You can transfer Pokémon to Professor Willow to free up storage space and earn candy

Transferring a Pokémon in Pokémon GO means sending it to Professor Willow, the in-game character who manages your transfers. When you transfer a Pokémon, it leaves your collection permanently, but you receive candy for that Pokémon's species in return. This is the main way to manage your storage when you've caught too many Pokémon and need room for new ones.

The transfer process takes about 10 seconds and happens through your Pokémon's detail screen. You cannot undo a transfer once it completes, so the game asks you to confirm before it goes through. Transfers are free and do not require any special items or in-game currency.

Key Takeaways

  • Open any Pokémon's detail screen, scroll to the bottom, and tap the transfer button to send it to Professor Willow.
  • You receive one candy for that Pokémon's species when you transfer it, or three candy if it is your buddy Pokémon.
  • Transfers are permanent and cannot be reversed, so confirm you want to remove the Pokémon before completing the action.
  • Transferring is the fastest way to free up storage space when your Pokémon collection is full.

How to transfer a single Pokémon

Start by opening Pokémon GO and navigating to your Pokémon collection. Tap on the Pokémon you want to transfer to open its detail screen. This screen shows the Pokémon's name, CP (combat power), stats, and moves.

Scroll down to the bottom of the detail screen. You will see a red button labeled "Transfer" at the very bottom. Tap this button. A confirmation dialog will appear asking "Send this Pokémon to the Professor?" with two options: "Yes" and "No." Tap "Yes" to confirm. The Pokémon will disappear from your collection, and you will see a message showing how much candy you earned.

Transferring multiple Pokémon at once

If you need to free up space quickly, you can transfer several Pokémon without opening each one individually. From your Pokémon collection screen, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the upper right corner, then select "Pokémon" to return to the main collection view if you are not already there.

Look for a button or option labeled "Select Multiple" or a similar phrase — this feature location varies slightly by device and app version. Once you enter multi-select mode, tap each Pokémon you want to transfer. A checkmark will appear on each selected Pokémon. After you have selected all the Pokémon you want to remove, look for a "Transfer" button and tap it. Confirm the action when prompted.

What you get when you transfer

Every transfer gives you one candy for that Pokémon's species. If the Pokémon you are transferring is currently your buddy Pokémon — the one you have selected to walk with you and earn candy from — you will receive three candy instead of one. This makes transferring your buddy a more valuable way to earn candy, though you will lose the buddy relationship.

You do not receive Stardust, experience points, or any other reward from transferring. The only benefit is the candy and the freed storage space. Some players transfer low-IV Pokémon (those with poor individual stats) or duplicates to build up candy reserves for Pokémon they plan to power up or evolve.

Pokémon you should not transfer

Do not transfer Pokémon that are part of your active team for battles, raids, or gym defense. Transferring removes them from your collection entirely, and you will have to catch them again if you want them back. Similarly, avoid transferring Pokémon you have invested resources into powering up, unless you are certain you will not need them.

Shiny Pokémon and legendary Pokémon are rare and worth keeping unless you have duplicates. Shadow Pokémon — those caught from Team GO Rocket — are also uncommon and should be transferred only if you have extras. If you are unsure whether a Pokémon is worth keeping, check its IV rating (individual values) in your Pokédex or use an IV calculator to see whether it is worth the storage space.

Managing storage space without transferring

If you want to keep more Pokémon without transferring, you can buy additional storage space using PokéCoins, the in-game premium currency. You earn a small number of PokéCoins free by defending gyms, but most players purchase them with real money. Storage upgrades are optional and not necessary to play the game.

Another option is to be selective about which Pokémon you keep. Focus on Pokémon that are useful for raids, gym battles, or your Pokédex completion goals. Transfer common Pokémon you catch frequently, and keep only the best examples of each species based on their stats and moves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get my Pokémon back after transferring it?

No. Transfers are permanent and cannot be reversed. Once you confirm the transfer, the Pokémon is gone from your collection. You can only get it back by catching it again in the wild or through other in-game methods like raids or research tasks.

Do I lose anything besides the Pokémon when I transfer?

Yes. Any items attached to the Pokémon, such as a Mega Energy or a held item, are lost when you transfer. You also lose any progress toward that Pokémon's buddy status. You only receive candy in return — no Stardust, experience, or other rewards.

Why would I transfer a Pokémon if I lose it forever?

Transferring is the main way to earn candy for Pokémon you want to power up or evolve. It also frees up storage space when your collection is full. Most players transfer duplicates and low-stat Pokémon they catch frequently, keeping only the best examples of each species.

Does transferring my buddy Pokémon give more candy?

Yes. Transferring your current buddy gives three candy instead of one. However, you lose the buddy relationship and will need to select a new buddy afterward. This is useful if you want to quickly earn candy for a Pokémon you have finished walking with.