You can transfer Pokémon to the Professor to free up storage space, but the transfer is permanent and you cannot get the Pokémon back

Transferring a Pokémon in Pokémon Go means sending it to Professor Willow in exchange for candy. The Pokémon disappears from your collection permanently. Most players transfer duplicate Pokémon or ones they do not want to keep, using the candy reward to power up or evolve the Pokémon they do want to use in battles or raids.

The transfer process takes about 10 seconds and happens through the Pokémon's detail screen. You cannot undo a transfer once it completes, so double-check that you are transferring the right Pokémon before you confirm.

Key Takeaways

  • Open a Pokémon's detail screen, scroll to the bottom, and tap the transfer button to send it to Professor Willow permanently.
  • You receive one candy of that Pokémon's type for each transfer, plus bonus candy if the Pokémon is your buddy.
  • Transfers cannot be reversed, so make sure you do not transfer a Pokémon you want to keep or one with high stats.
  • You can transfer multiple Pokémon at once using the mass transfer feature in your Pokémon storage menu.

How to transfer a single Pokémon

Open Pokémon Go and go to your Pokémon storage. Tap on the Pokémon you want to transfer to open its detail screen. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen — you will see a red button labeled "Transfer" with a trash can icon.

Tap the Transfer button. A confirmation window will appear asking if you are sure. Tap "Yes" to confirm. The Pokémon will disappear from your storage immediately, and you will receive one candy of that Pokémon's type. If that Pokémon was your current buddy, you will receive bonus candy as well.

How to transfer multiple Pokémon at once

Go to your Pokémon storage and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner. Select "Mass Transfer" from the menu. A new screen will open showing all your Pokémon with checkboxes next to each one.

Tap the checkbox next to each Pokémon you want to transfer. You can scroll through your entire storage and select as many as you want. Once you have selected all the Pokémon you want to remove, tap the "Transfer" button at the bottom of the screen. Confirm your selection when prompted. All selected Pokémon will transfer at once, and you will receive candy for each one.

What you get when you transfer a Pokémon

Every transfer gives you one candy of that Pokémon's type. If you transfer a Pidgeot, you get one Pidgeot candy. If you transfer a Charmander, you get one Charmander candy. You can use this candy to power up or evolve other Pokémon of the same type.

If the Pokémon you are transferring is your current buddy, you will receive bonus candy — usually three to five extra candies depending on how far you walked with that buddy. This is one reason to set a Pokémon as your buddy before transferring duplicates: you earn candy twice, once from walking and once from the transfer.

Why you should check a Pokémon's stats before transferring

Every Pokémon has individual stats called IVs (Individual Values) that affect how strong it can become. A Pokémon with high IVs will be more powerful than one with low IVs, even if they are the same level and type. Before you transfer a Pokémon, check its stats to make sure you are not removing one that could be useful later.

You can see a Pokémon's IV rating by opening its detail screen and tapping the "Appraise" button. The Professor will give you a rough rating of its stats. If the appraisal says the Pokémon has high potential, you may want to keep it even if you have duplicates. If it says the stats are low, it is usually safe to transfer.

Common reasons to transfer Pokémon

Most players transfer Pokémon to free up storage space. Your Pokémon storage has a limit (usually 250 to 500 slots depending on how much you have expanded it), and once you hit that limit you cannot catch new Pokémon until you make room. Transferring duplicates is the fastest way to create space.

You might also transfer Pokémon that are not useful for battles or raids. Some Pokémon are stronger than others, and keeping only the best ones makes your team more effective. Transferring weak Pokémon also lets you focus your candy on powering up the ones you actually use.

What happens if you accidentally transfer a Pokémon you wanted to keep

Transfers cannot be undone. Once a Pokémon is transferred, it is gone permanently and you cannot recover it. The only way to get that Pokémon back is to catch another one in the wild or through research tasks or raids.

If you transfer a rare Pokémon or one with high stats by mistake, you will need to spend time catching or evolving another one to replace it. This is why it is important to check a Pokémon's stats and rarity before you transfer, and to use the confirmation window to double-check that you are transferring the right one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer a Pokémon that is my buddy?

Yes, you can transfer your buddy Pokémon. When you do, you will receive bonus candy from the transfer, but your buddy slot will become empty. You will need to select a new buddy before you can earn buddy candy again.

Do I get more candy if I transfer a higher-level Pokémon?

No. Every transfer gives you exactly one candy of that Pokémon's type, regardless of the Pokémon's level, stats, or rarity. The only exception is bonus candy from your buddy Pokémon.

What is the difference between transferring and releasing a Pokémon?

In Pokémon Go, transferring and releasing mean the same thing. When you transfer a Pokémon to Professor Willow, you are releasing it from your collection. The terms are used interchangeably in the game.

Can I transfer Pokémon to my friends?

No. You can only transfer Pokémon to Professor Willow. You cannot send Pokémon to other players. However, you can trade Pokémon with friends if you are near them and both have the Pokémon Go app open.