How to Transfer Content from a Wii to a Wii U

Description:

  • Detailed instructions on performing a system transfer between a Wii console and a Wii U console

 

Important Notes!

  • Make sure your Wii U console has the latest system update (How To).
  • If your Wii console is currently locked with Parental Controls, ensure that you are able to unlock it. If you have forgotten the PIN, you will need to reset it before you can proceed. Click here if you have forgotten your parental controls PIN.
  • Software and save data that may already exist on an SD card from the source Wii console cannot be transferred directly. If you have data on the SD card, perform the following:
    • For software, either transfer it back to the source Wii console before performing the transfer, or redownload it after the transfer using the Wii Shop Channel on the target Wii U console's Wii Menu. (How To)

The following video will give you a helpful overview of the system transfer process:

 

What You Need:

  • Your Wii and Wii U console (at least one Wii Remote or Wii Remote Plus is required to control the two consoles)
  • A SD or SDHC card with at least 512 MB of free space
  • A broadband Internet connection (both systems must be connected to the internet)
  • A television
  • The country settings on both consoles must match

 

What You Can and Cannot Transfer:

Click Here

 

Important Note!

  • If both systems are not connected to a television, you will need to switch the television connection between systems in order to complete a system transfer.
  • You can either:
    • Use the input select of the TV to switch between the two systems; or
    • Plug the standard AV cable that came with your Wii console into a TV and swap the cable between the two systems during the transfer process. (Swap the cables at the same time you are swapping the SD card.)

  • Transferred data is permanently deleted from the Wii console. Once you have transferred data to the Wii U console, it cannot be transferred back to a Wii console.
  • Data cannot be transferred from your Wii U console to a Wii console.
  • For SD card troubleshooting, click here.
  • For Internet connection troubleshooting, click here.

 

Setup:

  1. Connect the Wii to a television. (How To)
  2. Connect the Wii U to a television. (How To)
    • If you only have a single television, you will need to connect both systems to it.
      • If your television has both HDMI and Audio/Video inputs, then connect both systems to the television and switch inputs when appropriate.
      • If your television only has Audio/Video inputs, then you will need to switch the AV Multi Out Plug on your Wii AV Cable or Wii Component Cable between consoles when appropriate.

  3. Connect the Wii to a broadband Internet connection. (How To)
  4. Connect the Wii U to a broadband Internet connection. (How To)
  5. Download the Wii System Transfer tool on the Wii console. (How To)
    • You can download the tool to the system memory or an SD card; however, if you download it to the SD card, you will need to launch it from the SD card menu.

  6. Download the Wii System Transfer tool on the Wii U console by clicking the transfer tool icon on the Wii Menu and following the on-screen instructions.
    • Although there is an icon on the Wii Menu for the Wii System Transfer tool, it is not the actual tool. Clicking it will redirect you to download the actual tool from the Wii Shop Channel. Once the download is complete, the actual tool will appear as a new channel on the Wii Menu.
    • You can download the tool to the system memory or an SD card; however, if you download it to the SD card, you will need to launch it from the SD card menu.

 

Begin with the Wii U:

  1. Insert the SD card into the Wii U console. (How To)
  2. On the Wii U console, start the Wii Menu application and select the Wii System Transfer tool that you previously downloaded.
    • You will need to sync a Wii Remote to the Wii U console in order to proceed. (How To)
    • If the Wii System Transfer tool is not available in the Wii Menu application, perform the latest System Update. (How To)

  3. Follow the on-screen instructions, making sure to read carefully through each before you proceed.
  4. Remove the SD card from the Wii U console and insert the same SD card into the Wii console.

 

Connect on the Wii:

  1. With the SD card inserted in the Wii console, launch the transfer application to begin retrieving data.
    • You will need to sync a Wii Remote to the Wii console in order to proceed. (How To)

  2. Follow the on-screen instructions, making sure to read carefully through each before you proceed.
  3. When the data transfer is complete, remove the SD card from the Wii console and insert it into the Wii U console.

 

Finish on the Wii U:

  1. Confirm the message and select "Transfer."
  2. Follow the on-screen instructions, making sure to read carefully through each before you proceed.
  3. The data is saved on to the Wii U console and deleted from the SD card.
 
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