With the release of the new Nintendo Switch OLED model, many players are planning to make an upgrade from their old models to the new ones. This includes transferring your ACNH island to the new system. Even though the game is from Nintendo, transferring the island from one switch to another is not outright easy. So today we will look at how to transfer Animal Crossing New Horizons (ACNH) island save data to a new switch.

How to Save Animal Crossing (ACNH) Data Cloud Backup?

To save Animal Crossing New Horizons (ACNH) data you need to enable cloud island backup. Here’s how:

  • Make sure you have an active Nintendo Switch Online membership.
  • Check if your game is updated.
  • Go to your Switch home screen/dashboard.
  • Press the “-“ button to open the settings.
  • Click on “Island backup”, and then click on “Enable island backup”.
  • Once you enable it you will be able to see the last backup date & time on your dashboard.
  • If you cannot enable island backup, it may be because another resident has already enabled it.
  • You can ask them to disable it for you to enable and vice versa.

How to Download Animal Crossing (ACNH) Save Data Cloud Backup?

Here are different ways to download Animal Crossing (ACNH) Save Data Cloud Backup:

  • Press the – or + Buttons on the Joy-Con controllers to open the ACNH software menu.
  • Click on the user name you want to get the saved data.
  • Now click on “Download Save Data”.
  • You can also go to “System Settings” from the Switch dashboard and select Data Management.
  • Now select “Save Data Cloud”, choose the user, and click on “Download Save Data”.
  • It might be helpful to know that when your Switch is in sleep mode, it will automatically download any new save data backups from the cloud.

If you don’t have access to your original primary Nintendo Switch system, it is impossible to remotely enable island backup without the console. So make sure enable turn this on in case of any unforeseen bad events. Also if you have access to your original Nintendo Switch, it is not required to restore your backup data on a new console. In such a situation, you can easily transfer Animal Crossing New Horizons Island Save Data to a new Switch console easily. Let’s look at this in detail below.

How to Transfer Animal Crossing New Horizons (ACNH) Island Save Data to New Switch?

If you have just got a new Switch console, here’s are different options you can use to transfer Animal Crossing New Horizons (ACNH) Island Save Data to New Switch:

  • First download or update to the latest version of Animal Crossing New Horizons on both Switch consoles.
  • Then make sure to download Animal Crossing: New Horizons Island Transfer Tool.
  • Sign in with your Nintendo account to download the free tool.
  • Open ACNH on the primary console, and choose the user whose resident you want to move.
  • Once you are at the game’s main menu, press the “−” button to open the Settings.
  • Click on “Move to a new island”, then click on “Move me off the island”.
  • Also, keep in mind you won’t be transferring the island resident representative.
  • If you want to move the resident representative, then you have to transfer the complete island.
  • Now click on the “Yes, that is correct” option.
  • Make sure to check the transfer details.
  • Once ready, click on “Yes, I’m ready”, then again on the same “Yes, I’m ready” option to start the transfer request.
  • Now open ACNH on your new Switch and choose the user account you want for your resident.
  • But note that if the user has started playing ACNH on the new Switch then you can not transfer that specific resident. Then you need to create a new user account, to do this.
  • On the new console, click on “I’m moving” when questioned by Timmy and Tommy.
  • When they ask if you have already sent a transfer request, click on “Yes, I have!”.
  • Click on Start the process to search for the transfer request sent from the old Switch.
  • Check and confirm the island name and your resident’s details.
  • If everything is correct, click on “Yes, that is correct”.
  • Now on the primary Switch click on “I want to move to….”.
  • Click on it, and the ACNH Island Transfer will start.
  • Wait for the on-screen pop-up saying “Thank you so much for waiting. Everything is ready!”.
  • Now close the game on the first Switch and choose the location on the new Switch to place your house.
  • You will be the new island’s resident representative if you are the first user to play ACNH on this new Switch. You will spend your first night in a tent as moving the house will need lots of time to complete.
  • If you are not the first user to play the game on the new console and if someone else is already the new island’s resident representative, then you can move your house without the waiting period.
  • Now you need to set up island back up again to enable it on your new Switch.
  • Finally, you are ready to start playing in your Switch with all your progression carried with you.

This process will transfer the entire island with residents, all progress, your animal neighbors’ customizations, the island resident representative, and all other residents that have been created on the same island. This method is the one to go for if all ACNH players in the old Switch will be using the new Switch console. And this is the way to transfer your island resident representative when you have no Nintendo Switch Online Service to back up your island save data. This process cannot be done if you have either lost or damaged your primary Switch console.

That’s everything you need to know about how to transfer Animal Crossing New Horizons (ACNH) Island Save Data to a new Switch. While you are here, make sure to check out our Animal Crossing New Horizons Guides to know more tips and tricks required to excel in ACNH and stand out among your friends.