Blog

Oct 22, 2023

A Full Guide to MicroSD Cards on the Nintendo Switch

Although the Nintendo

Although the Nintendo Switch isn't the most powerful console on the market, its games still take up a lot of space. For example, downloading a signature game like "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" will take up nearly 14 GB.

If you're planning on buying a lot of games, you'll likely need an SD card to store them all. But before you buy your SD card, you'll want to make sure that you buy the right type, and place it properly in your console.

Here's what you need to know about getting an SD card for your Nintendo Switch.

The Nintendo Switch console is known for its small size and portability. So it probably comes as no surprise that the system only supports the smallest type of SD card: The microSD card.

You can't use a regular SD card, or even a miniSD card. You'll specifically need a microSD card.

But don't worry — microSD cards have been around for years, and can fit plenty of games.

When picking out your microSD card, you'll need to consider a few different factors.

Before you buy an SD card, think about how you buy your games. Do you prefer to buy physical cartridges, which will store less data on the Switch itself? Or do you download all your games from the eShop?

The Switch comes with 32 GB of storage by default. But that fills up fast — "Breath of the Wild" is 14 GB, while "Fortnite" and "Pokémon Sword" are both about 12 GB. The biggest Switch game right now is "NBA 2K20," coming in at about 33 GB — more than a new Switch can even hold.

And even if you prefer hard copies, remember that downloading bonus content and updates will require additional space on the Switch. Screenshots and videos will take space too.

If you're going to be doing a lot of gaming on the Switch, you should probably look for a microSD card with at least 128 GB of storage.

In general, you should probably spring for a larger size than you think you'll need, since the price difference between microSD cards is pretty negligible at larger sizes.

Every SD card has a different "read speed." This tracks how fast it can transfer data, and is important when you're downloading new games.

The higher a card's speed the better, but only to a point. The optimal read speed is 60 to 90 MBs, and anything above that won't make much of a difference.

Nintendo themselves say to buy microSD cards that are categorized as UHS-1 — also known as Ultra High Speed One. This will be marked by a symbol on the card. You can still use UHS-2 and UHS-3 cards, but the Switch can't take advantage of their higher speeds.

One last little thing: You can also get a specifically Nintendo-themed SD card that perfectly fits the specs you'll need. You won't be able to see the design once it's inserted into the Switch, but it's still a cute accessory.

1. Turn your Nintendo Switch off. This means fully powered down, not just in sleep mode. You can do this by pressing the power button on top of the console for five seconds, and then selecting "Turn Off."

2. Flip your Switch over so the screen is face down and pop the kickstand open. The stand opens at the bottom of the Switch. You might need to use your fingernail or another fine edge to pry the stand out.

3. When the kickstand is open, you should see the SD card slot, and a small diagram demonstrating the correct way to insert the card: Its label side should be facing up, with a small notch on the right side.

4. Gently push the microSD card in the slot until you hear it click into place.

Snap your kickstand closed, and you're all set.

Insider Inc. receives a commission when you buy through our links.