How to Transfer Pokémon From Older Games to Pokémon HOME (2026)

Have Pokémon sitting in an old game that you want to preserve in Pokémon HOME? Depending on the game they come from, Pokémon caught years ago can still travel through several generations and eventually become part of your modern Pokémon HOME collection.

But the transfer path is not the same for every generation — and in 2026, there is now an important deadline to know about.

Pokémon Bank will end service on February 25, 2027. Once Pokémon Bank shuts down, transferring Pokémon from Bank into Pokémon HOME will no longer be possible.

This guide explains the currently verified transfer routes from older Pokémon games to Pokémon HOME in 2026, including Nintendo 3DS games, Generation V, the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console releases and Pokémon Bank.

We deliberately only include transfer paths that are still officially supported and verifiable today.

Can You Still Transfer Old Pokémon to Pokémon HOME in 2026?

Yes — but only through supported transfer routes.

The most important bridge between older Pokémon games and Pokémon HOME is currently Pokémon Bank on Nintendo 3DS.

Pokémon stored in Pokémon Bank can still be moved into Pokémon HOME in 2026.

However, there are three major restrictions:

  • You need a Pokémon HOME Premium Plan to transfer from Pokémon Bank.
  • Pokémon Bank and Poké Transporter can no longer be newly downloaded.
  • Pokémon Bank will end service on February 25, 2027.

If you already have access to the required Nintendo 3DS software, 2026 is therefore an important year for preserving older Pokémon.

Pokémon Bank Is Shutting Down in 2027

Nintendo has confirmed that Pokémon Bank will end service on Thursday, February 25, 2027.

When Pokémon Bank shuts down, transferring Pokémon from Pokémon Bank into Pokémon HOME will also stop working.

That makes this more than a normal transfer guide.

If you have Pokémon from older generations that you want to preserve in Pokémon HOME, you should complete the necessary transfer chain before Pokémon Bank closes.

There is little reason to leave an important collection until the final days of the service.

The Older Games → Pokémon HOME Transfer Chain

The exact route depends on where your Pokémon currently live.

The officially supported legacy routes can be summarized like this:

Source Transfer Route HOME Transfer?
Pokémon X / Y Pokémon Bank → Pokémon HOME Yes
Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire Pokémon Bank → Pokémon HOME Yes
Sun / Moon Pokémon Bank → Pokémon HOME Yes
Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon Pokémon Bank → Pokémon HOME Yes
Black / White Poké Transporter → Pokémon Bank → Pokémon HOME Yes
Black 2 / White 2 Poké Transporter → Pokémon Bank → Pokémon HOME Yes
Red / Blue / Yellow (3DS Virtual Console) Poké Transporter → Pokémon Bank → Pokémon HOME Yes
Gold / Silver / Crystal (3DS Virtual Console) Poké Transporter → Pokémon Bank → Pokémon HOME Yes

Important: this table describes officially documented routes available through Pokémon Bank and Poké Transporter. It does not mean every physical Pokémon game ever released can connect directly to HOME.

How to Transfer Pokémon From Nintendo 3DS Games to HOME

The simplest older-generation route is from the main Nintendo 3DS Pokémon games that connect directly to Pokémon Bank.

Pokémon Bank officially supports:

  • Pokémon X
  • Pokémon Y
  • Pokémon Omega Ruby
  • Pokémon Alpha Sapphire
  • Pokémon Sun
  • Pokémon Moon
  • Pokémon Ultra Sun
  • Pokémon Ultra Moon

The basic route is:

3DS Pokémon game → Pokémon Bank → Pokémon HOME

Once the Pokémon you want are inside Pokémon Bank, you can initiate a transfer to Pokémon HOME.

How to Move Pokémon From Pokémon Bank to HOME

If you still have your Nintendo 3DS, the normal transfer process uses a temporary Moving Key.

  1. Open Pokémon Bank on your Nintendo 3DS.
  2. Select Move Pokémon to Pokémon HOME.
  3. Select the Pokémon Bank Boxes you want to move.
  4. Open Pokémon HOME on Nintendo Switch or a compatible mobile device.
  5. Select the option to begin moving Pokémon from Pokémon Bank.
  6. Generate a Moving Key.
  7. Enter that Moving Key into Pokémon Bank before it expires.
  8. Confirm the transfer.

The Moving Key is only valid for a short period, so have both systems ready before beginning.

Do You Need Pokémon HOME Premium?

Yes.

Moving Pokémon from Pokémon Bank into Pokémon HOME requires a paid Pokémon HOME Premium Plan.

The free Basic Plan does not include Pokémon Bank transfers.

Premium also expands Pokémon HOME storage from 30 Pokémon to 6,000 Pokémon, making it particularly useful for larger legacy collections and Living Dex projects.

Do You Still Need to Pay for Pokémon Bank?

No separate paid Pokémon Bank subscription is currently required.

Pokémon Bank became free to use after Nintendo ended Nintendo 3DS eShop purchases in 2023.

However, that does not mean a new player can simply download Pokémon Bank today.

Can You Download Pokémon Bank in 2026?

No.

Pokémon Bank is no longer available for new downloads.

To use the traditional 3DS transfer route, Pokémon Bank must already be available to you from when it could still be downloaded.

This is one of the most important limitations for anyone trying to move an old collection in 2026.

What Is Poké Transporter?

Poké Transporter is the legacy application used to move Pokémon from certain older games into Pokémon Bank.

It acts as the first stage of the transfer chain for supported games that cannot connect directly to Bank.

For example:

Pokémon Black → Poké Transporter → Pokémon Bank → Pokémon HOME

Poké Transporter is therefore essential for several pre-3DS collections.

Which Games Work With Poké Transporter?

Nintendo officially lists Poké Transporter compatibility with:

  • Pokémon Black
  • Pokémon White
  • Pokémon Black Version 2
  • Pokémon White Version 2
  • Pokémon Red — Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console
  • Pokémon Blue — Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console
  • Pokémon Yellow — Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console
  • Pokémon Gold — Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console
  • Pokémon Silver — Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console
  • Pokémon Crystal — Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console

Those games use Poké Transporter to reach Pokémon Bank before the Pokémon can continue into Pokémon HOME.

How to Transfer Pokémon Black & White to Pokémon HOME

Pokémon Black and White do not connect directly to Pokémon HOME.

The verified route is:

Pokémon Black / White → Poké Transporter → Pokémon Bank → Pokémon HOME

The same applies to Pokémon Black 2 and White 2.

This makes Generation V one of the oldest generations with a clearly documented official path into the modern Pokémon HOME ecosystem through software still operating in 2026.

How to Transfer Pokémon Black 2 & White 2 to HOME

The process is essentially the same:

Black 2 / White 2 → Poké Transporter → Pokémon Bank → Pokémon HOME

Once the Pokémon have reached Bank, the remaining step is the same Bank-to-HOME migration used by Nintendo 3DS Pokémon games.

Can You Transfer Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow to HOME?

Yes — specifically from the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console versions.

The supported route is:

Red / Blue / Yellow (3DS Virtual Console) → Poké Transporter → Pokémon Bank → Pokémon HOME

The phrase 3DS Virtual Console is important.

This officially documented route should not be confused with inserting an original Game Boy cartridge into modern hardware or directly connecting an original cartridge to Pokémon HOME.

Can You Transfer Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal to HOME?

Yes — again, through the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console releases.

The route is:

Gold / Silver / Crystal (3DS Virtual Console) → Poké Transporter → Pokémon Bank → Pokémon HOME

This gives Pokémon from the Virtual Console versions of the Johto games a path into the modern HOME collection.

What About Pokémon X and Y?

Pokémon X and Y connect directly to Pokémon Bank, so Poké Transporter is not needed.

The route is simply:

Pokémon X / Y → Pokémon Bank → Pokémon HOME

The same basic route applies to the other compatible Nintendo 3DS main-series titles.

What About Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire?

Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire also connect to Pokémon Bank.

The route is:

Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire → Pokémon Bank → Pokémon HOME

From HOME, individual Pokémon may then be able to enter newer compatible games if that destination supports the species and all applicable transfer conditions are met.

What About Pokémon Sun and Moon?

Pokémon Sun and Moon use:

Sun / Moon → Pokémon Bank → Pokémon HOME

Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon use the same Bank-to-HOME route.

Can Pokémon Return to Pokémon Bank After Entering HOME?

No.

This is one of the most important rules in the entire transfer process.

Once a Pokémon is moved from Pokémon Bank into Pokémon HOME, it cannot be sent back to Pokémon Bank.

The transfer should therefore be treated as a permanent migration away from the Nintendo 3DS ecosystem.

If you have a rare, sentimental or otherwise important Pokémon, decide carefully before moving it.

Can Pokémon From HOME Go Back to Their Original 3DS Game?

No.

Once the Pokémon has crossed from Bank into HOME, it cannot return to Pokémon Bank or be used again in its previous Nintendo 3DS title through that route.

This is why organizing your collection before transferring is so important.

Can You Transfer From Pokémon Bank Without a Nintendo 3DS?

In some cases, yes.

Pokémon HOME provides an option for users who no longer possess their Nintendo 3DS.

If the Nintendo Network ID associated with Pokémon Bank is correctly linked to the Nintendo Account used with Pokémon HOME, HOME can initiate a Bank migration without the 3DS itself.

There is an important difference, however:

all Pokémon stored in that Pokémon Bank account are moved at once.

You do not get the same box-selection process available when initiating the transfer from the 3DS.

Can You Create a New Pokémon Bank Account Now?

The important limitation in 2026 is that Pokémon Bank is no longer available as a new Nintendo 3DS eShop download.

The legacy route therefore primarily benefits players who already have access to the required software and accounts.

If you never downloaded Bank or the required legacy software, do not assume you can recreate the entire historical transfer chain today.

What About Original Game Boy Cartridges?

The officially documented Pokémon HOME route for Generation I and II covered in this guide applies to the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console releases of:

  • Red
  • Blue
  • Yellow
  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Crystal

This guide does not claim a direct HOME transfer path from original Game Boy or Game Boy Color cartridges.

That distinction matters when searching online because guides often mix historical transfer methods, modern HOME compatibility and unofficial solutions together.

What About Generation III and IV?

Pokémon from older generations can historically travel forward through multiple generations before eventually reaching a Bank-compatible game.

However, those routes involve older hardware, games and migration systems that are different from Pokémon HOME itself.

Because this guide only documents transfer paths that can be clearly verified as part of the currently supported Bank/HOME ecosystem, we do not present a universal Generation III or Generation IV cartridge-to-HOME route here.

If your Pokémon have already reached a supported Generation V title, the officially documented modern legacy route becomes:

Generation V → Poké Transporter → Pokémon Bank → Pokémon HOME

This avoids giving collectors an oversimplified transfer chain that may not apply to their exact hardware and software setup.

What About the 2026 FireRed & LeafGreen Switch Releases?

The new Nintendo Switch releases of Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen are a separate case from the original Game Boy Advance versions.

Nintendo has confirmed upcoming Pokémon HOME support for the 2026 Nintendo Switch versions.

That upcoming integration should not be confused with the legacy Pokémon Bank route covered in this article.

For those releases specifically, read our Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen Pokémon HOME Transfer Guide (2026).

Can Old Pokémon Move From HOME Into Modern Games?

Sometimes — but being inside Pokémon HOME does not automatically make a Pokémon compatible with every modern Pokémon game.

Pokémon can only move into games that support them, and additional restrictions may apply.

For example, a Pokémon successfully transferred from an old Nintendo 3DS title into HOME may be compatible with one modern game but unavailable in another.

Always check the current destination-game compatibility before moving an important Pokémon.

Why Old Pokémon Matter for a Living Dex

Legacy transfers can be extremely useful for a Pokémon HOME Living Dex.

Older games can preserve Pokémon from previous adventures and provide additional sources for species, forms and collections accumulated across generations.

Instead of leaving those Pokémon separated across old games and systems, HOME allows supported Pokémon to become part of one larger modern collection.

If that is your goal, read our How to Complete a Living Dex in Pokémon HOME (2026).

Why You Should Transfer Important Pokémon Before February 2027

For years, Pokémon Bank has acted as the bridge between the Nintendo 3DS era and Pokémon HOME.

That bridge now has an official closing date.

Pokémon Bank ends service on February 25, 2027.

After that date, Pokémon Bank → Pokémon HOME transfers will no longer be possible.

If you have Pokémon in Bank that you want to preserve in HOME, moving them before the shutdown is the safest approach.

And if your Pokémon are still in a supported older game that relies on Poké Transporter and Bank, you should begin the process well before the deadline rather than waiting until the final day.

Before You Transfer: Legacy Pokémon Checklist

  • ☐ Confirm that you already have access to Pokémon Bank
  • ☐ Confirm that you have Poké Transporter if your source game requires it
  • ☐ Identify which Pokémon you actually want to migrate
  • ☐ Organize your Pokémon Bank Boxes
  • ☐ Keep Pokémon in their older games if you still want to use them there
  • ☐ Remember that Bank → HOME is irreversible
  • ☐ Activate Pokémon HOME Premium before the final Bank transfer
  • ☐ Check whether your Pokémon is compatible with its intended modern destination game
  • ☐ Complete important transfers before February 25, 2027

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you still transfer old Pokémon to Pokémon HOME in 2026?

Yes. Supported Nintendo 3DS Pokémon games can still use Pokémon Bank to move Pokémon into Pokémon HOME, while certain older titles can reach Bank through Poké Transporter.

When is Pokémon Bank shutting down?

Nintendo has announced that Pokémon Bank will end service on February 25, 2027. Bank-to-HOME transfers will stop working when the service ends.

Can you transfer Pokémon from Black and White to HOME?

Yes. Pokémon Black, White, Black 2 and White 2 are officially supported by Poké Transporter. The route is Poké Transporter → Pokémon Bank → Pokémon HOME.

Can you transfer Pokémon from Red, Blue and Yellow to HOME?

The Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console versions are officially supported through Poké Transporter → Pokémon Bank → Pokémon HOME.

Can you transfer Pokémon from Gold, Silver and Crystal to HOME?

Yes, when using the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console versions and the supported Poké Transporter and Pokémon Bank route.

Can you transfer Pokémon from Pokémon X and Y to HOME?

Yes. X and Y connect to Pokémon Bank, and Pokémon stored in Bank can then be transferred into Pokémon HOME.

Do you need Pokémon HOME Premium?

Yes. A Pokémon HOME Premium Plan is required for Pokémon Bank → Pokémon HOME transfers.

Can Pokémon return to Bank after entering HOME?

No. A Pokémon moved from Pokémon Bank into Pokémon HOME cannot be moved back to Bank.

Can you download Pokémon Bank in 2026?

No. Pokémon Bank is no longer available for new downloads.

Can you transfer from Bank without your old 3DS?

Pokémon HOME supports a transfer method without the physical Nintendo 3DS when the relevant Nintendo Network ID and Nintendo Account are linked. In that situation, all Pokémon in the associated Bank are transferred together.

What happens if I leave Pokémon in Bank after February 25, 2027?

Nintendo has confirmed that Pokémon Bank service and Bank-to-HOME transfers will end on that date. If you want Pokémon currently stored in Bank to become part of your HOME collection, transfer them before the shutdown.

Preserve Your Old Pokémon While the Transfer Bridge Still Exists

One of the most special things about Pokémon is that a Pokémon caught years ago can sometimes continue travelling with you long after the original adventure ended.

In 2026, Pokémon Bank still provides the critical bridge between several older generations and Pokémon HOME.

But that bridge is now temporary.

Pokémon Bank closes on February 25, 2027.

If you have an old collection you care about, this is the year to check your Nintendo 3DS, inspect your Pokémon Bank Boxes and decide which Pokémon you want to preserve in HOME.

Once they reach HOME, they can become part of a larger modern collection — including a Pokémon HOME Living Dex.

For current Nintendo Switch games and their individual transfer restrictions, continue with our Complete Pokémon HOME Transfer Guide (2026).

And if you're specifically interested in the new Switch versions of Kanto, see our FireRed & LeafGreen Pokémon HOME Transfer Guide.

We will keep this guide updated as Pokémon Bank approaches its February 2027 shutdown and if Nintendo or The Pokémon Company changes any legacy transfer requirements.

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