How to Link Pokémon GO to Pokémon Home

You need a Nintendo Account and the Pokémon Home app to move Pokémon from GO to Home

Linking Pokémon GO to Pokémon Home lets you transfer Pokémon you catch in GO into the Pokémon Home storage system, where you can move them into Pokémon Sword, Shield, Scarlet, Violet, or other compatible games. The process requires three things: a Nintendo Account, the Pokémon Home app installed on your phone, and Pokémon GO already set up on the same device. You do not need to pay for Pokémon Home to transfer from GO, though a paid subscription unlocks extra storage and features.

The link happens in Pokémon GO's settings, not in Pokémon Home itself. Once linked, you can transfer Pokémon one at a time or in groups, but transfers are one-way — you cannot send Pokémon back from Home to GO.

Key Takeaways

You must have a Nintendo Account created and linked to your device before you can connect Pokémon GO to Pokémon Home.
Pokémon Home must be installed on the same phone or tablet where you play Pokémon GO for the link to work.
The connection happens inside Pokémon GO's settings menu under "Pokémon HOME" — you do not start the process in Pokémon Home.
Transfers from GO to Home are permanent and one-way; once a Pokémon moves to Home, it cannot return to GO.
You can transfer Pokémon without paying for Pokémon Home, but the free version has limited storage space.

Create or sign into your Nintendo Account first

Before you open Pokémon GO, you need a Nintendo Account. If you already have one from playing other Nintendo games or using the Nintendo eShop, you can use that account. If not, go to accounts.nintendo.com on a web browser and select "Create a new account." You will need an email address and a password. Nintendo will send a confirmation email — open it and follow the link to finish setting up the account.

Once your Nintendo Account exists, write down the email address and password you used. You will need them when you link Pokémon GO.

Install Pokémon Home on your phone

Download Pokémon Home from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android). The app is free to download. Open it after installation and sign in using the same Nintendo Account email and password you just created or confirmed. Pokémon Home will ask permission to access your device's storage and notifications — allow both.

Leave Pokémon Home open or minimized, but do not close it completely. You will need it running in the background when you link from Pokémon GO.

Open Pokémon GO and go to Settings

Launch Pokémon GO on the same device where Pokémon Home is installed. Tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner of the screen. Scroll down and tap "Settings" (the gear icon). In the Settings menu, scroll down until you see "Pokémon HOME" — it appears below the "Notifications" section.

Tap "Pokémon HOME." Pokémon GO will ask you to sign in with your Nintendo Account. Enter the same email and password you used to create your Nintendo Account. Pokémon GO will then ask Pokémon Home for permission to access your account — this happens automatically if Pokémon Home is running in the background.

Confirm the connection and check your Pokémon Box

After you sign in, Pokémon GO will show a confirmation screen saying "Successfully connected to Pokémon HOME." Tap "OK" or "Continue" to finish. You can now close the Settings menu and return to the main game screen.

To see your Pokémon Home storage from within Pokémon GO, tap your profile icon again and select "Pokémon HOME." This opens a view of your Pokémon Box — the storage area in Pokémon Home where transferred Pokémon land. If the box is empty, you have not transferred any Pokémon yet.

Transfer Pokémon from GO to Home

To move a Pokémon from GO to Home, open Pokémon GO and go to your Pokémon storage (the Pokéball icon at the bottom center, then "Pokémon"). Find the Pokémon you want to transfer and tap it. Scroll down and tap "Send to Pokémon HOME." Pokémon GO will ask you to confirm — tap "Yes, send to Pokémon HOME."

The transfer takes a few seconds. Once it completes, the Pokémon disappears from your GO storage and appears in your Pokémon Home box. You can transfer multiple Pokémon this way, one at a time. There is no daily limit on transfers, but each transfer uses one energy unit if you have a paid Pokémon Home subscription — the free version does not use energy.

Troubleshooting connection problems

If Pokémon GO says "Failed to connect to Pokémon HOME," make sure Pokémon Home is installed and you are signed into it on the same device. Close Pokémon GO completely (swipe it away from your recent apps), then reopen it and try again. If that does not work, restart your phone.

If you see "Invalid Nintendo Account," double-check that you are using the correct email and password for your Nintendo Account. Make sure you created the account at accounts.nintendo.com and confirmed the email address. If you forgot your password, go to accounts.nintendo.com, select "Forgot your password," and follow the reset steps.

If Pokémon Home keeps asking you to sign in even after you linked it, sign out of Pokémon Home completely (open the app, tap your profile icon, and select "Sign Out"), then sign back in. After that, return to Pokémon GO Settings and try linking again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pay for Pokémon Home to transfer from GO?

No. The free version of Pokémon Home lets you transfer Pokémon from GO and store up to 30 Pokémon. A paid subscription ($2.99 per month or $4.99 per three months) increases storage to 6,000 Pokémon and unlocks other features, but it is not required for transfers.

Can I transfer Pokémon back from Pokémon Home to GO?

No. Transfers are one-way only. Once a Pokémon moves from GO to Home, it stays in Home. You cannot send it back to GO.

What happens to my Pokémon GO Pokédex when I transfer a Pokémon?

Your Pokédex entry stays complete. Transferring a Pokémon to Home removes it from your GO storage but does not erase the fact that you caught it. Your Pokédex still shows you have seen and caught that species.

Can I use the same Nintendo Account on multiple phones?

Yes. You can sign into your Nintendo Account on different devices and link Pokémon GO on each one. However, each Pokémon GO account is separate — you cannot transfer Pokémon between different GO accounts using the same Nintendo Account.

What if I uninstall Pokémon Home after linking it?

Your Pokémon Home account and all transferred Pokémon remain safe. If you reinstall Pokémon Home and sign in with the same Nintendo Account, you will see all your Pokémon again. The link between GO and Home stays active even if you uninstall the app.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.