How to Delete a Save File in Pokémon X

Pokémon X, released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2013, only allows one save file per game cartridge or digital copy. That's a hard limitation built into the game — there's no in-game "New Game" option that simply creates a second slot. If you want to start fresh, you have to manually delete the existing save data before a new one can be created.

Here's exactly how that works, what to know before you do it, and why the process varies slightly depending on your setup.

Why Pokémon X Doesn't Let You Just Start Over

Unlike some modern games that offer multiple save slots, Pokémon X follows the long-standing Game Freak design choice of a single save file. When you select "New Game" from the main menu, the game won't let you proceed if an existing save already exists — it protects the old data by default.

This means deletion has to happen before you start a new game, not during. The process takes about 10 seconds once you know the right button combination.

How to Delete Your Pokémon X Save File 🎮

Step 1: Launch the Game

Start Pokémon X from your Nintendo 3DS home menu. Let it load until you reach the title screen — the one showing the Pokémon X logo and the legendary Xerneas.

Do not press anything to continue into the main menu. Stay on the title screen.

Step 2: Enter the Delete Combination

On the title screen, press and hold the following buttons simultaneously:

Up + B + X

Hold all three at the same time. A prompt will appear asking if you want to delete your save data.

Step 3: Confirm Deletion

The game will ask you to confirm twice before permanently erasing the file. This is intentional — it's a safeguard against accidental deletion. Read each prompt carefully and confirm both times.

Once confirmed, the save data is permanently gone. The game will return you to the title screen, and selecting "New Game" will now work without restriction.

What Gets Deleted

When you delete a Pokémon X save file, the following is permanently removed:

There is no recovery option. Once the confirmation is accepted, the data cannot be restored from within the game.

Important Considerations Before You Delete

Pokémon Transfers

If you have Pokémon on that save file that you want to keep, you need to move them before deleting. The Pokémon Bank (a paid cloud storage service for 3DS) allowed transfers to Generation 7 games, and Pokémon Home later extended compatibility further. However, once you delete the save, any Pokémon still in-game are gone permanently.

Whether this matters depends on your situation — competitive players, shiny hunters, and collectors will have very different stakes than someone who just wants a clean playthrough.

Digital vs. Cartridge Copies

The deletion method is the same whether you're playing from a physical cartridge or a digital copy downloaded to your 3DS. Save data for digital copies is stored on the 3DS system memory or SD card, not on a separate file you can simply delete through the system settings — you still use the in-game button combination.

One exception: If you delete the entire software title through the 3DS Data Management settings, that will also remove the save data for a digital copy. But that's a more drastic step that removes the game itself and requires re-downloading it.

Cartridge Saves and System Transfers

If you've done a System Transfer between two 3DS consoles, save data behavior can get complicated. Physical cartridge saves are stored on the cartridge itself, not the console, so a system transfer doesn't move cartridge saves. Digital title saves, however, follow the account and system. This distinction matters if you're deleting with the intent to share a cartridge or move between devices.

The Button Combination Doesn't Work — Common Reasons

• You're past the title screen. The combination only works on the title screen, not the main menu or during gameplay.
• Button timing. All three buttons need to be held simultaneously, not pressed in sequence.
• Existing save isn't detected. If there's no save file, the prompt simply won't appear — there's nothing to delete.

Variations Across Pokémon Games

It's worth noting that this Up + B + X combination is specific to Pokémon X and Y (and several other Generation 6 titles). Other games in the series use different combinations or, in newer entries like Pokémon Sword and Shield, allow save deletion through the system's own data management settings rather than an in-game shortcut.

If you're also managing saves on other titles, the method you need depends entirely on which game and which system you're working with — the process isn't universal across the franchise.