New Nintendo 3DS XL data transfer process takes 15 easy steps

Nintendo has released a new video that shows just how complicated the company has made the data transfer process to the New 3DS XL.

Daniel Perez

February 11, 2015 9:00 AM

With the New Nintendo 3DS XL releasing in the US on February 13, there will undoubtedly be a large number of current 3DS owners who will be upgrading to what’s being considered the latest and greatest handheld. That means yet another time 3DS owners need to transfer data from their current device to the New 3DS, and Nintendo has detailed what kind of hell we’re all in if we decide to upgrade as the process takes a total of 15 steps.

First off, here’s what you’re going to need in order to transfer data from your 3DS (or 2DS) to the New 3DS XL:

Your current 3DS/2DS
Its SD card
A New Nintendo 3DS
A microSD card of equal or larger capacity (a 4GB one comes installed in the New 3DS)
A size 0 Phillips screwdriver
A computer
An adapter to connect the SD and MicroSD cards to said computer
Wireless broadband internet access

With all of that on hand, you can now proceed to view all 15 steps you’re going to need to go through in order to transfer your data to the New 3DS XL.

God speed.

Daniel Perez

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Shacknews

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February 11, 2015 9:00 AM

Daniel Perez posted a new article, New Nintendo 3DS XL data transfer process takes 15 easy steps
- at0micgarden
  
   reply
  February 11, 2015 9:13 AM
  
  Maybe this is a dumb question, can't I just remove my Nintendo ID from my old sytem, sign into the new system and just re-download everything?
  - Schnapple
    
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    February 11, 2015 9:32 AM
    
    I don't think your saved games come along for the ride that way. But yes I think you can redownload your games. That said, I'm not sure what happens if you ever tried to play your games on your old system again.
    
    I'm a Nintendo defender but yes this is all a pain in the ass. But something to bear in mind is that Nintendo is a hardware company and they can't assume you will be online. Steam lets you download every game you own to every steam device you own because they don't care about the hardware and they can enforce the drm of only playing in one place because you have to be online. Nintendo can't do that.
    - Mecha Tofu Pirate
      
       reply
      February 11, 2015 10:52 AM
      
      Apple is considered a hardware company and they seem to do a better job handling anything Internet related with their apps
      - Schnapple
        
         reply
        February 11, 2015 11:38 AM
        
        Apple is also selling devices you can reasonably expect to be on the Internet most of the time and their target audience is not children.
        
        But I see what you're saying.
    - duncandun
      
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      February 11, 2015 1:18 PM
      
      You cant
  - ATimson
    
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    February 11, 2015 10:52 AM
    
    No, you can't. In a sane world you could. In Microsoft & Sony's world you could. But not Nintendo's. You need to do the transfer or you lose your games.
    - one random winner
      
       reply
      February 11, 2015 11:49 AM
      
      There's a WiFi only option but it takes forever.
      - Gwyndion
        
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        February 11, 2015 5:09 PM
        
        Seriously, it's like Nintendo invented some kind of custom protocol which makes the wireless transfer as slow as possible. It's so slow it just doesn't even seem possible. I can't understand why it is so slow.
  - BioSector
    
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    February 11, 2015 11:15 AM
    
    The system transfer is doing that for you. Relicenses all your games to the new hardware. Whether you then re download or copy from old sd card is up to you.
  - Prozium
    
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    February 11, 2015 5:33 PM
    
    Sony and Microsoft just introduced this concept 10 years ago. Nintendo needs more time.
- melkore
  
   reply
  February 11, 2015 10:48 AM
  
  So how does this work if you trade in your 3DS for the new 3DS? When I upgraded my sd card size I just copied everything to my computer and copied it to the new card. I'm assuming I can still do that?
  - BioSector
    
     reply
    February 11, 2015 10:50 AM
    
    Yes. To a microsd card though for the new 3ds. I just bought a micro with adapter and copied everything so I could test in the old 3ds. I'll have to do the system transfer thing so the new serial is registered to my account properly and then just move the card over.
    - melkore
      
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      February 11, 2015 10:53 AM
      
      So it won't care as long as all the data is the same from the old 3DS when I put it into the new one?
      
      I have an ambassador edition 3DS with a bunch of virutal console games on it that I'd rather not lose.
      - BioSector
        
         reply
        February 11, 2015 11:09 AM
        
        Just do the system transfer thing and all will be good. Should ask during the process if you need to copy games and saves as well as Nintendo ID but if you are moving sd, you can skip that part.
  - duncandun
    
     reply
    February 11, 2015 1:19 PM
    
    No you need to do a system transfer, your old data on your traded in 3ds can be restored by the person who buys it if it's not transferred.
    
    Including payment information if you saved it for the e-shop.