The release of Nintendo Switch update 11.0.0 brings with it various tweaks and additional functionality to the Switch and Switch Calorie-free's base firmware, including the ability to transfer screenshots from your console to a smartphone or PC. Previously, information technology was possible to upload up to iv screenshots at a time to Twitter or save them to your internal Micro SD bill of fare, power off your Switch and move the card to a PC to copy your precious captured gaming memories.

More than convenient options for transferring screenshots and videos from your Nintendo Switch to another device — be information technology a smart device, PC, or Mac — are now available and we'll evidence you how in this guide.

Skip to the method you desire from the contents beneath and we'll accept you through the Switch paradigm and video transfer process.

Nintendo Switch Screenshot Transfer Guide

For the smart device option it doesn't matter if it's a phone or a tablet, or an Android or iOS-based device — the process is the same. With that in listen, let's smart with those devices, shall we?...

Send Images and Videos to Smart Devices from a Nintendo Switch

Yous can transfer upwards to ten images and ane video capture to your smart device at once using the in-built organization that came with update 11.0.0., and obviously you'll need to have downloaded that update.

  • To check which version yous're running, tap 'Arrangement Settings', scroll down to 'Organisation' at the bottom and look at the version number beneath 'System Update' on the pinnacle right — if it'southward it's lower than version xi.0.0, download the latest firmware.

You will demand:

  • A Nintendo Switch or Switch Lite with some images or videos captured
  • A smart device (a phone or tablet, or a flashy fridge maybe...)

ane. From your Switch's Home Menu — in docked or handheld style — simply navigate to the Album icon underneath your games collection and press the 'A' Button. Navigate to the screenshot or video that you want to transfer and press the 'A' Push. We've gone for this rather fetching example from Jiff of the Wild, because why non?

2. Printing 'A' over again to bring up a menu on the left hand side with additional options. Highlight 'Send to Smart Device' option and press 'A'. You'll be prompted as to whether you want to send an individual screenshot or multiple (or 'Mutliple' in the initial release — version 11.0.1 is waiting in the wings, nosotros're sure). Nosotros'll cover an individual screenshot first and and so move onto multiple screenshots, and finally videos.

3. Select 'Send Individually' and you lot'll be presented with a QR lawmaking that yous need to scan using your smart device's camera. Depending on your device, you may be able to scan this with your stock camera/QR app or y'all may have to download a QR Scanner App from your appropriate app store. There's enough almost and they all practise pretty much the same affair, and then just go with a well-rated one.

5. Switch QR Code To Scan
Prototype: Nintendo Life

4. Scan the QR code with your device's photographic camera and you'll be prompted to connect to a hotspot Wi-Fi network broadcast by your Switch console named "switch_something". Don't worry, this is what'southward supposed to happen and information technology's perfectly safe; farther information about what this means is available at the lesser of the screen should you wish to know more.

5. Join the network and your Switch will then nowadays a 2nd QR code for you to scan. Do so and you'll be taken to a webpage inside your default browser, such every bit Safari or Chrome. If you can't scan it for whatever reason, y'all can likewise simply type in '192.168.0.1/index.html' in your device's spider web browser.

6. From here you should see your screenshot on your device, merely tap it, then tap and concur to present the option to download it, although this footstep may differ slightly depending on your specific device (equally noted on the screen itself).

7. When yous're done, just highlight 'Cease' on your Nintendo Switch to finish the procedure. Your smart device will be disconnected from the network your Switch created, and your Switch will return to its Album. Y'all can now press the Domicile Button to return to the Home Menu.

For multiple screenshots the process is identical, except that when you load the page upward to 10 screenshots volition be present for you to download, which you will need to do one at a time.

For videos the process is also identical up until you view the webpage. This time you will exist presented with the single video with the ability to lookout it. Beneath the embedded video volition be the option to download information technology; simply tap that link and the download will brainstorm. Piece of cake!

Send Images and Videos to a PC or Mac from a Nintendo Switch

If you're champing at the bit to transfer more than 10 screenshots and/or videos, you can transport them directly to your computer via a unproblematic (if slightly hidden) process.

You volition need:

  • A Nintendo Switch or Switch Calorie-free with some images or videos captured
  • A PC or Mac
  • A USB-A to USB-C or USB-C to USB-C cablevision

1. From your Switch's Home Menu, navigate to the System Settings icon underneath your games collection and press the 'A' push button. From this carte you demand to curlicue the left hand carte down until you highlight the 'Information Management' option. Navigate right and ringlet down until you lot highlight 'Manage Screenshots and Videos', then press 'A'.

2. From hither, navigate downwards to the 'Copy to PC via USB Connexion' option and select it with 'A'. Your Switch will prompt you to connect your Switch to your PC (or Mac) using a USB cable. It's good communication, exercise it.

3. Y'all'll need a cable to connect the two machines. If you have a Pro Controller, the cable that came with that is absolutely ideal, although whatever standard USB-A to USB-C should be up to the task (Nintendo itself has the post-obit to say: A USB charging cable [model HAC-010] or a USB-IF certified USB cable that supports information transfer is required to connect to a calculator). Some more than modernistic machines may non even have a USB-A port, and so in this case you'll need a USB-C to USB-C cable, or an appropriate adapter.

Whatever your situation, a cable must become from your PC or Mac to this port on your Switch — and but the port on the Switch itself. Equally noted in the 'Troubleshoot' section, this transfer won't piece of work by connecting to your docked Switch to your computer via the dock.

18. Troubleshooting Switch Image And Video Transfer
Prototype: Nintendo Life

4. If y'all're using a PC, your Switch should evidence upwards in Explorer as a 'Nintendo Switch' or a camera within 'This PC'. Navigate through information technology like information technology were any other removable drive, and at present you're free to view and re-create equally many images or videos equally you like using Windows' native systems.

19. Nintendo Switch Images And Videos
Image: Nintendo Life

5. Once you're done, just highlight the choice on your Switch proverb 'Disconnect' and press the 'A' push to, well, disconnect. You tin can tap it on the touchscreen if y'all prefer. That'due south it — you're done!

Note for Mac Users

If you're more Mac-orientated, you're going to need boosted software because it'southward 1997, obviously. There is an official Android File Transfer app that you can download from the Android website, and whilst this does work and will let yous view and download all former your screenshots and videos, it does not provide previews of any kind, and then it tin can be very tough to know exactly what file is what.

In this instance we used the free version of an app called MacDroid, which allows y'all to view the files on your Switch using the native Finder arrangement of MacOS. It is unofficial, so download and use information technology at your own risk, but we suffered no problems and plant information technology to exist significantly more straightforward than the official option.

Whichever car you're using, make sure you disconnect via that 'Disconnect' option on your Switch.

So, you should have everything yous demand to know correct at that place, only we exercise take some boosted notes to hopefully provide answers to your burning questions.

Can I connect my Switch directly to my Smartphone or Smart device?

It appears not. We did endeavour connecting the Switch to several Android phones via a USB-C to USB-C cablevision, simply none of them would recognise it properly. One even had the gall to charge its battery via our delicious Nintendo console. Rude.

Can I connect my docked Switch to my PC or Mac?

As nosotros mentioned above, this is not possible. Nosotros did endeavor to connect a docked Switch to a computer using both a USB-A to USB-C cable and a USB-A to USB-A cable, which is a affair that actually exists that we have zilch employ for these days. This sadly does non work — the Switch simply didn't recognise that information technology had been connected to some other machine.

Does this Switch transfer work with Linux?

We thought about Linux equally well, and so we baked up a Raspberry Os Micro SD Card, slapped information technology in a Raspberry Pi Zero and it worked without issue! We weren't able to view the images directly, we had to copy them over to the Pi in social club to view them or do anything with them, but that wasn't an issue, and moreover we were impressed at how well the videos played dorsum on what is literally a £5 computer running a GUI. The audio... well, permit's not talk about the sound. Otherwise, we were impressed.

Do I demand to scan the QR lawmaking every fourth dimension, or can I simply connect to the same Switch hotspot network?

Using our brains and noticing that the Switch was essentially creating its ain WiFi hotspot connection for the smart device transfer, we wondered if we needed to bother with the commencement QR lawmaking and could instead just reconnect to the network on our phones. Annoyingly (although probably sensibly from a security perspective) the Switch generates a new WPA countersign each time, so no dice on that front.

Remember, if you see whatever problems, Nintendo'due south Support website is always available.

Nintendo
Epitome: Nintendo

And that about sums it up! Once you've done either of the processes once it'south super easy to repeat and you'll never again have use for this lovingly-created guide. That's okay — that'southward the destiny of any good guide. Don't look back, lovely people!