Nintendo Switch 2 owners reporting lost Pokémon save data are strongly advising fellow players to utilize the Pokémon Home storage app before starting up their new console and performing a system transfer.
One Reddit post describes a fan's experience moving their original Switch data to the new Switch 2, only to discover their Pokémon Scarlet save file was erased during the process. Others in the thread have shared similar problems, and an IGN staff member also encountered the same issue.
The Reddit post by user ThatOtaku26 states their save included over 1,000 hours of playtime and Pokémon collected over two decades, transferred from earlier titles dating back to Pokémon Leaf Green and Pokémon Diamond on the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance.
For Pokémon enthusiasts, save files hold immense sentimental value—many players carry forward creatures they've raised across multiple previous games, some released years ago. Additionally, Pokémon games on Nintendo Switch are among the few titles that don't support the console's built-in cloud save feature, which requires a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. Specifically, Pokémon: Let's Go Eevee and Pikachu, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Pokémon Sword and Shield, and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet all lack cloud save support.
Fortunately, the franchise offers its own cloud-based solution through the Pokémon Home app, which includes a subscription for storing more than 30 creatures. Fans are now urging everyone to use this app before migrating to the Switch 2 to ensure their cherished Pokémon survive the transition to Nintendo's latest hardware.
"I just got a Switch 2, completed the setup and data transfer without any problems," ThatOtaku26 explained. "But my Scarlet save file is gone. It boots directly into the language selection and character creation screens. There's no data on my OLED either. Everything just vanished.
"THE DATA TRANSFER WENT SMOOTHLY WITH NO ERRORS," they emphasized. "ALL MY OTHER POKÉMON DATA IS INTACT, EXCEPT FOR SCARLET. I had Pokémon from my original GBA all the way to the current games. That’s literally two decades of progress. There's nothing I can do now. I'm not even sure I want to keep playing."
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Several fans expressed sympathy, sharing that they faced comparable situations.
"The exact same thing occurred when I transferred from my original Switch to the OLED model," commented Grouchy-Cress-215. "It was heartbreaking."
"I had the same issue, but I lost all my saved data—Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, Mario Kart 8, Pokémon Sword and Shield, Scarlet and Violet, and more," added Existing-Possible550. "Now I have to restart every game from scratch."
Many agreed that, while such incidents might be uncommon, backing up valuable Pokémon to Pokémon Home is essential for peace of mind.
"I'm worried this could happen to me, so I'm moving everything to Home before I make the switch," wrote Mexican_Chef4307.
"If I get a Switch 2 later, I'll transfer all my Pokémon to Home before doing the data transfer," noted TheJannikku. "I can't imagine how I'd cope if that happened to me."
However, not everyone was sympathetic.
"Not going to lie, but not transferring your important Pokémon to Home first is on you," stated IAmTheWire. "We've long known this is the only reliable way to protect your Pokémon in situations like this or if your old Switch fails. Otherwise, they could be lost forever. It's such a simple precaution, and you can always transfer them back if anything goes wrong."
The Nintendo Switch 2 launched earlier this month and sold 3.5 million units in its first four days. Its initial sales outperformed the original Switch's launch by a two-to-one ratio, though the earlier console faced significant hardware shortages at release.
