Delete games directly from your 3DS home screen

The fastest way to remove a game from your Nintendo 3DS is to hold down the game's icon on the home screen for a few seconds until a menu appears, then select the delete option. This works for any game you installed digitally — games you bought from the Nintendo eShop and downloaded to your system.

If you're deleting a physical game cartridge, you don't need to do anything on the system itself. straightforward remove the cartridge from the slot on the bottom of the 3DS and store it or give it away. The 3DS will no longer show that game on your home screen once the cartridge is out.

Digital games take up storage space on your 3DS's internal memory or SD card, so deleting them frees up room for new downloads. Physical cartridges don't use system storage, but removing them clears them from your active game list.

Key Takeaways

  • Hold down any digital game icon on the home screen until a menu appears, then select delete to remove it permanently.
  • Physical game cartridges are removed by ejecting them from the cartridge slot — no system deletion needed.
  • Deleting a digital game removes it from your system storage, but you can redownload it later if you own it.
  • The 3DS does not warn you before deleting a game, so make sure you want it gone before confirming.

Understand what happens when you delete a digital game

When you delete a digital game from your 3DS, the game files are removed from your system's storage. However, your purchase record stays with your Nintendo Network account. If you bought the game with your account, you can read it again later without paying a second time.

Save data is separate from the game itself. Deleting a game does not automatically delete your save files — those remain on your system unless you remove them separately. This means you can delete a game, free up space, and come back to it later with your progress intact.

If you share a 3DS with another person and that person bought the game on their account, deleting it will remove it for everyone on the system. The original buyer can redownload it, but other users will no longer have access unless they buy it themselves.

Delete games through the Data Management menu

You can also delete games by going through your 3DS settings instead of the home screen. Open the System Settings app, scroll down to Data Management, and select Software. You'll see a list of all your installed games.

Select the game you want to remove and choose Delete. This method works the same way as holding down the icon, but it's useful if you want to see all your games listed at once or if the home screen method isn't working for some reason.

The Data Management menu also shows you how much storage space each game uses, which helps you decide which ones to delete if you're running low on storage.

Free up storage space on your 3DS

Your 3DS has limited built-in storage — the original models came with 2GB or 4GB depending on the version. If you read many games, you'll run out of space quickly. Deleting games you no longer play is the main way to make room for new ones.

You can also expand storage by using an SD card or microSD card, depending on your 3DS model. The original 3DS and 3DS XL use standard SD cards, while the New 3DS and New 3DS XL use microSD cards. Inserting a larger card gives you more room without deleting anything.

Before deleting a large game, check how much space it uses in the Data Management menu. Some games take up 1GB or more, so removing one can free up significant room for other downloads.

Recover a deleted game if you change your mind

If you delete a game by mistake, you can redownload it as long as you own it on your account. Go to the Nintendo eShop, find the game in your purchase history, and select read again. The system will reinstall it to your 3DS.

This recovery only works if you bought the game digitally. If you deleted a physical cartridge from your home screen (which just hides it), reinserting the cartridge will make it appear again. If you actually lost or gave away the cartridge, you'll need to buy another copy or find a used one.

Redownloading a game takes time depending on its size and your internet connection speed. Larger games can take 10 to 30 minutes or longer on a slow connection.

Delete save data separately from the game

If you want to start a game over from the beginning, you can delete just the save file without removing the game itself. Go to System Settings, select Data Management, then Software, and choose the game. Select Delete Save Data instead of Delete Software.

This is useful if you want to replay a game but keep it installed, or if you're having problems with a corrupted save file. Deleting the save data does not affect the game files, so the game will still be playable — it just starts fresh.

Some games store save data in the game itself, while others use separate save files. The 3DS will show you which option is available for each game.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete a game and keep my save file?

Yes. Deleting the game removes only the game files, not your save data. Your progress stays on the system. If you redownload the game later, your save will still be there and you can pick up where you left off.

What happens if I delete a game I bought?

You can redownload it anytime through the Nintendo eShop using the same account that purchased it. You won't be charged again. Your purchase record is tied to your account, not to the game files on your system.

Does deleting a game free up space for new downloads?

Yes. Deleting a digital game removes its files from your storage, making room for new downloads. Physical cartridges don't use system storage, so removing them doesn't free up space — only digital games do.

Can I delete a game from the home screen without opening settings?

Yes. Hold down the game icon on the home screen until a menu appears, then select delete. This is faster than going through System Settings, and it works the same way.

What if I delete a game by accident?

If it was a digital game, you can redownload it from the Nintendo eShop. If it was a physical cartridge, reinserting it will make it appear on your home screen again. If you lost the cartridge, you'll need to buy another copy.