Managing your Nintendo Switch Games: Delete, Archive, and Reinstall

The Nintendo Switch has taken the gaming world by storm, largely due to its ever-expanding collection of top-quality games. However, as your library grows, you may find yourself running out of storage space. With only 32GB of internal storage, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll need a microSD card to accommodate your digital collection. But fear not, because the Switch offers a simple and hassle-free way to delete and reinstall games without losing your valuable save data. Let’s look at how you can keep your Switch library organized.

Deleting Games and Apps

If your library is becoming cluttered and you have no intention of playing a particular game again, deleting it is a great option. Here’s how you can do it:

Step 1: Locate the “All Software” icon on the right end of the game grid or select the game directly from the home screen.

Step 2: Once the game is selected, press the Options (+) button and choose “Manage Software” from the pop-up screen.

Step 3: Scroll down and select “Delete Software,” then confirm your choice.

Archiving Games (Recommended)

If you prefer to keep the game’s icon in your library but free up some storage space, archiving is the way to go. To archive a game:

Step 1: Find the “All Software” icon or select the game from the home screen.

Step 2: Press the Options (+) button and choose “Manage Software.”

Step 3: Select “Archive Software” and confirm your decision.

Reinstalling Deleted Games

To reinstall deleted games, you’ll need to access your Nintendo eShop profile:

Step 1: Tap on the Nintendo eShop icon.

Step 2: Select your account avatar in the top-right corner.

Step 3: Scroll down and choose “Redownload” to view your library of games that are not currently installed on the console.

Step 4: Tap the Cloud icon next to the game you want to install.

Unarchiving Games

If you accidentally archived a game and want to retrieve it, follow these steps:

Step 1: Find the “All Software” tab or highlight the game you want to search for. You’ll see a cloud symbol indicating that the game is available for download.

Step 2: Select the game, and it will begin downloading to your Switch. Confirm your choice by pressing the download button again.

Keeping Track of Storage

To efficiently manage your limited storage space, it’s helpful to keep track of which games consume the most space. Here’s how:

Step 1: Go to System Settings.

Step 2: Tap on Data Management.

Step 3: Select “Manage Software” to view a catalog of your installed games and their respective storage usage. The games are listed from highest to lowest based on their storage requirements.

Step 4: From this list, you can choose to archive or delete games to free up space.

It’s also possible to archive multiple games simultaneously using the Quick Archive option. By hovering over a game, you can see when you last played it, which can help you decide whether to delete it or not.

And there you have it! With these simple steps, you can easily manage your Nintendo Switch game library, freeing up space and ensuring that your favorite games are always accessible.

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