You need a Pokémon Home account and a Nintendo Switch or mobile app to transfer Pokémon from Go
Pokémon Go and Pokémon Home are separate apps run by different systems. Pokémon Go is the mobile game where you catch Pokémon in the real world. Pokémon Home is a storage and management system where you keep Pokémon from multiple games. The two apps do not connect directly — you move Pokémon one way only, from Go into Home, and you cannot send them back.
To transfer, you need a Nintendo Account (free to create), a Pokémon Home account (free basic version available), and either a Nintendo Switch console or the Pokémon Home mobile app. The process takes a few minutes once everything is set up, but the setup itself can take 10 to 15 minutes if you do not already have these accounts.
Transfers happen in batches, not one Pokémon at a time. You select multiple Pokémon in Pokémon Go, send them all at once to Home, and they arrive within a few minutes. Some Pokémon cannot be transferred — mainly Mythical Pokémon (like Mew) and Pokémon that have not been released in Pokémon Home yet.
Key Takeaways
- You must create a free Nintendo Account and link it to a Pokémon Home account before any transfer can happen.
- Transfers are one-way only: Pokémon move from Go into Home but cannot return to Go.
- Some Pokémon cannot be transferred, including all Mythical Pokémon and a small number of species not yet added to Home.
- You can transfer Pokémon using either a Nintendo Switch console or the Pokémon Home mobile app — both methods work the same way.
- Transferred Pokémon arrive in Home within a few minutes, and you can then move them into Pokémon Sword, Shield, Scarlet, or Violet if you own those games.
Create a Nintendo Account and set up Pokémon Home
Start by creating a Nintendo Account if you do not have one. Go to accounts.nintendo.com, click "Create Account," and fill in your email, date of birth, and a password. You do not need a Nintendo Switch console to create this account — it works on its own. Verify your email address by clicking the link Nintendo sends you.
Next, download the Pokémon Home app on your phone (iOS or Android) or access it through a Nintendo Switch. Open Pokémon Home and sign in with your Nintendo Account. The app will ask you to create a Pokémon Home account — this is separate from your Nintendo Account but uses the same login. The free version of Pokémon Home lets you store 30 Pokémon. The paid version (Pokémon Home Premium) costs roughly $3 per month or $20 per year and raises the storage limit to 6,000 Pokémon.
You do not need Premium to transfer Pokémon from Go — the free version works fine. You only need Premium if you want to store more than 30 Pokémon long-term or use other features like trading with other players.
Link your Pokémon Go account to your Nintendo Account
Open Pokémon Go and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap "Settings." Look for "Linked Accounts" or "Connected Apps" (the exact wording varies by phone type). Tap "Nintendo Account" and sign in with the same Nintendo Account you just created.
Pokémon Go will ask for permission to access your Nintendo Account. Tap "Authorize" or "Allow." Once linked, you will see a confirmation message. This link stays active until you manually disconnect it, so you only need to do this once.
If you already have a Pokémon Home account linked to a different Nintendo Account, you cannot link Pokémon Go to that same Home account. Each Pokémon Go account can only connect to one Nintendo Account, and each Nintendo Account can only connect to one Pokémon Home account.
Transfer Pokémon from Go to Home using a Nintendo Switch
If you own a Nintendo Switch, this is the most straightforward method. Open Pokémon Go on your phone and tap your profile icon. Scroll to "Pokémon Go Park" or "Transfer to Pokémon Home" (wording depends on your app version). Tap it and select the Pokémon you want to transfer. You can select multiple Pokémon at once by tapping each one.
Once you have selected your Pokémon, tap "Transfer" or "Send." Pokémon Go will ask you to confirm. After you confirm, the Pokémon disappear from Pokémon Go and are sent to Pokémon Home. On your Nintendo Switch, open Pokémon Home and check your "Pokémon Go" box — the transferred Pokémon will appear there within a few minutes.
You can then move these Pokémon into your main Pokémon Home storage, or if you own Pokémon Sword, Shield, Scarlet, or Violet, you can move them into those games. Transferred Pokémon keep their level, moves, and items, but they lose any Pokémon Go-specific data like their buddy status or battle league rank.
Transfer Pokémon from Go to Home using the mobile app
If you do not have a Nintendo Switch, you can transfer using only the Pokémon Home mobile app. Open Pokémon Go and tap your profile icon. Tap "Pokémon Go Park" or "Transfer to Pokémon Home." Select the Pokémon you want to move and tap "Transfer."
Pokémon Go will open Pokémon Home automatically (or ask you to open it). Confirm the transfer in Pokémon Home. The Pokémon will appear in your Pokémon Home storage within a few minutes. This method works the same way as the Switch method — the only difference is you are using the app instead of a console.
If Pokémon Home does not open automatically, make sure both apps are fully updated in your phone's app store. If the problem continues, try closing both apps completely and opening Pokémon Go again.
Pokémon that cannot be transferred
Mythical Pokémon — including Mew, Celebi, Jirachi, Deoxys, Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, Arceus, Victini, Keldeo, Meloetta, Genesect, Diancie, Hoopa, Volcanion, Magearna, Marshadow, Zeraora, Meltan, Melmetal, Zarude, Pecharunt, and Pecharunt — cannot be transferred from Pokémon Go to Home under any circumstances.
A small number of regular Pokémon species have not been added to Pokémon Home yet, though this list shrinks over time as Pokémon Company adds more species. If you try to transfer a Pokémon that cannot be transferred, Pokémon Go will show an error message and the Pokémon will stay in your Go account.
Pokémon with certain conditions also cannot transfer. A Pokémon that is your current buddy in Pokémon Go must be unset as your buddy before you can transfer it. Pokémon that are defending a gym can be transferred, but you should wait until they return to your storage first to avoid confusion.
What happens to your Pokémon after transfer
Once a Pokémon is in Pokémon Home, it stays there until you move it somewhere else. You can keep it in Home storage, move it into Pokémon Sword, Shield, Scarlet, or Violet (if you own those games), or trade it to another player through Home's trading feature (Premium only).
Transferred Pokémon keep their level, individual stats, moves, and held items. They do not keep Pokémon Go-specific features like their buddy status, their Go battle league rank, or any medals they earned. Once in Home or a main series game, they behave like any other Pokémon in that system.
You cannot transfer Pokémon back to Pokémon Go. The transfer is permanent and one-way. If you want to keep a Pokémon in Pokémon Go, do not transfer it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer Pokémon if I do not own a Nintendo Switch?
Yes. The Pokémon Home mobile app works on iOS and Android phones and lets you transfer Pokémon from Go without a Switch. You still need a Nintendo Account and a Pokémon Home account, but the console is optional.
Do I lose the Pokémon in Pokémon Go when I transfer them?
Yes. Once you transfer a Pokémon to Home, it is removed from Pokémon Go permanently. You cannot get it back. Make sure you want to transfer before you confirm.
How long does a transfer take?
Transfers usually complete within a few minutes. Occasionally they take up to 10 minutes if Pokémon Home is experiencing heavy traffic. The Pokémon will appear in your Home storage once the transfer finishes.
Can I transfer Pokémon to someone else's Pokémon Home account?
No. Pokémon Go only transfers to the Pokémon Home account linked to your Nintendo Account. You cannot send Pokémon to a friend's account directly through transfer — you would need to trade with them inside Pokémon Home or a main series game instead.
What if I see an error message during transfer?
The most common errors are network problems or app glitches. Close both Pokémon Go and Pokémon Home completely, wait 30 seconds, and try again. If the error continues, check that both apps are fully updated in your phone's app store. If one Pokémon consistently fails to transfer, it may be a Mythical Pokémon or a species not yet in Home.