Nintendo Switch update adds automatic save data downloads and more

Nintendo has released a new system update for the Nintendo Switch hybrid console, bringing the system version up to 11.0. This comes nearly eight months since the last major update, and it adds an array of new features to the system.

First off, there's a new Nintendo Switch Online app, listed in the row below your game list. This lets users access information about their Switch Online membership, including how long it's been active, access to exclusive content for members, and information about games that use its features, such as online play or save data cloud.

Speaking of which, another big change here is that save data from the cloud can now be configured to download automatically. If you use multiple Switch systems in tandem, this makes it possible for your progress to remain synced across them. You'll need to enable this feature in Settings -> Data management -> Save Data Cloud.

That's not all, as there's now an option to transfer images and videos from your Switch to a PC or a smart device from the console itself. Until now, the only way this could be done was by saving the content on a microSD card, taking it out of the console, or inserting it into a different device. Now you can transfer files wirelessly to a smartphone, or with a USB cable to a PC. Smartphone transfers are limited to 10 screenshots and one video at a time, but PC transfer have no limits. You can follow these steps to transfer data to your phone wirelessly, or these steps to transfer them to a PC (or phone that supports MTP).

Nintendo has also added the ability to prioritize software downloads, so whenever you're downloading multiple games or updates, you can choose which ones go first.

Finally, the user section of the Switch has a new "Trending with friends" category to see which games are most popular with users on your friends list. There are also new user icons themes after the 35th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. The update is available to download now and should install automatically if you don't do it yourself.