How to send Nintendo Switch screenshots to your phone or computer

You can now directly send Nintendo Switch screenshots to your phone or other smart device, but the process is kind of confusing. Once we saw how complicated things can get, we thought it would be best to create a step-by-step walkthrough to explain how screenshot transfer works.

There are two ways to send Switch screenshots to another device. When you want to send a screenshot to your phone or tablet, you'll use the wireless method (which employs QR codes), and if you want to share images with a laptop or desktop, you'll transfer via USB cable.

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And as a reminder, you take screenshots by clicking the little circle button near the bottom of the left Joy-Con (or above and to the left of the D-pad on the Pro controller).

But no matter how annoying this may be, it's still far easier than the two other methods we've used in the past: posting directly to social media or ejecting your microSD card and connecting it to a computer.

We've hit only two hiccups so far. First, we can't connect our Switch via USB to a Mac, as that method works only on PCs right now. Secondly, while Nintendo says "Up to 10 screenshots and 1 video capture can be transferred wirelessly at one time," we've only been able to send the single video or the 10 screenshots, not both. Selecting a video takes away the option to add photos, and videos are not available to add once you've selected photos.

Let's start with the method to send screenshots (and video) to your phone or smart device, since that's the easiest to do.

How to send Nintendo Switch screenshots to your phone

All you need for this process is a phone or camera-equipped smart device, as this requires a QR code reader.

1. Open Albums on the home screen.

how to send nintendo switch screenshots to your phone - select albums — (Image credit: Nintendo/Tom's Guide)

2. Select a photo or video

how to send nintendo switch screenshots to your phone - select photo or video — (Image credit: Nintendo/Tom's Guide)

3. Click A

how to send nintendo switch screenshots to your phone - Click A — (Image credit: Nintendo)

4. Select "Send to Smartphone"

how to send nintendo switch screenshots to your phone - send to smartphone option — (Image credit: Nintendo/Tom's Guide)

5. Select "Only This One" or "Send a Batch"

If you select "Send a Batch" you'll get to check off other photos to send. Currently, the limit for a single transfer is 10 photos or 1 video.

how to send nintendo switch screenshots to your phone - select send one or batch — (Image credit: Nintendo/Tom's Guide)

6. On your smartphone, open your camera and focus on the QR code

how to send nintendo switch screenshots to your phone - scan first QR code — (Image credit: Nintendo/Tom's Guide)

7. Tap the join network prompt

how to send nintendo switch screenshots to your phone - tap Join option — (Image credit: Nintendo/Tom's Guide)

8. Focus your device camera on the new QR code.

how to send nintendo switch screenshots to your phone - scan second QR code — (Image credit: Nintendo/Tom's Guide)

9. Tap the open network prompt.

how to send nintendo switch screenshots to your phone - tap Open prompt — (Image credit: Nintendo/Tom's Guide)

10. Tap on a photo

If you sent a video, you'll see a download button underneath it.

how to send nintendo switch screenshots to your phone - select a photo — (Image credit: Nintendo/Tom's Guide)

11. Long press on the photo

how to send nintendo switch screenshots to your phone - long press — (Image credit: Nintendo)

12. Tap Add to Photos

Your options may vary, as I'm testing this on an iPhone — and Android file management looks different.

how to send nintendo switch screenshots to your phone - save — (Image credit: Nintendo)

If you're using an iPhone, I'd suggest using Add to Photos, as Share doesn't always work for me when taking a photo from a website — it often just sends a link to the site.

How to send Nintendo Switch screenshots to your computer

As noted above, this process did not work on Macs during our testing. It requires a USB-C to USB-C or USB-C to USB-A cable, depending on your computer's ports.

1. Select System Settings on the home screen.

how to send nintendo switch screenshots to your computer - select system settings — (Image credit: Nintendo)

how to send nintendo switch screenshots to your computer - select data management — (Image credit: Nintendo)

3. Select Manage Screenshots and Videos

how to send nintendo switch screenshots to your computer - select manage screenshots — (Image credit: Nintendo)

4. Select Copy to a Computer via USB Connection

how to send nintendo switch screenshots to your computer - select copy to a computer — (Image credit: Nintendo)

5. Connect your Switch to a PC via USB cable

You'll need a USB-C to USB-C cable if your computer has a USB-C port, or a USB-C to USB-A cable if it does not.

6. Select Nintendo Switch in your file manager

how to send nintendo switch screenshots to your computer - open Switch on your PC — (Image credit: Nintendo)

7. Open Album

how to send nintendo switch screenshots to your computer - open album — (Image credit: Nintendo)

8. Find the folder of the game you're using

Screenshots and video of the Switch interface will be in Other.

how to send nintendo switch screenshots to your computer - find game folder — (Image credit: Nintendo)

9. You've found your screenshots

Drag and drop them onto your desktop or into other directories.

how to send nintendo switch screenshots to your computer - you've found the screenshots — (Image credit: Nintendo)

There you have it! You're no longer limited to just social media and your microSD card when it comes to getting your screenshots off your Switch!

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Henry was a managing editor at Tom’s Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past seven years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.