Nintendo Switch 2 Upgrade Guide: RAM, Storage and CPU

Updated Oct. 9, 2026 · Written from this device's verified specifications

The Nintendo Switch 2 is not a console you can open up and upgrade. Its 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage are fixed, and the one real upgrade is a microSD Express card in the card slot, up to 2 TB.

At a glance

  • RAM: 12 GB LPDDR5X, soldered and not upgradable.
  • Internal storage: 256 GB UFS, fixed and not replaceable.
  • Expansion: one microSD Express slot, up to 2 TB, with cards sold separately.
  • Old microSD, microSDHC and microSDXC cards from the original Switch can't be used for games or storage.
  • Nothing in Nintendo's documentation describes a user-upgradable processor.
microSD Express slotFlash card microSD (SD Express) · up to 2.048 TB
microSD Express slotFlash card microSD (SD Express) · up to 2.048 TB
Schematic of the upgradeable slots (not to scale). Check the owner's manual for their exact positions.

Lifecycle and support

A current model: sold new and supported.

202520262027Today11 · Release · June 5, 2025
Filled dots: dates published by the manufacturer. Hollow dots: estimates from third-party sources.
MilestoneDate
Release
First available to buy.		 June 5, 2025 Official Nintendo's announcement states the system would be released on June 5, 2025; the Nintendo US store page lists the same date.
Source ↗

Dates not listed haven't been published by the manufacturer or a reliable third party.

Storage: add a microSD Express card (up to 2 TB)

The Switch 2 has 256 GB of built-in UFS storage, and part of that is reserved for the system. You can't swap or upgrade it. The only way to add space is the single microSD Express slot, which takes cards up to 2 TB. There are no M.2, SATA or 2.5-inch bays.

Only microSD Express cards work for games and storage. Your old microSD, microSDHC or microSDXC cards from the original Switch can only be used to import screenshots and videos. Once a card is inserted it becomes the default download location. It holds downloadable software, updates, DLC, screenshots and videos. Save data stays in system memory and can't be saved to the card.

If the card fills up, new data is saved to system memory automatically, and you can move it later. Downloadable software spread over several cards can't be merged onto one afterwards, so Nintendo recommends sticking to a single card and copying everything to a larger one when you need more room. As a speed reference, Samsung's 256 GB card made for the Switch 2 uses PCIe Gen 3.0 x1 and NVMe 1.3, with 800 MB/s sequential read in SD Express mode. Nintendo doesn't state the console slot's own PCIe generation.

Buying tips

  • Buy a card that is clearly labelled microSD Express. A plain microSDXC card will not work for games.
  • Pick one card as large as you can reasonably use, because software on several cards can't be merged later.
  • Keep your old microSD card only for importing screenshots and videos.
  • Check the card's stated read speed on the maker's datasheet before buying.
  • Don't expect the card to hold save data. It always stays in system memory.

How to upgrade

Before you start

  • You don't need to open the console. The card slot is the only upgrade path, and cards are sold separately.
  • Check that the card is a microSD Express card, not a standard microSD, microSDHC or microSDXC card.
  • Your old Switch microSD card won't work for games. If it holds screenshots or videos you want, import them into system memory first.
  • Remember that save data can't be copied to a microSD Express card. It stays in system memory.
  • Keep the console updated. Album limits quoted by Nintendo apply to system version 20.1.1 or higher.
  • Check the owner's manual for where the card slot is and how to insert a card.

Steps

  1. Check your card
    Confirm it is a microSD Express card of up to 2 TB. Standard microSD cards only work for importing screenshots and videos.
  2. Import anything you want to keep from old cards
    If you have screenshots or videos on an old microSD card, import them into system memory with that card first.
  3. Power off and handle with care
    Turn the console off before swapping cards, and avoid touching the card's metal contacts. No tools or case opening are needed.
  4. Insert the card
    Follow the owner's manual to find the slot and insert the card the right way round. Don't force it.
  5. Power on and check the console sees it
    Turn the console on and look in its storage settings to confirm the card is recognised. Once inserted, it becomes the default download location.
  6. Move or download your software
    Download new games to the card. If you later replace the card with a larger one, copy everything from the old one rather than splitting software across cards.

Good to know

  • Nintendo's own pages don't list the RAM. The 12 GB LPDDR5X figure and the bandwidth numbers come from Wikipedia only.
  • No source states the RAM's transfer rate directly, so treat any MT/s figure as an estimate.
  • Nintendo's documents don't say whether external storage over USB-C is supported.
  • The console slot's own PCIe generation isn't stated. The Samsung figures describe that card, not the console.
  • Nintendo's support pages word the old-card rule slightly differently. Some say such cards can't be used, others say they can only import screenshots and videos. Treat them as import-only.
  • Nintendo's storage page lists two sets of album limits. On system version 20.1.1 or higher, the limits are 15,000 screenshots on both system memory and microSD Express, and videos are limited to 1,500 on system memory and 5,000 on microSD Express. It also lists lower figures that appear to apply to older versions, but it isn't clear which.

Frequently asked questions

How much RAM does the Switch 2 have, and can I add more?

It has 12 GB of LPDDR5X, which Wikipedia describes as two 6 GB chips. It is soldered, there is no memory slot, and it can't be upgraded. Nintendo's own tech specs page doesn't list the RAM, so the figure comes from Wikipedia.

Can I upgrade the Switch 2's internal storage?

No. The 256 GB internal UFS storage is fixed. Nintendo's documents describe no user replacement or upgrade. To get more space, add a microSD Express card.

What is the largest memory card the Switch 2 supports?

Nintendo lists microSD Express cards up to 2 TB.

Can I use my old Switch microSD card in the Switch 2?

Not for games or storage. Standard microSD, microSDHC and microSDXC cards can only be used to import screenshots and videos from an original Switch.

Can I move my save data to a microSD Express card?

No. Save data stays in system memory and can't be saved or copied to the card.

Can I upgrade the Switch 2's CPU?

Nintendo's documents describe no way to do this. According to Wikipedia, the console uses an Nvidia Tegra T239 chip, and there is no socket or user-accessible processor upgrade.

Official documents and references

This guide was written with AI assistance from the compatibility data PartsPrices verified against the manufacturer's documents. Always check your exact model and the owner's manual before buying or opening your computer.