How to delete saved data on Nintendo Switch

Whether you’re trying to make room for the next must-have game, restart game progress, or fix corrupted files, knowing how to delete saved data on your Nintendo Switch™ can help you get there — without losing more than you intended.

At Asurion, our experts teach millions of people how to get the most out of their tech. From support to repairs and protection, we've got you covered. Here's our guide to deleting data on your Nintendo Switch, whatever the reason.

Why you might want to delete saved data on your Switch

Here are some common situations where you’d want to delete data on your Switch.

Freeing up storage space 

Nintendo Switch consoles don’t come with a ton of built-in storage, and it can fill up fast — especially if you’ve got a few digital games, multiple player profiles, and a handful of save files from each. While each saved game doesn’t take up a huge chunk of space, together they can start to crowd out room for new games or updates.

Restarting game progress

Sometimes you just want a do-over. Maybe you didn’t like how things turned out, someone else in the family took over your save file, or you just want to experience the game from the beginning again — with a fresh perspective.

Fixing corrupted save files

Every now and then, tech throws us a curveball. You try to open a game, and nothing happens. Or worse, it crashes halfway through. This can be the result of a corrupted save file — often caused by an incomplete shutdown, a failed update, or just bad luck. When that happens, deleting the affected save data is often the fastest way to get things working again. If you’ve backed up your save data to the cloud, you may even be able to restore a working version afterward. 

How to delete saved data for a specific game

Here’s how to safely remove save data from just one Switch game without uninstalling it:

1. From the Home menu, select System Settings (gear icon).
2. Scroll down and select Data Management.
3. Tap Delete Save Data.
4. Choose the game you want to manage.
5. Select the user profile linked to the save data.
6. Tap Delete Save Data to confirm.

This won’t remove the game itself or any downloadable content (DLC)—just your progress.

How to delete all save data for a user

You can remove every save file linked to a specific user on your Nintendo Switch:

1. Open System Settings from the Home menu.
2. Scroll down and select Data Management.
3. Tap Delete Save Data.
4. Choose Delete All Save Data for This Software.
5. Confirm your choice.

This wipes all saved data for that game, no matter which user created it.

Can you recover deleted save data?

Unfortunately, once local save data is deleted from your Nintendo Switch, it’s gone for good—unless you’ve enabled cloud saves through Nintendo Switch Online. Without a backup, you can’t retrieve deleted progress.

How to enable Switch cloud backups

Want peace of mind next time? Here’s how to set up cloud save backups:

1. Subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online.
2. Open System Settings > Data Management > Save Data Cloud.
3. Select a game, then choose Back Up Save Data.
4. To enable automatic backups, turn on Automatic Save-Data Backup.

Keep in mind that not all games support cloud saves—check your game’s details in the Nintendo eShop if you're unsure.

FAQ

Can I delete save data without deleting the game?

Yes. Save data and game software are stored separately. Deleting save data won’t remove the game or its updates.

Does deleting save data remove downloadable content?

Nope. Your DLC will still be there—you’ll just need to replay the game to unlock or access it again.

Can I back up my saved data before deleting it?

Only if you have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription; without it, there is no official way to back up save files.

How do I reset a game without deleting it?

Delete the save data for that game (per user), then launch the game again. It’ll treat it like a new playthrough.

What happens if I delete save data for the wrong user?

That progress is permanently lost—there’s no way to undo it unless a backup was made through Nintendo Switch Online.