You finally did it. You sat through the grueling credits of Pokémon Scarlet, or maybe you dug out that dusty copy of Pokémon Platinum from a shoebox in the attic. You want a fresh start. A new journey. But then you realize something incredibly frustrating: modern Nintendo games make it surprisingly difficult to just "start over." Honestly, it’s a bit of a headache. In the old days, you just held a couple of buttons on the title screen. Now? You’re diving into system settings and cloud saves like you’re trying to hack into a mainframe. If you’re trying to figure out how to delete a save file on Pokemon, you have to realize the method depends entirely on which era of the franchise you’re playing.
The shift from cartridge-based saving to console-based saving changed everything. It’s not just a "New Game" button away anymore. In fact, if you try to start a new game in Pokémon Sword or Shield without deleting the old data first, the game literally won’t let you save your progress. You’ll play for three hours, realize you can’t record your journey, and then probably want to throw your Switch across the room. Let's make sure that doesn't happen.
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The Modern Era: Deleting Saves on Nintendo Switch
For games like Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, and the newest Scarlet and Violet entries, the save data isn't on the game card. It’s on your console's internal storage. This is a massive departure from the Game Boy and DS days. Basically, the "Up + Select + B" trick is dead.
To wipe the slate clean, you have to exit the game entirely. Close it. Don't just suspend it. Go to the System Settings—that little gear icon on your home screen. From there, scroll down to Data Management. You’ll see an option at the very bottom called Delete Save Data.
Select it. Find the specific Pokémon title you’re done with. The Switch will give you a scary warning. It asks if you’re sure. It makes you wait a few seconds so you can’t accidentally nukes your 200-hour Pokédex. Confirm the deletion. Once you do that, the data is gone forever. It’s worth noting that if you have Nintendo Switch Online, your save might be backed up in the cloud. However, for most core Pokémon games, cloud saves are actually disabled to prevent people from duplicating rare Pokémon or "save scumming" trades.
Why One Profile Isn't Always Enough
Sometimes you don't actually need to know how to delete a save file on Pokemon; you just need a second one. This is the beauty of the Switch. On the 3DS or Game Boy, you were locked into one save per cartridge. It was a nightmare for siblings.
On the Switch, your save data is tied to your User Profile. If you want to start a new adventure but keep your old team for competitive play or sentimental reasons, just create a new User Profile. Go to Settings, Users, and Add User. When you launch the game, select the new "Player 2" profile. Boom. A fresh save file without destroying the old one. This is the smartest way to play if you're looking to do a Nuzlocke challenge or a speedrun.
The 3DS and DS Era: The Button Combo Days
If you’re playing Pokémon Sun, Moon, X, Y, or the Gen 4 and 5 classics, you’re dealing with cartridge saves. The system settings won't help you here. For these, you need to reach the "Title Screen"—the one with the legendary Pokémon looking all majestic before you press Start.
For the 3DS titles, hold down Up on the D-Pad + B + X simultaneously.
It feels like a secret code. Because it kinda is. The game will prompt you with a blue screen asking if you want to delete all saved data. If you’re on the older DS hardware (like Pokémon Black or HeartGold), the combo is Up + Select + B.
A lot of people get confused here because they try to do this while the game is loading. Wait for the actual title screen. If you see "Press Start," that's your window. If you miss it, the game just loads your old save, and you have to soft-reset and try again.
The Retro Struggle: Game Boy and Game Boy Advance
Let’s go back. Way back. If you’re holding a copy of Pokémon Red or Emerald, deleting the save is actually the easiest it has ever been. You just select "New Game."
Wait, there's a catch.
In the original Game Boy games, selecting "New Game" lets you play, but you can't save unless you overwrite the old file. However, in some versions, it won't let you overwrite unless you've manually cleared the memory. To be safe, use the classic combo: Up + Select + B on the title screen. This has been the standard for decades.
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A Warning About Internal Batteries
If you are trying to delete a save on an original Pokémon Gold, Silver, or Crystal cartridge and you notice the game won't save at all after you restart, your save file hasn't just been deleted—your battery is dead. These old cartridges used a CR2025 lithium battery to keep the "SRAM" (Static Random Access Memory) powered. When that battery dies, the save file vanishes, and the game loses the ability to hold a new one. No amount of button mashing will fix that; you’ll need a soldering iron and a fresh battery.
Pokemon GO and the Nuclear Option
Pokémon GO is a different beast entirely. You aren't deleting a file on a disk; you're deleting an account on a server. If you want to reset your progress, you have to go into the Settings menu within the app, select Account, and then choose Delete Account.
Be careful. This isn't like the console games. Niantic takes weeks to process this, and once it's done, your trainer name is often locked away for a long time. You can't just restart with the same name five minutes later. Most people find it’s better to just log out and create a new account with a different email address if they really want that "level 1" feeling again.
Managing Pokemon HOME and Transferred Data
One thing people often overlook when figuring out how to delete a save file on Pokemon is their Pokémon HOME connectivity. If you’ve moved your prized Shiny Rayquaza or your competitive team into Pokémon HOME, deleting your console save won't affect them. They’re safe in the cloud.
However, if your Pokémon are still in your PC boxes in Pokémon Violet and you wipe the save data from the Switch settings, they are gone. Deleted. Reduced to atoms. Always, always check your boxes before you pull the trigger.
- Step 1: Open Pokémon HOME on your Switch.
- Step 2: Check the save file you’re about to delete.
- Step 3: Move anything you value into the HOME boxes.
- Step 4: Save and exit HOME.
- Step 5: Proceed with the system-level deletion.
The "Save Cannot Be Written" Error
There is a specific, niche issue that happens mostly in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Sometimes, even after you delete the data, the game throws an error saying it can't save. This usually happens because of a conflict between the local save and the automated cloud backup.
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If this happens to you, turn off "Automatic Save-Data Cloud Backup" in the Switch settings for that specific game. Delete the save data one more time. Restart the console. This "power cycle" usually clears the cache and lets the game write a clean new file without trying to sync to a deleted ghost of the past.
Final Steps for a Clean Start
Starting a new Pokémon journey is a big deal. It’s about the challenge of the early game, the thrill of picking a new starter, and seeing the world with fresh eyes. Just make sure you aren't rushing.
Before you commit, check your "Mystery Gift" history. Many limited-time event Pokémon (like those distributed via serial codes) are tied to that specific save file. Once you delete that file, you can't "redownload" the gift on a new save. If you have an event-exclusive Charizard or Mew, move it to Pokémon HOME first.
Honestly, the most important thing is to decide if you really need to delete at all. With the Switch's ability to handle multiple profiles, "deleting" is becoming a thing of the past. But if you’re selling your console or you just want that psychological "clean slate," follow the system settings route. It’s the only way to be 100% sure.
Once you’ve confirmed the deletion in the System Settings under Data Management, simply relaunch the game. You'll be greeted by the language selection screen—the universal sign that your new adventure is ready to begin. Choose your language carefully, because unlike the save file, some games won't let you change that without another full reset. Good luck on your new journey, Trainer.