The Nintendo Switch gaming system has it all. For hardcore gamers, Skyrim and NBA 2K18 are on the way. For the casual fan, Arm and Switch 1-2 offer a movement-centric approach to gameplay. These titles use the sensors found inside the Joy-Cons of the Nintendo Switch. Super Mario Odyssey, Splatoon 2 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe are all expected to arrive by the end of 2017. There's still some stuff coming out of the Nintendo eShop too, titles like Rapid RMX and Human Resource Machine.Before you can install all these new games, you'll need to make room for them. This means that you might get stuck trying to delete Nintendo Switch games.
How to delete Nintendo Switch games.
You will need to delete Nintendo Switch games sooner than you would on other consoles. The Nintendo Switch doesn't have as much storage as the Xbox One S and PlayStation 4 Pro. While these consoles can have 500GB of storage or more, the Nintendo Switch offers a paltry 32GB of storage space. There are only a few ways to get around using this storage space. It doesn't help that an increasing number of Nintendo Switch games are only available as digital downloads from the Nintendo eShop.
Here's how to delete Nintendo Switch games and free up space for the latest upcoming titles.
Before deleting Nintendo Switch games
Before you go and start deleting your Nintendo Switch games, there are a few things you need to 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 right under the Nintendo Switch's kickstand.
Second, you can always avoid storage issues by buying physical versions of all your favorite games. A small part of the game must be installed on the console but not all of it. If you removed the bit that was installed on your Switch, simply re-insert the game card into your console to 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 on your Nintendo Switch console.
Now tap to fully unlock your Nintendo Switch.
Welcome to the Home area. Find the game you want to remove from your list of installed games here. When you find it, highlight it using the joysticks on the Joy-Con controllers.
Now press the + or – button on the top of one of your Joy-Con controllers. For this example we have chosen to use the button but either will do just fine.
Welcome to the video game details page. This area allows you to manually update your games, claim Nintendo Rewards points for them, and delete them. Select from the list of options on the left side of the window.
With the Nintendo Switch, you have two options. You can Archive software or Delete software. The archive software will leave the game shortcut on the home screen. Your game save will stay where it is. The game itself is removed so you have more internal storage.
The Remove Software option removes both the game and the shortcut from your home screen. You will need to return to the Nintendo eShop or insert your game card to pick up the title.
With these two options, you delete the game but not your game save. This means that you are free to return to the title and pick up where you last left off. Note that game saves do not travel with you from console to console. If you delete the game, forget the save is on your Nintendo Switch, that save is permanently lost. It will not reappear 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'll need to manage it from the console's system settings. Go home by pressing the Home button on your right Joy-Con controller.
Open .
Game saves are monitored in the data management area. Select it from the left menu.
Simply select .
Select .
Now select the game saves you want to delete. There is no turning back. All of your game progress will be erased from your Switch.
Remember that any game you have on a game card can be reinstalled by simply inserting that game card into your console. To recover a digital game that you have deleted, you will need to re-download it from Nintendo eShop.