Pokémon HOME: How to transfer to and from Sword and Shield

Catching Pokémon is incredibly fun, but you have to have a safe place to store everyone. Thankfully, we have Pokémon HOME, which allows us to transfer to and from Sword and Shield. It's important to note that these games do have Pokédex limitations, so not every Pokémon can be traded into them. However, you'll be able to trade more Pokémon back and forth if you have the Sword and Shield Expansion Pass since it increases the National Pokédex.

For even more transferring and trading opportunities, you'll want to download the mobile Pokémon Home app.

Pokémon HOME: How to transfer to Pokémon Sword and Shield

First, make sure you have Pokémon HOME set up on your Nintendo Switch. If you need help with that, we have a full guide on how to sign up for Pokémon HOME.

1. Open Pokémon Home from the main Switch menu.

2. Press A to get past the start screen.

   Source: iMore

3. This screen will appear. Select Pokémon.

4. Choose the game you want to transfer to.

   Source: iMore

5. Select Yes

6. Your Pokémon Boxes will appear. Select the Pokémon you wish to transfer.

   • Note that you can transfer both into or out of Pokémon HOME at this point. If the Pokémon cannot be transferred to Sword or Shield, a red circle with a line through it will appear on the top right side of the Pokémon.

     Source: iMore

7. Deposit the Pokémon into one of your Boxes.

8. When you're done selecting Pokémon, press the + button to exit.

   Source: iMore and Rebecca Spear / iMore

9. Select Save changes and exit.

10. Press A when the screen reads "Your Boxes have been saved!" You've completed the transfer. Now you can either use those Pokémon in Sword or Shield or interact with them in Pokémon HOME.

    Source: iMore

Keep in mind that if you're trying to transfer Pokémon from older Pokémon games like Let's Go, Pikachu! or earlier titles via Pokémon Bank, you might not be able to bring every Pokémon into Sword and Shield. Only Pokémon that are already available in the Galar Regional Pokedex, those that arrived in the DLC updates, and a handful of legendaries and other special Pokémon can be brought forward. However, any Pokémon that is available in Sword and Shield can be stored in Pokémon HOME.

Now, if you are attempting to Once you've moved your Pokémon to Pokémon HOME, you can also access those monsters using Pokémon HOME through the free Pokémon HOME app for iOS and Android.

Take your old Pokémon on a new adventure

You don't have to buy the Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra DLC to transfer older Pokémon into Pokémon Sword and Shield, but the expansions are an excellent addition to one of the best Nintendo Switch games. You can tear through the tundra with a Metagross or sweep through the Isle of Armor with a Dragonite.