Pokémon Bank

Pokémon Bank is an eShop application that allows you to store your pokémon in online storage for an annual fee of $5 per year.

How to Get Pokémon Bank

Pokémon Bank is available for free in the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS and 2DS.

Purchase a Pokémon Bank Pass

When you open Pokémon Bank, it will prompt you to log in with your Nintendo Network ID. Afterward, you will see a list of options. The first option allows you to purchase a Pokémon Bank Pass if you don't have one. It costs $5 and gives you a year of access to Pokémon Bank.

If you already have a Pokémon Bank Pass, Pokémon Bank will display the number of days that are remaining on your pass.

Using Pokémon Bank

To use Pokémon Bank, you need at least one compatible Pokémon game. The game can be in cartridge form or saved on your SD Card. The following games are compatible with Pokémon Bank as of January 25, 2017:

  • Pokémon Sun
  • Pokémon Moon
  • Pokémon X
  • Pokémon Y
  • Pokémon Omega Ruby
  • Pokémon Alpha Sapphire
  • Pokémon Red (Virtual Console version only)
  • Pokémon Blue (Virtual Console version only)
  • Pokémon Yellow (Virtual Console version only)
  • Pokémon Black
  • Pokémon White
  • Pokémon Black 2
  • Pokémon White 2

When you open Pokémon Bank, if you purchased a Pokémon Bank Pass, you can tap Use Pokémon Bank (on the main menu) to choose which game to use with Pokémon Bank. It will ask you which game you want to use Pokémon Bank with. You can choose any copy of a compatible game that is in your 3DS or 2DS.

After choosing the game that you want to use Pokémon Bank with, you will see the PC Box from that game in the bottom screen. The top screen displays your Pokémon Bank boxes. You have 100 Pokémon Bank boxes, as well as a Transport Box that you can use to transfer pokémon from Pokémon Black, Pokémon White, Pokémon Black 2, or Pokémon White 2. See below for details on how to transfer from Generation V games.

You can change the cursor from a red arrow to a blue arrow to a green arrow by pressing START. The red arrow lets you see a summary of the selected pokémon as well as move it. The blue arrow lets you move the selected pokémon. The green arrow lets you select multiple pokémon and move them at once.

Press X to see a list of all of your pokémon and apply search filters.

Press Y to save. All changes that you made to your X or Y boxes and your Bank Boxes will be saved.

How to Update Pokémon Bank

To update Pokémon Bank to the latest version, go to the eShop and search for Pokémon Bank using the search box, or use your Nintendo 3DS camera and tap the QR Code button to scan the QR code below.

Pokémon Bank Nintendo 3DS eShop QR Code

From the Pokémon Bank screen, you can tap the Update button at the bottom, and then follow the steps to update Pokémon Bank.

How to Use Poké Transporter

Poké Transporter is not in the eShop. It can be downloaded by opening Pokémon Bank and choosing the Download Poké Transporter option.

After you have installed Poké Transporter, you will be able to transfer pokémon from Black, White, Black 2, and White 2 into your Pokémon Bank.

To do so, go to the Home screen and close all games, then insert a cartridge of Black, White, Black 2, or White 2 into your 3DS or 2DS.

Poké Transporter always transfers from Box 1 in your copy of Black, White, Black 2, or White 2. This is a ONE-WAY TRANSFER. The pokémon can't be sent back to Black, White, Black 2, or White 2! Poké Transporter will transfer ALL pokémon from Box 1 into Pokémon Bank, so be sure to move any pokémon out of Box 1 in your Generation V game that you don't want to send.

Moving your Generation V Pokémon into Later Generation Games

After you use Poké Transporter to send all pokémon from Box 1 of your Generation V game to Pokémon Bank, they will be placed in the Transport Box of your Pokémon Bank. The Transport Box is before Bank Box 1 and after Bank Box 100. To reach the Transport Box, put the cursor on "Box 1" in the top screen, then press left on the control pad or circle pad.

National Pokédex

When viewing your PC Boxes in Pokémon Bank, you can press Y to open the Menu. Choose Pokédex to see the National Pokédex. The first time you use this feature with each game, your saved game data will be added to the National Pokédex. You can add saved game data from Pokémon X, Pokémon Y, Pokémon Omega Ruby, Pokémon Alpha Sapphire, Pokémon Sun, and Pokémon Moon. The National Pokédex will combine all the saved game data from all of the games that you use with Pokémon Bank.

In addition, the National Pokédex will show you your Adventure Records in each game, allowing you to compare your records across all of the games that you have added to the National Pokédex.