You need a Nintendo Switch, a Pokémon Home subscription, and to reach level 40 in Pokémon Go

Pokémon Home is a cloud storage service run by Nintendo that holds Pokémon from multiple games. Pokémon Go connects to Home through a feature called Pokémon Go Park, which lets you send Pokémon one direction only: from Go to Home. Once a Pokémon moves to Home, it cannot go back to Go. The process requires a paid Pokémon Home subscription (which costs money monthly or yearly), a Nintendo Switch console, and your Pokémon Go account to be at least level 40.

The transfer itself takes a few minutes per Pokémon, but you cannot transfer every Pokémon you own. Pokémon Go has a transfer limit: you can move only a set number of Pokémon per day into Home, and that limit resets daily. The exact number varies depending on your Pokémon Home subscription tier.

Key Takeaways

  • You must be level 40 or higher in Pokémon Go to unlock the transfer feature, and your account must be linked to a Nintendo account.
  • Pokémon Home requires a paid subscription; the Basic plan covers one game, and the Premium plan covers multiple games and offers higher daily transfer limits.
  • Transfers are permanent — once a Pokémon leaves Pokémon Go for Home, it stays in Home and cannot return to Go.
  • You can transfer only a limited number of Pokémon per day, with the limit depending on which Pokémon Home subscription tier you hold.
  • Not every Pokémon in Pokémon Go can move to Home; some species are restricted and cannot be transferred at all.

Step-by-step process for transferring Pokémon

Start by opening Pokémon Go and tapping your profile icon in the lower right corner. Scroll down to find "Pokémon Home" and tap it. If you see a message saying the feature is not yet available, your account is below level 40. If it is available, tap "Open Pokémon Home" to launch the app on your phone.

In Pokémon Home on your phone, sign in with the same Nintendo account you use on your Switch. Once logged in, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and select "Pokémon Go Park." This opens a screen showing Pokémon from your Go account that are ready to transfer. Select the Pokémon you want to move, then confirm. The Pokémon will disappear from Pokémon Go within a few minutes and appear in your Pokémon Home storage.

If you want to move those Pokémon into a game on your Switch (like Pokémon Sword, Shield, Scarlet, or Violet), open that game and go to the menu option for receiving Pokémon from Home. The process varies by game, but each one has a specific location or menu where you claim Pokémon from Home storage.

Subscription tiers and their transfer limits

Pokémon Home offers two subscription levels. The Basic plan is free but limited: it holds only 30 Pokémon at a time and allows you to transfer only a small number of Pokémon per day from Pokémon Go. The Premium plan costs money per month or per year and holds up to 6,000 Pokémon. Premium also raises your daily transfer limit significantly, so you can move more Pokémon each day.

The exact daily transfer limit for each tier is not published by Nintendo and may change. Check your Pokémon Home app to see your current limit — it appears on the Pokémon Go Park screen and resets at midnight in your local time zone.

Which Pokémon cannot be transferred

Not every Pokémon in your Go account can move to Home. Pokémon that are currently set as your buddy cannot be transferred. Shadow Pokémon (the dark-colored ones you rescue from Team Go Rocket) also cannot transfer. Pokémon that are holding items or are involved in active research tasks may be blocked as well.

Some Pokémon species themselves are restricted from transfer, though this list changes over time. Before you try to transfer a specific Pokémon, open Pokémon Go Park in Pokémon Home and search for that Pokémon — if it does not appear in the list, it cannot be transferred right now.

What happens to your Pokémon after transfer

Once a Pokémon reaches Pokémon Home, it exists only in Home and in any Switch game you move it to. It is gone from Pokémon Go permanently. You lose access to that Pokémon's stats, moves, and candy in Go. If you want to keep a Pokémon in Pokémon Go, do not transfer it.

In Pokémon Home, your transferred Pokémon keeps its level, nature, and individual stats from Go. However, moves may change depending on the game you send it to. If you move a Pokémon to a Switch game, that game's rules determine what moves it can learn or keep.

Linking your Pokémon Go account to Nintendo

Before you can transfer anything, your Pokémon Go account must be connected to a Nintendo account. Open Pokémon Go, tap your profile icon, and select "Settings." Scroll to "Linked Accounts" and tap "Nintendo Account." Follow the prompts to sign in with your Nintendo account or create one if you do not have one yet.

If you already have a Nintendo Switch and play other Pokémon games, use the same Nintendo account you use on your Switch. This makes it easier to move Pokémon between games later. If you do not have a Nintendo account, you can create one for free at Nintendo's website using an email address.

Troubleshooting common transfer problems

If Pokémon Go Park does not appear in Pokémon Home, check that your Pokémon Go account is level 40 or higher and that both apps are up to date. Close both apps completely and reopen them. If the problem persists, sign out of your Nintendo account in Pokémon Home, then sign back in.

If a Pokémon you want to transfer does not show up in Pokémon Go Park, it may be your buddy, a Shadow Pokémon, or a species that is currently restricted. Try removing it as your buddy (if it is one) and checking again. If you have hit your daily transfer limit, wait until midnight in your time zone and try again.

If Pokémon Home says your subscription has expired, your paid plan has ended. You can still access Home with the free Basic plan, but you will have a lower transfer limit and storage space. Renew your Premium subscription through the Pokémon Home app or through your Nintendo account settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer Pokémon back from Home to Pokémon Go?

No. Transfers are one direction only. Once a Pokémon leaves Pokémon Go for Home, it cannot return to Go. If you think you might want to keep a Pokémon in Go, do not transfer it.

Do I need a Nintendo Switch to use Pokémon Home?

You need a Nintendo account to use Pokémon Home, but you do not need a Switch console to transfer Pokémon from Go to Home. You only need a Switch if you want to move Pokémon from Home into a Switch game like Pokémon Sword or Scarlet.

What happens to my Pokémon's candy when I transfer it?

The candy stays in Pokémon Go and is not transferred with the Pokémon. You lose access to that candy for that species once the Pokémon is gone. Plan your transfers carefully if you were saving candy to power up other Pokémon of the same type.

How much does Pokémon Home cost?

The Basic plan is free. The Premium plan costs a set amount per month or per year depending on your region; check the Pokémon Home app for your local pricing. Premium gives you higher storage, higher daily transfer limits, and access to features like cloud saves for Switch games.

Can I transfer Pokémon if my Pokémon Go account is below level 40?

No. You must reach level 40 in Pokémon Go before the transfer feature unlocks. There is no way around this requirement. Once you hit level 40, the feature becomes available when ready.