Transferring Pokémon in Pokémon GO is a fundamental process that allows Trainers to manage their collection, make room for new catches, and contribute to the health of the game's ecosystem. Unlike previous main series games, Pokémon GO handles this action through a system called Pokémon Transfer, which moves creatures from your collection in Pokémon HOME into your active party in the mobile game. This guide breaks down exactly how the procedure works, covering the requirements, the step-by-step method, and the critical limitations you need to know about before sending your beloved companions away.
Understanding the Pokémon Transfer Process
The term "transfer" in Pokémon GO specifically refers to moving a Pokémon from your storage in Pokémon HOME to your collection in Pokémon GO, effectively retiring the creature from your active roster. This is not the same as releasing a Pokémon to gain Candy; when you transfer, the Pokémon is sent to the Professor’s research in another dimension and is gone from your account permanently. The primary reward for this action is 1 Candy corresponding to the species of the Pokémon you are transferring, which is essential for powering up and evolving your remaining team.
Prerequisites and Compatibility
Before you can initiate a transfer, you must ensure your account and devices are properly linked. You need a Pokémon HOME account, which is free to download on iOS, Android, and Nintendo Switch, and you must be logged into both applications with the same Nintendo Account or Google account. Pokémon transferred from HOME to GO are subject to the GO Park limit, meaning if you have already imported the maximum number of Pokémon into your destination world, you will need to delete or transfer out some existing Pokémon before new ones can arrive.
Step-by-Step Transfer Guide
To actually move the pixels, you will navigate through a series of menus that are designed to prevent accidental mistakes. The process begins inside the Pokémon HOME application, where you select the specific Pokémon you wish to send to the world of Pokémon GO. Once the creature is selected, you confirm the action, which queues the transfer. The data then travels through the cloud infrastructure, appearing shortly thereafter in the GO Park of your Pokémon GO application, ready for you to walk out into the world.
After the transfer completes, you do not automatically add the Pokémon to your Pokedex. You must physically go to the location of the Pokémon appearing in your GO Park—usually represented by a floating egg icon on your map—and interact with it to "walk out" the Pokémon. Only after this final step does the transfer finalize, and the 1 Candy reward is added to your inventory. It is important to note that only Pokémon up to Level 50 can be transferred; if a Pokémon is above this level, you will need to use candies to reduce its level back to 50 or below within Pokémon HOME before the option becomes available.
