can I redownload games I’ve deleted from my Nintendo Switch?

A: Yes, you can redownload any digital games from the Nintendo eShop. Go to the eShop and select your profile icon. Choose “Redownload” to access your purchased games library.

Q: Will deleting a game also remove its save data?

A: No, deleting a game won’t remove its save data. Save data is stored separately. To delete save data, go to System Settings, Data Management, then Delete Save Data.

Q: How do I remove game updates and DLC from my Nintendo Switch?

A: Game updates and DLC are linked to the game itself. To remove them, delete the entire game from your console. You can always redownload updates and purchased DLC from the Nintendo eShop later.

Q: What happens if I delete a game from my Nintendo Switch that uses a physical game card?

A: Deleting a physical game removes its icon and associated data from your Home Screen. You can still play by reinserting the game card into your console.This action also removes any updates or save data for that game.