The Best Nintendo Switch Micro SD Cards
Prototype: Nintendo Life

If you're lucky enough to own a Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite or Switch OLED and tend to download most of your games from the Nintendo eShop, you may have realised that you're quickly running out of storage space. A lack of digital storage is i of the Switch'due south few weaknesses, and the fact that there are and then many amazing digital-only games on Nintendo's store makes this an issue that's just getting worse.

Both the standard Switch and Switch Low-cal come up with just 32GB of internal storage space, of which only 25GB is really accessible by the user, and fifty-fifty the expanded 64GB of internal storage in the Switch OLED Model won't stretch far when it comes to the biggest Switch titles. Some games are so large that they can't even fit within that 25GB of space just by themselves, and even if yous buy your Switch games physically, the many downloadable patches and updates you'll have to install mean you'll inevitably take to expand your storage.

The answer? Expand your Switch's memory and invest in a Micro SD card. Fortunately, there are plenty of cheap memory upgrade options for Switch in 2022. It's even possible to buy a mighty 1TB Micro SD bill of fare for your Nintendo Switch if you want to erase your storage woes for practiced.

Below, nosotros've rounded up all of the best Micro SD menu deals you can get correct now at the cheapest prices. The costs are steadily falling down with time, then you might be surprised at how much bang you can become for your buck.

Delight note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more data.

All-time Switch Micro SD cards (Usa)

Our United states recommendations are currently taken up exclusively by SanDisk, as these cards offer far greater value for money than their direct competitors. They're also known for their fantastic quality and reliability – a win-win! Hither are the best deals on Micro SD cards for Switch in the US:

Best Switch Micro SD cards (Great britain)

Our United kingdom recommendations are extremely like, with SanDisk generally offering the best prices, although y'all'll as well find some amazing prices from Integral, some other trusted brand. With plenty of options across the board, there's something to suit every budget:

Officially-Licensed Nintendo Switch Micro SD Cards

These 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 400GB and 512GB officially licensed Nintendo Switch micro SD cards from SanDisk aren't the all-time value price-wise, simply they sure do look pretty and volition no dubiousness appeal to Nintendo collectors or those looking to gift an SD card to someone special.

Availability can be patchy, so if y'all find that these aren't available right now, nosotros'd recommend picking up one of the amend deals in a higher place rather than waiting to encounter if these fancier options render. Maxim that, nosotros wouldn't arraign you for being tempted by that lovely yellow Starman bill of fare...

Nintendo Switch Micro SD Cards FAQ

Our micro SD card FAQ below should respond any questions you might have, just feel complimentary to ask us anything in the comments department and we'll do our all-time to reply. The almost frequently asked questions will then go added hither.

Tin you employ any Micro SD Menu with Nintendo Switch?

The Switch supports whatsoever UHS-I Micro SD, Micro SDHC, or Micro SDXC cards. If you have no thought what any of that means, don't worry, it'southward pretty difficult to stumble beyond a card that isn't supported past the Switch.

Given how picayune the speed differs between the different cards that the Switch does support, we recommend just ignoring that aspect entirely and but grabbing the cheapest you can notice. It really doesn't make much difference.

Besides, cartridges are almost always slower than Micro SD cards, so no thing which you go for, you're going to get improved loading speeds.

Where is the Micro SD Card slot on the Switch console?

If you're wondering how to get about putting a Micro SD card into your Nintendo Switch or Switch Light, the handy photos above should help.

To access the Micro SD carte slot on your Nintendo Switch, merely pop out the kickstand on the back of the Switch. Inserting a Micro SD card can be a fleck fiddly, so you'll desire to do information technology with the logo facing upwards. Push button the bill of fare into the slot until it makes a reassuring clicking sound. To remove it, button again until it clicks and it should then pull away easily.

The Switch Light may not have the kickstand, simply you'll find the comprehend in the same place on the back of the console on the lesser left. Pick open up the tab and gently push button your Micro SD in until you hear a click only every bit you would on the regular Nintendo Switch.

And on Switch OLED the slot is hidden behind the larger kickstand on the left. Information technology'south re-orientated horizontally, just other than that it's probably the simplest of the three Switch consoles to insert or remove the Micro SD card.

What speed Micro SD Carte should I buy?

At the moment, speed isn't really worth considering when you buy a micro SD card for your Nintendo Switch. The reason for this is that the Switch only supports UHS-1 cards, which max out at 104MB/southward in terms of speed. The UHS-two types are 3 times faster, with a 312MB/s speed simply that's irrelevant as the Switch doesn't currently support them.

While it's true that the speed between fifty-fifty the UHS-1 cards does vary, the differences just aren't noticeable plenty to worry about. That'southward why nosotros've focused purely on the best value for money, as there is a considerably larger divergence between the prices of ii micro SD cards than there is the speed.

What size/chapters Micro SD Card should I purchase?

It'southward going to be a while until 2TB cards are available and, more importantly, affordable. Right at present you lot typically take the option of 1TB, 512GB, 400GB, 256GB, 200GB, and 128GB (or lower, although we wouldn't recommend going whatsoever smaller than 64GB, and that will fill up fast).

SanDisk has a Micro SD card with a chapters of 1TB, which is a fantastic option for Switch owners who plan to download a lot of games, but it'due south naturally a little more than on the pricey side. If you accept that sort of cash to spend, this is currently the ultimate option for your Switch.

On the other cease of the scale yous tin pick upwards a very cheap 128GB Micro SD menu, but chances are you'll fill information technology upwards very presently with downloads, and so nosotros recommend you think long-term and consider the ~200-256GB range.

An alternative approach would exist to buy multiple cards and swap them depending on which games you want to play - slightly more effort, only potentially very affordable. Just be sure to go on them in a safety place.

What type/brand of Micro SD Carte is all-time for Switch?

Nintendo Switch Micro SD card
Image: Nintendo Life

Ideally, you want the fastest micro SD card for improved loading times; by and large, a practiced micro SD card will slightly outperform Nintendo's physical game cards, which is a bonus for downloaders.

You can usually get a "read speed" rating on the SD Card you're looking at buying. You should also observe that micro SDXC is the newer, faster type versus the older micro SDHC.

Brands also offering "premium" versions of their products; 1 example is the SanDisk "Ultra" range, which is typically populated past their fastest cards.

We'd recommend going for one of the premium offerings if you can, but information technology shouldn't make a huge difference for the boilerplate user, especially equally Switch is currently unable to accept advantage of the fastest speeds. All options listed in our guide above are more than suitable for your needs.

Should I install all my Switch games on a Micro SD?

Given the Nintendo Switch'south limited 32GB of internal storage – of which only 25.9GB is actually usable – you're going to be forced to install the vast majority of your downloaded games direct onto the micro SD.

Still, nosotros have learned that games installed direct onto the internal storage saw improved load times over cartridges and micro SDs, with the most extreme cases improving load times on The Legend of Zelda: Jiff of the Wild by five seconds.

The differences between Switch cartridges and micro SD were besides small-scale to really fuss over – a mere second or two here and there – but information technology does seem like installing on the console's own internal storage offers a meaning improvement. As such, nosotros'd recommend installing your most played game(s) on your internal storage, and the balance onto the micro SD.

How do I move a Switch game betwixt Micro SD and internal storage?

Nintendo Switch SD slot
Paradigm: Nintendo Life

To motion a Nintendo Switch game from your Micro SD card to the console's internet storage, or vice versa, yous'll demand to select System Settings from your console'due south menu.

In Arrangement Settings, choose 'Information Management', and then 'Move Data Between Organization / microSD Card'.

Choose which direction you want your chosen game to motility (either from the SD menu to console or vice versa) and select the relevant choice. Them simply select your game, hitting 'Move Data', confirm your choice, and that's information technology!

Whichever Micro SD card y'all option, you're going to be increasing the potential of your dear Nintendo Switch. If you plan on taking your Switch out with you on your travels, having a big chapters will exist a smashing idea every bit y'all won't need to behave loads of pesky carts around with you.

Looking for more? Check out our other Switch ownership guides:

  • Where To Purchase Nintendo Switch eShop Credit, Gift Cards And Online Membership
  • Best Switch Portable Chargers, Batteries And Power Banks
  • Best Nintendo Switch Wired And Wireless Headsets
  • All-time Nintendo Switch Controllers
  • All-time Nintendo Switch Accessories