How to Connect Pokémon GO to Pokémon HOME
Linking Pokémon GO to Pokémon HOME lets you move Pokémon from GO's mobile experience into Nintendo's central cloud storage system — and from there, potentially into mainline Switch games. It sounds straightforward, but the connection has a few quirks worth understanding before you start.
What the Connection Actually Does
Pokémon HOME is Nintendo's cloud-based Pokémon management service. It acts as a central hub, letting you store and organize Pokémon across multiple games. When you connect GO to HOME, you can transfer Pokémon from GO into HOME's storage box.
There's an important one-way rule: transfers from Pokémon GO to Pokémon HOME are permanent and cannot be reversed. Once a Pokémon moves to HOME, it cannot return to GO. This is the single most important thing to understand before you begin.
Also worth knowing: not every Pokémon can make the jump. Only species that exist in HOME's Pokédex can be transferred. Regional forms, certain event Pokémon, and creatures with specific GO-only moves are subject to additional restrictions.
What You Need Before You Start
Before attempting the connection, confirm you have the following in place:
- A Nintendo Account — this is separate from a Pokémon Trainer Club account. HOME requires a Nintendo Account login.
- Pokémon HOME installed — available on Nintendo Switch and as a mobile app (iOS and Android).
- Pokémon GO version 0.149.0 or later — older versions don't support the HOME connection feature.
- Both apps signed into the same Nintendo Account — mismatched accounts are the most common reason the link fails.
- A Pokémon HOME Premium Plan — the free tier does not support GO transfers. The Premium Plan is a paid subscription, and without it, the transfer feature is locked.
Step-by-Step: Linking the Apps
Step 1 — Connect Your Nintendo Account to Pokémon GO
Open Pokémon GO and go to Settings (the gear icon in the top right of the map screen). Scroll down to find "Nintendo Account" or "Pokémon HOME" and tap it. You'll be prompted to sign in with your Nintendo Account credentials. Once signed in, the two accounts are linked.
Step 2 — Open Pokémon HOME on Mobile
Launch the Pokémon HOME mobile app and sign in with the same Nintendo Account. Tap the menu at the bottom of the screen, then select "Send Pokémon", followed by "Pokémon GO".
Step 3 — Choose Your Pokémon
HOME will connect to your GO account and display a selection screen. You can choose which Pokémon to transfer. There's typically a limit on how many you can transfer per day — this limit resets every 24 hours, though the exact cap can vary depending on HOME updates and account tier.
Step 4 — Complete the Transfer
After selecting your Pokémon, confirm the transfer. The Pokémon will move from GO into a GO Transfer Box in Pokémon HOME, not your main storage box. From that GO Transfer Box, you can then manually move them into your general HOME storage.
The GO Transfer Box — Why It Matters 🎮
Pokémon that arrive from GO land in a dedicated GO Transfer Box first. This is intentional. From this box, you can place them into your regular HOME boxes, which then allows you to move compatible Pokémon into supported Switch titles like Pokémon Scarlet and Violet or Pokémon Sword and Shield.
However, compatibility between HOME and Switch games depends on the specific game. Not every Pokémon from GO can enter every Switch game — the destination game's Pokédex determines what's accepted.
Common Issues and Variables That Affect the Process
The connection process isn't always seamless, and several factors influence how smoothly it works:
| Variable | Impact |
|---|---|
| Nintendo Account linking | Must match across GO and HOME — mismatch breaks the connection |
| HOME subscription tier | Free tier blocks GO transfers entirely |
| Pokémon GO app version | Outdated versions may not show the HOME option |
| Device OS compatibility | Older Android/iOS versions may cause instability in the mobile HOME app |
| Pokémon species eligibility | Not all GO Pokémon are transferable to HOME |
| Daily transfer cap | Limits how many Pokémon can move in a single session |
If the "Pokémon HOME" option doesn't appear in GO's settings, the most likely causes are an outdated app, a mismatch in Nintendo Account logins, or a lapsed HOME Premium subscription.
What Happens to Transferred Pokémon
A few things change when a Pokémon moves from GO to HOME:
- Stats are converted from GO's IV system to HOME's standard stat format
- Moves may change — GO-exclusive moves don't always carry over to HOME or Switch games
- The Pokémon receives a HOME mark — a small indicator that it originated in Pokémon GO
- Some Pokémon transform — certain GO forms (like Alolan or Galarian variants transferred as standard forms) may appear differently depending on your device's display and HOME's interpretation
The Factor That Varies Most by User
How useful this connection is depends heavily on what you actually want to do with your Pokémon afterward. Someone building a competitive team in Scarlet and Violet has very different needs than someone who simply wants to preserve rare GO catches in cloud storage. The Pokémon you choose to transfer, which Switch games you own, and whether a HOME Premium subscription fits your usage pattern all shape whether this feature is a routine tool or an occasional one. That context — your collection, your goals, your active games — is the part only you can evaluate.