Save Data Management

Properly managing your save data in Pokémon Sun and Moon is crucial for preserving your progress, especially when considering starting a new adventure or dealing with potential issues. Unlike some other RPGs, Pokémon Sun and Moon only allow for a single save file per game cartridge or digital download. Understanding how to save, and more importantly, how to erase your data, is key.

Saving Your Game

Saving your game is straightforward and can be done at almost any point outside of battles, cutscenes, or certain in-game events. It's a good habit to save frequently, especially after significant progress like catching a rare Pokémon, defeating a powerful trainer, or completing a Grand Trial.

Accessing the Save Menu: Press the X Button to open the main menu.
Selecting Save: Navigate to the "Save" option (represented by a small notebook icon) and press the A Button.
Confirmation: The game will ask for confirmation. Select "Yes" to save your current progress.

Pro-Tip: Always save before attempting a challenging battle or before making a crucial decision, such as choosing your Starter Pokémon (Rowlet, Litten, or Popplio) at the beginning of your journey in Iki Town. This allows you to soft reset if the outcome isn't to your liking.

Erasing Save Data

Erasing your save data is a permanent action and cannot be undone. This is typically done when a player wishes to start a brand new game from scratch, perhaps to try a different starter, experience the story again, or for a Nuzlocke challenge. There is no in-game option to erase your save file from the main menu once a game has been started.

Steps to Erase Save Data:

To erase your Pokémon Sun or Moon save data, you must perform a specific button combination from the title screen. This method bypasses the main menu and directly accesses the data erasure prompt.

Start the Game: Insert your Pokémon Sun or Moon game cartridge into your Nintendo 3DS, or select the digital title from your Home Menu.
Reach the Title Screen: Allow the game to load until you see the main title screen with the "Press START" prompt. Do NOT press START yet.
Enter the Erase Combination: Simultaneously press and hold the following buttons: Up on the D-Pad + X Button + B Button.
Confirmation Prompt: If done correctly, a message will appear asking if you want to delete all save data.
Final Confirmation: The game will warn you that all data will be lost and cannot be recovered. Select "Yes" twice to confirm the erasure.

Once confirmed, your save file will be completely wiped, and the game will return to the title screen, ready for a new adventure. Be absolutely certain you wish to proceed before confirming, as all your Pokémon, items, progress, and battle records will be gone forever.

Considerations Before Erasing

Pokémon Bank: If you have valuable Pokémon, items, or competitive teams you wish to keep, transfer them to Pokémon Bank before erasing your save data. Pokémon Bank is a paid subscription service that allows you to store up to 3,000 Pokémon in the cloud.
Version Exclusives: If you're restarting to experience the other version's exclusives, remember that you can always trade with friends or use the Global Trade System (GTS) to obtain Pokémon like Vulpix (Alolan Form) in Sun or Sandshrew (Alolan Form) in Moon without resetting.
Event Pokémon: Any event-exclusive Pokémon you've received will also be lost. If these are important to you, ensure they are transferred to Pokémon Bank or another game before erasure.