You need a Pokémon Home account and a Nintendo Switch or mobile device to transfer Pokémon from Pokémon Go

Pokémon Home is a separate storage system run by Nintendo that holds Pokémon from multiple games. Pokémon Go does not connect directly to the main Pokémon games — you must move your Pokémon through Pokémon Home first. The process requires a Pokémon Home account (free or paid), the Pokémon Go app on your phone, and either a Nintendo Switch console or a mobile device with the Pokémon Home app installed.

The transfer itself is one-way: once a Pokémon leaves Pokémon Go, it cannot go back. You also cannot transfer every Pokémon you catch — only those that appear in the Pokédex of whichever main Pokémon game you are sending them to. Mythical Pokémon (like Mew) and Pokémon that are currently in your Pokémon Go Buddy slot cannot be transferred.

The entire process takes about 10 to 15 minutes once your accounts are linked, though Nintendo's servers sometimes experience delays during peak hours.

Key Takeaways

  • You must create a separate Pokémon Home account and link it to your Nintendo Account before any transfer can happen.
  • Pokémon transfers from Go to Home are permanent and one-way — the Pokémon leaves Pokémon Go forever.
  • Not all Pokémon can transfer; mythical Pokémon and your current Buddy cannot move, and some species may not exist in the game you are sending them to.
  • The free version of Pokémon Home holds up to 30 Pokémon; the paid Premium plan holds up to 6,000.
  • After Pokémon arrive in Pokémon Home, you can move them into Pokémon Sword, Shield, Scarlet, Violet, or other compatible games.

Create and link your Pokémon Home account to your Nintendo Account

Start by visiting the official Pokémon Home website or downloading the Pokémon Home app to your phone or Nintendo Switch. You will be asked to sign in with a Nintendo Account. If you do not have one, create it at accounts.nintendo.com — you will need an email address and a password.

Once you are signed in to Pokémon Home, the app will ask you to create a Pokémon Home account. This is separate from your Nintendo Account but linked to it. Write down your Pokémon Home username and password in a safe place, because you will need them to authorize the transfer from Pokémon Go.

If you already have a Pokémon Home account from a previous game, you can use the same one. Your existing Pokémon will remain in storage, and the new transfers from Pokémon Go will be added to the same account.

Link your Pokémon Go account to Pokémon Home

Open the Pokémon Go app on your phone and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap "Pokémon Home." The app will ask you to sign in with your Pokémon Home username and password — use the credentials you created in the previous step.

After you sign in, Pokémon Go will show a confirmation screen listing your Pokémon Home account name. Tap "Confirm" to complete the link. This connection allows Pokémon Go to send Pokémon to your Pokémon Home storage, but it does not automatically transfer anything yet.

The linking process usually takes less than one minute. If you see an error message, check that your Pokémon Home account password is correct and that you are connected to the internet. If the error persists, sign out of Pokémon Go entirely, close the app, and try again.

Select and transfer your Pokémon from Pokémon Go

In the Pokémon Go app, return to your profile and tap "Pokémon Home" again. You will see a screen showing Pokémon you own. Tap the Pokémon you want to transfer — you can select one at a time or multiple Pokémon in a single session. A confirmation screen will appear showing the Pokémon's name, level, and stats.

Read the warning carefully: it will remind you that the transfer is permanent and the Pokémon will leave Pokémon Go forever. Tap "Transfer" to confirm. The Pokémon will disappear from your Pokémon Go storage and appear in your Pokémon Home account within a few seconds to a few minutes.

You can transfer as many Pokémon as you want in one session, but the free version of Pokémon Home only holds 30 Pokémon total. If you are near that limit, you will need to move Pokémon from Pokémon Home into a main game (Sword, Shield, Scarlet, or Violet) before you can transfer more from Pokémon Go. The paid Premium plan costs $2.99 per month or $4.49 per three months and raises the storage limit to 6,000 Pokémon.

Check your Pokémon Home storage and move them to a main game

After the transfer completes, open Pokémon Home on your Nintendo Switch or mobile device and sign in with your Pokémon Home account. You will see your transferred Pokémon in the "Boxes" section. They are now in Pokémon Home storage but not yet in any playable game.

To use these Pokémon in a game, you must move them from Pokémon Home into Pokémon Sword, Shield, Scarlet, or Violet. Open the game you want to move them to, go to the Pokémon Home menu within that game, and select "Move Pokémon." Choose the Pokémon you want to bring into the game from your Pokémon Home storage. Once they arrive in the game, they can be used in battles, trades, and other gameplay.

Not every Pokémon can enter every game. Pokémon Sword and Shield accept most Pokémon from the first eight generations, while Scarlet and Violet have their own Pokédex. If you try to move a Pokémon that does not exist in your chosen game, Pokémon Home will show an error and prevent the transfer. Check the game's official Pokédex before attempting the move.

Understand storage limits and the free versus paid plan

The free version of Pokémon Home stores up to 30 Pokémon at a time. If you transfer more than 30 from Pokémon Go, the oldest transfers will be held in a queue and cannot enter Pokémon Home storage until you make room by moving some into a game. This does not mean they are lost — they are straightforward waiting — but you cannot see them or manage them until space opens up.

The Premium plan removes this limit and allows up to 6,000 Pokémon in storage at once. It also unlocks the Judge feature, which shows a Pokémon's individual values (IVs) — a stat that matters for competitive play. Premium costs $2.99 per month, $4.49 per three months, or $14.99 per year. You can cancel at any time.

If you only plan to transfer a few Pokémon and move them into a game right away, the free plan is sufficient. If you want to collect and store many Pokémon before deciding which game to place them in, Premium is worth considering.

Troubleshoot common transfer problems

If a Pokémon will not transfer, check whether it is a mythical Pokémon (like Mew or Celebi) — these cannot leave Pokémon Go. Also check whether it is currently set as your Buddy. Remove it from the Buddy slot in Pokémon Go and try again. Some event-only Pokémon or regional variants may also be restricted from transfer depending on the game you are sending them to.

If the transfer starts but hangs or shows an error, close both the Pokémon Go app and Pokémon Home completely. Restart both apps and try again. Make sure your phone or Switch is connected to a stable internet connection — transfers require a live connection and will fail on weak or intermittent Wi-Fi.

If you see a message that your Pokémon Home storage is full, you have reached the limit for your plan. Move some Pokémon into a game or upgrade to Premium to make more room. The free plan's 30-Pokémon limit is firm and cannot be exceeded.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer Pokémon from Pokémon Home back into Pokémon Go?

No. Transfers from Pokémon Go to Pokémon Home are one-way only. Once a Pokémon leaves Pokémon Go, it cannot return to that app. You can move it between Pokémon Home and main games (Sword, Shield, Scarlet, Violet) but never back to Pokémon Go.

What happens to my Pokémon's level and moves when I transfer it?

The Pokémon keeps its level, but its moves may change. Pokémon Go uses a different move pool than the main games. When your Pokémon arrives in Pokémon Home or a main game, it may lose some Pokémon Go moves and gain moves that exist in the destination game. You can teach it new moves using TMs or move tutors once it is in the main game.

Do I need a Nintendo Switch to transfer Pokémon from Go to Home?

No. You can create and manage a Pokémon Home account on your phone using the mobile app. You only need a Nintendo Switch if you want to move Pokémon from Pokémon Home into Pokémon Sword, Shield, or other Switch games. The transfer from Pokémon Go to Pokémon Home works on mobile alone.

Can I transfer Pokémon to multiple games at the same time?

No. Each Pokémon in Pokémon Home can only be moved to one game. Once it enters Pokémon Sword, for example, it cannot also be in Pokémon Scarlet. You can move it between games later by returning it to Pokémon Home and sending it elsewhere, but it can only exist in one place at a time.

What if I forget my Pokémon Home password?

Visit the Pokémon Home website and click "Forgot your password?" You will be asked to enter the email address associated with your Nintendo Account. Nintendo will send a password reset link to that email. Click the link and create a new password. This does not affect your Pokémon or your storage — you will straightforward regain access to your account.