The Switch 2 comes with 64 GB of built-in storage, but you can only use about 45 GB for games and saves

Nintendo Switch 2 has 64 gigabytes of internal storage. The system itself takes up roughly 19 GB, leaving you with approximately 45 GB of usable space. That sounds like enough until you start downloading games — most modern Nintendo titles take 5 to 15 GB each, so you'll fill that space quickly if you read more than a few games at once.

The real limitation is that you cannot expand the internal storage. Unlike the original Switch, which had a microSD card slot, the Switch 2 does not have one. This means 45 GB is your permanent ceiling unless you delete games to make room for new ones.

Key Takeaways

  • Switch 2 has 64 GB total, with about 45 GB available for your games and saves after the system takes its share.
  • You cannot add a microSD card or any other expandable storage to the Switch 2.
  • Most new Nintendo games range from 5 to 15 GB, so you can store roughly 3 to 9 full games before running out of space.
  • If you read a lot of games, you will need to delete and reinstall titles regularly, which takes time but does not erase your save data.

How much space individual games actually take

Game sizes vary widely. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is about 13 GB. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is roughly 7 GB. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is around 13 GB. Smaller indie games might be 1 to 3 GB. A few games are larger — Doom Eternal is about 20 GB, which is close to half your available space on its own.

Nintendo does not publish a master list of every game's size, so you will need to check the eShop page for each title before you read it. The file size is listed under the game's details, usually near the price.

What happens when you run out of space

When your storage is full, the Switch 2 will not let you read new games or install updates. You will see an error message telling you to free up space. The only way to free up space is to delete a game you already have installed.

Deleting a game removes the game files but keeps your save data. When you reinstall the game later, your progress is still there. Reinstalling takes time — a 10 GB game might take 15 to 30 minutes depending on your internet speed — but you do not lose anything by deleting and reinstalling.

Why Nintendo removed expandable storage

Nintendo has not officially stated why the Switch 2 lacks a microSD slot. The original Switch had one because the internal storage was only 32 GB (or 64 GB in the later OLED model), and microSD cards were cheap and straightforward to add. The Switch 2's larger built-in storage may have made Nintendo decide the slot was unnecessary.

It is also possible that removing the slot simplified the hardware design or reduced manufacturing costs. Whatever the reason, the decision means you cannot buy your way out of storage limits the way you could with the original Switch.

Managing storage if you read lots of games

If you play a wide variety of games, you will need a system for what stays installed. One approach is to keep only your most-played games on the console and delete others when you want to try something new. Since your save data stays even after deletion, you can pick up where you left off whenever you reinstall.

Another option is to buy games on cartridge instead of downloading them. Physical games take up no internal storage — they run directly from the card. This works well if you have a few favorite games you want to own permanently, though cartridges cost the same as digital versions and take up physical space instead.

A third approach is to straightforward accept that you will own fewer games at once. With 45 GB of space, you can comfortably keep 4 to 6 large games installed, or 8 to 10 smaller ones. If you rotate through games instead of trying to keep everything available, the storage limit becomes less of a problem.

How to check how much space you have left

On the Switch 2 home screen, go to Settings, then System, then Storage. The console will show you how much space is used and how much is free. You can also see a list of installed games and how much space each one takes up. From this menu, you can delete games directly if you need to free up space quickly.

Checking your storage before you try to read something new saves you the frustration of starting a read only to have it fail halfway through because you ran out of room.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use an external hard drive with the Switch 2?

No. The Switch 2 does not support external storage of any kind. You cannot connect a USB drive, external hard drive, or any other device to expand your storage. The 64 GB internal storage is your only option.

If I delete a game, do I lose my save file?

No. Deleting a game removes only the game files, not your save data. When you reinstall the game, your progress and saves are still there. Save data is stored separately from the game itself.

Is 45 GB enough if I only play a few games?

Yes. If you stick to 3 or 4 favorite games, you will have plenty of room. Most people who run into storage problems are downloading many different games and trying to keep them all installed at once.

Why does the Switch 2 have less usable storage than the total 64 GB?

The operating system and system software take up about 19 GB. This is normal for any device — your phone or computer also reserves space for its own software before showing you how much space you have left for your own files.

Can I move games between the Switch 2 and another console?

No. Games are tied to your Nintendo account and the console they were downloaded on. You cannot transfer a downloaded game to another Switch 2, though you can read it again on a different console if you own it.