Switch 2 microSD Express cards: what works and what does not
By Daniel del Moral Hernández · Updated October 7, 2026
The Nintendo Switch 2 can only store games and save data on microSD Express cards. The ordinary microSD cards used by the original Switch will not work for games, even if they are fast or large.
What each type of card can do on Switch 2
| Card | Games and save data | Screenshots and videos |
|---|---|---|
| microSD Express | Yes, up to 2 TB | Yes |
| Regular microSD (from a Switch 1) | No | Only loading old Switch screenshots and videos |
How to recognise a microSD Express card
Look for the microSD EX logo on the card or its packaging. Many cards are also sold as “for Nintendo Switch 2”, but the EX logo is what matters. A card without it is a regular microSD card, whatever its speed class.
What size to buy
The Switch 2 already has 256 GB of internal storage, and part of that is taken by the system. Whether you need a card depends on how many large games you keep installed at once:
- Many Nintendo games take between 5 and 25 GB.
- Large third-party games can take from 40 GB to more than 70 GB each. See the biggest Switch 2 games.
- Game-Key Card releases also need the full download, so they take the same space as a digital copy.
The quickest way to decide is the storage calculator: tick the games you want installed and try each card size.
Why microSD Express
The Switch 2 loads games much faster than the original Switch, and regular microSD cards cannot keep up. microSD Express cards use the same PCIe and NVMe technology as computer SSDs, which lets them reach read speeds of several hundred MB/s. Older UHS-I cards top out at about 104 MB/s. Nintendo requires Express cards for games so that a game installed on the card loads close to the speed of the internal storage.
A microSD Express card also works in older devices such as a phone, a camera or a Switch 1, but only at regular microSD speeds. The reverse is not true: a regular card cannot be used for Switch 2 games.
How much space you actually need
Real numbers help more than rules of thumb. Across the 208 games in the GameSpecsDB database in October 2026, the median Switch 2 game takes about 12.9 GB, but 33 games need more than 40 GB and 9 need more than 70 GB. A few library types:
| Your library | Typical need | Card to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Mostly Nintendo games on cartridge | Updates and saves only | Often no card at all |
| Mixed, with a few big third-party games | 200 to 400 GB | 256 GB |
| Many digital or Game-Key Card games, sports games, big RPGs | 400 GB or more | 512 GB or larger |
Remember that the console’s own 256 GB is not all free, and that games tend to grow with updates. Leaving some margin avoids having to shuffle games around every time a big patch arrives. The storage calculator shows exactly which of your games fit on each card size.
Buying tips
- Check for the microSD EX logo, not just the words “Switch 2” in the product name.
- Buy from a known retailer. Fake memory cards that report a larger capacity than they really have are a known problem with cheap listings, and an Express card is still a relatively expensive product.
- Bigger cards cost more per card but less per GB. If you are between two sizes and buy third-party games, the larger one usually saves money in the long run.
Moving games to the card
Once the card is in, new downloads can go to it, and you can move existing games from the internal storage in System Settings → Data Management. Our guide on freeing up space has the step-by-step instructions.
Save data always stays on the internal storage, so removing the card does not risk your progress. Games stored on the card simply cannot be played until you put it back.
Common questions
Can I use my old Switch microSD card at all? Only to copy screenshots and videos from it. It cannot hold Switch 2 games or Switch 1 games played on a Switch 2.
Do games load slower from the card? Express cards are designed to keep load times close to those of the internal storage, which is the reason Nintendo requires them.
Sources: Nintendo Support: microSD card and microSD Express card compatibility, Engadget: the best microSD cards for the Switch 2. Game size figures: GameSpecsDB database, October 2026.