How to bring your 3DS Miis into Tomodachi Life on Switch
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
- You need an amiibo. It carries one Mii from your 3DS to your Switch.
- Any amiibo works as the carrier. The owner setting is part of the system's amiibo Settings, not a specific game.
- Original 3DS, 3DS XL, or 2DS? You also need the NFC Reader/Writer. New 3DS models read amiibo on their own.
- It brings the Mii's face, not its old island life. Nintendo says you create new residents based on Miis on your Switch.
In this guide
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is the first new Tomodachi Life since the 3DS game in 2013. If you made a whole island of Miis back then, you probably want some of them back.
The Switch can't connect to your 3DS directly. The bridge is an amiibo, and Nintendo's own support pages cover every step.
What does the amiibo do here?
Every amiibo can store an owner Mii. You save your Mii to the amiibo on the 3DS, then copy it off the amiibo on the Switch.
The amiibo's character doesn't matter. The owner setting lives in the system's amiibo Settings, so a Mario amiibo carries your Mii the same way an Animal Crossing one does.
Step 1: save the Mii to the amiibo on your 3DS
Nintendo's 3DS support page lists the path:
- From the HOME Menu, open System Settings.
- Select amiibo Settings, then Register Owner and Nickname.
- Scan the amiibo and choose your Mii as the owner.
How you scan depends on your 3DS:
| Your system | How it reads amiibo |
|---|---|
| New Nintendo 3DS, New 3DS XL, New 2DS XL | Built in, on the lower screen |
| Nintendo 3DS, 3DS XL, 2DS | Needs the Nintendo 3DS NFC Reader/Writer |
Step 2: copy the Mii onto your Switch
Nintendo's support pages show the same option on Switch and Switch 2:
- Open the Mii settings and select Create New Mii.
- Choose Copy Mii from amiibo.
- Hold the amiibo to the NFC touchpoint on the right Joy-Con. Remove it when you see "Copied Mii."
Step 3: make a resident from that Mii
Nintendo's Tomodachi Life FAQ says you can create new residents based on the faces of Miis registered on your Switch 2 or Switch.
So the face comes across. Your old 3DS friendships and island history don't, so expect to start those over.
The picks
Nintendo Animal Crossing Series 3-Pack amiibo
amiiboGet this if you don't have an amiibo in the house. Any amiibo can carry the Mii.
Skip it if you already own an amiibo. It works the same.
- What it's for here
- Carrying one Mii at a time
- Count
- 3 figures
- Sold by (Oct 4)
- JADD Entertainment (third party)
With three figures, you can move three Miis without rewriting the owner each time. It was in stock when I checked.
Check price on AmazonNintendo NFC Reader/Writer for 3DS, 3DS XL and 2DS (Renewed)
Older systemsGet this if you have an original 3DS, 3DS XL, or 2DS.
Skip it if you have a New 3DS model. Those read amiibo on their own.
- Works with
- 3DS, 3DS XL, 2DS
- Condition
- Renewed
- Region
- USA/NTSC
- Sold by (Oct 4)
- Alliance Refurbs (third party)
I couldn't find it new on Amazon. This renewed listing was the US version and had stock when I checked.
Check price on AmazonProducts to avoid
Search Amazon for the NFC Reader/Writer and you'll also see "NFC tag emulator" gadgets with thousands of built-in saves. They aren't Nintendo products, and you don't need one for this. A regular amiibo does the job.
Who can skip this
If you're happy making new Miis from scratch, you don't need any of it. Tomodachi Life's Mii creator works without an amiibo.
If you have a New 3DS model and any amiibo already, you're set.
Sources
- Nintendo Support: How to Register an amiibo and Give It a Nickname on Nintendo 3DS Family
- Nintendo Support: How to Create a Mii on Nintendo Switch
- Nintendo Support: How to Create, Edit, or Delete a Mii on Nintendo Switch 2
- Nintendo Support: Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream – Frequently Asked Questions
- Nintendo Support: How to Set Up the Nintendo 3DS NFC Reader/Writer