You need a Nintendo Switch, a Pokémon Home subscription, and to meet level and item requirements in Pokémon Go

Moving Pokémon from Pokémon Go to Pokémon Home is a one-way transfer that requires three things: a Nintendo Switch console, an active Pokémon Home subscription (paid or free tier), and Pokémon Go account linked to a Nintendo account. Your Pokémon must also meet minimum requirements — they need to be level 10 or higher, and you need to have a Meltan Box or Lure Module active in Pokémon Go to trigger the transfer window. Once transferred, Pokémon cannot go back to Pokémon Go.

The process itself takes about 10 minutes once you have everything set up. You open Pokémon Home on your Switch, navigate to the transfer section, and select which Pokémon to move. Pokémon Go then shows you a confirmation screen, and the transfer completes immediately. The Pokémon appear in your Pokémon Home storage and are ready to move into Sword, Shield, Scarlet, Violet, or other compatible games.

Key Takeaways

  • Pokémon must be level 10 or higher in Pokémon Go before you can transfer them to Home.
  • You need either a Meltan Box or Lure Module active in Pokémon Go to open the transfer window.
  • Pokémon Home requires a paid subscription (about $5 per month or $16 per year) or a free tier with limited storage.
  • Transfers are permanent — once a Pokémon leaves Pokémon Go, it cannot return to that game.
  • Your Nintendo account and Pokémon Go account must be linked before you start the transfer process.

Link your Pokémon Go account to your Nintendo account first

Before you can transfer anything, Pokémon Go needs to know which Nintendo account to send your Pokémon to. Open Pokémon Go, tap your profile icon, scroll down to "Connected Accounts," and select Nintendo Account. You will be asked to sign in with your Nintendo account credentials. If you do not have a Nintendo account, you can create one for free at accounts.nintendo.com.

This linking is a one-time step. Once it is done, Pokémon Go remembers the connection. If you ever unlink the accounts, any Pokémon already transferred to Home stay there — they do not go back to Pokémon Go. Make sure you are linking to the correct Nintendo account, especially if you share a Switch with other people.

Set up Pokémon Home on your Nintendo Switch

Download Pokémon Home from the Nintendo eShop on your Switch. The app is free to download, but you will need to decide between the free tier (limited to 30 Pokémon in storage) or a paid subscription. The paid version costs about $5 per month, $16 per year, or $48 for three years, depending on your region. The subscription gives you storage for up to 6,000 Pokémon and access to features like the National Pokédex.

When you open Pokémon Home for the first time, sign in with the same Nintendo account you linked to Pokémon Go. The app will confirm the connection and show you your storage. You do not need to do anything else in Home yet — the transfer happens from the Pokémon Go side.

Activate a Meltan Box or Lure Module in Pokémon Go

To transfer Pokémon, Pokémon Go requires either a Meltan Box or a Lure Module to be active. A Meltan Box is a special item that spawns Meltan Pokémon for 30 minutes and can be obtained by sending Pokémon to Pokémon Home (it resets every seven days after first use). A Lure Module is a standard item you can buy from the in-game shop or find in Field Research tasks — it lasts 30 minutes and attracts Pokémon to a Poké Stop.

Activate whichever item you have. If you do not have either, you will need to obtain one before you can transfer. The Meltan Box is the more convenient option if you plan to transfer regularly, since it resets weekly and does not cost coins. If you only transfer occasionally, a Lure Module works just as well.

Open the transfer menu and select your Pokémon

While your Meltan Box or Lure Module is active, open Pokémon Go and tap your profile icon. Scroll down and select "Pokémon Home." The app will ask you to confirm your Nintendo account login. Once confirmed, you will see a list of Pokémon may be able to access for transfer — only those level 10 and above will appear.

Select the Pokémon you want to move. You can transfer one at a time or multiple Pokémon in a single session. There is no daily limit on transfers, but each transfer uses up your active Meltan Box or Lure Module time. Review your selections carefully, because the transfer is permanent and cannot be undone.

Confirm the transfer and check Pokémon Home

After you select your Pokémon, Pokémon Go shows a confirmation screen listing what you are about to send. Read it carefully — this is your last chance to back out. Once you confirm, the transfer happens immediately. Pokémon Go will show a brief animation, and the Pokémon will disappear from your Go storage.

Switch to Pokémon Home on your Nintendo Switch and check your storage. The transferred Pokémon should appear within a few seconds. If you do not see them right away, close and reopen Pokémon Home to refresh. From there, you can move them into Pokémon Sword, Shield, Scarlet, Violet, or other compatible games.

Understand what happens to your Pokémon after transfer

Transferred Pokémon keep their stats, moves, and nature, but they lose any Pokémon Go-specific data like their buddy status or battle league rank. They also cannot Gigantamax or Dynamax in Sword and Shield if they were transferred from Go, though this restriction does not apply to Scarlet and Violet. Shinies and special forms transfer as-is.

Once a Pokémon is in Pokémon Home, you can move it to any compatible game on your account. You can also use Pokémon Home's trading feature to trade with other players, though this requires a paid subscription. If you delete Pokémon Home or lose access to your Nintendo account, the Pokémon in Home storage are lost — they do not return to Pokémon Go.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need Nintendo Switch Online to transfer Pokémon?

No. Nintendo Switch Online is separate from Pokémon Home. You need Pokémon Home (free or paid), but you do not need an active Switch Online subscription to transfer from Pokémon Go. However, if you want to trade Pokémon with other players through Home, you will need Switch Online.

Can I transfer Pokémon from Pokémon Go to Pokémon Scarlet or Violet directly?

No. All transfers from Pokémon Go go through Pokémon Home first. From Home, you can then move Pokémon into Scarlet, Violet, Sword, Shield, or other compatible games. Pokémon Home acts as the middleman between Go and the main series games.

What happens if I transfer a Pokémon by mistake?

Transfers cannot be reversed. Once a Pokémon leaves Pokémon Go, it is gone from that game permanently. It will be in Pokémon Home, but you cannot send it back to Go. Before you confirm any transfer, make sure you actually want to move that Pokémon.

Can I transfer Pokémon if I do not have a Nintendo Switch?

No. Pokémon Home is only available on Nintendo Switch. You cannot transfer to Home using a phone, computer, or other device. You need a physical Switch console to complete the transfer process.

Do transferred Pokémon lose their IVs or stats?

No. Pokémon keep their individual values (IVs), stats, moves, and held items when transferred. The only things they lose are Pokémon Go-specific features like their buddy status and Go Battle League rank.