How To Insert A Micro SD Card Into A Nintendo Switch

Inserting a Micro SD card into your Switch may seem confusing, but it's pretty simple.

The Nintendo Switch has been a hit since its launch in 2017, and despite the OLED model bringing in more storage and some improvements to the screen, SD cards are still necessary. The default model has 32GB of storage, while the OLED model brings 64GB.

RELATED: Best Nintendo Switch Accessories

That sounds like a lot, since Switch games are generally light, but it's not; Nintendo games have only been getting heavier on storage with its newest games, such as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of The Kingdom clocking in at 16GB, while third-party games like NBA 2K23 and Mortal Kombat 11 are around 55GB and 32GB respectively.

To insert the SD memory card, power off and turn your Nintendo Switch console around, so you can see the back. You will notice a thin outlined section of the console that looks different. That is the kickstand; raising it will reveal the section in which the SD memory card can be slotted.

That kickstand can be lifted to reveal a compartment; depending on your console model, the cover might differ. In the standard model, the lid is lifted upwards and is designed thin. You want to slide the SD card into the slot as demonstrated. Once you hear a click, the SD memory card has been successfully inserted. Close the kickstand.

For the Nintendo Switch Lite model, there is a convenient slot at the bottom of the console, on the right side. Put your nail in the space to open it up and insert the SD memory card. When you hear a click, you are done; close the lid. The Lite model is the easiest to insert the SD card into.

As for the OLED model, the kickstand is much bigger, almost like a flap; lift it to reveal the SD card compartment. On the left side, there will be a slot for the SD memory card. Following the example, insert the SD card until you hear a click. Then close the kickstand, or leave it open if you wnat to keep it upright.

Once the SD memory card is inserted, you can power up your console; then, in the main menu, select the gear symbol to go to System Settings. You will need to scroll down until you see Data Management. Choose that option, and the information about your System Memory and Micro SD card will be displayed if the SD memory card was inserted correctly.

From there, you can select Move Data Between System / microSD Card to move games from the System Memory to the memory card. The console will check the free space and give you options to move to either storage space.

You can also select Manage Software to see your games, allowing you to see how much space they occupy and in which storage system they are. You can see that by hovering over a game, the white bars on the right will turn blue, letting you know which storage system they are in, and how much space they are using.

You can use Quick Archive if you are deleting a game you plan to revisit; this will keep the icon in the system, though you have to re-download it by selecting it. On the other hand, deleting a game deletes it from the system, and you will have to go to the Nintendo eShop to install it again.

You successfully installed your SD memory card, but you might need to remove it, whether getting a bigger SD card with more game space or moving to another system. To do so, turn off your console, open the lid, as stated previously, and then remove the SD card by pushing it in until you hear a click that will disengage it, allowing you to pull it out. If the memory card is removed, you can only play the stored games once you insert it again.

Install a vast library of Nintendo Switch games!

The Gigastone 256GB Micro SD Card is a valuable addition to any Nintendo Switch console, as it gives extra storage while working flawlessly and being easy to use.

The Gigastone 256GB Micro SD Card is an excellent Nintendo Switch memory card choice. The 256GB version offers enough storage to play many games while keeping the price reasonable. The memory card works flawlessly and can hold videos of up to four hours in length.

The card also works for the Steam Deck and video recording, making it a versatile SD card that can be used for multiple systems. Gigastone also offers a 512GB version for those needing extra space to play beefy third-platform games consecutively.

Yes, but Nintendo recommends always turning the system off when inserting or removing an SD memory card. The console will shut down if your system is on, and the card could become corrupted.

Yes, you can, but it is not recommended since it could damage the SD card.

Yes, most Switch games, including Nintendo exclusives, are between 9GB and 18GB. Some exceptions reach 54GB and 32GB, but these are rare.

NEXT: Best Nintendo Switch Carrying Cases

We hope you like the items we recommend and discuss! TheGamer has affiliate and sponsored partnerships, so we receive a share of the revenue from some of your purchases. This won’t affect the price you pay and helps us offer the best product recommendations.

Ricardo Bracho is a freelance writer for TheGamer who composes articles passionately and meticulously. He studied Advertising and Public Relations at Barry University, has written top-quality game reviews, and now focuses on the board game scene. He has covered games such as Star Wars Fallen Order in articles with over 1000 unique readers and is interested in all media and games. His favorite board games include complex player versus-player ones such as Ankh: God of Egypt, but he is also known to dabble in more newcomer-friendly ones such as Marvel United. He enjoys a unique take on television, watching series such as Junji Ito's Collection/maniac and shows like The Flash CW. When it comes to enjoying video games, he picks the most obscure titles, hidden gems often unknown to many such as Drakengard or Brigandine. He is also a big fan of The Witcher 3 and Divinity Original Sin II.