Nintendo Switch 2 microSD Express: Why Old Cards Don’t Work
The microSD card from your original Switch won’t work for game storage on a Switch 2. The Switch 2 accepts only microSD Express cards, a faster and more expensive format. Nintendo announced this before launch, and it still surprises people who try to reuse the card they already own.
Prices and card availability checked October 6, 2026. Both change often, so confirm before you buy.
Why the format changed
The original Switch used standard microSD cards on the UHS-I bus, which tops out at roughly 100 MB/s. The Switch 2 uses microSD Express, which runs over the PCIe and NVMe protocols that fast SSDs use, in the same small card format.
Retail microSD Express cards are rated at roughly 800 to 900 MB/s read speeds. That is about eight to nine times what UHS-I can deliver, and it is the reason Nintendo required the newer standard for a console with larger games.
How to tell if a card is microSD Express
Look for “Express” on the card and packaging. The easy mistake is to confuse it with SanDisk’s “Extreme” branding, which is used on conventional UHS-I cards and will not work as game storage on a Switch 2.
If a card is not Express-rated, the Switch 2 won’t use it for game storage.
Which cards to buy
Cards that work with the Switch 2 include:
- SanDisk microSD Express and Samsung microSD Express, both sold in Nintendo-licensed Switch 2 editions
- Lexar Play Pro, which includes large capacities up to 1TB
- PNY, Onn (Walmart), and GameStop own-brand Express cards
Prices at launch, according to Tom’s Hardware: SanDisk listed a 128GB card at $49.99 and a 256GB card at $64.99, and a 256GB Samsung card at about $60, compared with about $23 for a conventional 256GB Samsung card. The 1TB Lexar card was priced at $200. Engadget tested seven Switch 2 cards and recommended SanDisk’s card if you want the best-performing option.
Prices have moved since launch, so check the current price on the retailer’s page.
How much storage you need
The Switch 2 has 256GB of internal storage. How much more you need depends on how you buy games:
- Mostly physical cartridges: the internal storage may be enough.
- Mostly digital: a 256GB card doubles your total. Choose 512GB if you buy most of your games digitally.
- Game-Key Cards: these are physical cartridges that act as a license key. Tom’s Hardware explains that the full game must be downloaded and installed to the console’s storage. Buying physical doesn’t remove the storage need if your games use them.
Check the game’s box or store page for a Game-Key Card notice before you assume a physical copy saves space.
What happens with your old card
The Switch 2 won’t use a standard microSD card for game storage, whether the game is from the Switch 1 or the Switch 2 library. Your Switch 1 save data doesn’t travel on the card either. Use Nintendo’s system transfer process to move it to the new console.
Takeaway
Buy a microSD Express card marked “Express,” not “Extreme.” A 256GB card at around $60 covers most players. Go to 512GB if you buy digital or own Game-Key Card titles, and keep your old microSD card for the original Switch.
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