How to Delete Animal Crossing Save Data

If you’re looking to start fresh in Animal Crossing: New Horizons and delete your save data, you can do so directly from your Nintendo Switch console. Deleting your save data will erase all progress in the game, so it’s important to be sure before taking this step. This guide will show you how to delete your Animal Crossing save data.

Step-by-Step Guide to Deleting Animal Crossing Save Data

Open the Home Menu on Your Nintendo Switch

1. Turn on your Nintendo Switch and navigate to the Home Menu.
2. Locate the Animal Crossing: New Horizons icon.
   

Go to System Settings

1. From the Home Menu, scroll down and select the System Settings icon, which looks like a gear. 
2. In the System Settings menu, scroll down the left sidebar and select Data Management.
   

Manage Saved Data

1. In the Data Management section, scroll down to Save Data Cloud Backup or Manage Software. 
2. Select Manage Save Data to access the list of games with saved data on your system.
   

Delete Animal Crossing Save Data

1. Find Animal Crossing: New Horizons in the list of games and select it.
2. Once you select the game, you’ll see the option to Delete Save Data.
3. Choose Delete Save Data and confirm your decision.
   

Confirm Deletion

1. A prompt will appear asking if you’re sure you want to delete the save data. Remember, once you confirm, all your progress, including your island, villagers, and customizations, will be erased. 
2. Select Delete to permanently remove the save data.
   

Verify the Deletion

1. Once the save data is deleted, you can verify by attempting to start Animal Crossing: New Horizons. 
2. When you load the game, you should be greeted with the initial setup screen, confirming that the save data has been deleted.
   

Additional Considerations

Cloud Saves and Deleting Data

If you have Nintendo Switch Online and your save data is backed up to the cloud, deleting it from the console will not remove the cloud backup unless you manually delete it from the cloud storage as well. Here’s how:

1. Go to System Settings > Data Management.
2. Select Save Data Cloud Backup.
3. Find Animal Crossing: New Horizons and delete the cloud save if necessary.
   

Starting Fresh Without Deleting the Save Data

If you want to restart your island without deleting all the save data, you can try the following:

1. Create a new user profile on your Nintendo Switch.
2. Open Animal Crossing: New Horizons under the new profile and start a new island without affecting your original save data.
   

What Happens If I Delete My Save Data?

Once you delete your Animal Crossing save data, all progress in the game, including your island, villagers, customizations, and achievements, will be permanently erased. If you have no backup, you won’t be able to recover the data.

Can I Delete Animal Crossing Save Data from the Mobile App?

No, you cannot delete save data for Animal Crossing: New Horizons from the Nintendo Switch Online mobile app. You must delete the data directly from the Nintendo Switch console itself.

FAQs About Deleting Animal Crossing Save Data

Will deleting my save data delete my island?

Yes, deleting your Animal Crossing save data will delete your entire island, including all progress, villagers, and customizations. Make sure you’re ready to start over before deleting.

Can I recover my Animal Crossing save data after deletion?

No, once your save data is deleted from the console, it cannot be recovered unless you have a cloud backup. If you’ve backed up your save data to the cloud, you can restore it by going to Data Management > Save Data Cloud Backup and selecting Download Save Data.

How do I delete cloud save data for Animal Crossing?

To delete Animal Crossing cloud save data, go to System Settings > Data Management > Save Data Cloud Backup. Find the game in the list and delete the backup.

Is there any way to start a new island without deleting save data?

Yes, you can create a new user profile on your Nintendo Switch and start a new island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons under that profile, without affecting your original save data.

Does deleting Animal Crossing save data affect other games?

No, deleting save data for Animal Crossing will only remove the progress for that game. Other games on your Nintendo Switch will not be affected by this action.

Deleting your Animal Crossing: New Horizons save data is a permanent step that will erase all your progress in the game. If you’re ready to start fresh, follow the steps above to delete your save data. Be sure to back up your data to the cloud if you want to have the option to restore it later.