You save the Ocarina of Time remake two ways: a manual save that you make yourself from the pause menu, and autosaves that the game writes on its own as you play. The manual save is the one you control, so make one before you stop playing.
There is one catch the original never had. The remake keeps a single manual save file per user profile, so starting a fresh adventure means overwriting the one you have, unless you set up a second profile. Below is how each part works, how to protect your file with Save Data Cloud, and what changed from the Nintendo 64 version.
How Saving Works in the Remake
- One manual save. Each user profile on the console gets one manual save file. Saving again replaces it.
- Autosaves on top. The game also keeps several autosaves and writes them automatically. You do not choose when they happen.
- Cloud backup. Nintendo’s store page lists Save Data Cloud among the game’s Nintendo Switch Online features.
| Nintendo 64 (1998) | Switch 2 remake | |
|---|---|---|
| Save files | Three | One manual save per user profile, plus autosaves |
| Autosave | None | Yes |
| Cloud backup | No | Save Data Cloud, with Nintendo Switch Online |
If you are coming back from the original or the 3DS version, our rundown of everything that changed covers the rest of the remake’s modern touches.
How to Make a Manual Save
- Pause the game to open the menu.
- Choose the save option and confirm. The new save replaces your single manual file.
- Let the save finish before you close the software.
Autosaves happen when the game decides. A manual save captures the exact moment you choose, which is why it is worth making one before you stop for the day, before a boss, and before anything you might want to retry.
Sleep Mode is not a save. Switch 2 keeps the game suspended while the console sleeps, so you can usually pick up mid-dungeon. But closing the software, a system update or a flat battery ends that session, and everything since your newest save goes with it.
Starting a New Game Without Losing Your Save
Because there is only one manual file, there is no second slot for a fresh run, a challenge run or a younger player in the house. The answer is a second user profile. Nintendo’s support pages say save data “is unique to each user and is not transferable between users,” which means every profile on the console gets its own save for this game.
- Add a new user from the console’s System Settings.
- Start the game as that user. It begins a new file from the opening in Kokiri Forest.
- Switch back to your own profile whenever you want your main adventure. Nothing on it changes.
That also settles the family question: two people sharing one Switch 2 each play on their own profile and never touch each other’s progress.
Back Up Your Save With Save Data Cloud
With only one manual file, a backup matters more than usual. Save Data Cloud needs a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Nintendo’s save data backup page says automatic backup switches on for compatible software once you are a member, and you can back up by hand too:
- On the HOME Menu, highlight the game.
- Press + or -, then choose Save Data Cloud.
- Pick your user and select Back Up Save Data.
One thing to know: an automatic backup follows your latest save. It protects you if the console is lost, broken or reset, but it will not bring back a file you overwrote yourself. The game is a Switch 2 exclusive, so the backup is only useful on a Switch 2, as our Switch 1 guide explains. Our Switch 2 features guide lists the game’s other console features.
What Quitting or a Game Over Costs You
Quitting without saving loses everything since your newest save, manual or automatic. A defeat cannot touch a file that is already saved, so the most it can cost you is the progress made since that newest save.
If you are deciding which version to play, our version comparison covers the earlier releases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Ocarina of Time remake autosave? Yes. It keeps several autosaves alongside your manual save and writes them automatically as you play.
How many save files does the Ocarina of Time remake have? One manual save per user profile, plus the autosaves. The 1998 game had three save files.
How do you start a new game without deleting your save? Add a second user profile on the console and start the game on it. Each profile keeps its own save.
Does the Ocarina of Time remake support Save Data Cloud? Yes, with a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Nintendo lists it on the game’s store page.
Can you carry your save over to a Switch 1? No. The remake runs only on Switch 2, so its save does too.
For every other guide to the game and the rest of the series, head to our Zelda hub.