Best microSD Express Cards for Nintendo Switch 2: 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB
Nintendo Switch 2 in its dock. Photo: Crisco 1492, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Switch 2 microSD card picks
The Nintendo Switch 2's card slot stores games only on microSD Express cards, so the regular microSD card from an original Switch can't hold Switch 2 games. Nintendo's microSD Express FAQ says any card up to 2 TB that meets the microSD Express standard will work.
For most people, the Nintendo-licensed Samsung microSD Express 256GB is the one to buy, since it doubles the console's built-in storage. The SanDisk microSD Express 256GB has a higher rated write speed and is worth buying if it costs the same or less. People who buy most of their games digitally should look at the Lexar PLAY PRO 512GB or the Lexar PLAY PRO 1TB.
Old microSD cards and the Switch 2
Nintendo's compatibility article says the Switch 2 is "only compatible with microSD Express cards." The reason is speed. A microSD Express card connects over PCIe and NVMe, like an SSD, while the standard UHS-I bus tops out at 104 MB/s. Samsung rates its Switch 2 card at 800 MB/s in a microSD Express slot.
An old card can still go in the Switch 2 to import screenshots and videos captured on an original Switch, but it can't hold Switch 2 game data. Nintendo also says microSD Express cards work in the original Switch, at regular microSD speeds; Samsung rates its card at 90 MB/s in a UHS-I slot.
Nintendo's storage rules
- Downloaded games, update data, DLC, screenshots, and captured video can all go on the card.
- Game save data stays in system memory and can't be copied to the card.
- Cards up to 2 TB are supported.
- Nintendo's compatibility article adds that the first time you insert a microSD Express card, the console needs a system update over the internet.
- Nintendo recommends using one card. When it fills, copy everything to a bigger card, because software split across several cards can't be merged later.
The Switch 2 has 256 GB of built-in storage, and a few big downloads fill it. A 256 GB card doubles that, and a 512 GB or 1 TB card means a digital library rarely has to be deleted and downloaded again.
Spotting a real microSD Express card
The card and its package should carry an EX mark next to the microSD logo, as shown on Nintendo's compatibility page. A card marked A2, U3, V30, or UHS-I without the EX mark is a regular microSD card and won't run Switch 2 games, whatever speed the box claims.
Marketplace listings that put "Switch 2" in the title need a careful read. Check the full model name and the EX mark. A listing that quotes about 200 MB/s describes a regular UHS-I or UHS-II card, not microSD Express.
Licensed cards carry Nintendo branding, and Tom's Hardware lists Samsung's 256 GB card among them. Nintendo says any card that meets the microSD Express standard works, so licensing isn't required. Lexar doesn't claim it for the PLAY PRO.
Quick comparison
| Card | Capacity | Nintendo licensed | Rated read | Rated write | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung microSD Express for Nintendo Switch 2 | 256 GB | Yes | 800 MB/s (90 MB/s in UHS-I) | Not listed on the datasheet | 3 years limited |
| SanDisk microSD Express (SDSQXFN-256G-GN4NN) | 256 GB | Not stated on the listing | Up to 880 MB/s | Up to 650 MB/s | Lifetime, per Amazon |
| Lexar PLAY PRO microSDXC Express | 512 GB | Not stated | Up to 900 MB/s | Up to 600 MB/s with Lexar's Express reader | Limited lifetime |
| Lexar PLAY PRO microSDXC Express | 1 TB | Not stated | Up to 900 MB/s | Up to 600 MB/s with Lexar's Express reader | Limited lifetime |
These are the makers' sequential speed ratings. Every card here is several times faster than the UHS-I cards the original Switch used, so in practice capacity and price separate them more than speed does.
Best for most people: Samsung microSD Express 256GB
Check the Samsung microSD Express 256GB price on AmazonSamsung's datasheet for the microSD Express Card 256GB for Nintendo Switch 2 lists a PCIe Gen 3.0 x1, NVMe 1.3 interface and a sequential read of 800 MB/s in microSD Express mode, falling to 90 MB/s in a UHS-I slot. It is rated Class 10, U3, and V30, carries a 3-year limited warranty, and is specified for 0 to 45°C.
Buy this card if you want the licensed option and 256 GB will do. The datasheet gives no write speed. Write speed affects how long copying games takes, not how they play.
It is also on eBay; stick to listings that show the EX mark and a sealed package.
Faster writes: SanDisk microSD Express 256GB
Check the SanDisk microSD Express 256GB price on AmazonThe SanDisk 256GB microSD Express card (model SDSQXFN-256G-GN4NN) is listed on Amazon as working with the Switch 2, but the listing doesn't claim Nintendo licensing. Retailers including Best Buy list it at up to 880 MB/s read and 650 MB/s write, and SanDisk says it transfers data up to 4.4 times faster than its fastest UHS-I microSD cards.
The higher write rating speeds up moving games between system memory and the card. Game loading depends mostly on read speed, where the Samsung and SanDisk cards are close, so buy whichever 256 GB card is cheaper that day. SanDisk's 128 GB version holds less than the console's own storage, which makes it hard to recommend.
It is also on eBay.
Most room: Lexar PLAY PRO 512GB and 1TB
Check the Lexar PLAY PRO 512GB price on Amazon Check the Lexar PLAY PRO 1TB price on AmazonThe Lexar PLAY PRO microSDXC Express comes in 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB. Lexar rates it at up to 900 MB/s read, and its 600 MB/s write rating applies only with Lexar's own microSD Express reader. It has a limited lifetime warranty. Lexar doesn't claim Nintendo licensing, but the card meets the microSD Express standard, which is the requirement Nintendo states.
The 512 GB card suits a mostly digital library, and the 1 TB card is for anyone who never wants to think about storage. The Switch 2 accepts up to 2 TB, but 1 TB is the largest PLAY PRO.
Both sizes turn up on eBay.
Setting up the card
- Turn the console off and insert the card into the microSD Express slot.
- Turn it on and connect to the internet, since the first microSD Express card needs a system update.
- Move downloaded games from system memory to the card in the console's data management settings. Screenshots and captured videos can move in either direction.
When a card fills, copy everything to a larger card in one go, as Nintendo's FAQ advises, instead of splitting games across two cards.
Nintendo Switch 2 microSD FAQ
Can I use my original Switch microSD card in the Switch 2?
Only for importing screenshots and videos. It can't store Switch 2 games.
What is the largest card the Switch 2 supports?
Nintendo says 2 TB.
Do game saves go on the microSD Express card?
Saves stay in system memory and can't be copied to the card.
Is a Nintendo-licensed card faster or safer?
Nintendo doesn't say so. It says any card that meets the microSD Express standard, up to 2 TB, works, and licensing mainly adds Nintendo branding, so choose by capacity, price, and warranty.
Does a microSD Express card work in the original Switch?
Yes, at regular microSD speeds.
Final verdict
The Samsung microSD Express 256GB is the straightforward pick, a licensed card that doubles the Switch 2's storage. Get the SanDisk 256GB instead when it costs the same or less, since its higher write rating makes copying games quicker. Anyone who mostly buys digital should go to the Lexar PLAY PRO 512GB, or the 1TB to avoid deleting games for room. Check for the EX mark on whichever card you buy.
Where to buy
Where to buy
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