How to transfer save data to Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete

With online service for Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp coming to an end on November 28, Nintendo has given a release date for the replacement paid app, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete. 

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete will be available to download and install on December 3. If you dive in early and download the game before January 31, 2025, you’ll get it half-price for $9.99. After that point, the price will increase to the regular price of $19.99. You can pre-register for the app now via the App Store or Google Play, depending on your device.

If you’ve been playing Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp for a while, then you’re likely wondering how to prepare for this change. Aside from spending all of your Leaf Tickets, one of the things you’ll definitely need to do is transfer your save file from the old app to the new one. 

How to link a save file in Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp

To prepare for the change in app, you’ll need to link your save file on Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp to your Nintendo Account using the following steps:

1. Launch Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp and let it load
2. Open up the menu in the bottom right corner and select “Settings”
3. Tap “Link Nintendo Account”, and a new window will open
4. Tap “Create/Link Nintendo Account” and wait for it to load
5. Either create a Nintendo Account, or enter the details for a previously existing one

Once you’ve done this, you should get a pop-up telling you that a link has been established and you can now download the save file. 

While you can do this now, or as often as you like, you’ll need to do it soon before the servers for Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp go offline on November 28 to ensure you don’t lose any progress that you’ve made between now and then. If you’ve already logged in using your Nintendo Account, your save date should automatically update whenever you play.

How to download a save file in Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete

Once Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete is available to purchase and download on December 3, you’ll be able to download the save file that you created by following the steps laid out above. 

To do this, you’ll need to complete the following steps:

1. Launch Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete and tap “Tap to Start”
2. In the window that pops up, select “Continue”
3. Sign in to the Nintendo Account that you linked to Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp in the steps laid out in the previous section
4. When logged in, select “Transfer” and let the download complete
   1. This might take a while, depending on how long you’ve been playing, how many items you have, etc. Be patient and keep the game open while the save data downloads!
5. When the download is complete, select “Ok”

Having followed these steps, you should be able to continue where you left off before the servers for Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp were shut down, and everything should be right where you left it. 

What to do before transferring save files in Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp

There are a few things that should be remembered when it comes to preparing for the end of service on November 28:

• Items in your mailbox will not transfer with your save file, so remember to collect them before the end of service
• Certain data will not be transferred, so if you want to make a note or take screenshots, now is the time to do it:
  • Step count stickers
  • Fave Photo / Album
  • Stamps Received
  • Visitor history
  • Mailbox Item Log
  • Crafting work spaces 
  • Some islands in Gulliver’s Ship
• Save data will only be transferable to Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete until June 1, 2025