How to Backup Game Save Files to the Nintendo Switch Online Cloud

Nintendo Switch players looking to take care of their saved games, did you know that there is a special feature of the Nintendo Switch Online service that automatically saves your game save files to the cloud? This is exactly what we are going to talk about in this article, in addition to explaining how to carry out the backup of saved games or retrieve them manually if the need arises.

What is Nintendo Switch Online?

Nintendo Switch Online opened its doors in September 2018, with the release of the firmware 6.0.0 for the Nintendo Switch. In addition to enabling online play of various titles on the platform, voice chat through a mobile app and access to a library of retro Nintendo 8-bit and Super Nintendo games, users of the service also started to be able to carry out the backup game files saved to the Nintendo Switch Online cloud.

Nintendo Switch Online offers two different planes: the base plan, which costs R$ 100 per year, which already includes the backup of game files saved in the Nintendo Switch Online cloud, or the Nintendo Switch Online + Additional Package, which includes all the benefits of the first option, plus a catalog of Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games (better known in Brazil as the late Mega Drive), costing BRL 248,68. There is an option for a family package subscription, which gives access to the service to up to 8 people, at promotional prices, depending on which of the two options your group chooses.

How to backup?

With Nintendo Switch Online activated, having your game files saved in the cloud is very simple: just play while your Nintendo Switch is connected to the Internet. After closing the game from the system menu, the backup from your game file is automatically uploaded to the Nintendo Switch Online cloud. You don't need to do anything else if you're online. If you do not have access to any network, the backup of saved games will be carried out the next time you access the Internet. 

If you want to manually upload this to the Nintendo Switch Online cloud, you can do so via the Nintendo Switch main menu, or via your console's options. to do the backup of game files saved in the cloud through the main menu, just select the game whose saved files in the internal memory you want to send to the cloud and press the + button on the controller.

Choose the option Data saved in the cloud in the left menu, select the user who has the Nintendo Switch Online membership (if there is more than one user created on your console) and use the option Create backup. 

To get to the options backup game files saved to the cloud through your Switch's options, select the gear icon in the main menu. He has the name of console configuration.

now choose Manage data in options on the left side of the screen. Then select Data saved in the cloud, remembering to choose the subscriber user of the Nintendo Switch Online service if your console has more than one registered player.

From there, the process is the same as before: just select the game you want to play backup of the game files saved in the cloud that are present in the memory of your Nintendo Switch and click on Create backup, or Download saved data in case you want to retrieve them from the cloud.

inside the menu Data saved in the cloud, you also have access to some configuration options, such as automatically saving files to the cloud. To do this, just select automatic backup and put Yes.

There is also a way to enable the automatic download of files from the cloud if they are more current than those found on your console, which is the option just below the previous one. Inside of Advanced Settings backup, you can choose which of your games will be automatically uploaded to the cloud. just put Yes ou No depending on the game listed. 

It's worth remembering that your save files in the cloud remain there even if your Nintendo Switch Online membership is not active, if you have done so. backup before she won. Nintendo does not delete your files upon termination of your current subscription. To regain access to backup automatic and access to download or upload files to the cloud, just sign up again for the same user account used to do the backup.

It's always nice to have more options for keeping our precious game save files safe. Although safe, you never know when a MicroSD card could end up corrupted. This makes the automatic backup service a very valuable feature of the Nintendo Switch Online plan.

Learn more

REVIEW: Nintendo Switch OLED

REVIEW: High on Life, the game from the creators of Rick and Morty!

Official Nintendo website with more information about Nintendo Switch Online